​Which Health Funds May Offer Rebates for Yoga?
Not all health funds include yoga, but some are already beginning to reintroduce it under wellness or health management benefits. The following funds are worth checking:

• Bupa – Previously offered rebates under Health Management Programs.
• Medibank – May include yoga if recommended by a GP.
• nib – Some Extras packages offer cover for wellness and lifestyle support.
• HBF – Rebates may apply for yoga used to manage chronic conditions.
• Teachers Health and Nurses Health – Check Healthy Lifestyle programs.
• CBHS Health Fund – Previously supported yoga with documentation.
• Australian Unity – Covers certain lifestyle programs with a GP referral.
• HCF – Rebates possible for approved providers under specified Extras tiers.

It’s important to remember that each policy is different. The best course of action is to contact your health fund directly and ask whether your yoga classes can be claimed now that yoga has been reinstated as a recognised therapy.

What Types of Yoga Services Might Be Covered?
Health funds usually offer rebates for yoga that is considered a part of a broader health management plan. Services that may be covered include:

• Group yoga classes as part of a prescribed health program
• One-on-one yoga therapy sessions for conditions such as stress, injury or pain
• Prenatal and postnatal yoga
• Mindfulness-based movement therapy with a qualified instructor

To be eligible, many funds require:

• A referral or written recommendation from your GP
• An itemised receipt with the studio’s ABN and the teacher’s qualifications
• Proof that the provider is registered with a recognised organisation such as Yoga Australia

Hot For Yoga can assist with the correct invoicing if your fund requires specific information to process a claim.

How to Make a Claim
If your policy includes yoga as an eligible service, you can typically claim by:

1. Requesting a referral or letter from your GP if required.
2. Attending a class or session with a qualified instructor.
3. Asking your yoga studio (such as Hot For Yoga) to provide an invoice with:
   • Instructor name and credentials
   • Studio ABN
   • Description of the service (e.g. “Yoga class – health program”)
4. Submitting your invoice via your health fund’s portal, app or claims service.

Each fund will have its own claiming process, so it’s worth double-checking any documentation requirements before your first session.
  
Don’t Miss Out on a Rebate You May Be Entitled To
Even if your current policy doesn’t offer yoga rebates, you may be eligible for a different level of coverage or fund. In many cases, a GP referral is the only extra step needed to unlock access to health support that aligns with your lifestyle.
Now that yoga has returned to the approved list of natural therapies, there’s never been a better time to check in with your fund. You may already be paying for benefits you haven’t claimed.
Contact your health fund today and ask:
“Is yoga covered under my Extras policy since the 2025 reinstatement?”

Start Your Yoga Journey with Us
Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, improve strength, or move more mindfully, Hot For Yoga offers a supportive space for you to reconnect with your body.
You can book your first class directly on our website or speak with our team about how to structure your sessions in a way that may support your rebate eligibility.
Visit www.hotforyoga.com.au to learn more or get started today.

​What is Bikram Yoga? A Beginner's Overview
Bikram Yoga is a fixed sequence of 26 postures and two breathing exercises performed in a heated room at 40°C and 40% humidity. Each 90-minute class works your muscles, joints, organs, and mental focus. The consistency appealed to me, especially given rowing's repetitive nature. This structure gave me a measurable way to track progress.

​The First Class: Sweat, Struggle, and Doubt
That first class was brutal. The heat felt unbearable, my balance was non-existent, and I spent more time lying on my mat than in actual poses. It was humbling—and honestly, a little terrifying.
But I wasn't alone. Most first-timers struggle. The key, I learned, was to rest when needed. Adjusting to the intensity takes time.

​A Turning Point. Embracing the Heat
By the end of the third session, something shifted. I wasn’t just enduring the heat but beginning to work with it. I found a rhythm that respected my limitations while pushing me just enough to build strength and resilience.
One powerful realisation was that progress doesn't mean symmetry. My right side may never mirror my left, but that didn’t make the effort or the results any less valid. Each small win—standing longer, stretching deeper, recovering faster—meant even more.
​
Physical Benefits: The Change I Didn't Expect
In just 30 days, the benefits were impossible to ignore:

• Increased strength, especially through my weaker leg
• Improved flexibility and range of motion
• A much greater sense of balance and postural awareness
• Easier, deeper breathing—a benefit I didn’t expect to be so profound
• A renewed sense of determination and mental clarity

​
​Mental Clarity and Emotional Resilience
Hot yoga isn’t just physical—it’s deeply mental. Coming from rowing, I was used to pushing through discomfort. But Bikram taught me to breathe through it instead. That shift has been invaluable:

• Greater mental focus and calm
• Less anxiety and mental chatter
• A mindset of self-acceptance and persistence

Don’t just take my word for it. Research from Harvard shows hot yoga can ease depression and improve mood, and I’m living proof of that.

From Sceptic to Addict
Bikram Yoga has given me more than physical strength—it has reignited my confidence, sharpened my focus, and improved my breathing. What began as scepticism became a personal transformation that helped me achieve a Concept 2 World Record.

Brony believed in the power of this practice long before I did. Thanks to her encouragement, I found a discipline that continues to challenge and empower me daily. She was right all along—and now, I can say with certainty, I’m all in.

Start Your Own Journey
Whether recovering from injury, ageing, or seeking a new challenge, Bikram Yoga might surprise you. You don’t need to be flexible or strong to begin. You just need to start.

​The benefits of a regular Bikram Yoga practice are seemingly endless, but one especially exciting advantage is its potential to improve bone density. That’s right—Bikram Yoga and bone health make quite the team.

​The study concluded that regular Bikram Yoga practice may help preserve—or even increase—bone mineral density over time. As such, it could be a powerful tool in the prevention of osteoporosis.

So what are you waiting for, book your next class now, and stretch your way to healthier bones.

​​Starting something new can be a daunting thought but it doesn’t have to be. With proper preparation you can slide through your first sweaty hot yoga class. Here are our top 5 tips to prepare for your first Bikram Hot Yoga class.

For Women:
  • Top: Sports bra, moisture-wicking crop top, or lightweight tank (preferably fitted to avoid fabric clinging uncomfortably).
  • Bottom: Breathable yoga shorts or fitted leggings made from sweat-wicking materials.
For Men:
  • Top: Optional—many go shirtless; otherwise, a sleeveless moisture-wicking tank or fitted tee.
  • Bottom: Lightweight yoga shorts or compression shorts with moisture-wicking fabric.
5.  Arrive early to relax and slow down before your class.
​
​Now that you're equipped with these helpful tips for your first Bikram Yoga class, take the plunge and experience the transformative power of hot yoga - your body, mind and spirit will thank you!