Many fitness centers and studios offer various variations of classical yoga. One of the most unusual areas is Bikram Yoga. This type of yoga has taken its origin since the 1970s, when Indian Bikram Chowdhury, experimenting, came to the conclusion that practicing yoga in a hot room has particular advantages. For example, after an injury, recovery is faster and less painful.
Each complex in Bikram Yoga consists of 26 asanas and 2 breathing exercises. But its main feature, of course, is the temperature of the room. To achieve the right effect, according to Chowdhury, the room should be heated to 40 degrees Celsius. Due to this condition, this type of yoga is extremely difficult to practice at home. Firstly, not everyone has the opportunity to achieve such a temperature in the apartment, and secondly, because of the heat there are additional dangers, therefore it is best to work under the supervision of an experienced instructor in a special room.
Pros and cons of Bikram Yoga
Before you try on yourself a new kind of yoga, you should deal with all the pitfalls and determine whether this is really what you need.
Let’s start with the positive aspects of this practice. Unlike classic complexes, Bikram Yoga burns much more calories per hour of exercise, so you should pay attention to this type of activity if you want to quickly put yourself in shape and lose a few extra pounds. Naturally, because of the temperature and physical exertion, you will sweat profusely, and this is also a great way to clean the body and remove toxins from it.
As mentioned above, Bikram Yoga is an excellent solution to the dilemma of physical exertion during the recovery period after injuries. Your body, staying in a warm room for a long time, becomes more flexible. Therefore, complex elements will be made easier. This is also a great option for those who want to improve their stretching, without experiencing any painful sensations.
Bikram Yoga will help you to relax as much as possible after a busy day. In this regard, by the way, it is recommended to practice it in the evening.
But, despite this number of positive effects, do not forget about the possible harm. This type of yoga has a number of medical contraindications. It cannot be practiced by people with cardiovascular diseases, varicose veins, etc. Before signing up for a class, it would be ideal to consult a doctor.
Do not forget about the features of your body. If you are difficult to tolerate heat, exercise at 40 degrees will not bring you any benefit or pleasure.
It is also worth noting that during classes with such increased perspiration, you will drink a lot of water, which means that the load on your kidneys will approximately double.
What did you need to know, going to hot yoga?
So, let’s say you decide that you want to try Bikram yoga. To make the studio time as pleasant as possible and benefit your body, do not forget about the following rules:
- Start preparing in advance. Approximately one day before the practice, pay increased attention to the amount of water consumed. In no case cannot be allowed dehydration. And about 1.5 – 2 hours before class limit food intake.
- Minimize the amount of clothing. Without a doubt, your perspiration during Bikram yoga will be extremely intense. In order not to hamper your own movements, pay attention to sports tops and short elastic shorts.
- Do not forget to drink! Take a water bottle to class and place it right next to your rug so that it can be handy at any time.
- Be sure to talk with the instructor before class if this is your debut in Bikram yoga. Refine all the details you are interested in and tell about your health, to avoid trouble. Feel free to ask questions.
- Move at your pace. You should not compare your progress with people on neighboring rugs. Perform asanas with maximum efficiency, but do not overdo it. In a hot room, there is a high likelihood of dizziness and even fainting. If you need a break – take a break.
The main thing is that the classes bring you pleasure and be completely safe for your health. Do not forget that this practice is just one of the many types of power yoga, and if it does not suit you, look for something else. For starters, you can try such a direction as hatha yoga at home, especially if there is no time to visit the studio.
