Hot Yoga – Bikram Yoga

Hot Yoga – Bikram Yoga: Hot yoga is a type of yoga exercise that is done in hot and humid conditions, resulting in a lot of sweating. Some hot yoga practices attempt to replicate the heat and humidity of India, yoga’s birthplace.” Bikram Yoga is a hot yoga exercise system developed by Bikram Choudhury and based on the (Join our yoga school in Rishikesh) teachings of Bikram Choudhury Ghosh, which rose to prominence in the early 1970s. The heated environment of Bikram Yoga, according to Bikram Choudhury, helps to prepare the body for movement and to improve flexibility by “removing any impurities.

Hot yoga sessions can include a wide range of positions, and the length of each class varies by facility. Hot yoga, unlike Bikram yoga, which is a calmer, more serious practice, frequently involves music and more interaction among the participants. Due to assault claims against its founder, Bikram yoga has lost popularity in recent years. Some establishments may refer to their heated classes as “hot yoga” rather than “Bikram yoga.” As a result, it’s a good idea to read the class descriptions thoroughly before enrolling.

Not everyone is a fan of hot yoga. Heat-related illness can be caused by the intensity of the workout and the hot temperatures. Before attempting hot yoga, see your doctor, especially if you have any health issues or are pregnant. 

Are you interested in learning more about how hot yoga and Bikram yoga can help you? What’s the difference between the two? This post will go over the benefits of this sweat-inducing activity as well as how to get started. So, let’s get began.

What is Hot Yoga?

Hot yoga is a type of hatha yoga that is practiced in humid and hot environments, resulting in a lot of sweating. Although the terms “hot yoga” and “Bikram yoga” are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not synonymous. 

Bikram yoga is a more rigorous and serious form of yoga that takes place in a room heated to around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) with a relative humidity of 40%.

Hot yoga, on the other hand, simply implies that the space is heated to a higher temperature than typical. The temperature can be changed to whatever the yoga instructor desires, but it’s usually between 80 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit (27 and 38 degrees Celsius).

What is Bikram Yoga?

Bikram yoga is a hot yoga style in which practitioners execute 26 asanas (poses) plus two Pranayama breathing exercises in a room that is at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bikram is a guy – full name Bikram Choudhury. The Bikram method, created in the 1970s by yoga teacher Bikram Choudhury, is (Join our yoga teacher training in Rishikesh) considered the original hot yoga practice. During the 90-minute Bikram yoga session, the instructor serves as a meditation guide rather than a model for the various positions, directing yogis through triangle pose, toe stand, cobra stance, tree pose, and 22 other poses.

What Is the Difference Between Bikram and Hot Yoga?

While Bikram yoga is a kind of hot yoga, it wasn’t the only type of hot yoga. The following are the significant differences as follows:

Differences	Bikram Yoga	Hot yoga (in general)
Poses	Traditional Bikram yoga consists of a choreographed 90-minute session that includes 26 poses and two breathing exercises.	A typical hot yoga session, on the other hand, might include a wide variety of yoga poses, stretches, and exercises, and is frequently a fluid Vinyasa-style practise.
Temperature, humidity	Bikram yoga is a style of hot yoga that intensifies the heat.	Hot yoga is the practise of doing yoga poses in a warm room with the goal of sweating out negative emotions and pushing oneself harder during the session.
	A classic Bikram studio requires a specific setting for its practise: it must be at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit and carpeted (to make it easier on the joints).	In hot yoga studios, the frequently employ temperatures as low as 80 degrees Fahrenheit and virtually always use solid floors to limit odour absorption.
Lighting	Bright lights, mirrored front wall	Any lighting, e.g. candles; mirrors optional
Training	Bikram-certified	Any
Sound	No music, no clapping	Music is common; applause is common at the end
Instructor	The instructor’s function in a traditional Bikram yoga class is that of a meditation guide; they normally stay at the front of the room and assist students through the poses using auditory cues rather than performing them themselves.	Hot Yoga instructors are generally more involved in most general hot yoga programmes, modelling various yoga postures for students and assisting individual students adjust their poses.
People like	Some people like Bikram’s discipline and high heat.	Some people prefer the mild cleansing and free-flowing atmosphere of a regular heated yoga practise.

What Are The Benefits of Hot Yoga?

