| Depending on the time of year and where you live, | | | | who savor Bikram yoga swear that the intense |
| your vicinity may experience extreme temperature in | | | | temperature adds to the relief folks feel when the |
| the summer months. If so, this style of yoga may be | | | | practice other types of yoga. |
| just for you. If you are more used to a cooler | | | | Bright lights, intense temperature, an instructor who |
| environment, read on to see how yoga can really | | | | could pass for a drill sergeant and a cheerleader, lots |
| warm you up. | | | | of sweat, no warm and fuzzy meditation music. That's |
| Bikram yoga is hot. Specifically, Bikram yoga is a | | | | Bikram in a nutshell. While some of the 26 poses |
| standardized procedure which teaches 26 poses | | | | students strike are similar to those taught in other |
| which are performed in a place which is heated to 105 | | | | forms, Bikram teaches them with a totally no |
| degrees Fahrenheit (about 40 Celsius) year around. | | | | nonsense approach. Those 26 poses are totally |
| Hot enough for you? That should take the chill off on a | | | | standardized: no matter where you go. Visit a Bikram |
| cold, snowy day! | | | | studio in another city and you will strike the same |
| Bikram yoga is becoming a more desirable and | | | | poses. |
| increasingly popular yoga type. Like all other forms of | | | | One instructor of Bikram yoga explained that there are |
| yoga, Bikram emphasizes balance combined with a | | | | three types of students encountered: |
| mind-body connection. It is very intense and regimented | | | | First, the one who says that this form of yoga is cool |
| and involves constant instruction. Participants should be | | | | (hot, actually). It's a challenge and they want to master |
| aware, though, that this is not for the weak at heart. | | | | the techniques. |
| You will work to your maximum ability and it can put a | | | | Second, the learner who says they are not sure about |
| strain on the uninitiated. | | | | this. They become more stressed than when they |
| Some yoga aficionados feel that Bikram is too intense | | | | started and may actually feel ill. |
| and difficult. In fact, some have said that "it's just too | | | | Finally, there is the student that hates the experience |
| much of a good thing". Bikram has gained the | | | | and is usually never seen again. |
| nickname "boot camp" yoga. And some call it "militant". | | | | By the way, to get in on a special offer for a free |
| They feel that Bikram can defeat the basic concept of | | | | yoga kit, visit |
| yoga which is to relax and do what you can. | | | | Which one will you be? It really doesn't matter since |
| Like many other types of yoga, Bikram has been | | | | there is a yoga discipline for everyone. But you owe it |
| credited with helping folks get relief from symptoms of | | | | to yourself to investigate Bikram yoga to see if it's right |
| arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other conditions. But those | | | | for you. |