Bikram Yoga

You probably know Bikram as the “hot yoga,” though it is actually only one, albeit the most famous, subset of hot yoga. Bikram is practiced in a room heated to 105 degrees, a temperature which makes your muscles loose and flexible–and your yoga mat more than a little sweaty! To qualify as Bikram, and not just hot yoga, classes must consist of the same set 26-asana series, is taught at Bikram yoga studios by Yoga-of-India-certified teachers, and must be taught in rooms whose decor adheres to founder Bikram Choudhury‘s specifications (carpet flooring, mirrors, bright lighting).

Bikram Choudury created his yoga system during the height of the original back-to-the-earth hippy movement in the early 1970s. Apart from the extreme heat, what makes Bikram distinct is its emphasis on full-body targeting—the postures, which range from standing poses like Garudasana to twists like ardha-matsyendrasana,  incorporate balancing, stretching, and pressure, and each get the blood flowing to and flushed out from a different part of the body.

Each 90 minute class begins with a recitation of Bikram’s “Beginning Yoga Class” dialogue, continues with two sets of the 26 postures, and ends with a final Savasana or Corpse Pose.

If you are new to Bikram, remember to drink plenty of water leading up to and during the class, otherwise you may start to feel dizzy and/or nauseous.

Bikram Yoga Poses
Bikram Yoga Studios