As soon as you enter the room, the heat hits you in the face. Eager participants are already sweating. Bikram yoga, a style done with the heat cranked to 105 degrees, is for the seriously fit or the seriously motivated. Some shouldn't risk its intensity. If you don't know whether you're fit enough for Bikram yoga, consult your physician.
Pregnant Women
Bikram's website gently steers pregnant women away from yoga in the hot room. Instead, it recommends a gentler form of yoga that can be done in moderate heat. If you are already a Bikram yoga practitioner, you may return to classes after your first trimester. However, you'll have to adjust to some posture modifications. For instance, do not lie on your back or your belly, and keep your legs wide when folding forward.
Diabetics
Those with chronic conditions are at high risk when it comes to practicing yoga in the heat. Diabetic participants have reported a spike in blood-sugar levels following a Bikram yoga session. Bikram Choudhury says his style of yoga can help relieve or prevent some chronic conditions, but consult your doctor before beginning any new form of exercise.
The Sleepy
Bikram yoga requires that all of your body systems are functioning well. A poor night's sleep means your muscles are weak, your digestive system is sluggish and you are more vulnerable to heat-related illness. Get your full eight hours to prevent nausea or passing out in class.
Young and Elderly
The very old and very young are particularly vulnerable to illness brought on by the 105-degree heat. As the body strives to thermoregulate, several things can go wrong. The body's warning signs before heat exhaustion include rapid heart rate, headache, nausea, dizziness and reduced sweating.
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