Beginning with the Beginning: Bikram Basics

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At the beginning of every Bikram class, the teacher's first words remind us of the importance of humility in the hot room:

"Welcome to Bikram's beginning yoga class."


It's a friendly reminder to everyone, first-timers and well-practiced practitioners alike: today's class is new territory. Whether you've worn holes through your yoga mat or never been to the studio until today, you're starting fresh. Wiping the slate clean. Beginning again. 


There's something beautiful about being new.

Being new means open to learning, and learning right. Being new means bringing no expectations to class. And most importantly: being new means getting all the benefits.


So what's this Bikram thing all about?

Bikram Choudhury's a crazy guy who developed a 26-posture sequence based on Hatha yoga and then packaged it, franchised it and marketed it to sweep the earth and become the McYoga of all yoga! Well, pretty much. There are a lot of opinions out there about the rigid routine of Bikram and the fact that each class takes place in a room that's 105 degrees and at 40% humidity, but the fact is: it's a yoga practice that works every system, tissue, organ, vein, ligament and muscle in the body. Each component takes care of something different in the body, and yet they all work together synergistically, contributing to and extending the other benefits.

Why the heat?

While at first the heat can contribute to an overwhelming feeling in the room, eventually it becomes a source of deep comfort and peace in practicing Bikram. Here's what it can do for you:
  • detoxify your body through sweating
  • protect muscles for deeper stretching
  • thin the blood to clear the circulatory system
  • increase the heart rate for a better cardio workout
Do you feel the results?

Perhaps the best part about Bikram is that it has the power to transform your body and your life, inside out. Of course a regular, dedicated practice over time bears the greatest results, but you can feel a difference even after your first couple of classes. Just a few outcomes to look forward to:
  • deeper sleep
  • reduced stress
  • greater mental clarity
  • glowing skin
  • lubricated, flexible joints
  • improved posture
  • stronger heart
  • greater stamina
  • expanded, unyielding lungs
  • increased flexibility
  • bolstered immune system
  • relief from chronic pain, injury
And the best part...

Speaking from personal experience (I've been practicing for almost a year, and I plan to do the Bikram Teacher Training soon), there are a bunch of other reasons to revolutionize your life, Bikram-style:
  • Give yourself something to look forward to every day.
  • Enjoy a 90-minute meditation where you can forget about the real world, be present in the moment, and completely get out of your own head.
  • Bikram forces you to stay hydrated and choose your meals wisely!
  • Make new friends at your local studio. Meet some amazing people and hear their crazy stories.
  • Feel like a bad-ass after class, because you will have conquered the hardest part of your day! It's all downhill (and energized) from there.
  • Show off your sweet tattoos in the torture chamber. Check out your neighbor's sexy body art (or body), too!
  • Become a better person who regularly practices strength, determination and fearlessness.

Photo via FindYoga.