Bikram yoga was based by Bikram Choudhury who was born in Calcutta in 1944. He started working towards yoga on the age of 4 and after profitable the Nationwide India Yoga Championship, he injured his knee.

Whereas docs mentioned that he would by no means stroll once more, Bikram Choudhury used yoga and was absolutely healed inside 6 months. With the information that yoga can remedy persistent ache and heal the physique, Bikram devised his collection of 26 postures to assist heal the physique and thoughts – which might later develop into generally known as Bikram yoga.

What’s Bikram Yoga?

Bikram yoga is synthesized from Hatha yoga’s methods and values, a department of yoga that mixes postures with respiratory. Not like different types of yoga, Bikram yoga permits little or no in the way in which of creativity. It’s a collection of 26 set poses carried out repeatedly in a 100 diploma plus room. The category will go on for 90 minutes and also will embody two respiratory workout routines.

Bikram yoga is extraordinarily particular, which is why it’s vital to not get it muddled with scorching yoga – which can embody Vinyasa circulate or Yin yoga. Whereas the instructors for these courses might create a circulate both earlier than the category begins, or as they train, Bikram yoga is extraordinarily regimented.

That’s to not say, nevertheless, that simply because you are able to do a lot of the poses required one can find Bikram yoga to be straightforward. Bikram yoga will be extraordinarily difficult because of the warmth, and 90 minutes is a good size of time to be working towards particularly when caught in a scorching room.

Bikram’s 26 postures transfer recent, oxygenated blood all around the physique. The postures guarantee our inner organs, veins, ligaments and muscle tissues obtain blood, serving to them to take care of optimum well being and performance. Collectively, the poses promote and work in direction of a wholesome and fully-functioning physique and thoughts.

What are the Advantages of Practising Bikram Yoga?

A Robust Exercise

Practising Bikram yoga is a splendidly distinctive expertise – and it additionally comes with a bunch of well being advantages! The primary of those is that it’s a severe exercise. Whereas working your manner by way of a collection of poses might not appear as intense as deadlifts within the gymnasium or a Sunday morning 10k, we are able to guarantee you that it’s robust!

The new temperatures will elevate each your pulse charge and metabolism, which can burn some severe energy. A variety of the postures are significantly intense, which can construct muscle tone and provide help to get stronger. If it’s your first-time working towards, I assure that you’ll really feel it the following day.

Bikram yoga can be an awesome stress reliever. Whereas working towards yoga is a incredible method to really feel current and centered in your physique, Bikram yoga takes this to a different stage – as you’ll doubtless be too scorching to consider something apart from your present expertise! You’ll go away the Bikram class feeling calmer, happier, and far, a lot sweatier!

Deeper Stretches

The new room can be nice for stretching out any aches and pains. Whereas this may be each a profit and a threat (as you’ll see later on this submit), the new temperature ensures you will get deeper into the stretches, and also you’ll be much less susceptible to damage than you could be if you happen to had been working your muscle tissues chilly. Whereas there’s a threat of overstretching, if you happen to don’t push your self too far it is best to discover stretching within the high temperature very nice.

Helps with Power Ache

Like Bikram yoga founder Choudhury himself skilled, yoga can even assist with persistent ache and even simply day-to-day aches and pains. Sitting over a laptop computer or sleeping at a clumsy angle may cause virtually debilitating ache, and yoga generally is a nice assist.

By strengthening the belly muscle tissues, Bikram yoga will promote good posture which can assist hold your physique freed from aches and pains. It’ll additionally cut back stress in your stress-carrying muscle tissues – for instance, the hips and shoulders which are inclined to tighten after we’re careworn. This will forestall damage and improve your efficiency in different sports activities – akin to working or biking.

Getting Sweaty

Lastly, there’s the sweat. There’s no hiding it in Bikram yoga – you’ll sweat, however this definitely isn’t a nasty factor. Sweating this a lot has a complete host of advantages. It’ll increase your endorphins, detox your physique by flushing out alcohol, ldl cholesterol and salt, and it’s additionally nice to your pores and skin!

Whereas many individuals observe Bikram yoga when they’re hungover, I might encourage you to proceed with warning. Should you’re hungover you’re already doubtless dehydrated, so it’s important you get sufficient fluids in you earlier than your class.

Are There Any Dangers?

Whereas Bikram yoga definitely has its advantages, there are some dangers which should be thought-about earlier than you begin in your Bikram journey.

Dehydration

The primary is dehydration. As Bikram is carried out in a extremely popular room, there’s a extreme threat of dehydration because the physique closely sweats for a chronic period of time. Should you don’t soak up sufficient water, you’re more likely to develop into dehydrated. If you end up feeling nauseous, weak, faint otherwise you expertise cramping throughout a Bikram yoga class, you’re most probably dehydrated.

Drink some water instantly and if signs don’t subside then go away the category and search medical assist. A great way to cease this taking place within the first place is to ensure you drink sufficient water within the days and hours earlier than your yoga class, in addition to pausing to take a drink all through the category.

