Bogus? My friend has been asking me to go for about a year. He is a good athlete and has a lot more flexibility than I do. The two may be related, and since I don’t stretch my muscles nearly enough, I’ve been seriously thinking about a short term program.
However, the 105 degree room for hot yoga seems ridiculous. How does that help you become more flexible and improve blood circulation? In fact, why would I want to improve my blood circulation?
I have other issues with having people’s bare feet close to my face, and the weird stretches that I seriously doubt add any fitness, but I’m willing to go if someone can convince that it’s worth while (he hasn’t).
I took one class, Bickram, although apparently the name is copyrighted and not all yoga at high temps is Bickram. The studio actually kept the temp at 110F which did seem to make it easier to stretch but also made it harder to breathe. The main reason I wouldn’t go back is that it was hard to tolerate the stench of oven roasted arm and leg pits although they tell me you get used to that. It really reeks. Good luck with that.
I have been doing a hot yoga class 1-2/wk for the past two years. It is the best thing I do all week. It helps with flexibility and core strength which together equal less injuries. I don’t think I have ever been on this board complaining about not being able to run because of X, Y, or Z. Also, those “weird stretches” which you doubt add any fitness have been developed to improve your overall health and well being.
It sounds like your mind is already made up not to go, so I doubt any of the above made a difference. I will say that I spent a lot of time avoiding workouts I said were stupid or weird. It was only later that I realized I was avoiding them because they were hard and I struggled with them. We can easily convince ourselves that the grapes we can’t reach are not worth reaching for.
I used to go bikram once or twice a week, haven’t been in about a year and miss it. It was great for flexibility and core strength as well as injury prevention. Another benefit was being heat acclimated so that I was able to better handle training/racing on hot and humid sunny days.
I have been doing Bikram for over a year now and this is my experience.
55 year old male, fairly active, IM every other year.
I have seen a definite improvement in my flexibility. I currently only go once
a week, still see slight improvements. 2 or 3 times a week is better.
I will never be as flexible as most of the others though.
It helps with your balance.
Some instructors are more gung-ho than others. I have my favorite instructors, know when
they are teaching and take their classes. If I show up and the ‘devil’ as I call him is going to
teach, I skip the class. He is a great teacher but likes it hotter than hell.
Classes that follow another class are worse because you have the added humidity of the
prior class.
Know your fluid needs, I am a heavy sweater and had a couple of issues initially, I find I need
3 bottles of gatorade to make it through a class and feel OK afterwards. But like I said, I am a
heavy sweater, others have challenged me but my mat towels fair outweigh theirs at the end,
at least I win at something.
Don’t really have much to say about other body types in the class, once the class starts you
are more focused on trying to the poses and deal with the class.
There are occassions, someone does pass gas.
There is actually a series of poses called the ‘wind-removing’ poses which does help with your
digestion. Amongst my friends we have what we call a PBP, Post Bikram Poop. (Sorry)
Hope this helps.
I take hot yoga, not bikram, I think bikram is hotter and has a set of moves that always are the same?
My only complaint about yoga is that I can’t go more often, and that I did not start this years ago. Even just going to one 1.5 hour class a week, I see a tremendous difference. If I could I’d go 3-4 times a week.
You don’t sound to open to this, but why not try just one class?
and to the poster who made that comment about smelling like India, was that supposed to be funny? It wasn’t.
Not to hijack but I am in a similar situation in that the massage therapist that I’ve been seeing has suggested that I give Bikram a shot to help with a nagging piriformis injury. I’m planning to start this weekend. A local studio is doing a promo deal where the cost is only $10 for unlimited visits the first 10 days. Hard to say no to that.
I don’t much care what other body types or even odors I might run into so long as the yoga helps.
We’ll see.
Rob
I try and get to Bikram at least once per week, twice in the summer when I have more time. I have never found the smell objectionable, there are always nice looking and very flexible women to look at in the mirrors and the heat training helps for those midsummer tris. When I leave the studio I feel like I just had a good full body massage. (happy endings extra)
The only thing that bugs me is that Bikram studios tend to have a “cultlike” mentality that Bikram yoga is the be all and end all to good health.
Yoga was originally to be a way to relax and meditate. I find it amusing that once it came to the west, we have managed to turn it into a competitive exercise. Now we have aerobic yoga, high impact yoga etc.
I guess it’s the same mindset of a little exercise is good for you so a lot must be really good.
I actually have a hard time finding something where you actually do it to relax.
I started doing it at the beginning of the year once a week and wish I could go more. The place I go to in SE Mass is clean with no odor and so far there has not been anyone offensive in the class. In fact there are a lot of regulars. I haven’t sweat that much since Parris Island! But to be serious, they focus on the core and it’s a workout - it’s not easy. After a couple of months I do find I am more flexible, but I think it’s too early to really tout the benefits. I also think I need to go twice a week.
Bikram is done at 100, not 105. And I’ve never heard of anyone who goes to a reputable, certified Bikram place complaining about smell or anything. My husband goes 2x a week and LOVES it.
It’s not just flexibility. It takes (and will develop) strength you have to experience to believe. I have not done Bickram or hot yoga, just the garden variety in a room with mirrors. My experience is that you should look around for an instructor who does not stress contemplating your belly button. The philosophy side of things is there if you want it, but may put you off in the beginning. On the other hand, starting with a class at the local 24hr Fitness or Y may also give you a poor impression if the instructor is not really qualified. Ask around and give it a few visits before you make up your mind.
I used to date a girl who…
did Bikram yogawas definitely hot.Of course, that’s been several years, and results may vary by location, but if #3 fattest city in the nation San Antonio has hot girls doing Bikram yoga, chances are there are some in your area, too.
went to Bikram once a week a few years ago and didn’t like the hot aspect, yoga is definitely good for flexibility and core strength so I am a fan of yoga, pilates and functional movement exercises, the hot thing to me was a waste, seems like it would be good for sedentary people who never get a sweat on, obviously not an issue for those on this board, it may help a tiny bit with muscles being warm but the benefit doesn’t outweigh the smell and unsanitary environment it seems to create…