| Yoga's rejuvenating and mind-clearing abilities are | | | | complete amateur at any kind of yoga and the |
| pretty much undisputable at this point, but what about | | | | possibility of being the oldest participant in the class. |
| the more intense, physically trying experience of | | | | When I entered the flaming hot classroom, it was clear |
| Bikram yoga, a growing trend amongst yoga | | | | to me that, to my relief I was not the "oldest one" in |
| devotees? Here's my experience with Bikram yoga, | | | | the class room. I was happily surprised at my ability to |
| and why I'll most certainly be doing it again. | | | | do so many of the postures. My self realization during |
| Bikram yoga is a specific style of yoga founded by | | | | the hot yoga class was my need to "stress" or hurry |
| Bikram Choudhury. Bikram yoga is often referred to as | | | | up at all times. |
| hot yoga as it is practiced in a room heated to 105 | | | | Constant focus on slowing down the breath and only |
| degrees with a humidity of 50%. | | | | breathing through my nose was a challenge for me. |
| The origin of this type of yoga is spiritually derived | | | | The heated room was something I thought I would not |
| from Hinduism and regionally from Yoga College of | | | | be able to tolerate. The fact that the room was so hot |
| India. Bikram yoga consists of 26 asanas or postures | | | | and the humidity was so high may seem like an added |
| and two breathing exercises. | | | | burden, but in fact, I believe this was the reason I did |
| The word asana translates to the word "seat" which | | | | not come away with muscle aches the next day. |
| refers to the spirit in relation to the divine. Asanas are | | | | During some of the postures, I was keenly aware of |
| intended to lead back to sitting in meditation. The | | | | my need to improve my balance and my sense of my |
| practice of asanas improve flexibility and tendon | | | | physical position in space. For ongoing achievement of |
| strength. | | | | balance, I have been practicing the art of yoga via an |
| These moves, called asanas, are supposed to be | | | | instructional DVD in my home. |
| practiced together with pranayama, or slow breath | | | | Particularly useful to me, in addition to the improvement |
| work for maximum benefit. Your breaths should be | | | | of balance is the yoga reminds me to slow down and |
| through the nose, not the mouth, and should be slow, | | | | relax the tension in my body. The concept of the |
| not forced, and totally natural. To receive maximum | | | | heated room in Bikram yoga is to diminish the risk of |
| benefit from practicing asanas, all tension and tightness | | | | injuries and to allow you to go deeper into each |
| in the body should consciously be let go. | | | | posture. |
| A glass of water before practicing asanas enhances | | | | The perspiration experienced during hot yoga |
| the experience and asanas should not be done on a | | | | enhances the release of toxins. The postures consist |
| full stomach. The practice of Bikram yoga is meant not | | | | of warm up poses that can be done prior to a yoga |
| only to improve muscle strength and flexibility, but also | | | | class. There are standing poses and seated poses. |
| to establish a balance of our physical beings in relation | | | | The twist yoga poses have the purpose of |
| to the divine. | | | | strengthening your back, toning the abdomen and |
| Yoga is a path to attain a balance of the body, mind | | | | helping with digestion. |
| and spirit. Yoga can, if done correctly, be a means to | | | | Inverted poses help you with your circulation. There's |
| control the ongoing complaint in all of our lives, stress. | | | | supine and backbend poses and finally the finishing |
| Optimum health is the ultimate goal for everyone of us. | | | | poses to end your yoga session with relaxation. |
| Health does not just refer to our physical beings but | | | | Bikram yoga is designed to assist you to lose weight, |
| also to our mental attitudes and spiritual growth. | | | | tone muscles and increase blood circulation. Since this |
| Bikram or hot yoga addresses emotional as well as | | | | form of yoga helps lower stress levels, it can improve |
| physical well being and flexibility. When I visited my | | | | mental clarity and focus. This, in turn, enhances our |
| daughter in California, she signed me up for my first | | | | overall levels of performance both on the job and in |
| experience with hot yoga. Being in my fifties, I was a | | | | our personal life pursuits. |
| little concerned about the prospect of being a | | | | |