Happy New Year! Well you’ve made it through one year and into another, and of course with every New Year comes a new pledge to better your fitness routine. The best way to keep an exercise routine fresh is to try new things that challenge your body in new ways and burns major calories. If you’re ready to break a sweat and shift your workout into overdrive then Bikram and Hot Yoga is for you.
So what are Bikram and Hot yoga you ask? Well in short they are yoga classes where you perform a series of basic yoga postures in a sauna-like room where the heat is cranked up to nearly 105 degrees and 40 percent humidity. Before you scream “Oh hell no,” the benefits may make the workout worth it. Not only can you burn between 300-600 calories a class doing hot yoga, but with each class you’ll increase your stamina and flexibility, which could come in handy during other hot moments in your life.
But be warned hot yoga is not for the faint of heart! You will be pushing your mind and body to its limits and in all that heat it is very easy to become dehydrated and over extend yourself. If you can stand the heat, Bikram and Hot Yoga can definitely help you take your weight loss goals to the next level. Happy sweating!
Would you try hot yoga? If you have, what was your experience?
I do bikram about 6x a week and I love it. Bikram is the same 26 postures done the same way each time. It’s a 90 minute class. Ideally you should take at least 3 bikram classes to get a feel before you decide if it’s for you or not. The first time the goal should be just to stay should be to stay in the room. It becomes a mediation. You truly learn how to push your mind and body. I still love hot vinyasa yoga as well. I’ve found that with a strong yoga practice my mind and body are in harmony. Not to mention that my legs and butt look great:)
After sitting on the fence for years, I finally tried Bikram last year and loved it. It’s so challenging, and while each class is the same, the way your body responds is different. I highly recommend it. It’s 90 minutes dedicated to you.
I love yoga and bikram yoga. I go to bikram yoga at least 3x a week. I started last January and kept going all year. I toned my muscles, gained strength and flexibility, lost weight and all while detoxing. I find the poses in Bikram easier to do while sweating versus some poses in hot yoga. For example, downward facing dog is really hard for me to do without slipping, while my hands and feet are sweating in a hot yoga class. The first class will be tough, but if you keep going you will adjust to the heat. Some of the discomfort is because the body is detoxing. Try both and decide which you prefer. I have type 2 diabetes and have seen significant differences in my blood sugar levels before and after a Bikram yoga class. That keeps me going to bikram. This is a benefit that is well worth it to me.