Frequently Asked Questions
What’s Bikram Yoga?
Bikram yoga is a 90-minute series of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises, synthesised from the original 84 Hatha yoga postures by its eponymous creator, Bikram Choudhury. The series is designed to create and maintain complete health through its balancing and strengthening effect on every system of the human body. It’s known to both prevent and cure all kinds of illness and injury, promote weight loss in the overweight, strengthen and tone all the muscles of the body, balance psychological problems and emotional upset, and slow down – even reverse – the physical signs of ageing.
What Actually Happens to My Body in a Bikram Yoga Class?
In each Bikram yoga class, you’ll stretch, balance, and compress your limbs and torso in a variety of challenging, strengthening, stretching postures. The 26 postures of a Bikram beginners’ yoga class are based on the original 84 postures of ancient Hatha yoga, and are designed to:
- Contract and stretch your muscles at the cellular level.
- Stretch and massage each joint in the body, increasing mobility, flexibility, and the strength and support abilities of surrounding muscle tissue.
- Increase your resistance to disease and heal existing sickness by improving the function of the lymph system in the body.
- Build functional strength. There are no tools, benches, dumbbells, or complex machines to help you ‘isolate’ muscles and bones; each muscle and limb is required to work in synergistic harmony with all other parts of the body
- ‘Reset’ the hormonal systems of the body. In Bikram yoga, all of your glands are compressed and ‘flushed’ with fresh blood and oxygen throughout each class.
- Flush out toxins and waste through the organs of elimination, primarily the lungs and skin. Legend has it that one Bikram yoga class is equivalent to five whole weeks on a standard detox system!
How Many Times a Week Should I Come?
Come as often as you can. Bikram himself recommends that newbies come every day without fail for two months to reap the full cumulative effects of Bikram’s healing powers. (We realise that this is a big commitment, and if you can’t make this number of classes, don’t worry.) After that, the ‘magic number’ is three or more times a week – but again, if you can only make it once or twice a week, don’t worry!
What Should I Expect After My First Class?
Some people feel very tired after their first class.
This is completely normal, and nothing to worry about. It’s actually a good sign: it means your body has spent energy during the 90 minute class in releasing toxins and cleansing itself.
You might also find that your energy levels soar immediately and you have difficulty getting to sleep at night!
Again, this is completely normal. It means that your body systems are now in such good working order that you don’t need as much rest as you used to. The reduced need for sleep might stay with you long-term, or it might balance out again after a few more classes.
Stiffness or soreness can happen too, especially after the first class.
The physical soreness is just a sign that things are changing and healing inside your body. Your joints are increasing in flexibility, your muscles are growing and strengthening, everything is changing shape – so it’s normal to feel a little achey.
Some people get headaches after their first couple classes.
This is usually a sign that they are dehydrated and/or lacking in electrolytes. Drink lots of water and balance out your sodium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium levels with an electrolyte drink or supplements.
Changes in hunger levels are normal also.
Some people get very hungry after class; others lose their appetite for hours at a time. If you’re hungry, eat what feels right to you. If you’re not hungry, have something easy to digest (a smoothie, electrolyte drink, or fresh juice is ideal), or just drink some water and wait until you feel like eating.
How Should I Prepare For Class?
Drink lots of water throughout the day before you set foot in the studio.
It is important to make regular hydration a natural part of your day; this will help you to deal easily with the heat, and will boost your endurance and energy.
Do not eat in the two hours before class.
If you really need to eat something, try to make it light and easily-digestible. (Yoga on a full belly can be extremely uncomfortable!) Please also note that caffeine, a meat-heavy diet, or a diet rich in processed foods can all be dehydrating in themselves; if you eat a lot of these foods, drink extra water to make up.
Bring a big towel to class with you.
This will go over your yoga mat (which you can rent from the studio for $2 if you don’t have one of your own.) If you want a shower afterwards, bring a second towel for this.
Clothes-wise, think small, stretchy, and light.
You don’t want to be wearing long pants or baggy t-shirts in class. Most students wear the equivalent of swimsuits, with most men going shirtless in class, and most women preferring to wear exercise tops, crop-tops or bikini tops, and stretchy shorts.
Why Do I Feel Dizzy In Class Sometimes?
Dizziness is common for first-timers, and depending on your health and how toxic your body is, can take a few classes to master.
Some people simply react to the heat more strongly than others. Just take a knee (or lie down), wait for it to pass, and get up when you feel able.
Be gentle with yourself and keep coming to class – it’s the best medicine for you!
Why Is It So Hot In Here?
Your body must be warm before exercising vigorously. Heating the room and moistening the air allows your muscles to become fluid and elastic so that you can stretch deeply and safely without hurting yourself. The heat also causes you to sweat heavily, which is one of the primary benefits of a regular Bikram yoga practice. You purge yourself of toxins and waste matter rapidly and painlessly.
I Have a Bad Back. Can I Still Do Bikram Yoga?
Interestingly enough, Bikram yoga was actually designed to rehabilitate bruised, broken, and aching limbs, joints, and bones. It’s made to help people in pain!
Bikram always says, ‘If you have a strong, healthy spine, the world is yours’ – so come to class, give it your 100% honest effort, and soon the pain will be gone.
I Have a Chronic Respiratory Illness. Is Bikram Yoga Safe for Me?
In a word: yes! No matter the cause of your weak respiratory system, Bikram yoga will strengthen your lungs in many ways.
