Bikram yoga is named for inventor Bikram Choudhury. Choudhury pioneered his yoga practice to help him heal from a near-fatal car accident. Bikram yoga is a specific yoga practice that involves progressing through 26 positions at a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Bikram yoga is not to be confused with hot yoga, which only involves increasing the temperature's specific pose progression. A Bikram yoga practice is associated with a number of health and well-being benefits.
Stress Relief
Yoga practices are known for their ability to relieve stress. Bikram yoga is particularly beneficial because it requires extreme concentration to navigate the poses. The heat can also add a relaxing aspect to your yoga practice. Stress is associated with a number of inflammatory conditions in the body, including insulin resistance that can keep you from losing weight.
Enhanced Flexibility
Bikram yoga's hot temperatures are designed to warm the muscles, which helps to facilitate greater stretching capabilities. The Bikram yoga poses are designed for total-body flexibility and include lunging, bending and twisting. Flexibility is important for you at every stage of your life. Flexible muscles tend to be less painful, reducing overall muscle tension in your body. This is especially beneficial for older adults, whose aching joints can increase muscle tension.
Removes Toxins
The warmth from Bikram yoga not only enhances your flexibility, but it also causes you to sweat. In controlled environments like the Bikram yoga room, sweating can help to rid your body of toxins, such as harmful minerals. According to the Bikram yoga official website, the heat "provides a natural irrigation of the body through the circulatory system, with the help of the respiratory system." Throughout your yoga practice, you are invited to drink plenty of water to replace water lost through sweat. After a Bikram yoga class, you may find you feel more energized.
Burns Calories
Bikram yoga is a challenging, active practice that involves body movement that burns more calories than when you are at rest. Burning calories helps to create a calorie deficit, which helps you to maintain a healthy weight. Additionally, Bikram yoga is a muscle-building practice. Through the stretches and poses where you support your body weight, you build long, lean muscles that not only make you stronger, but also help you appear more fit and toned. Because muscle burns more calories than fat when you are at rest, Bikram yoga can contribute even more to weight maintenance or potential weight loss.
Member Comments