Bikram Yoga is named after Bikram Choudhury who developed this therapeutically-specific program of 26 yoga postures and two breathing exercises as a means of recovering his own health. It became known as “hot yoga” because the program is done in a room heated to 105 degrees for 90 minutes. The heat allows for deeper and safer release of muscles, ligaments and tendons to avoid injury and the natural production of sweat has a detoxifing, revitalizing affect.
Bikram Yoga is designed to restore health to every muscle, joint and organ of the body. The ‘asanas’ (postures), the breathing and heat work in union to return you to a natural state of physical and mental balance. Circulation of fresh, oxygenated blood throughout the body during practice benefits the heart and other organs. Many postures massage the lymphatic system which promotes the elimination of toxins.
Why Bikram Yoga Is For You …
Bikram Yoga is appropriate to both beginning and advanced yoga students. The series can easily be modified or paced to fit one’s own level. The genuis of Bikram Yoga is that while everyone is practicing the same sequence of postures at different levels, everyone receives the same benefits!
Acclimating to movement in a heated room happens surprisingly quickly; give yourself 2-5 classes to adjust your mind and body to it. You will sweat! Fans of Bikram Yoga appreciate the tonic affect of the sweating and the predictable series of postures and breathing they can find in any Bikram class with any teacher. Pregnant women should consult their doctors before starting a Bikram Yoga practice.