What is Bikram Yoga?

Practicing yoga is a wonderful way to tone your body and your mind. It will help with stress, also. There are several types of Hatha yoga, which is any type of yoga that uses physical means to attain the goals of yoga. One of these types is Bikram Yoga.

Bikram yoga was developed in Los Angeles by Bikram Choudury. It is also called "hot yoga" and is for those yoga practitioners who don't mind working up a sweat while exercising. It is also known to be challenging and aggressive. It is made up of a standardized series of two breathing exercises and twenty-four poses. A relaxation session is used at the end . The entire session is aimed at addressing common health complaints. Bikram yoga is designed to be accessible to beginners.

Each pose prepares the body for the one that follows. This is much like Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. There are no props used, except occasionally the wall. There are also no inverted poses taught in this style of yoga and there is little in the way of upper body strengtheners.

Standing postures are done in the first part of the series. Then come backbends, forward bends and twists to complete the series. Each pose is usually performed twice and held for a certain length of time.

The room in which Bikram yoga is practices is heated to temperatures of 90 to 104 degrees F, or 36 to 42 degrees C. It is believed that the high temperatures and high level of sweating helps practitioners sweat out toxins. The high temperatures are also thought to help heat up the muscles and joints and allow the practitioners to stretch further than they have ever stretched before.

Many people enjoy Bikram very much. But, there are some who cannot tolerate the sauna-like conditions. People either report feeling energized or faint after trying this type of Hatha yoga. And, if a student has particular health complaints, they may not be ready for Bikram yoga. People who are already in good shape, with minimal chronic ailments or injuries, are good candidates for Bikram yoga.

No matter what type of Hatha yoga you choose to participate in, you should feel wonderful after a session. There is a yoga style for everyone. As you advance in your practice, you may decide to try a different type. Hopefully, this information will help you decide which type of Hatha yoga is best for you and your health concerns.