Bikram yoga

[lunatilian]

so i started going to bikram yoga (also known as hot yoga) last week and i just love it. it's an awesome workout combining strength, flexibility and cardio. there are moments when you think you're going to pass out or just lay down and die but it feels sooooo good afterwards.

anyone else been?

[starling]

I haven't but I'd love to try. I usually do hatha yoga. How long are Bikram sessions? Shorter than other types of yoga, no?

[missj5]

i like bikram too, but i can't seem get myself to the studio often enough!

[lunatilian]

the sessions are 90 minutes long.

i've lost 2 pounds in a week since i started going!:pibo:

[yblad]

*googles* sounds interesting

[Tweety]

I did hot yoga for several years before the studio I went to closed. I really miss it.

[Earthly Delight]

I did it a few times.. I realized I tended to feel sick after, and often I even got sick after.. probably because I tried it in the middle of Toronto winter so I went from really warm/hot to really cold and breezy...

[greenrunner]

Lucky you. I've been wanting to for awhile, but there are no classes for hot yoga in this city.

[Animosity]

Lucky you. I've been wanting to for awhile, but there are no classes for hot yoga in this city.

Same with me. I've been interested in it for a long time, But there doesn't seem to be any classes even in my state as far as I am aware of.

[zoebird]

yup. there are actually multiple kinds of "hot" yoga out there, most of which stem out of the bikram system.

Bikram yoga is a 27 posture sequence (usually done in 1.5 hours) practiced in a room heated to 106 degrees F and about 65% humidity in the room.

Bikram taught three "famous" yogis who went on to develop their own styles and also kept the heat as an aspect of their yoga styles.

Baron Baptiste moved into studying astanga and anusara yoga and then created a vinyasa (flowing) sequence of postures (about 80 postures all said and done, completed in 1.5 hours) which is practiced in a room heated to about 85-90 degrees F with about 50-60% humidity.
Jimmy Barkan added and reorganized a few things to the bikram sequence and teaches the sequence in 1.5 hours in a room heated to 90-95 degrees F with whatever humidity is available.
Paul Grilley went on to study anatomy with a specific Japanese teacher and became interested in the "connective tissue" of the body and how that tissue is stimulated via yoga and out of this developed "Yin Yoga" which is often practiced in a heated room (various levels of heat) over 1.5 hours.


out of these guys, we find other people adding to taking out heat as they see fit. while heat can be healthy for some people, it isn't good for everyone and so as an individual, one should be observant of how one responds to heat while practicing yoga.

in other schools of yoga, one typically uses the breath in order to build the heat internally, which is more easily controlled by the student than an external heat source.

[Byzantea]

In Houston (110 degrees in the summer) we have air conditioned buildings (74 degrees) with hot rooms (approx 115 degrees) heated by electricity and gas in which people practice bikram yoga. I asked them why they don't just practice outside. Still waiting on a good answer!

[zoebird]

i think because tx is a 'dry' heat? LOL

no, the reality is that it is often difficult to practice outside. the permit requirements vary, of course, the ambient noise can be an issue, the lack of privacy, insects, and so on.

there are studios that often have "rooftop studio rooms" that are outdoors that will use these 'rooms' in the warm months. there's more "control" in these kinds of spaces than simply choosing "somewhere outside." :)

[nataliex1122]

I've been itching to try Bikram yoga ever since I heard of it. The only thing I'm worried about is I hear you can get into much deeper poses than usual, so it's easy to hurt yourself.

Also, do you have to drink a lot of water before or throughout the practice?

