Bikram Yoga

[fpomeroy]

I've recently been turned onto a style of yoga called Bikram Yoga or "Hot Yoga." It is truly one of the most physically and mentally refreshing experiences I've had in a long while.

The way that it works is - you enter the room with your matt and prepare mentally for the session to begin. Once the class is assembled instruction begins and the room fills with an immense amount of steam - in my case the room's temperature escalates to 105 degrees. Then you continue with a 90 min phsycial stretch/workout and meditation. Truly an incredible experience and something new/fun for those who've grown tired of their regular routine!

If anyone is interested in this form of yoga I'd check your local listings and see if you can't sit in on a class.

Here is a more detailed description:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bikram_Yoga

[emm7]

I looked at the Wiki article and found some links which reveal some worrying anecdotes about the founder of this style of yoga!
What is the safety record of these classes -- is there a high rate of injury?
(I currently do Viniyoga and Hatha Yoga).

[SpugFab]

Andy Murray is reported to be a fan.

[Mr. Cleetus]

buhhhh I gave it a try for a few months some years ago. The heat was too OTT for me and I could not figure out how to enjoy it. I did not see why 40+ was necessary and not, say, 32+, or whatever. I also did not manage to get the flexibility out of it that I had hoped, but that probably just means I was crap at it!

[Rocket_human]

i've been along to a few bikram classes with my girlfriend and while is was probably the toughest work out of my bloody life, it is really a great style. The first class i had to stop a lay down a few times but after class two i was already getting a lot better. In australia they make some of the leading football teams do bikram because it is so hardcore and it helps them avoid injury because it's alot about spine strengthening. As for injuries i'd say it's the same as everything else, the classes are beginners and expest all in one and you only push as hard as you want. The forms stay the same but get harder as you begin to do them more correctly. The only bad thing about bikram is that the classes are quite expensive. I don't go regularly because of the cost but sometimes just go to keep my girlfriend company.

so anyway you should try it out if you want to really push yourself, the heat is extreme but like a tattoo once it's over you feel like you achieved something. And as for that Wiki article i read it and thought it was totally biased. It doesn't matter wether the founder is trying to keep copyright of his own name or not, judge the style by what it can do for you or not.

[Rochellita]

Really eager to try this, the studio that was due to open here was delayed by a year, now it's supposed to be ready by the end of summer.

The price is a shame, it seems to cost double a regular class everywhere that it's taught. I guess maintenance costs for the studios are higher because they need to be heated to the the extreme.

[Agent Provocateur]

I've tried Bikram and I see it sort-of as not-yoga. I know that doesn't make much sense but I will try to explain.

From what I understand, yoga is mental/physical/spiritual and people go to yoga practice to get all three benefits. There are ancient teachings and such.

Bikram to me is physical. It's an excellent workout, and great for heat training for this Prairie Canuk who lives in winter temperatures 8 months out of 12. I'm sure some people take their Bikram practice to a higher level but in my mind it seems too commercial to be a lasting trend. I suspect, as great of a workout as it is, that its popularity may dwindle in a couple of years.

[Cparkinson]

I've recently been turned onto a style of yoga called Bikram Yoga or "Hot Yoga." It is truly one of the most physically and mentally refreshing experiences I've had in a long while.

The way that it works is - you enter the room with your matt and prepare mentally for the session to begin. Once the class is assembled instruction begins and the room fills with an immense amount of steam - in my case the room's temperature escalates to 105 degrees. Then you continue with a 90 min phsycial stretch/workout and meditation. Truly an incredible experience and something new/fun for those who've grown tired of their regular routine!

If anyone is interested in this form of yoga I'd check your local listings and see if you can't sit in on a class.

Here is a more detailed description:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bikram_Yoga

hello everyone,
Wow, I have heard so much about that yoga style! I am just a beginner with pilates since March, so not ready for that yet. Do you think you would need to be a good student of yoga before you might take on this "hot yoga" style? If so, what type would you start with, I am over 50 now?

[Carin]

Hai Cparkinson

At our Bikram Yoga in Holland there are all kind of diffrent ages who practise it.
Because everybody is concentrated on ther on movements you don't feel uncomfortable.

You can make it so hard if you like, but the heat is high. Important is to listen carefully to the teacher and try to follow the instructions. A few movements feel strange like to close you knees if you stands. Because normal we learn that standing with steched knees is bad but here the will teach you how it isn't bad to the joints in de poses.
On http://www.pbase.com/coastalva/hotyoga you see photes about the movements.

I should say, try first one or two lessons and find out how it is for you.


Succes!

Carin

[MelissaBrooklyn]

Bikram yoga is an amazing way to get an overall workout. Flexibility, strength, muscle development and mental health are all by-products of this workout.

I recently started doing Bikram and I love it. I have been a gym rat for years. I would weight train for an hour a day and run 3-5 miles and in a year I lost 35 pounds. That's not a whole lot considering I was spending between 1.5-2 hours at the gym 5 days a week.

