Pioneered by yoga guru Bikram Choudhury, Bikram yoga is performed in a room heated to between 90 and 104 degrees. This increase in temperature loosens the muscles, helping you to deepen the poses. Because Bikram yoga features a specific, ordered series of poses for a 90-minute routine, you must pursue specialized training to receive certification in the Bikram method and philosophy.
Requirements
To train as a Bikram yoga instructor, you must fulfill certain requirements. These include being at least 21 years of age and having practiced specifically Bikram yoga from a Bikram-certified instructor for at least six months. An interested student must obtain a recommendation letter from her teacher indicating that you are prepared for Bikram yoga training. However, if you do not have a local yoga studio, an extensive yoga practice at home can help. You must be in good enough physical health to lead at least two Bikram yoga classes per day.
Training with Bikram
To be certified in Bikram yoga, you must attend an official training school. Bikram Choudhury himself teaches a nine-week training session in which participants learn how to teach and practice the 26 postures involved in the average Bikram training session. This unique sequencing separates Bikram yoga from other yoga types. Choudhury and his wife also teach shorter, five-day seminars across the country, helping him fulfill his purpose of "saving America through his yoga," according to "Yoga Journal" magazine. Attendees for these seminars take two, two-hour classes each day and may number as many as 700 participants at a time, according to Choudhury's website.
Advanced Training
In addition to teaching the basics postures and philosophy of Bikram yoga, Choudhury, his wife and select instructors teach advanced yoga poses, such as the lotus pose and inverted poses. This advanced training is offered on an invitation-only basis to advanced Bikram yoga practitioners. Because advanced practice poses are challenging, you must be in excellent physical health to take advanced practice classes.
Earning a Certificate
Participation in an official Bikram yoga training session alone does not guarantee you will be awarded certification. In addition to these sessions, you must be proficient in the postures and offer the proper explanations for each of Bikram's poses. An exam at the midpoint of the yoga certification session will test your progress. If you are found to be lacking in a particular expertise area, an instructor will likely offer additional help and extra practice to help you earn certification.
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