Anyone ever tried Bikram yoga?

[bookworm21]

I''m interested in finding a new fitness class, and I''ve heard some good things about bikram yoga. I have friends who have done it and they say it''s great for weight loss. But I''m wondering if the weight loss is mainly due to water weight, since you''re working out in a super heated room.

Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks.

 

[divergrrl]

Hi! I did Bikram for 3 years until I started trying to get pregnant. I loved it (I'm now a yoga instructor, however, I teach Vinyasa style yoga--non heated room) and found my body weight dropped significantly. (I also do Weight Watchers, so my eating is good too) It is a hell of a workout, and the weight loss comes from doing a 90 minute workout where your heart rate is up (cardio), and you are using your body to work your muscles (strength). The heat helps you get warm, and really gets helps you become more flexible. Yes, there is some water weight loss in class due to sweating (goodbye toxins), but as soon as you drink a bottle of water, your body replaces it. The long term results come from doing the class 3 or more times a week, and eating right as well.

A few things..

Bikram is done in a hot room, generally 103 to 109 degrees farenheit, depending on studio.

It is a series of 26 hatha yoga poses, each pose repeated twice, and held for approx. 60 seconds.

You lay down on your mat for a few moments after each pose.

Go with an empty stomach (don't drink a latte before hand, like I did my first time, I wanted to puke) .

Wear itty bitty close fitting clothing. You will sweat like a pig, & definitely need to shower & change at the studio. I wore tight lycra shorts & a cami workout top. Everyone wears that, regarless of size. Big, small, tall short. You will suffer if you wear a lot of clothing. If you are self conscious and this sounds like a horror to you, relax, its a good time to learn to love your body. Yoga is not about judgements or perfection, so these classes are a great place to just be yourself.

if you want to see a change in your body weight, flexibility, energy level, etc. you need to practice at least 3 times a week. I would have loved to have done it more often, but 3 was all i could squeeze in.

Bikram is hard, the heat is challenging, and I found I had to lay down half the class (this is ok) and not do the second pose each time, until I acclimated to the heat (about 4 classes). Just try not to leave...you might pass out from the abrubt transition from hot to cold.

Beware: Its also addicting. Once you get used to the heat, you will crave it.

Namaste,

Jeannine

 

[mia15]

It''s does amazing things for your skin!

 

[bookworm21]

Hmm....I think I will try it then. It sounds interesting. I''ve just never gotten up the nerve to try a workout in a superheated room.

Emeraldlover, does it really help your skin? Because one of my friends said that she started breaking out all the time while she was doing bikram yoga. Do you shower immediately afterwards, because she waited until she got home to shower, which I suspect is the main culprit.

 

[turtledazzle]

I tried it ... once. I really think it depends on how well you can tolerate heat. I didn''t think I had a problem with the heat, being a Southern girl who also lived in the humidity and heat of New Orleans for 4 years. I felt OK during the actual class (bit a little panicky about the stifling heat at times, if that makes sense), but I felt really nauseous and generally unwell for the next two days. Also, I sweat a lot during exercise (I do lots of cardio on a regular basis), so after this class there was not a dry spot on me ... or anywhere near me for that matter!

I drank over a liter of water.
Now, I''m sure that if I had continued going to classes, I would likely have acclimated to everything. It was a great workout (and I''m sure with regular practice you would definitely lose weight), but now I stick to Vinyasa-style yoga.

I don''t mean to discourage you -- definitely give a class a try! I''m just relaying my experience. I know a few people who regularly go, and they seem to really enjoy it.

 

[mia15]

Hmmm, I did break out for a week, and started washing my face after the sessions and it stopped, so it could be due to that or it could be that it''s new to your system.

It just kind of makes your skin glow in that post facial way. Definitely makes the pores look "closed". I used to spend lots of money on products, but now I just do Bikram yoga or lots of cardio. There''s nothing like it!

I''m ashamed to say I do yoga primarily for my looks!

 

[bookworm21]

Date: 7/18/2006 12:01:08 AM
Author: emeraldlover
Hmmm, I did break out for a week, and started washing my face after the sessions and it stopped, so it could be due to that or it could be that it''s new to your system.


It just kind of makes your skin glow in that post facial way. Definitely makes the pores look ''closed''. I used to spend lots of money on products, but now I just do Bikram yoga or lots of cardio. There''s nothing like it!


I''m ashamed to say I do yoga primarily for my looks!

LOL, nothing wrong with that. Look at it this way, at least you''re getting exercise and being healthy! Ok, I''m going to go find a bikram yoga place now, hopefully one that''s relatively close to home.

Thanks again!

 

[mia15]

Be sure to bring LOTS of water. And when they say don''t eat for four hours before class, don''t be like me, believe them.

And let us know how it went!

 

[appletini]

I think divergirl said it best. I used to do the bikram and yoga, but my work schedule now keeps me away b/c I don't like going to the 6:30-8pm class because thats dinner time to me. Make sure you eat well during the day, the last thing you want is to be fatigued going in. My studio sells large bottles of water there and everyone has one in the class has water, they have designated water breaks. My first class I thought I was going to die the whole time, but about 10 minutes afterwards I had so much energy. If you can make the time its definitely worth it and way cheaper than a personal trainer for the same results.

It definitely helps with flexibility, balance, stamina, etc. I have never been a flexible person and I was amazed by how much my flexibility increased after each class.

You can find locations in your area at www.bikramyoga.com

 

[sanfranciscoellen]

I live a few doors down from a Bikram yoga studio, and have tried it several times. The key is to give it at least three times before you decide if you like it or not. The first time you are just trying to make it through without fainting or throwing up....the second is a little better, and by the third time you are hooked.

The heat is addictive, but is a gimmick in my opinion. The only reason Bikram did that is to replicate the temperature of the place in India that he studied yoga, I read in an article about him. But that said, it does make you feel super stretchy, sweated out, and lovely afterwards.

My only complaints are that doing the same 26 positions everytime you go, no matter where in the world you are, limits you from learning about so many other fabulous types of yoga and different positions.

Good thing I live in San fran like you! Right around the corner from the Bikram is another yoga studio....two on my block!