WHAT IS BIKRAM YOGA
Bikram Yoga is the ORIGINAL HOT YOGA, with origins going back nearly 50 years. The current “hot yoga” phenomenon is an offshoot of the huge popularity of Bikram Yoga and has created some confusion about the difference between an authentic 90-minute Bikram yoga class and other styles of hot yoga. Unlike a flowing style hot yoga class, the Bikram practice follows a principal of holding the body in stillness, in a particular position, with optimal alignment, using focus and breath to then create physical, mental and emotional change.
These moments of stillness, within and between each posture are important to give the body time to recover, re-oxygenate and prepare for the next posture.
As a genuine Bikram Yoga studio, our instructors teach only the original 90 minute sequence of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises, in a room heated to 40C, with 40% humidity, on a floor surface that reduces the risk of injury through slipping. Other hot yoga classes tend to be cooler, shorter and most often a flowing style.
BENIFITS OF BIKRAM YOGA
Detoxification
Very shortly after a class begins, the student will begin sweating as the skin, the largest eliminative organ of the body, begins a cleansing detoxification. Students are encouraged to hydrate before class, are allowed to drink water during class and are reminded to re-hydrate after class.
A student's daily intake of water often increases dramatically when they begin Bikram Yoga and this has a healthy flushing and cleansing effect on the body.
Safer and easier stretching and opening of musculoskeletal structures
The core temperature of the body may rise safely by about .5 to 1.0 degree and the superficial soft tissue structures, including the fascia, ligaments, muscles and tendons will warm up quickly and allow the student to move further, more comfortably and more safely in all directions than while exercising in a cooler environment.
Improved spinal integrity and nervous system function
By moving the body and thus the spine into all ranges of motion, the student actively opens the joints of the spinal column and strengthens the supportive muscle groups around the spinal column.
This ensures optimal spinal joint function and minimal interference to nerve pathways between the brain and the body.
Cardiovascular workout
Bikram is not a flowing or vinyasa style of hatha yoga but rather a more stationary style of practice where you move into a particular position and then hold it for between 10 and 60 seconds, depending upon the posture.
Sounds easy? It may, but you will notice how your heart rate will increase when this simple activity is done in the heat.
Deeper perfusion of blood into tissues and organs
As the body exercises in this unique environment, the heat thins down the blood and allows it to perfuse more deeply into body tissues and organs to facilitate healing.
Strengthened mental focus and discipline
While the practice may appear to be just physical activity, it is also a form of waking meditation. The hot environment demands a sharpening of your mental focus, concentration and determination during the 90-minute class.
Most students report a total absence of distracting thoughts, during the class, as they concentrate on their breath, the posture, their image in the mirror and the words of their teacher.
This wonderful relief from the stress of life continues outside the hot room as the student discovers that things that previously may have stressed them in their life, no longer seem to steal their peace of mind.
More rapid healing from injury and disease
There are certainly tremendous restorative benefits from the practice of any style of yoga, as the student combines conscious breathing with particular movements that stretch, strengthen and stimulate all body systems: cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, excretory, immune, integumentary, reproductive, respiratory, nervous and musculoskeletal.
The heated environment, however, achieves these positive changes more quickly for the student conducting a regular practice. The Bikram yoga practice beautifully compliments other styles of yoga and exercise the student may perform and may also compliment any type of body work, such as chiropractic, that the student may be receiving.