Bikram Choudhury, founder of bikram yoga, calls his program "the most exciting, hardworking, effective, amusing, and glamorous yoga class in the world." This controversial form of yoga is nothing like the placid, meditative versions that may come to mind. Although purists may complain, other enthusiasts who want a challenging cardio workout will probably not be disappointed with this rigorous form of yoga.
History
Bikram yoga came to America in 1972, when founder Bikram Choudhury started teaching lessons in San Francisco. Since then, it has rapidly grown in popularity. Choudhury's impressive list of students includes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon and Shirley MacLaine. Choudhury suffered from a knee injury early in his life, and claims that practicing bikram yoga regularly helped the injury heal. According to FitDay, bikram yoga is now known as one of the most physically demanding types of yoga.
The Rules
Like other kinds of yoga, bikram has very specific rules and guidelines. One of the distinguishing factors is the room temperature, which must be exactly 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Choudhury discovered the benefits of practicing yoga at high temperatures when he was teaching in Japan, early in his career. During the winter months, Choudhury would use space heaters to heat the cold room. He discovered that his students had an easier time achieving the poses in these hot temperatures, and the practice stuck. Bikram yoga also uses a specific set of 26 poses, or asanas, and classes are always 90 minutes long.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Bikram yoga is certainly an effective cardio workout. It burns 500 to 1,000 calories per session, which is 30 percent more than other forms of yoga, according to Fit Day. The extreme temperatures at which bikram is practiced encourage the body to sweat, and help the blood to circulate more effectively. The high temperatures also place more strenuous demands on the heart and lungs. During a bikram session, the lungs may expand to as much as 50 percent of their capacity in order to hold more oxygen.
Risks
Since bikram yoga puts such high demands on the heart, certain persons should avoid bikram sessions. If you have a heart condition, or if you are pregnant, elderly, or susceptible to heat stroke, you might want to avoid bikram classes. Dehydration is another possible negative side effect. Choudhury recommends that bikram students drink twice as much water as the recommended daily amount if they do bikram on a regular basis. Water breaks are encouraged throughout the class to prevent dehydration.
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