Balancing on one leg while holding your foot behind your head in standing bow pose dripping with sweat is not the typical scene at your spinning class or local gym – only hot yoga pushes your body to such an extent. This unconventional choice of fitness goes far beyond anything a gym workout can manage, but there is no excuse not to give it a try. “It’s never too late, it’s never too bad, and you’re never too old or too sick to start from scratch again,” says founder Bikram Choudhury.
Hot yoga dates back 39 years to a young Indian man, Bikram, who sought out a way to get yoga to the masses. Originally, yoga was taught on a one-to-one, student teacher ratio, so Bikram designed a beginner’s yoga class that consists of 26 poses and 2 breathing exercises. Each maneuver is attempted in a systematic order to work every joint, gland, muscle, vein, ligament and organ. It changes your body from the inside out and from the fingertips to toes.
Bikram yoga is a combination of hatha yoga, which is yoga of the body, and raja yoga, which is yoga of the mind. The meditative aspect of Bikram yoga is its consistency. The sequence of postures has not changed in 39 years, since Bikram’s first arrangement. The repetition allows you to enter a meditative state as you engage in each position.
Bikram copyrighted this specific arrangement of poses just like an artist copyrights a piece of work. Although there are many variations of hot yoga, from power yoga to vinyasa flow yoga, only the studios affiliated with Bikram and classes instructed by Bikram certified teachers are allowed to follow the original routine.
Bikram yoga offers relief from a variety of health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, road rage, stress fractures, panic disorder, obesity, carpal tunnel, and glaucoma. Given its health benefits, Bikram yoga has become the most popular form of yoga in the world. Nearly 10 million people practice this form of yoga each day. Sam Goldman, director of Bikram Yoga Westborough and Auburn, says anyone and everyone can practice Bikram yoga, not just the flexible or fit. “We get people of all shapes and sizes and levels of ability,” he says. Bikram yoga has a fairly quick learning curve. It takes a few classes to get used to the heat and the uncomfortable positions, and by sticking with it you can gain strength, balance and flexibility. “Just by coming to class you are starting on the right path to a happy, healthy and long life,” Goldman declares.
Coming prepared is very important. You’ll sweat a lot in the 104 degree temperature during the 90 minute class, so stay hydrated! Drink water with electrolytes before class, bring a water bottle into the class, and drink plenty after. Bring a yoga mat, full-body towel to put over the mat and a hand towel to wipe your face and body. Studios often have mats and towels available to rent and water to buy if needed. Wear comfortable clothing, but remember that looser, lighter and lesser apparel will provide more comfort in the heat. Arrive five to ten minutes before class and place your mat in the room right away to reserve a spot. For your first time in a Bikram yoga class, find a spot toward the back wall in the middle of the room.
Goldman’s class begins with the instructor saying, “Welcome to Bikram’s torture chamber; get ready to kill yourself for 90 minutes,” but don’t let this scare you off. The first class can leave you feeling either frustrated and exhausted or uplifted and full of energy. Goldman says, “Many former athletes come in thinking, ‘This is a cinch, I can do this,’ but they are humbled quickly.” You need to come in with an open mind; be patient with your body to let it go only where it can.
Of course, the class is not pain free by any means. Instead, Bikram yoga is aimed at reaching a feeling of pain and the instructor will encourage you to continually push yourself to that point. Goldman compares the practice to basketball, saying, “There is no slam dunk in yoga, it’s more like a free throw. It’s about perfecting the form and follow through to ensure a perfect shot every time.” It takes time to ease your body into the perfect pose, but, according to Bikram’s philosophy, as long as you are trying the right way you will get there with practice.
