Bikram yoga, also known as Bikram hot yoga, is a type of hatha yoga that is taught in studios heated between 90 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Practicing in heated rooms is supposed to promote flexibility, help prevent injury, and speed detoxification by causing you to sweat intensively. Bikram usually consists of a routine of 26 poses, according “Yoga Journal,” including advanced poses and postures that challenge the body and build fitness and flexibility.
Half-Moon Pose
The Half-moon pose is a progressive pose, which begins with standing with the arms stretched overhead with the palms pressed together. According to “Yoga Journal,” you then bend forward, backward and side to side, gradually increasing the intensity of the posture. Advanced versions of the pose incorporate a full forward bend, with your torso touching your thighs. This promotes abdominal strength and stretches your spine.
Eagle Pose
In the Eagle pose, you stand on one foot, and cross one leg over the other, while standing in a slight squat. You tuck the elbow of one arm behind the forearm of the other, stretching your back and chest. This pose requires concentration and coordination, and according to the website Bikram Yoga Portsmouth, it is beneficial for relieving tension, increasing joint mobility, enhancing sexual vitality and improving the function of the central nervous system.
Camel Pose
To perform the Camel pose, kneel, then bend your head and torso back, reaching your hands toward your heels. According to the Bikram Yoga website, the Camel pose creates maximum compression of the spine, which stimulates the nervous system. It also improves flexibility of the neck and spine, and can help relieve backache and degenerative spinal problems. It also benefits the abdominal organs and can help alleviate constipation and promote thyroid function.
Floor Bow Pose
The Floor Bow pose is the final in a sequence of four postures, or asanas, for the spine, Bikram Choudhury writes in “Bikram Yoga.” In the pose, you begin lying on your belly, then you you’re your knees, bringing your heels as close as you can to your buttocks, then you reach back and take hold of your ankles. This pulls your thighs and torso away from the floor, and you can increase the intensity by lifting your heels higher, while looking forward. You should press your shoulder blades firmly against your back to open your heart and draw the tops of the shoulders away from your ears.
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