Bikram is an internationally popular but challenging form of yoga. Its founder, Bikram Choudhury, was the first instructor to popularize practicing yoga in heated rooms, although Bikram yoga is not the only type practiced in high temperatures. Writing in "Yoga Journal," Loraine Despres explores Bikram's popularity, saying that Choudhury has certified more than 600 teachers since he started his Bikram College of India.
History
As a teenager, Bikram Choudhury was the champion of the National India Yoga Championship and All-India National Yoga Championship. A knee injury forced him to develop a new approach to his yoga practice under the advisement of his teacher, Bishnu Ghosh, at the Ghosh College of Physical Education in Calcutta. In the 1960's, Choudhury created his signature 26-pose yoga sequence, which he copyrighted in 2002. Controversy surrounds Choudhury's ownership of his yoga style.
Features
Bikram's poses work every part of the body to create purification, strength, balance and health, according to the official Bikram website. His poses resemble poses common in other yoga styles but may use different hand positions or instructor cues. One of the most distinctive features of Bikram is that all classes take place in a room set at 105 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to Bikram poses, the practice involves two breathing exercises. Classes last 90 minutes, and students practice the same sequence of poses every class.
Time Frame
The Bikram site encourages all students, whether seasoned or beginners, to practice daily with certified instructors or at home with a CD. Students should not eat for two to three hours before practicing.
Benefits
In his interview with writer Lorraine Despres, Choudhury claims that it is not the poses individually that promote health and relieve ailments including arthritis, asthma and back problems. Rather, he says, it is the particular sequence in which students perform the poses.
The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center and "Yoga Journal" say Bikram yoga may help expel toxins and improve mobility, but they caution patients with arthritis, high blood pressure and multiple sclerosis that the extreme heat could pose risks.
Teacher Training
To become a Bikram yoga teacher, you must attend a nine-week training intensive and have at least six months of verifiable practice at an official Bikram studio. The Bikram website lists training times and sessions. Students receive a certificate of completion for over 500 hours of study at the end of their training but are not necessarily granted permission to teach. Permission depends on test scores and the discretion of the trainers. As of 2010, teacher training costs $7,000 and takes place in San Diego, California.
Considerations
Your physician may discourage you from practicing Bikram if you are pregnant or have high blood pressure, or for other reasons. Exercising in humid and hot conditions could cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration. The Bikram site advises pregnant women to continue training by using Choudhury's wife's yoga techniques, Rajashree's Pregnancy Yoga.
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