Iowa State has taken to hot yoga in the offseason since Fred Hoiberg arrived in 2010. (Eli Hamann/Ames Tribune)

Iowa State will begin official team practices in just a few days, but the lead-up to the preseason for the Cyclones has involved something new-age. Forty-minute weekly sessions of steaming, hot yoga, something the program has taken to doing the past three summers.

You have to wonder how a horde of hoopsters could embrace something so unalike to basketball prep. The Ames Tribune dug in and endured the heat and humidity for a recent sesssion with the team -- inside a reported 100-degree room.

Mark that down as what might be a first in human history: comparing a Yoga session to winning a mid-season game against Kansas State or the like. However little impact it may or may not have, you can't say the Yoga's hurt ISU. Since starting it two years ago, ISU has made two straights NCAA tournaments and won 23 games in each of those years.

But the Cyclones will be challenged this season. Although Kane is a one-year grad transfer from Marshall who will definitely help Fred Hoiberg's team get points, ISU lost approximately 53 points per game from last year's roster. The most notable losses are Will Clyburn and Tyrus McGee. Ejim, Niang and Kane will be the big three responsible for making it three straight NCAA trips for the Clones.

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Iowa St. preps for season with hot yoga classes