| For many people, Yoga brings to mind an image of a | | | | session, in Bikram Yoga the same asanas are |
| man transformed into the shape of a pretzel. In fact, | | | | followed in the same order each session. Each asana |
| Yoga is a practice which has been developing for | | | | is held for a particular period of time and all poses are |
| thousands of years, and there are new types of Yoga | | | | accompanied with Kapalabhati Breath (Breath of Fire). |
| springing fourth generation after generation. One of the | | | | There are also two Pranayama (Breathing) exercises |
| new types of Yoga to emerge recently is Bikram | | | | that are performed each session. The combination of |
| Yoga, and herein we will discuss what sets this Yoga | | | | the hot room, the special breathing, and the scientific |
| practice apart, and also the many benefits of Bikram | | | | approach to Bikram Yoga bring us to the benefits it |
| Yoga practice. | | | | can bring to Mind, Body, and Spirit. |
| In Calcutta, 1946, Bikram Choudhury was born. It was | | | | If you have ever performed Yoga before, you will |
| quickly evident that he was a Yoga prodigy, and he | | | | know that there is an intense tightness in the muscles |
| began the formal study of Yoga at age four with | | | | in the morning and at the beginning of your session. |
| acclaimed instructor Bishnu Ghosh. After several years | | | | However, the heat of the Bikram Yoga studio, along |
| of study, he won the National India Yoga Contest at | | | | with the "Breath of Fire" actually warms the muscles, |
| the tender age of thirteen. At the age of seventeen an | | | | tendons, and ligaments, and allows you to go deeper |
| event occurred that transformed his life. While weight | | | | into a pose. This increased flexibility allows you to try |
| lifting, he had an accident and injured his knee badly. He | | | | poses you might not normally consider. The exercises |
| was told that he would never walk again. Not to be | | | | are also designed to flush the body with oxygenated |
| deterred, he insisted on being transported back to his | | | | blood and increase circulation. The static holds increase |
| childhood teacher. Within six months he was | | | | muscle tone and bring a sense of vibrance and |
| completely healed, and this was the first | | | | well-being to the psyche. The sweating cleanses the |
| documentation that Yoga could cure serious physical | | | | body of toxins, and for this reason be sure to drink |
| conditions. In 1974 he moved to California and founded | | | | plenty of water and carry your own towel to the class. |
| the Yoga College of India in Beverly Hills. It was here | | | | Bikram actually guarantees that you will be relieved of |
| that Bikram developed his unique Yoga program. | | | | the symptoms of disease if you follow his program |
| Before detailing what makes Bikram's Yoga different, it | | | | exactly. |
| may be wise to consider the purpose of Yoga. Yoga | | | | In the realm of fitness, there are new fads being |
| comes from the same root as the English word | | | | developed every day. Every so often, a new system |
| "Yoke" and can be translated as "Union". Hence, Yoga | | | | will emerge and everyone you know is discussing it. |
| is really about the Union of mind, body, and spirit. | | | | However, few of these new fads will withstand the |
| Bikram's Yoga is a type of Hatha Yoga which | | | | test of time. Bikram Yoga is one system which is |
| concentrates on the physical, or "body," element of this | | | | technically sound and which was developed in Yoga |
| equation. | | | | with the assistance of some of the greatest teachers |
| One difference of Bikram Yoga is that it is performed | | | | of the 20th century. The benefits of Bikram Yoga are |
| in a very hot room, usually heated between 95 and | | | | manyfold, and they are based upon its differences. Be |
| 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It consists of Twenty-Six | | | | sure to check for Bikram Yoga classes in your area |
| asanas (poses) that are performed in a specific order. | | | | and take advantage of this restorative practice. |
| While most Yoga classes differ from session to | | | | |