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| "I started Bikram Yoga at the age of 70... and the difference to my health and well being has been truly amazing. I just completed my 70th class... (I) suffered from low back pain for years and pain in my knees... I am now pain free and intend to stay that way with my daily practice." — David Wilson |
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 Frequently Asked Questions
Click on a question to view the answer.
Is Bikram Yoga for me?
Ask yourself the following questions:
Do I need to lose weight?
Am I stressed out?
Do I get tension headaches?
Is my cholesterol level too high?
Do I have an injury that just doesn't seem to heal?
When I play weekend sports, am I in pain at the end of the day?
Do I have trouble sleeping?
Has my Doctor told me I need to get some form of exercise?
Do I have back pain?
Would I like to improve my golf game?
Do I lack energy?
Do I tire easily?
Would I like to be able to play with my kids/grandkids more?
Do I travel frequently?
Do I sit at a computer for long periods of time?
Do I have carpal tunnel syndrome?
Do I feel tension and stress in my back, shoulders or neck?
If you answered "YES" to any of the above, then Bikram Yoga is for you.
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Why on earth would I do Bikram Yoga? Here's 15 reasons...
Get Happy - People that practice yoga are happier. It's hard not to be happy when you feel so amazing.
Conquer Insomnia - One of the first benefits people see is they fall asleep easier and wake up feeling fully rested and restored ready to take on the new day.
Crank Up Your Volume - You will have more energy throughout your day and be better able to accomplish your daily responsibilities.
Supercharge Your Libido - Need we say more?
Laser Beam Focus - You will feel less stressed and more in control of your time. You will have new mental clarity and be able to focus on the task at hand.
Rock Star Confidence - If you can commit to a regular Bikram Yoga practice, you can do anything. And there is an empowerment that comes from knowing you are more in control of your health and overall well-being.
Able to Leap Tall Buildings - You will become physically stronger and begin to carry your body differently. Your posture will improve and you will walk taller. You will become mentally stronger and will feel more confident, more focused and less stressed. And you thought you could never be a super heroÉ
Look Good Naked - As your body begins to shed unwanted pounds and you enhance the definition in your musculature you will see your body take on a new more toned shape that fits better in clothes and looks better naked :-)
Forget What it's Like to Have a Back Ache - Bikram Yoga is healing yoga. It's physical therapy for your entire body. When you try to perform the postures the right way, your body will begin to change and improve. You will work through old injuries and rid yourself or significantly reduce pain.
Improve Your Game - Dramatically enhance your performance in other physical activities you enjoy while reducing injury! Every time you take a Bikram Yoga class you build strength, increase flexibility, create space between every joint in your body, get a cardiovascular workout and improve your mental focus.
A Class a Day Keeps the Doctor Away - Your immune system will get stronger and stronger and you will get sick less often and for a shorter duration.
Unplug - This class is 90 minutes, all of which are for you - a great escape from the daily rat race. There is no time to think about problems or your Òto doÓ list. You will be 100% focused on your body and your breath.
Start Actually Liking Healthy Food - With regular practice your body naturally craves healthier foods and you will drink more water in preparation for class.
We're a Fun Bunch - We have an amazing community of really cool, positive people here at BYA. You will be surrounded by others that are interested in improving their lives and leading healthy lifestyles. We'll surround you and make you like us!
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How often do I have to endure this class?
If your doctor told you to take your medicine every day, would you take it once a week? Of course not - you would want to feel better as quickly as possible. Consider this - no one will tell you what to do. But we all need to make good choices. Are you here to just maintain your health or to feel better than you ever have? The difference between practicing 1 time a week and 3 times a week is astounding. But you have to experience it for yourself in order to understand it. We've learned that to get the most benefit and value for your effort, time and money, a consistent practice is of paramount importance. 1,000's of testimonials from Bikram yogis all over the world have proven that practicing 3 times a week or more is life changing. Usually, in less than a month of practicing more often, you will know what we mean... and you'll smile, because you will have discovered your fountain of youth.
Are you ready?
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Why is the room so hot?
Because it will get you in the best shape of your life! The heat combined with the sequence of the postures is what makes Bikram Yoga so special. The room is heated intentionally to warm muscles, which allows you to work deeper in a shorter amount of time, seeing results faster.
Also, your skin is the largest elimination organ in your body. Yoga is not just about working muscles. You are massaging deep tissues, glands and organs as well. As you work deep within your body, you may start to release "poisons" or "toxins" that have been stored there a long time. Sweating helps flush toxins from your body, giving you a wonderful glow from head to toe. And practicing in the heat will actually keep your body from overheating (contrary to popular misconception).
