One of the most famous and best known “yoga” that became very popular in its day for doing it the famous and for attracting attention at the end of the sessions, is the Bikram Yoga.
What is this yoga? It is a yoga that has, above all, a great particularity. It is done (always) at high temperatures.
When you start doing Bikram yoga, you have to take into account, above all, that. The temperatures and the circumstances in which you will perform yoga. Not everyone can do it and therefore, it is important before starting to practice it, a medical check-up. There are many and many, who in the middle of a Bikram yoga class, have become dizzy, have fainted or have felt unwell to do so.
This type of yoga, unlike others, what it takes into account are the “asanas” and they go in an order that has been determined, but everything is done (always) in rooms where there is a certain temperature and no, it is not exactly cool … It is always done in rooms where precisely the temperature is high. So much so, that it seems like hell itself. The temperature ranges between 40ºC and 42ºC.
Instructions
- One of the peculiarities of bikram yoga is that some are sometimes confused with another type of yoga that resembles it because of the postures they perform. It is often confused with hot yoga. And obviously, in both, they are performed in rooms with heat.
- Do not confuse bikram yoga with other yoga disciplines that may resemble them, because they have nothing to do.
- Although it can be confused with other disciplines, the main characteristic of bikram yoga is that it is performed through yoga postures that are always in a specific way. In other types of yoga, the postures (the asanas) are usually more varied.
- For many people, it is not simply an exercise or doing sports or asanas. It’s something else. Something deeper… becoming a way of life, for all that it entails.
- As we have said, you must always go before starting to perform this modality, to the doctor. That they perform a check-up and take your blood pressure. It is very important to know, if you have high or very low blood pressure.
- In some cases, if you tell the doctor that you want to get a check-up because you want to practice bikram yoga and temperatures up to 42ºC, he himself may advise against doing it for your blood pressure. If you have it very high, you will not do well so hot, but if you have it very low, either.
- There are many people, men and women, even in good health, who while they were in the room, with the heat, humidity, sweat, losing mineral salts and with the effort of the exercises have begun to feel bad, have become dizzy or in the worst case, with a drop in tension, have fainted.
- For this reason, emphasizing what has been said above, it is essential to hydrate a lot. Water will be vital throughout the bikram yoga session.
- During all sessions, always, always, it is and will be very hot. Keep that in mind.
- For this reason, apart from water (to hydrate), it is essential to wear few clothes and very comfortable.
- Do not start wearing jackets, sweatshirts, several shirts, wide pants … The more comfort, the better. A t-shirt or top, tights or shorts and the more comfortable, the better.
- It is possible that, in the face of temperatures, exercising, you will get tired, you will have more heat, you will sweat a lot, you will squirt and the room is always filled with humidity … Therefore, the first days, surely, you feel the need to leave the room to air a little and take a breath.
- In bikram yoga, specific postures are taken into account. In total there are about twenty six. Which are the ones patented and invented, its founder, Bikram Choudhury (hence the name of this variant of yoga).
- The exercises in this yoga are the following and are taken into account: breathing, which are always the exercises that will be performed at the beginning of the sessions and always, at the end of the sessions, will also end with breathing exercises.
- Usually, each bikram yoga class will last around half an hour and an hour. Give or take, it will last about ninety minutes. Always taking into account, breathing exercises at the beginning and breathing exercises, at the end.
- Breathing exercises are called Pranayama and how are they performed? You will have to stand up, have balance (if you do not have it, you will acquire it as you progress), and before going to the ground with the postures, you will have to sit and stretch your body well. It is very important to always stretch all the muscles of the body well. At the end, the pranayama will be performed (which are also breathing exercises) and you will always have to finish with the savasana exercises, which are called “exercises and posture of the corpse”.
- The difference between the postures, which in the yogi vocabulary are called “asanas” postures are the postures that are traditional and are done in any variant of yoga. Surely, if you have practiced it, you have heard the words such as “the bow pose”, “the camel pose”, “the eagle pose”, etc.
- Keep in mind that as we have already said, in this modality of yoga, not everyone can practice it … If it can be done, even if you have never practiced yoga and whatever it is, your level. Everything is to start and according to your flexibility and your experience, you will go more or less advanced.
- In the case of wanting weight, it is the ideal yoga. Not only for the effort it requires and the perseverance and flexibility… but basically, because of how much you will sweat and the toxins you will lose for each session.
- As we said, knowing if you can or are a person suitable for this type of yoga with such high temperatures, is easy if you ask yourself certain questions (which should always be asked when you sign up). Do you have ease to dehydrate? Do you have low or very low blood pressure?, Do you get dizzy easily?, Do you take the heat badly?… If any and/or all of the questions end up answering them in the affirmative, you are not the right person to ask them. Be very careful because you will end up having a bad time.
- Keep in mind if you are a heavy drinker, that not all teachers/instructors will allow you to drink water every time you are thirsty. In fact, there are many or almost the majority, that they themselves mark sometimes so that you can drink water because as they say, so the exercises are more intense and more is given and they are done better.
- What is usually gained with the practice of bikram yoga, not only will be that you gain a lot of flexibility, elasticity, you will lose many toxins because you will sweat a lot, you will lose weight and you will increase resistance. All this, apart from surpassing yourself day by day with each new movement you are making and you are overcoming and mentalizing yourself. You must have good concentration at all times.
- It is very important apart from comfortable and fresh clothes, to bring water, a towel and a good mat. Above all, keep in mind that it slips as little as possible because with so much heat and so much sweat, you can fall or slip.
- If after finishing with the bikram yoga session you begin to notice discomfort or stiffness, do not panic. Usually, while you are in class, with the heat of the room, the muscles do not suffer or you will not notice it as much. But then, after the shower, with the rest, when the muscles are cold… You may start to get pain. It’s quite common for that to happen, so don’t force yourself into classes.
- Keep in mind that before going to class, it’s best if you haven’t eaten. This way you will avoid getting dizzy and vomiting. Before any discomfort, drink water or salt from the class or even sit on the floor and if you cannot make the same positions as others, do not do them. Only you know what your capabilities are. Therefore, do not overdo it and you will not suffer greater evils.
What You Need
- Water to keep you hydrated.
- Very comfortable and suitable clothing.
- A towel.
- A good mat. It will be essential that you slip as little as possible.
- Not having low blood pressure or health problems.
- Do not get dizzy in the heat or in the high temperatures.
Councils
In bikram yoga you have to keep in mind that you sweat a lot, therefore, always have the towel on hand and go drying your sweat. The less you stick to your clothes the better. Do not wear very loose or heavy clothes, or many layers. In bikram yoga you have to keep in mind that you sweat a lot, therefore, always have the towel on hand and go drying your sweat. The less you stick to your clothes the better. Do not wear very loose or heavy clothes, or many layers.
Think about the temperature, which is from 40ºC onwards, but the humidity will be between 45ºC and up to 50ºC. Really the suffocating thing is not so much the heat (which also, but the humidity).
If you suffer from dizziness, you can’t stand the heat, the humidity, you have the unbalanced tension … Don’t try to get into a Bikram yoga class so you don’t end up having a hard time or fainting.