What is Bikram yoga?
Bikram yoga is 90-minute system of yoga developed by Bikram
Choudhury. It consists of a series of 26 postures. Easy, right? Wrong -
not when the room is set to 40.6°C, which is the standard temperature
for which Bikram yoga is practiced.
Why would I do this to myself?
There are a range of benefits to doing Bikram yoga, from helping with
weight loss and boosting metabolism to improving bodily pains and
depression. During your session you will be exhausted and constantly
wiping away that sweat, but as your session comes to an end, you’ll
actually feel better than you did when you walked in. You will have
worked your body and pushed yourself to its limits, and as a result
you'll feel rejuvenated and restored.
Top tips
- Stay hydrated. This doesn’t mean chugging a litre
bottle of water when you’re walking in the studio door. Drink around 2
litres of water throughout the day before your session. And post-Bikram
make sure you restore your electrolytes and rehydrate.
- Don’t eat 2 hours before the class. A full stomach
can be very uncomfortable in the heat. You don’t want to be hungry
either, so a small snack might be okay, but you just have to experiment
and see what level of food intake is right for you.
- Show some skin. You are going to sweat, just accept
it. So you want to wear light breathable clothing. Don’t be afraid to
show some skin, yoga is not competitive - it’s about challenging
yourself.
- Let it rain. As you sweat throughout the class, try
not to constantly towel yourself off. Sweat is your body’s way of
cooling you down, so embrace it.
- Come back. The first session is particularly hard
as your body won't know what to expect. But make sure you come back for
your second class - that's when the fun really starts! Be patient and
enjoy yourself... and the sweat!
Bikram yoga benefits