Bikram yoga, sometimes known as hot yoga, is practiced in 105-degree studios with at least 40 percent humidity. The idea is that the heat of the room helps loosen your muscles for a deeper stretch, while the sweating removes impurities from your body. To have the best experience possible, preparing for your class and knowing how to fuel and hydrate your body can help you feel more comfortable and get better results.
Before Class
Bikram Yoga Brooklyn recommends that you come to class with an empty stomach. Practicing in the very hot temperatures can cause nausea, which can be magnified by a full stomach. What's more, Bikram yoga teaches about light and energy. Worrying about your digestive system, gas or a feeling of being too full could change the way you experience Bikram yoga. If you must eat beforehand, choose a light snack, like a banana and a handful of almonds, or a protein bar.
During Class
You simply won't have time to snack while practicing Bikram yoga, as it moves fairly quickly. The important thing is that you stay well hydrated during the hour to 90 minutes that a Bikram yoga class usually lasts. You'll sweat profusely for the entire class, so ensure that you keep a water bottle handy. While some yogis practice Bikram yoga without water, the heat combined with the beginnings of dehydration and exhaustion can be dangerous. Should you feel suddenly fatigued, nauseous, dizzy or faint, take a break and drink some water.
After Class
In general, those who practice yoga eat little to no meat to stay in harmony with Earth and its creatures. Choose a light meal directly after you practice Bikram yoga, like a salad with vinaigrette or a tofu-stuffed pita. These will help raise your energy stores without making you feel heavy or tired. Eating lighter can also help magnify the weight-loss effects of hot yoga -- you're pairing an hour to 90 minutes of daily exercise with a healthier diet, helping you to see results.
Warnings
The creator of Bikram yoga, Bikram Choudhury, says yoga eventually infiltrates all aspects of your life, even diet. When you're practicing yoga and adopting yogic philosophies, he contends that you'll actually begin to feel the need to eat less. He says in his book, "Bikram Yoga: The Guru Behind Hot Yoga Shows the Way to Radiant Health and Personal Fulfillment," that he eats very little and not until late at night because of his yoga practice. While Choudhury is a respected yogi, remember that a healthy diet has at least 1,200 calories per day for women and 1,500 calories a day for men. Not eating enough, especially when you're exercising daily, is dangerous. Never attempt to fast-starve yourself to see results from your Bikram yoga class.
References
- Bikram Yoga Brooklyn: Frequently Asked Questions
- "Bikram Yoga: The Guru Behind Hot Yoga Shows the Way to Radiant Health and Personal Fulfillment"; Bikram Choudhury; 2007
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