Founded 30 years ago by Bikram Choudhury, hot yoga utilizes 26 basic Hatha Yoga postures and two breathing exercises, each done twice with a 20-second rest in between.
It may sound tame but staying in each posture for 20 - 30 seconds in 105 degrees is more difficult than it sounds. And Bikram Yoga aficionados will tell you that heat increases flexibility while helping to detoxify the body.
“In order to stretch your muscles beyond their flexibility, you must be warmed up. If you’re in a hot room and doing an intelligent sequence of postures and gradually progressive stretching then you’re not going to hurt yourself, “ said Jim Kallett, who along with his wife Emma, owns Bikram’s Yoga College of India in Old Town, San Diego.
Kallett went on to explain that stretching and doing the postures in a hot environment allows your blood vessels and capillaries to dilate increasing circulation and allowing your body to absorb more oxygen and nutrients from your blood. You’ll also strengthen your skeletal structure and keep your internal organs healthy.
“Another reason for the heat – it makes you sweat so you’re regulating your body temperature and releasing toxins. The heat is also good for your skin and your respiratory system,” Kallett added.
Kallett stressed that the keys to success in Bikram Yoga are concentrating on breathing and achieving mental relaxation. And, because yoga is about stretching and learning poses, it’s the perfect alternative for people who are burned out on high-impact sports like running. This may be a slow, quiet form of exercise but don’t be fooled. After an hour and a half in the heat you’ll feel it in every muscle. And best of all, you don’t have to have any prior yoga experience to join in.
“It’s a beginning class so we only do beginning level postures which means anyone can do it”, explained Kallett. “As long as you try to do the poses the correct way you’ll get 100 percent of the benefit.”
Contact individual studios for schedules and rates.
About the Author
Liz Morrison is an independant writer in San Diego, CA
www.LizWrites.com
