What is the Risk of Heat Stroke in Hot Yoga?

Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat-related illness and is a life-threatening medical emergency. While the risk of heat stroke in a hot yoga class is extremely low, it is not zero, which is why understanding and respecting the practice's safety guidelines is paramount. Heat stroke occurs when your body's thermoregulatory system completely fails, and your core body temperature rises to dangerous levels (104°F/40°C or higher). It is the progression from the earlier stages of heat exhaustion. The signs of heat stroke are different from heat exhaustion: the skin may be hot but dry to the touch (as the sweating mechanism has failed), the pulse is strong and rapid, and the person may experience confusion, disorientation, loss of consciousness, or seizures. The risk in a hot yoga studio is minimized by several factors: classes are led by trained instructors who can spot warning signs, the duration is limited, and practitioners are constantly reminded to hydrate and listen to their bodies. To keep your risk negligible, you must take personal responsibility: never practice if you are feeling unwell, hydrate diligently throughout the day, do not consume alcohol before class, and honor the early warning signs of heat exhaustion (dizziness, nausea) by stopping immediately.