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Is Bikram yoga for me?
Is Bikram yoga a cardiovascular workout and can I lose weight? Most people do not experience dramatic weight loss according to a scale because as you are losing fat, you are building muscle mass. What you will see is a general slimming all over: your clothes fit better, your posture is better, your skin will glow.
How often should I attend class?
What are some of the benefits?
Ask yourself the following questions:
If you answered "YES" to any of the above, then Bikram yoga is for you.
What is the point of Bikram yoga?
When most people think of yoga, images of chanting and people maneuvering into seemingly impossible positions come to mind. Yoga is not just for the fantastically flexible. If you are not flexible, if you cannot touch your toes, or perhaps cannot even see your toes, you are a perfect candidate for the benefits of yoga. This class is not about competing with your neighbor.
Yoga is about stretching your body and spine in all directions. You build strength, balance and flexibility not only in your body, but in your mind and life as well. Even flexible people have bad days and have challenges of their own.
The criteria for getting benefit from Bikram yoga:
No matter what your fitness level, you will find Bikram yoga very challenging. Each posture combines flexibility, strength and balance to work your whole body from your bones to your skin. With persistence, patience, and dedication, you can lose inches, and develop muscle tone and strength that might never come from other forms of exercise.
For good results, we encourage a regular practice of 3 times per week minimum; for life-changing results, 4 or more times per week.
Why the heated room? Also, your skin is the largest elimination organ in your body. Yoga is not just about working
muscles. You are massaging deep tissues, glands, organs as well. As you work deep within your
body, you may start to release "poisons" or "toxins" that have been stored there a long time.
Sweating helps flush toxins from your body, giving you a wonderful glow from head to toe.
Do I need to drink water before class? How much is enough? This is going to vary on a person by person basis. Typically a good formula is take your body weight and divide by 2. This is how many ounces of water you should consume daily. Here's an example: 140 lb/2 = 70 oz. 64 oz is a half gallon. Seem like a lot? Remember our bodies are mostly water. Being fully hydrated helps take pressure off of organs to do their jobs and helps flush the body and keep it running smoothly.
The most typical excuse for not drinking water is the increased visits to the restroom. Your body will adjust to the increased water intake. You may also find benefits of decreased body odor, smoother skin, and shinier hair.
What if I feel sore after class?
The heat combined with the sequence of the postures is what makes Bikram yoga so special.
The room is heated intentionally to warm muscles, which allows you to work deeper in a shorter
amount of time, seeing results faster. Heat takes the trauma out of stretching, heals and helps
prevent injuries.
Drink plenty of water. You can lose up to 3-5 pounds of water weight during a class. This is NOT good weight to lose. It is easy to get dehydrated, so make sure you are drinking plenty of water after class and the entire day before you come to class. You are less likely to feel lightheaded or dizzy during class if you've had enough to drink in the hours preceding class.
Didn't know you had a muscle there? Congratulations, you have utilized 100% of your body. You are on the way to regaining your
birthright: using your body in the full range of motion that it was designed for.
Muscle soreness is a buildup of lactic acid. What's the best way to get rid of the lactic acid?
Stretching. It may seem impossible to imagine that coming back for more will help, but it is THE BEST way to relieve the soreness. If you wait too long to come back, then you will be starting all over again.