Bikram yoga, sometimes nicknamed hot yoga, was founded by Bikram Choudhury in Calcutta, India. He believes that performing yoga postures in a hot and humid room is the optimal condition for the best performance of the asanas. The theory is that your warm body can stretch farther than it could in a cooler room. Practitioners also believe that the perspiration caused by the hot room detoxifies the body, according to Bikram Yoga NYC.
The Series of Postures
Bikram yoga is a series of 26 postures, always performed in the same sequence. The series begins with deep breathing, continues into standing postures, balancing postures and lying postures both prone and supine, according to North Texas Bikram Yoga. Unlike most other schools of yoga, corpse pose is performed for the first time in the middle of the sequence and then after each posture in the second half of the series.
Studio Conditions
Bikram yoga is traditionally performed in a room heated to 105 degrees. Because so many people are often practicing in a confined space, the room is often very humid. To recreate these conditions at home --- the heat is an integral part of this style of yoga --- Bikram Yoga Decatur recommends purchasing a humidifier and heater to use in the space you are going to be performing Bikram yoga.
Books, Videos and Other Media
There are several official materials for sale with which to teach yourself the Bikram yoga series at home. The Bikram Yoga website sells books on the theory and practice of Bikram by Choudhury himself. They also have DVDs and iTunes downloadable classes for you to follow along with while practicing at home.
Certified Professionals
Though it is possible to perform a satisfactory Bikram yoga practice at home, it is best to work with a qualified professional teacher in a Bikram studio. These teachers can correct mistakes that a book or video can not. They can also answer questions and watch your practice to help ensure that you do not get injured.
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