| Bikram yoga is a type of yoga that is performed using | | | | help you to expel toxins from the body. They also help |
| a number of specific poses in a room heated to ninety | | | | reduce the risk of injury during practice. The actual |
| to one hundred degrees Fahrenheit. This form of Yoga | | | | Bikram yoga poses themselves are designed to |
| is named after its founder, Bikram Choudury, an Indian | | | | strengthen and stretch both the muscles and the joints, |
| who spent some time studying with the brother of | | | | as well as ligaments. It's a style of yoga that is really |
| Paramahansa Yogananda, named Bishnu Ghosh. | | | | geared towards providing physical health benefits. |
| This form of yoga, like other types, is designed to unify | | | | Practising these asanas in the Bikram style can help to |
| the mind, body and spirit, as well as to increase levels | | | | increase blood circulation and reduce stress levels, as |
| of flexibility and strength throughout the body. This is a | | | | well as develop muscle tone. Because the standing |
| form of exercise that has become more and more | | | | poses flow together, Bikram practitioners get |
| popular over the years, with many attracted to the | | | | something of a cardiovascular workout as well, which |
| benefits it can bring not only to our muscles, but the | | | | can help with weight loss. |
| nervous, lymphatic, and endocrine systems. | | | | According to reports, this type of yoga can benefit all |
| With Bikram Yoga a series of twenty six poses is | | | | sorts of people, including those with illnesses and |
| used, and these are performed in a suitably heated | | | | diseases such as thyroid problems, arthritis, and |
| room using the temperatures specified above. Within | | | | diabetes. They may even find that regular sessions of |
| this school, each of the twenty six poses is performed | | | | Bikram yoga help ease their symptoms. When |
| twice, and held for a specified time period. Amongst | | | | Choudury was developing his style of yoga, he actually |
| the Bikram yoga poses used are standing poses, back | | | | worked with scientists at Tokyo University to establish |
| bends, forward bends, and twists. | | | | how different asanas stimulate the glands in the body. |
| The reason for the room being heated is because | | | | They also examined the effect of one pose moving |
| these levels of heat have been shown to improve the | | | | into the next, which is why the order of the poses is |
| ability to go safely into the asanas, making the whole | | | | considered important in this yoga. Bikram yoga has |
| experience more comfortable and manageable. | | | | also been adapted to a practice suitable for pregnant |
| Bikram yoga poses can be challenging for some | | | | women. |
| people, but the heat increases flexibility and makes | | | | Overall, this is a physically active style of yoga that |
| practising these poses and holding them as required | | | | can be challenging, yet is suitable for people from |
| easier. People can reach a deeper level of physical | | | | beginner to experienced. The only caveat is whether |
| practice more quickly. | | | | you can stand the heat! |
| These levels of heat also increase sweating, and will | | | | |