Practicing yoga in the hot room improves coordination and reduces heart irregularities associated with sudden exercise. The heart rate will increase for a better cardiovascular workout.
The heat also helps to thin the blood to clear the circulatory system and improves strength by putting muscle tissue in optimal state for reorganization.
And finally, the heat helps to burn fat more easily and faster. Fat is released during stress. The stress of intense exercise causes a deluge of fatty acids into the blood stream. If you exercise with cold muscles, they can't use the fatty acids, and they end up in places they aren't wanted, such as in the lining of the arteries.
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What if I feel sore after class?
Didn't know you had a muscle there? Congratulations, you have utilized 100% of your body. You are on the way to regaining your birthright: using your body in the full range of motion for which it was designed. Muscle soreness is a buildup of lactic acid. What's the best way to get rid of the lactic acid? Stretching. It may seem impossible to imagine that coming back for more will help, but it is THE BEST way to relieve the soreness. If you wait too long to come back, then you will be starting all over again.
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Why would I want to do the same routine every time?
If you think you'll be bored, you will be pleasantly surprised. By doing the same sequence of postures in each class you are able to mark your improvements and learn more about your body and its overall functioning. Bikram scientifically designed the series so that one posture opens a specific area of the body in preparation for the next posture. The class is always the same, but your mind and body are different every day. Remember, this is a lifetime practice that can always improve, deepen and advance!
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Am I too old or out of shape to do Bikram Yoga? I heard it was very intense.
Bikram says "never too old, never too sick, never too bad..." People of any age and condition can do this yoga. This is a beginner's series created for people seeking optimal health. It reduces the symptoms of many chronic diseases and is a good preventative activity for the whole body. Bikram created this yoga for people in chronic pain to eliminate that pain and reverse the signs of aging.
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Is Bikram Yoga a cardiovascular workout and can I lose weight?
No matter what your fitness level, you will find Bikram Yoga very challenging. Each posture combines flexibility, strength and balance to work your whole body from your bones to your skin. With persistence, patience, and dedication, you can lose inches, and develop muscle tone and strength that might never come from other forms of exercise.
Most people do not experience dramatic weight loss according to a scale because as you are losing fat, you are building muscle mass. What you will see is a general slimming all over: your clothes fit better, your posture is better, your skin will GLOW!
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How much water should I drink before class?
Drink plenty of water. You can lose up to three to five pounds of water weight during a class. This is NOT good weight to lose. It is easy to get dehydrated, so make sure you are drinking plenty of water after class and the entire day before you come to class. You are less likely to feel lightheaded or dizzy during class if you've had enough to drink in the hours preceding class.
How much is enough? This is going to vary on a person by person basis. Typically a good formula is to take your body weight and divide by two. This is how many ounces of water you should consume daily. Here's an example: 140 lb/2 = 70 oz. 64 oz is a half gallon. Seem like a lot? Remember our bodies are mostly water. Being fully hydrated helps take pressure off of organs to do their jobs and helps flush the body and keep it running smoothly. You may also find benefits of decreased body odor, smoother skin, and shinier hair.
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I have bad knees. Will I be able to do Bikram Yoga?
Yes, in fact Bikram Yoga can actually help your knees. If you have arthritis or an injury in your knees, movement is important to increase circulation. By increasing circulation and flexibility through careful stretching and strength building, the knees can begin to heal.
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Why is it important to learn from a Bikram Yoga Certified Instructor?
It takes more than a hot room and a list of postures to make your Bikram Method Yoga practice a safe, rewarding experience. Bikram Yoga is a specialized form of yoga, requiring appropriate training and knowledge to teach it effectively.
Bikram Choudhury personally trains and certifies his instructors to ensure that his methods and philosophy are preserved and properly taught. To be certified as an instructor in the Bikram Method of Yoga, an instructor must complete an intensive nine- week training session requiring over 700 hours of study. A studio guided by a Certified Instructor provides the best possible instruction in the Bikram Method. Certified Instructors have a continuing connection to Bikram Choudhury and his training staff, allowing the Certified Studio to draw from all of the resources Bikram's training center has to offer. This includes special seminars, posture clinics, guest instructors, and answers to questions that may arise in a particular practitioner's Bikram Yoga practice.
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For more FAQ's please visit: www.bikramyoga.com
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