Hot yoga is a style of yoga that is practiced in a heated environment. Some often hear "hot yoga" and immediately think of Bikram yoga, but that's not the only type of hot yoga that exists. Bikram yoga was developed by yoga master Bikram Choudhury, founder of the Yoga College of India in Beverly Hills. However, only classes endorsed by Choudhury are able to use the name Bikram Yoga.

Traditionally, hot yoga is practiced in a heated room. Ideally, the room will be heated to between 95 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit (35 and 40.5 degrees Celsius) with 40 percent humidity. Classes last approximately 90 minutes and consist of a series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises.

The reasons behind the intense heat in a hot yoga session are twofold. First, excessive sweating is believed to be a method of cleansing the body of toxins. Second, the increased heat in the muscles is thought to improve flexibility.

Hot yoga is fairly widespread and popular, but it's also controversial. Practitioners could suffer from dizziness, dehydration or heat stroke during a hot yoga class. Some experts feel that regular participants are risking injury if they push themselves too hard.

Those interested in trying hot yoga should remember to bring their own yoga mat because of the excessive sweating that the practice involves. Second, it's necessary to drink plenty of water before a hot yoga session because of the risk of dehydration.

More Yoga Terms Defined from That's Fit:
Ashtanga Yoga
Hatha Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Power Yoga
Prenatal Yoga
Strengthen With Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga
Yoga Benefits
Yoga Journal
Yoga for Weight Loss
Flow Yoga

We at That's Fit and AOL Health know you've got a lot going on in your lives besides staying in great shape, and we realize that more than just diet and exercise goes into feeling your best every day. That's why we're sharing some of the exciting reporting going on at AOL Health.

Sweating while working out is one thing, but sweating (and smelling) on the go, is another. At AOL Health we've got you and your glands covered, with these best and worst reader-tested and reviewed deodorants. Plus, did you know your antiperspirant could slow hair growth?

Ditch the get-fit-quick diet scams, and go for natural weight loss -- sounds nice and easy right? Well, you know from experience that it's not always a piece of cake (because of temptations like, well, cake). But there are some natural aides you can find in your home that may help you shed those extra pounds.

Loss of sensation, flat feet, athlete's foot and aches and pains in your feet might be telling you something more about your overall health. Check out "What Your Feet Are Telling You" to learn more.

Felicity Huffman is no stranger to fitness. She's a fan of running and has participated in triathlons. But Huffman has a new fitness love -- she's getting addicted to Bikram yoga. The 45-year-old Desperate Housewives' star says "As you get older, you get stiffer. Doing yoga has shown me that flexibility is as important as strength."

Bikram yoga is nicknamed hot yoga and for good reason. When following along with Bikram's series of 26 poses, you'll be doing so in a room set to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (some classes may not set it quite so high). The idea is that your body is more flexible in heat, and the hot atmosphere warms your muscles more quickly. In addition, it's said to reduce the risk of injury, promote sweating, and release toxins from the body.

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz, When I go walking with my friends I notice that I often sweat and it shows through the back of my shirt and armpits. I know sweating is good but not when you are the only one that looks like that when walking with other ladies. It is really embarrassing. What can I do? Laney

A. Hi Laney. I'm so sorry you're feeling icky, sticky, and embarrassed walking with your friends. It's rarely fun to feel like the odd one out. I'm thrilled you came to me though, because I can assure you that you are not! I train dozens of people each week, and almost across the board ... every client apologizes to me for sweating profusely.

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Recent research shows -- believe it or not -- that sweat and airway secretion are linked. For people who have exercise-induced asthma, dryness in their airways can trigger asthma symptoms. Increased airway secretions can minimize or prevent symptoms during exercise.

Study participants were given medications to induce asthma symptoms and/or sweating. Obviously, the average Joe can't pop a pill to increase sweat production. And honestly, who would want to? So while researchers still work out the practical applications of this knowledge, follow these tips from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology:

• Try swimming -- the warm, humid atmosphere reduces the risk of symptoms.
• If you want to play team sports, opt for those -- like baseball -- that have short bursts of intense activity rather than continuous movement.
• In cold weather, wear a scarf or mask over your mouth and nose to warm the inhaled air.

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Most of us go to the gym to work up a sweat, but when ironically named Andy Heatman visited his regular UK gym, he got banned for sweating too much.

Chesire Lines Health Club staff claim that 15 people complained about Heatman's personal hygiene, leading them to ban Heatman from the gym on his next visit. So he took his business down the street to Total Fitness, where he was assured sweating was encouraged.

Heatman works out for two hours at a time, four days a week, so of course he's going to sweat (he also claims he showers regularly, uses deodorant, etc.). I understand it's not always pleasant to see someone sweating profusely, but come on ... isn't that what gyms are for?

What do you think -- was Heatman treated fairly or should he have been left alone to work out in peace?

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If you have a 10 year-old that is about to start maturing physically, you may notice that along with that comes...body odor. Kids that aren't even teenagers (by description) yet may start seeking out colognes and perfumes to mask that bodacious smell. Sorry if that word dates my thinking, but you have to start somewhere.

What can your budding teen do to keep that odor under control and out of the noses of others?. Try these tips:

• Always, always shower daily with soap and water.
• Don't forget to wear clean clothes and underwear every day, and change socks frequently. If you've been sweating, change into clean, dry clothes. For those of you playing sports, this is a MUST
• Wear all-cotton t-shirts, underwear and socks, which absorb sweat better. Ditch silk and polyester if possible (for now)
• Use deodorant, but unless you have to, I'd advise against anti-perspirant. Sweat was meant to leave the body, not stay in!

