But before you dive in, it is important to be more informed. Because when people say Bikram is a hot yoga, they do not only mean it's well-liked and in style. They also mean it literally. A session in Bikram yoga means exposure to elevated temperatures-105 degrees and about 40% humidity-for 90 minutes. It will make you sweat buckets.



Hot yoga is a great sweat it out method to slim down, lose weight and reduce cholesterol. Just keep in mind it would be very unhealthy to do this on a frequent basis as you could run the risk of dehydration.

I had never heard of this type of yoga before, so did a bit of a search and found that there was a studio nearby. Bikram Yoga is practised in a room heated to approximately 38 degrees C, goes for 90 minutes, with 26 poses which are practised in a certain sequence. Each pose is held for 20-30 seconds, is done twice and prepares your body for the next. During the class you will work every muscle pilates memphis and every system of your body. You will feel like you've had a great workout. I found that the heat was very healing and alleviated my knee pain both whilst in class and after.

You can do all this with Yoga. It combines breathing and a series of positions all of which promote harmony between the mind and the body. When you concentrate on your breathing while assuming the various postures, you are toning your body and building muscle plus getting rid of stress and improving your memory. Yoga is also great for strengthening the back. It can even reduce the amount of sleep your body requires and lengthen your lifespan. To be truly fit, the mind as well as the body must become strong.

Commune as much as you want in the reception area...but once you enter the yoga room, silence is the mantra. It pays to start your practice peacefully. I recommend you lie on your Yoga mat and fill your mind with things that feel good to you; let the heat bake those good feelings into your limbs. Really. So - zip the lip in the yoga room and open your heart to... whatever you want.

Some of the hot yoga mats out there have a bumpy texture. This can greatly reduce the amount of slipping and sliding you do. Some even have an adhesive type texture that is great for staying stable. You probably wouldn't care for the adhesive texture during normal yoga, it's mainly for helping with a lot of perspiration.

Bikram proposes that his method works by allowing high temperatures to loosen your muscles. Also, the high temperatures are a great way to force you to sweat more. He believes that sweating is a method to cleanse your body. It is also a good way to expend energy and lose weight.