Yoga has been a popular new trend in the west for a while now, but is has its roots in ancient India. The tranquil practice is regarded as a way of bringing your mind, body and soul together using a series of moves, known as asanas and is a way of getting a bit of 'you time' when life gets too much. Bikram Yoga, however, is not something for the faint-hearted newbie and we're going to take a look at why.
The inventor of this controversial form of yoga is Bikram Choudrey, an ex-All-India Yoga Champion who remained undefeated until his retirement from the competition. Having practised yoga since he was four, he has dedicated his life to it and has established himself as a prominent character on the scene - his much-talked about technique is the reason why.
The premise of hot yoga is simply practising it in a room of a raised temperature. Choudrey recommends the humidity to be 40% and the temperature at 105 degrees. This affects the three aspects of spirituality in striking ways. Physically speaking, the heightened temperature allows the muscles to be more relaxed which not only helps stretch and attain poses but also reduces the risk of injury to the muscles being used. The twenty-six moves and two breathing exercises are designed specifically to maximise oxygenation and are set in a particular order which enables the body to prepare itself for the next pose. Many sportsmen have now adopted an otherwise a fairly bohemian practice due to the effect is has had on their muscles post-performance. Andy Murray has cited Bikram as a real test to his physical ability saying, '"Until you do it you can't comment on how difficult it is. It's tough. It's ugly." The heat, while being beneficial to the muscles, has been said to be tough on the mind.
Mentally, Bikram is a challenge. It is practised in a room of intense heat and can be difficult to adapt to even for seasoned yoga enthusiasts. There are many risks to exercising like this such as dehydration due to sweating and it is therefore recommended to sip water during classes. Another danger can be hypothermia which is the overheating of the body; symptoms for this are dizziness, nausea and fainting which can lead to heatstroke. This pressure on the body also has an extended risk to the mind. Many experts and sportsmen have claimed it builds up mental stability and helps strengthen emotions. Yoga has particular notoriety as being something that requires dedication and almost something of a lifestyle change, so the added pressure that Bikram applies is not for the faint-hearted, however the long-term effects have been praised.
The twenty-six specially designed yoga poses, or asanas, are composed of two intense breathing exercises at the beginning and end and twenty-four stances designed to promote the body's unity by making all muscles work one after the other with each pose preparing you for the one that follows. Michele Pernetta, who introduced Bikram Yoga to the UK and is a fundamental influence in the idea of sports and yoga, says, "Most sports have long-term effects but yoga is the science of putting the body back the way it's supposed to be." The asanas are done over the space of ninety minutes, a long enough time to get the body working hard, yet the breathing exercises help reduce the negative effects.
Choudrey himself has a slightly different idea from other yoga fans. While the practice has been universally seen as a tranquil and unifying art for attaining a sense of peace with oneself, Choudrey has been prevalent in competitions for years and says - Competition is the foundation for all democratic societies. For without 'Competition', there is no democracy. This seems to be the polar opposite to what many Westerners have been taught to believe however yoga competitions have been held in India for over a century with competitors saying it is a chance for both newcomers and professionals to sharpen their skills, the added influence of rivalry also trains the mind to become more devoted to attaining perfection.
Bikram Yoga is now so talked about; it has become almost table talk for yoga enthusiasts. It's negative and positive sides have been frequently argued but its basis in the scientific seems the hardest to argue against. It has been adopted by many in the west as something of a challenge, a way of achieving a physical wellbeing as well as a mental one. It is highly recommended by both the newcomers and the seasoned professionals as a suitable way of marrying the tranquil with the physically demanding, something that seems to be becoming more prevalent in today's world.
The inventor of this controversial form of yoga is Bikram Choudrey, an ex-All-India Yoga Champion who remained undefeated until his retirement from the competition. Having practised yoga since he was four, he has dedicated his life to it and has established himself as a prominent character on the scene - his much-talked about technique is the reason why.
The premise of hot yoga is simply practising it in a room of a raised temperature. Choudrey recommends the humidity to be 40% and the temperature at 105 degrees. This affects the three aspects of spirituality in striking ways. Physically speaking, the heightened temperature allows the muscles to be more relaxed which not only helps stretch and attain poses but also reduces the risk of injury to the muscles being used. The twenty-six moves and two breathing exercises are designed specifically to maximise oxygenation and are set in a particular order which enables the body to prepare itself for the next pose. Many sportsmen have now adopted an otherwise a fairly bohemian practice due to the effect is has had on their muscles post-performance. Andy Murray has cited Bikram as a real test to his physical ability saying, '"Until you do it you can't comment on how difficult it is. It's tough. It's ugly." The heat, while being beneficial to the muscles, has been said to be tough on the mind.
Mentally, Bikram is a challenge. It is practised in a room of intense heat and can be difficult to adapt to even for seasoned yoga enthusiasts. There are many risks to exercising like this such as dehydration due to sweating and it is therefore recommended to sip water during classes. Another danger can be hypothermia which is the overheating of the body; symptoms for this are dizziness, nausea and fainting which can lead to heatstroke. This pressure on the body also has an extended risk to the mind. Many experts and sportsmen have claimed it builds up mental stability and helps strengthen emotions. Yoga has particular notoriety as being something that requires dedication and almost something of a lifestyle change, so the added pressure that Bikram applies is not for the faint-hearted, however the long-term effects have been praised.
The twenty-six specially designed yoga poses, or asanas, are composed of two intense breathing exercises at the beginning and end and twenty-four stances designed to promote the body's unity by making all muscles work one after the other with each pose preparing you for the one that follows. Michele Pernetta, who introduced Bikram Yoga to the UK and is a fundamental influence in the idea of sports and yoga, says, "Most sports have long-term effects but yoga is the science of putting the body back the way it's supposed to be." The asanas are done over the space of ninety minutes, a long enough time to get the body working hard, yet the breathing exercises help reduce the negative effects.
Choudrey himself has a slightly different idea from other yoga fans. While the practice has been universally seen as a tranquil and unifying art for attaining a sense of peace with oneself, Choudrey has been prevalent in competitions for years and says - Competition is the foundation for all democratic societies. For without 'Competition', there is no democracy. This seems to be the polar opposite to what many Westerners have been taught to believe however yoga competitions have been held in India for over a century with competitors saying it is a chance for both newcomers and professionals to sharpen their skills, the added influence of rivalry also trains the mind to become more devoted to attaining perfection.
Bikram Yoga is now so talked about; it has become almost table talk for yoga enthusiasts. It's negative and positive sides have been frequently argued but its basis in the scientific seems the hardest to argue against. It has been adopted by many in the west as something of a challenge, a way of achieving a physical wellbeing as well as a mental one. It is highly recommended by both the newcomers and the seasoned professionals as a suitable way of marrying the tranquil with the physically demanding, something that seems to be becoming more prevalent in today's world.
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If you've been inspired to learn some more about this wonderful and taxing art form and you fancy a go in the intense heat you can visit the website for a centre in Highbury and Islington.
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