Yoga has been a popular new trend in the west for a while now, but is has its roots in ancient India. The tranquil practice is regarded as a way of bringing your mind, body and soul together using a series of moves, known as asanas and is a way of getting a bit of 'you time' when life gets too much. Bikram Yoga, however, is not something for the faint-hearted newbie and we're going to take a look at why.
Bikram yoga is so named after Bengalese yoga pioneer Bikram Choudrey who's theory on 'hot yoga' has redefined the way a lot of people now practice the art. He has dedicated his life to his practice and has become a notable figure, founding the Yoga College of India and retiring unbeaten after an illustrious career as the All-India National Yoga Champion. He is still an active member of the scene and in this article we will be looking at how hot yoga has influenced people for over twenty years.
Hot yoga is practised in a room with 40% humidity and a recommended temperature of 105 degrees. These intense conditions have a notable effect on the body, including the relaxation of muscles and breathing. Bikram Yoga consists of a series of twenty-six yoga positions, also known as 'asanas', which include two breathing excercises. The heat is said to affect the capacity of the lungs, allowing for deeper breathing which aids in the achievement of each position. The heat is seen as a challenging aspect and many, including some professional sportsmen, have cited Bikram Yoga as a real test of endurance. Professional tennis player Andy Murray said of the practice, '"Until you do it you can't comment on how difficult it is. It's tough. It's ugly."
There have been many noted health risks to exercising like this in such a high temperature, including nausea, dizziness and fainting. All this and dehydration from sweating can cause heatstroke so it is not for those who can't bear the heat, and certainly not for anyone with high blood pressure or heart problems. Even though there are some negatives, the positive effects on how you feel during and after sessions are pretty hard to ignore.
The twenty-six specially designed yoga poses, or asanas, are composed of two intense breathing exercises at the beginning and end and twenty-four stances designed to promote the body's unity by making all muscles work one after the other with each pose preparing you for the one that follows. Michele Pernetta, who introduced Bikram Yoga to the UK and is a fundamental influence in the idea of sports and yoga, says, "Most sports have long-term effects but yoga is the science of putting the body back the way it's supposed to be." The asanas are done over the space of ninety minutes, a long enough time to get the body working hard, yet the breathing exercises help reduce the negative effects.
Bikram Yoga is seen to be mainly about the physical side of yoga rather than some of the more popular ideas of spirituality and unity. Bikram Choudrey speaks contrarily to this and is an avid supporter and indeed champion of competitive yoga. He says - Competition is the foundation for all democratic societies. For without competition, there is no democracy. Perhaps he has taken this saying into his personal life as well; he has filed numerous lawsuits in the United States for copyright infringement and the unlawful use of his technique. He is seen as a rather strange character in the world of yoga, but the pioneering effect his theory is having on people is undeniable.
Bikram's technique is now so well known in the west it's being practiced by Lady Gaga, David Beckham and Ashton Kutcher among others. It seems to be a craze that won't let up and perhaps that's a good thing. Anything that can relax and calm us down at the end of the day is a good thing, but why always take it easy? Why not turn up the heat and face a challenge? Perhaps it's not for everybody but it's being talked about everywhere in the yoga world and it seems to be catching on!
Bikram yoga is so named after Bengalese yoga pioneer Bikram Choudrey who's theory on 'hot yoga' has redefined the way a lot of people now practice the art. He has dedicated his life to his practice and has become a notable figure, founding the Yoga College of India and retiring unbeaten after an illustrious career as the All-India National Yoga Champion. He is still an active member of the scene and in this article we will be looking at how hot yoga has influenced people for over twenty years.
Hot yoga is practised in a room with 40% humidity and a recommended temperature of 105 degrees. These intense conditions have a notable effect on the body, including the relaxation of muscles and breathing. Bikram Yoga consists of a series of twenty-six yoga positions, also known as 'asanas', which include two breathing excercises. The heat is said to affect the capacity of the lungs, allowing for deeper breathing which aids in the achievement of each position. The heat is seen as a challenging aspect and many, including some professional sportsmen, have cited Bikram Yoga as a real test of endurance. Professional tennis player Andy Murray said of the practice, '"Until you do it you can't comment on how difficult it is. It's tough. It's ugly."
There have been many noted health risks to exercising like this in such a high temperature, including nausea, dizziness and fainting. All this and dehydration from sweating can cause heatstroke so it is not for those who can't bear the heat, and certainly not for anyone with high blood pressure or heart problems. Even though there are some negatives, the positive effects on how you feel during and after sessions are pretty hard to ignore.
The twenty-six specially designed yoga poses, or asanas, are composed of two intense breathing exercises at the beginning and end and twenty-four stances designed to promote the body's unity by making all muscles work one after the other with each pose preparing you for the one that follows. Michele Pernetta, who introduced Bikram Yoga to the UK and is a fundamental influence in the idea of sports and yoga, says, "Most sports have long-term effects but yoga is the science of putting the body back the way it's supposed to be." The asanas are done over the space of ninety minutes, a long enough time to get the body working hard, yet the breathing exercises help reduce the negative effects.
Bikram Yoga is seen to be mainly about the physical side of yoga rather than some of the more popular ideas of spirituality and unity. Bikram Choudrey speaks contrarily to this and is an avid supporter and indeed champion of competitive yoga. He says - Competition is the foundation for all democratic societies. For without competition, there is no democracy. Perhaps he has taken this saying into his personal life as well; he has filed numerous lawsuits in the United States for copyright infringement and the unlawful use of his technique. He is seen as a rather strange character in the world of yoga, but the pioneering effect his theory is having on people is undeniable.
Bikram's technique is now so well known in the west it's being practiced by Lady Gaga, David Beckham and Ashton Kutcher among others. It seems to be a craze that won't let up and perhaps that's a good thing. Anything that can relax and calm us down at the end of the day is a good thing, but why always take it easy? Why not turn up the heat and face a challenge? Perhaps it's not for everybody but it's being talked about everywhere in the yoga world and it seems to be catching on!
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If all this mention of Bikram in this winter weather has sparked your interest you can find out more about Bikram in central london by clicking here.
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