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Do you find yourself excessively sweating sometimes at the most inopportune moments? I think we've all faced this at one point in time or another. How can you prevent it?

Anti-perspirants that contain aluminum chloride hexahydrate is the easy answer, but what if you prefer not to plug up your sweat pores at all?

Overactive sweat glands can produce sweat even when the body is cool, and it can be an embarrassment. This condition, hyperhidrosis, is a major pain, and there are a few solutions. Research each one and see if you're willing to do what it takes to stop that excessive sweating if it is disturbing events in your life. See these tips for possible solutions.

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If you've been outside in summer heat this year (or any year), you've probably faced one embarrassing "armpit sweating session" in public. The normal course of action here is to use a standard anti-perspirant to stop that sweating, but clogging your pores with an aluminum-based product and not allowing your body to cool itself is not the best course of action for health reasons.

What to do, then? You can use natural deodorants to fend off any foul smells, but that won't stop the sweating. What about wearing some kind of fragrance to mask the smell? That works too.

But, trying to cover up actual underarm sweating continues to pose a challenge if you're looking for healthy solutions. Maybe allowing that sweat is the best choice - that's up to you. Personally, I'll sweat and allow my body to cool down naturally and use natural deodorant products to cover the scent. Of course, eating very well won't product the kind of stench a processed food-filled diet will, so some folks may not even have a problem with underarm smells.

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I recently discovered an informative (and fun) site called the Beauty Brains. where scientists answer your important questions on cosmetics and other beauty products. This week, they posted on Antiperspirant, asking the question, Will covering your body in antiperspirant suffocate you? In other words, if antiperspirant stops you from sweating, then applied to your whole body, would your skin be unable to breathe? What do you think? Apparently, applying antiperspirant only reduces your sweating by 20%, so I don't think it could block all your sweating. And there's no warning on antiperspirant to prevent you from using excess amounts.

What interested me was an explanation of just how antiperspirants work. Apparently, aluminum salts in antiperspirant, when mixed with water (sweat), swells sweat glads and block more water from coming out. Who knew? Not me, in any case.

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Whether you're left with embarrassing wet spots, white residue, or worse yet body odor, there's nothing worse than an antiperspirant that doesn't work. And this time of year when sweating can happen just from sitting outside in a lawn chair it's as important as ever to have reliable underarm protection. So do you have an old-standby that never fails you? It seems like most people would have their favorites that work for them, but if you're making changes in your lifestyle and are getting more active you're 'old standby' might not be doing the trick anymore. Check out this article from iVillage -- they road-tested all the popular drug store brands and give the low-down on each one. Or if you're reading this and have your own opinions please share!

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Now that temperatures are creeping into the 80s and 90s, it's time to break out the summer footwear! Flip-flops, clogs, ballet flats -- you name it! If you can wear it without socks, it's fair game for the next three months.

While all these footwear options are great for convenience, they can make your feet sweat -- which means they'll stink.

You might have tried adding odor absorbers to your shoes, or using foot powder -- both of which can be effective. But, according to the Dr. Oz (that guy who's on Oprah all the time), the best cure for smelly feet is simply soaking them in a pot of brewed tea. (Yes, tea -- like Lipton's.) Do for 30 minutes a day, everyday for a week, and the tannic acid in the tea will reduce both sweating and smelling.

It seems a little strange, but it's better than making up an excuse every time someone asks: "What is that smell?"

[via Budget Fashionista]

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How much time do you spend trying to stay dry, or concealing the fact that you can't?

This is the everyday reality for those suffering from hyperhidrosis -- or excessive sweating. While, for most of us, sweating is common when we exercise, it's hot outside, or we're nervous, for some people, it's like a faucet they can't turn off.

And while for years doctors didn't even acknowledge this condition's existence, recent information indicates that it's real, it's genetic, and can start affecting people as young as 14.

Unfortunately, as of yet, there's no cure for hyperhidrosis, and the majority of treatments -- prescription antiperspirants, botox, oral medications or surgery -- are often considered cosmetic, and therefore not covered by insurance.

For sufferers, however, the fact that the disorder has even been identified is a good first step.

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When it comes to choosing what to wear for a workout, I go for whatever is lightest, which is usually a pair of stretchy capri-style pants and a tank. Even though I live in a cold climate, I couldn't imagine wearing anything more because I tend to get very warm very fast. So I couldn't imagine working out in something made of, say, wool, but that's exactly what this company wants you to do. They're called Ibex and they produce a variety of sportswear, some of which is made from their signature lightweight, machine-washable wool. I'm not entirely convinced -- the word wool makes me automatically think of my itchy Christmas sweater that leaves me sweating bullets if the temperature is anywhere above freezing.

I haven't tried it -- have you? Is it really as lightweight as they say?

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Are females attracted to that disgusting fluid that men secrete when exercising or participating in sports? Yes -- women crave male sweat. Maybe it's unconscious, but possibly true.

Some research out of California concluded that women who sniffed a chemical found in male sweat experienced elevated levels of an important hormone. In other words, smelling that sweat made the women studied in the research have higher sexual arousal rates -- along with a faster heart rate and other effects.

Need the perfect aphrodisiac this Valentine's Day to make that special encounter, well, just that more special? Drop colognes and just start sweating, guys.

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