Introduction to Bikram Yoga

What is Bikram Yoga? Bikram Yoga is a series of 26 postures, and also includes 2 breathing exercises. The intense series, with the mentality of “the right way is the hard way,” is practiced in a room that is heated to at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit – with a humidity of at least 40%.

I am going to do my best here to keep this as dynamic as possible; the issue with this Yoga is that the benefits are so expansive that an entry introducing the yoga is almost too mind boggling. I'll brush through as many benefits, but will still be just brushing the surface – I feel.

Each posture (or pose) in the series is done twice, and prepares the body for the next one. It is practiced deliberately the same, ritualistically, and uses a script/dialogue. It is also known as a “moving meditation,” and is largely known for its slough of benefits. Oh, boy!

“Why so warm?” one might wonder. While warming up the muscles is great for increased flexibility, and prevention of injuries, also, the warmer your muscles are the more easily you burn fat. It causes you to sweat at an increased rate, which pushes toxins through your body and helps detoxify the body (starting with the largest organ – the skin.) Essentially washing your skin with your own salty sweat, you will notice some benefits of softer, clearer, and healthier skin. Self exfoliation! Increased blood flow to all areas of the body, including areas under your skin will brighten your complexion if this is what it is lacking.

A side effect to detoxification is a healthier circulatory system. This has a very positive effect on your metabolism, which, in turn increases your body’s ability of to lose weight more easily. These things can add up to a stronger mind/body awareness, and a decreased appetite as the body and the hormones are balanced. In effect, each Bikram Yoga class I've taken has given me a great reset to whatever was going on in my body at any given time.

Increased blood flow to all areas of the body helps the body heal at a quicker rate to where-ever the blood is flowing to. Blood brings nutrients and the greater opportunity for cell regeneration. Just as oral injuries heal quickly in your mouth due to increased blood flow naturally to this region, the Yoga creates a tourniquet effect in most postures, eventually releasing when the pose is done and creating this same concept all over the body.

It is a well known fact that Bikram Yoga improves the working of most of the systems and functions of the body – respiration, digestion, elimination, endocrine and lymphatic – and helps them act in harmony.

The biggest thing that I realized when going into the practice of yoga was that I would not expect immediate results. I began my practice with a chronic injury that I was aware would not see immediate results. It was my only real reason for the beginning of my practice. This gave me the benefit of not looking to SEE immediate results. However, in a few sessions I was already feeling some great physical changes in my body. The changes do appear over time, and is much akin to the peeling of an onion. Layer after layer of changes will begin to appear.

Intensely different/increased flexibility and a more concentrated level of strength was what I noticed first. As my muscles around my knees grew stronger, my knee pain did decrease. I am certain that in all areas of the body that you experience an ailment, over time you'll see the pain level decrease while practicing the Yoga.

Other small changes included the need for less sleep (my body began operating more efficiently, requiring less rest), 90 minutes of any “active” thing, will burn calories. I became much more self aware, more confident and comfortable in my own skin.

My situational depression lifted as the months of regular practice passed. This was bigger than almost any other benefit to me personally. It allowed me to take back my personal power, and gave me access to my own mental strength once again – which I felt that I had lost while experiencing depression.

Alleviating stress and tension in the body, it also helps prevent sports injuries and pain from repetitive and overuse injuries. Building a greater capacity of the lungs and creating marked changes in my diaphragm, I immediately noticed a greater capacity to sing! This was the last thing I expected out of the Yoga. Greater lung capacity can transfer over into ease in other fitness areas as well as every day life. Putting intense simulated stress on the body in postures will help you cope easier in day to day life when stress does pop up.

Increasing your level of balance will keep you from falling over in your day to day routine and crashing into things as often. I'm joking around of course – yet, in all seriousness – Bikram Yoga is challenging, engaging, and different every day while still following the same ritualistic format. Yoga didn't seem very “hard core,” to me as a fitness fanatic, until I gave it a shot.

I was pleasantly surprised by all of the benefits that I've experienced first hand (you'd have to try it to believe all this) and also by the fact that it is no easy, soft task. I enjoy challenges, and that's what the practice of Bikram Yoga will provide. I would have quickly lost interest if it were anything short of a difficult task. Day in, and day out.

The subject is definitely enough that Bikram has written two books, and has a 63 day course of intensive training for aspiring teachers. I will have to cut it short with this expansive introduction to Bikram Yoga.

Stay tuned for my next post on my 30 day Bikram Yoga challenge writeup.