Howdy
Anyone have experience with Bikram Yoga? A gal I work with owns and operates a Bikram studio and has offered me quite a deal on classes - thinking of doing 2 90 minutes classes per week.
I’m wondering what the long term results of practicing this type of aggerssive hot yoga has been.
Thanks!
I’ve taken only one bikram class, but can guess as to long term affects:
I thought it was great for loosening up my very tight shoulders, and my body in general. I’m sure it is good for overall health and flexibility. However, I felt the difficulty of the class was due to working out in extreme heat, not the workout itself. Don’t expect it to make you physically stronger. You have to define the goals you want out of this class. Don’t take it just because the price is right.
Also, due to the 95 or 100 degree heated room, expect your body to be tired afterwards. However, recovery should be quick. I don’t see it interfering with workouts on the following day.
thanks for the response
i was thinking of taking it on my “active rest” days, probably sat. morning at 10 am and on sunday.
i don’t expect strength gains, though the possiblity of core stability imporvoements intrigue me.
and the hot room seems to be exactly what i’m looking for - we used to stretch in the sauna after wrestling practice, the heat seems to “warm” the muscles up, or at least was a placebo to that effect.
anyone else have long term experience with bikram?
As has been stated, it’s not gonna make you strong. A few of my clients do it, and were amazed last night when I could do all of the advanced postures (I can’t recall the names, but I was in various inverted staes) without ever having done a single class.
I think it is ok for active rest/flexibility work though.
My problems with the yoga people are the bombastic claims that are often made. Siff wrote an excellent article debunking many of the Bikram yoga myths, the temperature thing for example. Basically, he stated that the excessive heat was not needed. Assuming you are hydrated though, I don’t think it’d hurt.
So are you going to get your pussy nice and stretched out from doing this?
JK, as I would like to try it to increase flexibility. I am pretty flexible, but I could always use more.
JWright - it would seem contradictory to do all these damn Kegel exercises then do Yoga I guess. I’m doing my Kegels right now, my co-workers are wondering why my keyboard tray is vibrating.
But really, I think Bikram (who himself was an Olympic weightlifter) does combine a good mix of flexibility, breathing, and balance that puts it outside the “relaxation yoga” realm.
JW-Unless you have trouble moving through a full ROM, there is little need to be ultra flexibile. Why could you always use more?
I can move through a full range of motion on all exercises, but I just would like to be able to do the splits. I know, it sounds gay, make fun. I used to be able to do it as a kid, then I stopped stretching as much and hit that serious growth phase. Plus, I would like my rotator cuffs to be a little bit more flexible.
I think the heat/ moisture adds to one’s ability to streatch and to relax.
The stress and compression that is put on my body with lifting is balanced out by B.Y. I think I recover faster, and reduces my DOMS
Up your water intake to counter the loss.
EPlur etc. -
how long have you been doing BY for?
JayDub…
It does.
We are.
“No self-respecting gay guy would have ever made some of the hair and clothing choices I am still trying to live down”
~ David Copperfield
Rum-
I haven’t had any experince from Bikram Yoga. But, I have a couple of clients that do it and they are fitness fantics, they love it. If I had access to it I would do it also. If anything it will calm and stretch your body out and have a peace for an hour or so. I would defintally recommend it. Take in all types of fitness its not all about the weights.
In Health,
Silas C.
I have been doing Yoga for about 7 years on and off again. Started with the old lady on PBS Gerta? or what ever her name is - then Ali Macgraw video. Sooo good
I did it all through my pregnancy and while in labor (my son is 5 now) which I think lowered my labor time down to 2 hours and 20 min!!!
I would encourage any one who is planning to have children to get in to Yoga ASAP.
As it is a great way to get to know your body and a tool to use to relive stress. More O2 = less cramping = faster dilation = faster birth = happy mom!
I know this is a Test. forum but I did find such a great benefit with Yoga in those 9 + months.
2 1/2 years ago I started going to B.Y.
And I do like the temp. I find the poses great for individual leg / hip flexor stabilization that I need for skating. I would encourage every one to try it.
E~
Thanks for the info y’all
E.P. - not planning on birthing anytime soon, but good to know anyhow
I’m taking my first class this weekend, excited…
E~ is getting me in to Yoga!!
I have watched her do it and she is like a figgen pretzel!
I haven’t yet but I am going to try it too.
I did bikram yoga for two weeks, by using the book in my apartment by myself. I wore a lot of clothes and pointed a space heater at myself to simulate the heated room. I totally disagree that it’s hard work only because it’s hot. The heat is there just to keep you loose. As far as not being physically demanding, I have to disagree on that as well. I’m extremely active, at the time I was playing sports 5 or 6 days a week, for hours at a time, lots of sprinting, and I never got sore from that. Bikram had me so sore I could barely move. I felt amazing too, so healthy, loose, and limber. Aches and pains that had been around for years vanished completely. When I started I could just touch my toes and after two weeks I could almost put my whole palm flat on the floor. I highly recommend it, the only reason I stopped is basically because I wussed out, it was so F*$&KING hard I just couldn’t force myself to do it anymore. That’s saying a lot, as I normally punish myself so hard when I exercise that I get hurt. Try it out, but my suggestion would be don’t push so hard at first, let yourself ease into it so you don’t get sick of it like me.
I don’t care if it added 50 pounds of lean mass in a week, I would never claim to have done yoga. Christ, what is going on here?
BAM
(sound of youngdurin’s mind closing tightly shut)
Rumbach- let me know what your Yoga Nonda ass thought of it.
ng- too fun, that would make a great farley brother’s plot.
Kong- you got it- nice job.
youngdurin, seriously doubt that you’ll never do Yoga if it could add 50lbs of lean muscle. Which obviously it can’t.
So, are we lesser of a man if we take yoga classes? Is, that what you are implying? To be honest its a great way to meet hot looking females. Sure, their are some mom’s and older females in the classes but on the whole there are more younger women in there.
Open your mind a little more to fitness Youngdurin.
In Health,
Silas C.