| There are many types of yoga, but Bikram yoga | | | | to strengthen and lubricate the body's glands and |
| tends to stand out from the rest. Even though the | | | | improve the nervous system. With Bikram yoga, you'll |
| practice is largely the same, you'll immediately notice | | | | work and strengthen your muscles, joints and |
| the difference in the environment -- the room in which | | | | ligaments. All this work -- especially with the help of |
| Bikram yoga is performed is heated between 90 and | | | | Bikram's specialized environment -- helps to flush |
| 100 degrees Fahrenheit! | | | | toxins out of your body and provides the kind of |
| Bikram yoga follows a consistent program, employing | | | | exercise your muscles crave. |
| 26 various poses, each of which you practice twice | | | | Can You Stand the Heat? Get Into the Kitchen! |
| during a session. | | | | Aptly named, this yoga practice was developed by |
| The poses flow as follows. You'll start with Standing | | | | Yogi Bikram Choudhury, who first began his yoga |
| Postures, then progress to Backbends. Then you'll | | | | practice at the age of three, then studied yoga for a |
| practice Forward Bends and Twists. You will do the | | | | long while with the renowned physical culturalist, Bishnu |
| poses using the Kapalabhati Breath or the Breath Of | | | | Ghosh. Together they developed this form as one of |
| Fire techniques, which are advanced techniques | | | | the ultimate ways to help the body through series of |
| known for their energizing and cleansing qualities. | | | | especially challenging stretches and poses. It goes |
| It's Getting Hot in Here | | | | without saying that the Bikram beginner requires a |
| The purpose of the heat in Bikram yoga is to help you | | | | skilled instructor to get started, as these poses are |
| ease in to a deeper, safer pose. The heat helps your | | | | more challenging than some. The high temperature is |
| body's flexibility, making it easier to achieve better | | | | also key to the process. As a result, more than other |
| postures and making your overall practice more | | | | forms, you'll need to take instruction at a yoga school |
| effective. Some of the poses you'll do in Bikram yoga | | | | or some of the higher end fitness clubs. |
| are quite challenging, and the heat will help you enter | | | | You can easily learn more about Bikram yoga to any |
| them more comfortably, and ideally get more out of | | | | of the on-topic books available on the Web. You'll find |
| them. Also, with the increased temperature, your body | | | | that Bikram yoga offers a wide range of challenging |
| will sweat more readily, releasing more toxins from | | | | poses, and many people find it a wonderful way of |
| your pores. The heat also lowers your risk for injuries. | | | | widening their yoga experience. If you're ready to |
| When you practice Bikram yoga, you aren't simply | | | | branch out and try something new, be sure to try |
| stretching the muscles in your body. You're also | | | | Bikram yoga. |
| working and massaging the internal organs, which helps | | | | |