Hot Bikram Yoga
What is Bikram Yoga? Bikram Yoga is a special style of yoga. It consists of a series of 26 asanas (poses) , which are performed in a hot and humid room.
This branch of yoga gets its name from Bikram Chowdhury, who developed and founded it. Bikram yoga postures are usually repeated twice, and have to be held for a specific period of time. There are standing, sitting and supine postures along with twists, forward bends and backward bends.
They are also accompanied by special known as Kapabhai Breath (blowing in firm) Bikram yoga studios: Bikram hatha yoga has gained popularity and its studios are to be found across the world. These are rooms which have been heated to high temperatures of 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 degrees Celsius) , with a humidity level of 40%. Each session lasts for approximately 90 minutes.
Hot Bikram Yoga Balham and Hot Bikram Yoga Fulham are two wellness studios in London, which are designed on these lines, and are gaining increasing popularity
Benefits of hot Bikram yoga: according to this school of thought, this form of yoga is more beneficial because:
- The hot temperatures in the studio make the body warm, and thus facilitate more flexibility.
This allows for deeper stretches, which in turn gives more relief from stress and tension - The high temperatures help the body to absorb more oxygen, and also aids in better circulation of blood
- The heated rooms also encourage profuse sweating, helping the body to release more toxins The 26 poses of Hot Bikram Yoga are:
- Standing deep breathing (Pranayama series)
- Half-moon Pose with Hands to Feet Pose (Ardha Chandrasana with Pada Hastasana)
- Awkward Pose (Utkasana)
- Eagle Pose (Garudasana)
- Standing Head to Knee Pose (Dandayamana Janu Shirsasana)
- Standing Bow Pulling Pose (Dandayamana Dhanurasana)
- Balancing Stick Pose (Tuladandasana)
- Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose (Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Paschimottasana)
- Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)
- Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee Pose (Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Janushirasana)
- Tree Pose (Tadasana)
- Toe Stand Pose (Padangustasana)
- Corpse Pose (Savasana)
- Wind Removing Pose (Pavanmuktasana)
- Sit ups
- Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)
- Locust Pose (Salabhasana)
- Full Locust Pose (Purna Salabhasana)
- Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)
- Fixed Firm Pose (Supta Vajrasana)
- Half Tortoise Pose (Ardha Kurmasana)
- Camel Pose (Ustrasana)
- Rabbit Pose (Sasangasana)
- Head to Knee Stretching Pose (Janushirsasana with Paschimottasana)
- Spine Twisting Pose (Ardha Matsyendrasana)
- Blowing in Firm (Kapalbhati)
Precautions: Like with any other exercise regimen, it is best to consult a medical expert before you begin a course of Bikram Yoga. There is always a risk of injuries caused by over-stretching of muscles, tendons or ligaments. Besides, there is also a risk of heat exhaustion or dehydration resulting from the heated atmosphere.
