Bikram's yoga

[reservoirdog1]

I've heard quite about this, and was thinking about going in the next few nights as a drop-in, to see if I like it. I've never done any kind of yoga before; what I know about this is it's the same thing, only in 40 degree heat. So you sweat like a pig.

 

People who do it seem to rave about it. I'm still wrapping my mind around the idea of something involving slow movements being an excellent workout, but everybody says it is. I saw an article on MSN listing some exercise suggestions to jazz up your workout, and it mentioned boxing, cross-country skiing, etc., and Bikram's. Mentioned that it's possible to burn about 1,000 calories in a 90-minute class, which seems a bit implausible.

 

But, anybody have any experience with this, positive or negative? Thanks everybody.

[sunshinegirl]

I do a style of yoga that is similar to Bikram - Baptiste yoga. It's a 90-minute flow class in a 90 degree (farenheit) room. I LOVE it. Not sure how many calories it burns but I sweat like a pig, soaking my clothes in the first 20 minutes.

 

I also notice marked changes in strength, stamina, toning, and flexibility when it's a regular part of my life (meaning at least twice a week).

[norajane]

I like yoga, so I watched a Bikram class once (through a window) at the place I took my yoga classes. Totally looked like torture, and like you'd be daring a heart attack, stroke, or just blood bursting out every pore of your body. It looked awful. Those people looked miserable, but apparently, people like it.

 

Have you ever walked outside for an hour in heat like that? Now imagine trying to get into and hold poses that require strength, balance, and flexibility. While sweat is pouring down your face and you're dehydrating every minute because you can't suck down enough water fast enough to replace what you're losing.

 

Yoga is difficult because of how slow you do it, because the movements require strength to hold them. Actually, doing them slower is harder. Ask any body builder and they'll tell you it's much easier to use momentum to swing a weight than to use your actual muscle strength to slowly lift and lower.

 

You also risk overstretching your muscles in a heated room like that, which can cause all kinds of serious problems when your body cools off.

 

Google bikram yoga and medical problems before you decide to give this a try. And go to a doctor and get your blood pressure checked first.

[Zapbasket]

I like yoga, so I watched a Bikram class once (through a window) at the place I took my yoga classes. Totally looked like torture, and like you'd be daring a heart attack, stroke, or just blood bursting out every pore of your body. It looked awful. Those people looked miserable, but apparently, people like it.

 

Have you ever walked outside for an hour in heat like that? Now imagine trying to get into and hold poses that require strength, balance, and flexibility. While sweat is pouring down your face and you're dehydrating every minute because you can't suck down enough water fast enough to replace what you're losing.

 

Yoga is difficult because of how slow you do it, because the movements require strength to hold them. Actually, doing them slower is harder. Ask any body builder and they'll tell you it's much easier to use momentum to swing a weight than to use your actual muscle strength to slowly lift and lower.

 

You also risk overstretching your muscles in a heated room like that, which can cause all kinds of serious problems when your body cools off.

 

Google bikram yoga and medical problems before you decide to give this a try. And go to a doctor and get your blood pressure checked first.

 

Yikes, really? I discovered that a Bikram yogo place opened up just blocks away from me and went to my first class on Monday. They keep their room at 105 degrees F. In the first half hour, I felt like I was going to faint at least twice, but I exercised some mind over matter and worked through it. Once I did so I was fine. After the class, the whole rest of the evening I felt fantastic, cleansed from deep inside. Yesterday my muscles were a bit sore--mainly back muscles that haven't been getting worked out much lately--but the good after-affects continued. I'm hoping to go again today.