1. Improves Flexibility: Hot yoga can promote muscle flexibility more than other types of yoga because the heat enhances the stretching process beyond the limits of your body at room temperature. The heat from the outside allows the muscles to contract and expand to greater lengths, allowing participants to attain more flexibility without risking injury. Dancers, athletes, trainers, and those who wish to fine-tune and increase their flexibility may benefit from hot yoga.
2. Builds Bone Density: When you support your weight in a yoga pose, you’re helping to build bone density. Because bone density reduces with age, this is especially significant for elderly adults and premenopausal women.
3. Reduces Blood Glucose Levels: While any sort of exercise can help you burn calories and lower glucose (sugar) levels in your blood, Join our 200 hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh) hot yoga may be especially beneficial for persons who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.
4. Nourishes the Skin: Sweating in a hot setting has the added benefit of improving circulation, which brings oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to skin cells. This, in turn, may aid in the internal nourishment of your skin.
5. Cleanses Toxins From the Body: When you do hot yoga, you will sweat profusely, which is a great method to cleanse your system.
6. Increases Lung Capacity: We only use around half of our lung capacity when we breathe properly. Deep breathing exercises increase the capacity of the lungs, allowing them to hold massive amounts of oxygen.
7. Fewer Injuries: The heat in a hot yoga studio improves vasodilation of the blood vessels. This way, more blood gets to the muscles, making them more elastic and less likely to get injured.
8. Kick Stress: Yoga is well-known for helping people relax and enhance their moods. It could potentially be an effective treatment for depression symptoms.
9. Improves Blood Circulation: Hot yoga improves blood flow to all regions of the body by working out the cardiovascular system.
10. Strengthens the Immune System: Regularly practicing hot yoga can assist your immune system in fighting infection. The benefits of exercise are amplified when you sweat abundantly during a workout. Most experienced yogis don’t get sick very often, and when they do, their illnesses are milder and last less time since their bodies are generally healthier and better able to recuperate.
11. Supports Weight Loss: Hot yoga can help you lose weight by increasing your metabolism. The several difficult positions you must hold, as well as the increased heat, cause your heart to beat faster and your body to build lean muscle. You can burn up to 1000 calories in a ninety-minute session of Bikram yoga. Furthermore, the poses can help your endocrine and digestive systems, improving your metabolic rate even further.

Hot Yoga Tips

• Be hydrated: With hot yoga, dehydration is a huge worry. It’s critical to drink water before, during, and after a hot yoga class. (Join our 300 hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh) A low-calorie sports drink may also aid in the replenishment of electrolytes lost during a hot yoga session. To avoid fainting as you begin to sweat, make sure you consume enough water in the 24 hours leading up to your first session.”
• Pregnant Women: Pregnant women should seek medical advice before attempting hot yoga.
• Breathe through the nose: If you’re a complete newbie, you could find it difficult to breathe properly during a hot yoga class. To avoid feeling dizzy, make sure you’re breathing deeply and slowly through your nose. If you can’t breathe correctly, take a break but stay in the room.
• Health Conditions: You may be more prone to passing out in a hot room if you have certain medical issues. Heart disease, diabetes, vascular anomalies, anorexia nervosa, and a history of fainting are all examples of this.
• Heat Intolerance: If you’ve had previous heat intolerance issues, you might want to stick to yoga that is done at a comfortable temperature.
• Don’t overdo it: Hot yoga is very relaxing since your body is already warm, allowing you to be more flexible and open. If you’re not aware of your limitations, this can be risky and lead to injury. Keep your ego in check and do only what makes you feel comfortable in your own body.

Why Do People Even Like Hot Yoga?

In recent years, hot yoga has become a popular kind of fitness. Many of the same advantages as traditional yoga, such as stress reduction, increased strength, and flexibility, are available. Hot yoga, on the other hand, can provide your heart, (Join our 500 hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh) lungs, and muscles an even better, more intense workout when the heat is ramped up.

Is Bikram yoga good for you?

According to published literature, Bikram yoga has been shown to improve lower body strength, lower and upper body range of motion, and balance in healthy adults.

What does hot yoga do for the body?

Hot yoga has numerous health and fitness benefits for both the mind and body. It can aid in the burning of calories, the development of bone density, the improving of cardiovascular fitness, and the improvement of flexibility. It may also aid in the alleviation of sadness and stress.

Is hot yoga bad for you?

No, Hot yoga is not bad for you. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke can occur in the most extreme cases. Drink plenty of water, ease into classes, and exit if the heat becomes too severe.

CONCLUSION:

Hot yoga isn’t for everyone. However, if you enjoy regular yoga and want to take it to the next level, it could be just what you’re looking for. Hot yoga has numerous advantages for both the mind and the body. It can help you burn calories, increase bone density, improve cardiovascular fitness, and increase flexibility. It may also aid in the treatment of depression and stress. Before participating in a hot yoga session, consult your doctor if you have any health conditions, such as heart or artery issues, diabetes, anorexia nervosa, a history of fainting, or heat intolerance. We hope you enjoyed reading our post. Have a question? Please write in the comments section.