eerie_reverie Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 (edited) Has anyone ever tried "hot" yoga? I was blown away when I went this week. The class was in a dark room heated to 105 degrees, humid and quiet except for the sounds of breathing and the instructor's soft voice guiding us into the positions. If I didn't focus on my breathing to relax myself, I got dizzy and began to pass out. The result was that for 1.5 hours, my mind was totally blank, which I realized is the effect I am going for when I binge-drink or do drugs to the point of oblivion. Except here I was technically sober, lying on a mat, drenched in sweat, stretching. I can defintiely see myself getting into this. Just wanted to share my rave review and ask about others' experiences. Edited January 10, 2011 by eerie_reverie
Star Gazer Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 I have gone a couple times, but haven't had the awe inspiring experience you and soooooo many others have. I keep thinking maybe I'm doing it wrong?
january2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 (edited) It's meant to be the 'latest' thing for young UK popstars and a quick fix for those looking for a lean and toned physique. If I didn't focus on my breathing to relax myself, I got dizzy and began to pass out. Were you holding your breath, without noticing, and focusing on getting the poses right? I sometimes do that in other classes and the instructor constantly has to remind us to 'breeeeaaathe'. Edited January 10, 2011 by january2011
Author eerie_reverie Posted January 10, 2011 Author Posted January 10, 2011 I have not tried it, but I heard of it when I was heavy into yoga, and the idea did not sound appealing to me at all. Yoga is intense enough on its own, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it in extreme heat. Do you do a lot of yoga, Eerie? My impression of it is that Bikram is more for experts, people who can handle the more difficult poses and have been doing it for years. Nope, I had tried "regular" yoga a couple of times but it did nothing for me except bore me to tears. The heat kept my thoughts and my boredom away.
Author eerie_reverie Posted January 10, 2011 Author Posted January 10, 2011 It's meant to be the 'latest' thing for young UK popstars and a quick fix for those looking for a lean and toned physique. Were you holding your breath, without noticing, and focusing on getting the poses right? I sometimes do that in other classes and the instructor constantly has to remind us to 'breeeeaaathe'. I was impressed by how high my heart rate stayed throughout the class, for how little movement I was making. I'm hoping that means I was burning calories. I didn't need to be reminded to focus on my breathing since I'd begin to pass out if i didn't breathe right.
KraftDinner Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 I have gone a couple times in the last week. It's not mind-blowing. It's hot and a bit uncomfortable. But I do feel pretty good afterwards. My new thing regarding fitness is I'm going to try to keep mixing it up, trying different activities and changing often because I've finally figured out (duh) that when I get bored, I stop exercising. So Bikram yoga is what I'm doing for last week and this. I'll probably go swimming next week.
allina Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 I have done it several times and really enjoy it. However, even if you aren't breathing "correctly" you shouldn't be on the verge of passing out I know some people get a little lightheaded but "starting to pass out" sounds pretty serious and not normal.
loverofloveandstuff Posted January 14, 2011 Posted January 14, 2011 Has anyone ever tried "hot" yoga? I was blown away when I went this week. The class was in a dark room heated to 105 degrees, humid and quiet except for the sounds of breathing and the instructor's soft voice guiding us into the positions. If I didn't focus on my breathing to relax myself, I got dizzy and began to pass out. The result was that for 1.5 hours, my mind was totally blank, which I realized is the effect I am going for when I binge-drink or do drugs to the point of oblivion. Except here I was technically sober, lying on a mat, drenched in sweat, stretching. I can defintiely see myself getting into this. Just wanted to share my rave review and ask about others' experiences. absolutely LOVE bikram yoga. Were you hydrated enough? Because that might've been the reason you felt you were going to pass out, or maybe you just hadn't had enough food that day. I usually eat something light a couple of hours before. I have experienced both feeling like I am going to pass out and feeling sick from eating right beforehand, both not pleasant! when I go to bikram yoga regularly, I feel and look sooo much healthier, the "bikram glow" they call it. My bikram yoga place has a 40 day challenge where you go for 40 days straight and if you succeed you get a month free. After this 20 pass runs out I'm definitely going to put myself up to the test.
