Bikram Yoga Revelation
by AT
Bikram Yoga:
Bikram Yoga, commonly known as hot yoga is a system of yoga that Bikram Choudhury synthesized from traditional yoga techniques and popularized beginning in the early 1970s. Bikram’s Beginning Yoga Class runs approximately 90 minutes, incorporates a series of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises, and is ideally practiced in a room heated to 105°F with a humidity of 40%.
Bikram yoga aims toward general wellness and claims the heated studio facilitates deeper stretching, injury prevention, and stress and tension relief. Bikram yoga is claimed to systematically stimulate and restore health to every muscle, joint, and organ of the body. There are two complementary aspects of the 26 exercises, asanas (postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises), though many other branches of yoga also use these methods. According to Choudhury, many people only use up to 50 percent of their lung capacity; the lungs must be stretched in order to (through practice) withstand holding more oxygen. When one is practicing pranayama s/he will eventually be able to enhance oxygen conversion and absorption, as well as improve blood circulation. (Choudhury, 2007) This is true of any cardiovascular activity.
Choudhury claims that blood circulation is affected immensely during Bikram Yoga because of two processes called extension and compression. These two dynamics are said to work together to deliver fresh oxygen to every joint, muscle, and organ within the human body. While performing a specific asana (pose), the body is stretching or compressing a certain part of the body, thus cutting off circulation temporarily. This restriction of circulation causes the heart to pump more blood in reaction to the shortage. The pumping of excess, fresh blood is called extension. Once the asana is complete and the individual comes out of the posture, the new oxygenated blood is able to rejuvenate the arteries that were being compressed. Because of the volume change and influx of fresh blood, it is said that infection, bacteria, and toxins can be released through this process. (2007)
So far, I completed about 7 classes, and I can already feel that I’m less stressed, more flexible. I no longer feel like I need to eat so much, and I feel more energetic. The sweating effect is pretty amazing in addition to the mental challenge that the class poses to all students (no matter the level of advancement). The worst part is your first 3 classes. You may feel dizzy and very nauseous. On the top of that, you may be among people that have to sit on the towel, because they just can’t take themselves through the next pose. BUT!!! Just like anything else in life - if you practice, you will get better at it and you will start feeling the benefits. Bikram says that you need to do at least ten 90-minute classes a month to really get the benefits of Hatha Yoga…