[zoebird]

throughout is not a great plan, but before is a good one.

one of the issues of heat is that one is able to "go deeper" than one may realize, but for most beginners this is not going to be an injurious process per se. it's more trouble for someone who is hypermobile already, or for someone more experienced in yoga asana alignment who may feel that they can 'go farther' than they necessarily should on account of the softening of the tissues that the heat provides.

so, it's more likely to be a problem after one has done bikram for a while (usually after a few months).

the real issues with bikram--or with any yoga class--in regards to injury is poor alignment. poor alignment PLUS heat can increase the potential for injury, but if the teacher is really good, alignment shouldn't be an issue.

poor alignment, repeated, is definitely going to lead to some severe injury--no matter what kind of yoga or other activity one is doing. it is important--particularly with yoga--to practice with good alignment, so for a beginner, a good teacher is a must! :)

[bluesand]

the real issues with bikram--or with any yoga class--in regards to injury is poor alignment. poor alignment PLUS heat can increase the potential for injury, but if the teacher is really good, alignment shouldn't be an issue.

poor alignment, repeated, is definitely going to lead to some severe injury--no matter what kind of yoga or other activity one is doing. it is important--particularly with yoga--to practice with good alignment, so for a beginner, a good teacher is a must! :)

^^ good advice for any one starting out

[nataliex1122]

^^ good advice for any one starting out

:yes: Thanks zoebird!

I tried bikram yoga for the first time yesterday and I still feel wonderful from it. I am definitely going to make an effort to go more, I have never sweat so much in my life. I felt so light and bouncy afterwards, I woke up today with so much energy.

[jAded]

I'm interested in trying it. My previous instructor was against it for some reason, but she is a hardcore Iyengar devotee.

[pocketsizedhero]

There are no yoga places around where I live, although one day for my school-dance class we had a yoga instructor come. It was amazing .. I don't think it was Bikram, though. I really wish I could do it, but I just do yoga to relax .. I have temper problems, so it helps. Oh, and the flexibility for ballet :] I wish I could do Bikram, though .. "hot" yoga :b

[lunatilian]

I tried bikram yoga for the first time yesterday and I still feel wonderful from it. I am definitely going to make an effort to go more, I have never sweat so much in my life. I felt so light and bouncy afterwards, I woke up today with so much energy.
yay:hamster:

it's been about two weeks and my entire body but especially my spine feel soooo good.

i went tonight after a few says of a stomach bug as well as getting a root canal done yesterday and it made me feel awesome. :)

[zoebird]

jaded: likely because the teachers aren't always well trained.

[synergy]

Lucky you. I've been wanting to for awhile, but there are no classes for hot yoga in this city.

There are a few in Calgary, if you are ever in town for a day.

[jAded]

jaded: likely because the teachers aren't always well trained.

From what I remember it was something to do with needing/being encouraged to drink water during the session which prevents you from eliminating toxins.... or something. Something to do with water anyway?

[Prajna_Seeker]

I'm interested in trying it. My previous instructor was against it for some reason, but she is a hardcore Iyengar devotee.

From what I gathered once your certified in Iyengar they frown on teaching or supporting other forms of yoga.

Bikram yoga is appealing if your Ayurvedic (holistic study of life) dosha is Pita. Heat is wonderful for flushing out toxins as well as deepening a stretch. I usually don't practice in 110 degree temps but I like it to be 90 degrees when I do my practice.

The great thing about yoga is there is a style for everyone! :smitten:

[starling]

From what I gathered once your certified in Iyengar they frown on teaching or supporting other forms of yoga.

Bikram yoga is appealing if your Ayurvedic (holistic study of life) dosha is Pita. Heat is wonderful for flushing out toxins as well as deepening a stretch. I usually don't practice in 110 degree temps but I like it to be 90 degrees when I do my practice.

Are you sure Bikram is good for pittas? I would think it would aggravate their agni just like eating spicy food would. (I'm a pitta.)

[Prajna_Seeker]

The way my consultant talked to me about it was a comfort level thing. Pitas like to push themselves and need that outlet to release pent up energy. Thats why they gravitate towards Ashtanga and Bikram yoga for this reason. I should specify that it's APPEALING to pitta's however, whats appealing to a person is not always whats best for them. Pittas need more rest and relaxation than stimulation.