Graceful Posted January 14, 2011 Posted January 14, 2011 Bikram yoga is not the focus of my yoga practice, but I have gone to studios that offer it, and have enjoyed it. I have over seven years of experience in yoga, but my practice is a very strenuous power / vinyasa style yoga. I sweat rather profusely just doing it in a normally heated room! The heat is almost too much for me, but is a challenge. I am fairly advanced and do difficult arm balances, head stands, etc., and I can tell you, without the proper towels, it's too sweaty for me to balance. After seven years of my practice, my mind is at complete peace when I am on the mat, I think of nothing and no one. I've known people who have been practicing yoga for many years, and they don't necessarily have lean bodies. Some do of course, but not all. But they are very fit. Not always the same thing. You need more in your exercise regimen to have overall fitness, IMHO, and that includes a sustained program of cardio and weight bearing exercise. As much as I love and cannot say enough about power yoga, it's not enough for me. I need lots of cardio that comes in the form of step aerobics, cycling, boot camp classes, use of ellipticals, etc. I agree with KraftDinner (ha ha!!) -- it's good to shake up the mix, no matter what you do. Keeps you from getting bored. It also means you are optimizing your time, and keeping your body from getting immune to the same thing.
USMCHokie Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 I'd really like to give this a try sometime soon...I keep saying that I want to go, but I can't seem to find the time...
tinktronik Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 I love bikram. It gets me really high, to be honest, my mind blanks too. I can't do it now that I've got baby on board but I'm eager to get back to it after. There is a difference between hot yoga and bikram yoga though. Bikram is pretty nazi-ish about maintaining the temp and humidity in the room to over a certain point, where hot may fall between a range and is typically not as hot. Hot yoga does not leave me feeling lightheaded or high.
akkaiberry Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 I never tried Bikram Yoga but my colleagues employee LOVED it. I been tempted trying it but classes we went was long and you have to keep poses 1-2 minutes.that is pretty owefull to me.
vvjones Posted January 24, 2011 Posted January 24, 2011 Bikram Yoga, sometimes referred to as hot yoga, is a series of 26 hatha yoga postures praticed in a hot and humid environment. It warms your muscles to prevent injury, allowing for a deeper stretch and to cleanse the body by flushing the toxins out through sweating. Whatever your age, injury, or prior yoga experience (if any at all), this yoga will benefit your body and mind in ways you never imagined possible.Make sure to drink plenty of water before and after class so you don't get dehydrated. It is not advisable to eat during the two hours before class.
eternalsunrise Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 I really enjoy bikram yoga. It's addictive. I go through periods where I go more often than other times. It'll always be part of my life because of the way it makes my body feel so grounded and alive. Love it.
micaljack1987 Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Bikram Yoga is named after its founder - Bikram Choudhury studied yoga with Bishnu Ghosh, brother of Paramahansa Yogananda. This is a series of 26 cases are performed at room temperature to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Practiced for more than 3 million people in the world of all ages and physical conditions, Bikram Yoga has helped many to overcome serious diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic back pain.
gracielou Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 Love Bikram! I have noticed that if i don't hydrate enough during the day then i get a bit light headed but nothing serious. It is wicked expensive tho... My husband and I are both grad students and so I can't go on a regular basis... tho the studio near me does a work exchange program so im hoping i can keep it up.
Leeway Harris Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 I got into Hot Yoga last year. I had been practicing "regular" yoga for a little while, and I decided to try it out in the Hot Room. It was horrible. I stayed for the whole time, but it was extremely uncomfortable and I could only do like three poses. I promised myself I would never do it again. Then a few months later I decided to give it another try, and I liked it much better. It is pretty intense, but it turns out to be worth it. I never tried true Bikram though. I've heard they're really strict and tough, and I go for more of an easygoing approach. I don't like people pushing me so hard, I can push myself hard enough.
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