Bikram yoga is a kind of hatha yoga that involves learning and performing 26 special asanas (ie exercises or poses to be taken) and two breathing exercises. The peculiarity of bikram yoga is that it must be performed in a well-heated room with high humidity. That's why this kind of school is taught only by those schools that are able to create the necessary conditions for implementation. Due to this feature, bikram yoga is also called "hot yoga".
What do yoga classes do?
Yoga classes are always very different from any other in any fitness club. Dancing, aerobics or power exercises are aimed at developing the body - and yoga simultaneously develops both the physical component of the person, and the spiritual. That is why it is possible to enumerate so long that yoga is useful:
- your body finds an amazing stretch and a beautiful shape;
- thanks to the complex of exercises, not only the muscles of the body relax, but also the nervous system, so you will soon notice an increase in stress resistance;
- thanks to regular classes, it is effective to lose weight (yoga for maintaining the body and spirit is often dealt with by Hollywood stars);
- your joints will acquire unprecedented flexibility;
- complex recovery of the organism occurs due to the removal of toxins from the body;
- with the beginning of regular classes you will forget about pain and discomfort in the back;
- pranayama - breathing exercises - can quickly get rid of accumulated stress, let go of problems and feel like a happy, free person.
Do not expect that already the first yoga class will bring you all these effects. Yoga is not only a physical exercise, but a way of life that includes recommendations for nutrition and worldview.
Bikram Yoga for Beginners: Philosophy
Yoga should begin with spiritual changes, and not with memorizing asanas. Of course, to radically change your life, get used to a new worldview, you need a long enough time, but it's not so difficult. All the principles that yoga implies are just and reasonable. Here are some of them:
- You can not harm any living creature - neither in deeds, nor in words, nor even in thoughts;
- refusal of lies, exceptional honesty;
- the ability not to envy people, but to rejoice over them;
- spiritual liberation from minor domestic problems;
- refusal of constant small desires, consumer thinking;
- constant conscious maintenance of their good mood;
- struggle with their shortcomings;
- Tolerance to those who think differently;
- mercy, kindness towards others;
- constant simplicity in communication and in thought, lack of arrogance and narcissism.
Often, all these principles can be understood only with individual yoga classes, or, if you attend group classes, independently study literature on the topic. Only if you follow all the principles, you will be able to fully experience all the positive aspects of the exercise bikram yoga.
Eating with yoga
The philosophy of yoga involves the rejection of dead food (the meat of dead animals and birds) and food exclusively living, natural plant food. If you do not always stick to this rule, then at least stick to those days that you practice asanas or attend classes.
1.5 hours before the session there is not recommended, but to drink 1.5-2 liters of water - it is necessary. After class, at least an hour is not worth eating, and throughout the day (if you practice morning yoga classes) you need to continue drinking water abundantly - this will help to effectively purge the body of toxins.