Heatstroke and Warmth Exhaustion

Heatstroke and warmth exhaustion are additionally dangers that include the new temperature. As your core temperature will increase so does your threat of warmth stroke and it’s vital that your physique can cool itself down if want be. Throughout heatstroke, the physique’s cardiovascular system begins to close down which is exceedingly harmful.

Ensure you don’t push your self too far, particularly in your first few courses when your physique isn’t used to the new temperature. Should you really feel unwell, it’s important that you simply go away the category and relaxation.

Overstretching

Overstretching is one other severe threat. The extremely popular temperatures may cause you to really feel extra versatile than you’re. Whereas you will get deeper into stretches when the temperature is scorching, there’s a threat that you’ll push your physique additional than what it’s able to.

Overstretching can result in joint and muscle ache in addition to irritation, and you will want to take day without work to get well from it. It’s best to know your limits from the offset and cease if you happen to really feel such as you may be overdoing it.

Whereas there might appear to be plenty of dangers related to Bikram yoga, offered you’re match, wholesome and don’t push your self too far, you shouldn’t have any complication. In case you are uncertain, test along with your physician and ensure you inform your Bikram yoga instructor about any underlying damage or well being concern.

Getting ready to your First Bikram Yoga Class

Your first Bikram yoga class can really feel extraordinarily daunting, however with the proper preparation, it needn’t be the terrifying expertise your thoughts might be making it out to be!

The very first thing I ought to inform you is that no, you aren’t going to die. Should you’re wise, you’ll be completely nice, and we’re assured that you’ll go away the category a Bikram yoga convert!

Earlier than your Class

Earlier than the category, it’s important that you simply hydrate. Should you can guide a night class to your first time then that is ideally suited, because it means you’ll be able to drink loads of water all through the day and never threat turning up dehydrated.

Bikram yoga may also be very demanding on the physique, so it’s vital to maintain your vitality up with meals. Nonetheless, we’re not advocating consuming junk meals or doubling your traditional sugar consumption, yoga is uncomfortable if you happen to’re full and Bikram yoga isn’t any completely different. As an alternative, eat one thing mild and wholesome. You wish to go to class feeling content material – not so hungry that you’re about to faint, however not too full both!

Throughout the Class

Convey not less than 1 liter of water with you, I can not stress this sufficient! Different issues to carry are a towel (as your mat will get slippery) and one thing to put on after class – particularly if it’s chilly outdoors. Though you could really feel extra self-conscious, lengthy pants or long-sleeved tops are usually not a good suggestion.

You’re going to get very, extremely popular. As an alternative, shorts and a t-shirt are a greater possibility, higher but, a sports activities bra. Keep in mind, everyone seems to be on their very own journey, nobody is taking a look at you.

It’s vital to get to your first Bikram class early for 2 causes. Firstly, it lets you communicate to the instructor. You should definitely inform the instructor that you’re new, they’ll assist make it a great expertise for you and look out for you within the class. Whereas many individuals don’t wish to admit that they’re rookies, with regards to yoga there isn’t any room for an ego.

Inform the instructor you’re new and I can guarantee you that they’ll provide help to really feel much more at house. They might additionally be capable to direct you to a cooler spot within the room, for instance, nearer the door. Should you’re not used to the warmth, you’ll really feel greater than grateful for this as soon as the category will get underway!

It’s additionally vital to get there early as a result of it offers you time to acclimatize to the warmth. Whereas 90 minutes is a very long time to spend in a scorching room anyway, getting into the room 10-Quarter-hour earlier than the category begins will enable your physique to regulate to the warmth earlier than you begin working towards. I like to recommend mendacity in your mat for a couple of minutes, working towards some deep respiratory and attempting to calm down. Plus, getting in there early will even let you nab the very best spot!

You should definitely take a number of breaks throughout the class. When you may be tempted to push on to maintain up with everybody else – particularly if nobody else appears to be struggling – like I mentioned earlier than, there isn’t any room for ego. Nobody is watching you, and nobody cares if you happen to take a break. Should you really feel such as you’re struggling an excessive amount of, sit or lie in your mat and attempt to calm down. Take heed to your physique.

After the Class

Whereas I’ve little question that you’ll be feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after class, I like to recommend taking it gradual. Rise up slowly, take your time leaving the room and ensure you sit down if you happen to really feel in any respect unwell. Drink a number of water and take it straightforward!

Conclusion

I hope this submit has inspired you to dive into the world of Bikram yoga and provides it a go. When you might really feel nervous, or in lots of instances extremely uncoordinated and unbalanced, Bikram yoga has a complete host of advantages.

Not solely will you’re feeling the optimistic results straight after class; follow Bikram yoga and also you’ll reap the advantages properly past the time you spend on the mat.

It is a visitor submit by Kosta Miachin: Kosta Miachin is the creator of VIKASA Yoga methodology – a novel, difficult and efficient method to yoga. He’s additionally the founding father of VIKASA Yoga Academy. You could find him on-line: vikasayoga.com