THE HOT YOGA SOCIETY, LONDON BRIDGE

The heat is hot. There’s no escaping it. In fact the first time I went to The Hot Yoga Society in London Bridge the teacher started the class by telling first timers our biggest challenge was just to stay in the room. Oh great.

Before the class I was more worried everyone else would be more skinny, serene and supple than me. Plus there’s the ‘do I have to Om?’ question, the equally important ‘will I guff in someone’s face?’ question and the most important ‘will someone else guff in mine?’ Well good news on the guffing. It’s a myth, relax (but not too much…) And the Om’ing seems to be for other types of yoga.

WATER IS KEY

Drink plenty – before, during and after. ‘Arrive hydrated’ was the teacher’s advice, which came a little late seeing as I had already arrived. Best to drink steadily beforehand rather than necking a couple of litres in the first 20 minutes unless you like to build toilet breaks into your session. The teacher advised us to breathe through our noses, which is counter-intuitive considering the room was hardly odour free. ‘The hardest part is getting here,’ the teacher said. ‘Once you’re here, you just do everything the teacher tells you.’ She was right there.

Hot yoga is exactly as it sounds. Regular ‘Hatha’ yoga in a room heated to 40°C. I loved it. Sure it’s tough, really tough at times, but it’s also fantastic. It makes you feel strong, calm, alert and filled with energy. I’m hooked. No guff. (hotyogasociety.com)

What would you like Jamie to try next? Tweet us @BalanceLDN

Read more: A first timer’s guide… Foraging 

HAVE A GO

Level
Suitable for all abilities

Cost
Special deal – 20 days: £35

Time
60-90 minutes

CALM CORNER

Sleep imaginings
If you’re struggling to get to sleep, try picturing a tranquil natural scene, whether it’s a rural landscape or the gently lapping waves on the shores of a beautiful lake. Researchers from the University of Oxford found when volunteers imagined such scenes, they fell asleep on average 20 minutes earlier. But avoid counting sheep; the research found this actually delayed sleep.