In my first week of doing Bikram, I lost 2 lbs (4 sessions), I found emotional and mental clarity for the first time and I found myself truly challenged. Just by being in the room you are challenging yourself. Once you incorporate the poses you begin to physically challenge yourself.

Based on the tourniquet theory; increased temperature creates a higher heart rate therefore creating higher oxegenated blood. By cutting off circulation to one part of the body and releasing the pose you are allowing more oxygen to the body and detoxifying amongst other benefits.

I definitely think it is important to change up your workout out every 6-8 weeks, so I wouldn't say doing Bikram every day forever is the way to go, but try it for a week and see what happens.

Many of the studios (in NYC any way) offer an intro week for the price of one class so you can go as much as you want in that first week. Some offer intro months that are up to 50% less than usual.

There is also something called the 30 day challenge that offers a free month after completing 30 consecutive days (serious commitment!). Finally, some offer work study; you work a few hours and can go to yoga as much as you want.

For me, its about a commitment to myself. Don't go out on Friday night and spend $60 on booze; that's 3 classes. Make choices that benefit you and you can afford it.

I did camel pose for the first time yesterday. I have spinal degeneration. I was told by the doctors that I would be crippled by the time I'm 40. I'm 28 and I'm bending in ways I have never before been able to. For me, that's worth new clothes and fancy dinners.

[Kristinmarie]

Hi Melissa and everyone else,

I have been doing Bikram yoga since off and on since 2001, and I love it. I generally go 1-2 times per week now, at first I went 3-4 times a week, then it dwindled to not going at all for a while. I've been back at it steadily for about a year. I'm also a marathon runner and I lift weights 3 times a week, I find it balances out the running/weights nicely. I truly believe this yoga practice has made me a stronger runner, and (knock on wood) I've not been injured once since I started doing it.

The only thing that gets me is how they actually have Birkam Yoga Competitions. I think that kind of defeats the "yoga" frame of mind....? I thought the whole purpose was to let your ego go and and be at peace internally, etc. Anyway, I never let that stop me from going to a class!

I am also quite surprised that after doing this same yoga for so long, I still never get bored with the same series of postures. When I do venture out to another kind of yoga class, I get bored there and wish it was as challenging at Bikram!

I would encourage anyone to try it. I've seen men and women of all ages, shapes, sizes and fitness levels in classes.

[Rochellita]

Just came back from my first Bikram Yoga class. It's the first of it's kind on Northern England and I joined the throng of excited people anticipating their first session.

Firstly the obvious comment on the heat- a studio heated to 40 centigrade or 105 fahrenheit. It wasn't a problem for me, I think perhaps because I grew up in a very hot climate I tolerate the heat well, so it was just lovely and pleasant and though it takes a lot for me to sweat I did eventually. They have installed a special heating system that maintains the correct balance of humidity and temperature, using heat exchange technology to reduce energy consumption and supply fresh air. So it never felt stuffy and stifling.

I found the postures tough, and the they were particularly challenging for my inflexible shoulders and back. I like that BY is not dynamic, and that there are no handstands, headstands or shoulder stands. I think these sorts of postures are really rather tough even for many intermediate practitioners and I think removing them from the series of postures makes this style very accessible to all levels, and less dangerous. I also do so much CV work already, I want a yoga class that doesn't involved jumping around.

It's very different to many styles I have practiced and the teacher, though strict was funny and irreverant and clearly knew the system inside out.

We ran over by 25 minutes which made the class almost 2 hours, I left feeling sticky, stretched out and with so much energy I have no idea where to put it Let's see if it's just beginners high. I've got unlimited usage for 10 days, it's going to be lovely warm sweaty week here in freezing wet Manchester.

So a big thumbs up but I need to do it more to form a firmer opinion.

As a disclaimer I think there is a lot of snake oil bullshit around this method, and a lot of unsubstantiated health claims and I am very aware of that. I'd like to see some research into how this does actually affect the body, so far it's all anecdotal. I feel great though!

To anyone in the North West interested, the studio is in the heart of Manchester http://www.bikramyogamanchester.co.uk/

[Carin]

Hay Flux, how do you feel today?

Are you still aware of some new muscles? ( )

[Rochellita]

Hay Flux, how do you feel today?

Are you still aware of some new muscles? ( )

I did 2 days in a row, with today off, I was pretty exhausted yesterday after the class though I did spinning and Bikram back to back so it's not surprising- I was training about 3 hours in total. I was better hydrated this time though

I did notice muscle soreness on day 2, I didn't expect that! I'm looking foward to the next class tomorrow, I hope I'll have the energy for it! It's somewhat addictive!

How many days a week to you practice it, Carin?

[Carin]

At the moment u don't do any practice because I have it to bussy with the two schools I started this september.
Only running three times a week(and the morning practice yoga but thats only 20 minutes.

But I would like to go. Especial now with the cold and dark days.

Its suprising how muscles work isn't it?