Bikram Yoga... hot or not!!

CleanandLean33

Hi!

Any Bikram yoga bunny's out there?

I want to lose 7lbs and need to de-stress as I suspect a large part of my weight issue is STTTRREESSSSS!!!

There is a hot yoga studio just round the corner from my office and I am tempted to try but it is a bit pricey so looking for advice or personal experiences

Has anyone on the forum tried bikram before.. if so is it any good for weight loss and how often would you recommend practising?

Best Wishes

Cat

rybo

I've never done bikram, but I go to a heated vinyasa class & love it. It is strenuous yet relaxing at the same time. I'm not familiar enough with bikram to know how the two would compare.

Shayyy01

Hot yoga is probably my favorite workout!

I go to two classes at 2 different places, one is flow so its faster and the other is more balance and strength related! Personally i love it!

Hot yoga gets you loose faster so you get a deeper stretch!

Try it and see if its something you like. Not everyone likes hot yoga but i've heard more positive then negitive

aprileigh27

I love it, they say if you do it 3-4 times a week you will definitely loose weight. I usually do it once a week sometimes twice.....its super hott but if you get there 20 mins before class starts and sit in the room you give your body a little time to adjust....First class SUUUCKS! but you feel amazing after! you should totally try it!

CleanandLean33

Cool thanks folks.... I'm booked in and can't wait now :-)

Ckiers

I haven't gone yet. But I bought a package off of livingsocial.com or you can also sign up for groupon.com. They always have deals for different yoga classes around my area atleast.
i got one for 10 classes for I think 30 bucks....which is a great deal! I have 2 friends who go and love it

farmfreshv2

Personally, it's a love-hate relationship that I have with Bikram. It's HARD, but you'll love yourself for going. Over the course of your practice, all kinds of things will come to the surface. I took my first class back in 2006---I felt euphoric afterwards. Lots of life has happened between then and now, but I seem to always veer back to Bikram. As far as weight loss is concerned, I dropped close to 10 pounds while doing a 30-day challenge. 3X/week is my maintenance routine. I hope you love it, too!

SalubriousGyrl

Hi!

Any Bikram yoga bunny's out there?

I want to lose 7lbs and need to de-stress as I suspect a large part of my weight issue is STTTRREESSSSS!!!

There is a hot yoga studio just round the corner from my office and I am tempted to try but it is a bit pricey so looking for advice or personal experiences

Has anyone on the forum tried bikram before.. if so is it any good for weight loss and how often would you recommend practising?

Best Wishes

Cat

Hell Yessssss! You will sweat your butt off during Bikram and if you do it x3 a week, it might help with your seven lbs. You would have be to insane to do this daily, but it is so relaxing and enjoyable. Try one class and you are sold!

SalubriousGyrl

I love it, they say if you do it 3-4 times a week you will definitely loose weight. I usually do it once a week sometimes twice.....its super hott but if you get there 20 mins before class starts and sit in the room you give your body a little time to adjust....First class SUUUCKS! but you feel amazing after! you should totally try it!

I concur about the first class. But you will feel so good at the end!

SalubriousGyrl

I haven't gone yet. But I bought a package off of livingsocial.com or you can also sign up for groupon.com. They always have deals for different yoga classes around my area atleast.
i got one for 10 classes for I think 30 bucks....which is a great deal! I have 2 friends who go and love it

Ditto! It was 35 for 10 classes for me! great deal!

popat89

I do enjoy a good bikram yoga class. However I find there are two major downsides to bikram yoga. One, as you mentioned, it's expensive. Two - from top to bottom bikram yoga takes about 3 hours out of my day. Driving to class, the 90 minutes I spend in it, and then the drive home and then you have to shower and get ready afterwards so even a 6 am class is impossible before work and a 6 pm class after work means I don't have time to get in any cardio.

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE bikram yoga and it feels amazing to get through a class. Mentally I love it. Did it transform my body? No... and I did it every single day for a month.

Also, about losing weight with bikram yoga... I don't think you lose real weight with bikram yoga. They claim that you burn like a thousand calories in a session but I don't buy it.

To sum it up: For losing weight - I don't think it really works. For mental peace and clarity - I think it's awesome!

nofattrish

I started Bikram yoga 2 weeks ago and was hooked after my first session. I'm in the UK, and most places seem to do an introductory price of £30 for 30 days unlimited. I've been trying to go 3/week which is what was recommended. I am using it to help with weightloss alongside limiting calories - don't have an answer yet as to whether it's helping or not.

I think after my 30 days, I'll drop to 1 or 2/week due to the cost and put in some other form of exercise such as off road cycling.

Hope you enjoy(ed) your first class!

cjv428

I love both Bikram yoga and general hot yoga classes. My only recommendation would be to drink a ton of water throughout the day before you go because if you drink too much water during the class (and you will if you're dehydrated), it can make you very, very nauseous during the class (especially during poses like camel).

emilyjmcg

First class will totally kick your butt, but definitely worth a try!

pachamb

Bikram Yoga is amazing! Yes it is pricy (around here it is 20 a class and 150 for a month) but if something improves your mental and physical health I think its worth all the money in the world. I can say that going to class for not to long now I am a better person. I am happier I feel stronger and more in control of me. I love bikram yoga I have never found something so amazing. I would also not recomend fforming your opion just on the first class cuz that one is a killer go once more.

barbaradilisio

It's something I've always wanted to try because I think it could really help with my (lack of) flexibility. I currently take a regular yoga class once a week and really enjoy it, but would like more. If you're concerned about price, you could try looking for deals on Groupon or Living Social. I see a lot of yoga studios offering discounted rates for it.

KelliW_runner

I too struggle with the time commitment. However, nothing beats bikram for balance and full body stretching/compression. My upper back seized up on me earlier this week so I had hardly any range of motion in my neck. I figured it would be time to revisit the bikram studio after a year of not attending. Tuesday night - class was difficult due to range of motion but it helped some. Wednesday night - therapeutic massage on back and neck. Thursday night - another bikram session. Feel great now and no chiropractics necessary.

I wouldn't build a weight loss program just on bikram. I think a balanced program should have some cardio and some strength training. Other forms of yoga work strength a bit more than bikram. (Vinayasa for example)

CaraColleen

I am currently doing a hot yoga 30-Day Challenge right now and am on Day 12! I love it! It is time consuming and a bit expensive, but when you leave class, that feeling you get is totally worth it. My skin is baby soft, I feel in harmony with myself and my muscles have definitely grown. It is my new hobby, and I consider it "me time."

As for weight loss, I am really unsure if it is a good exercise. Some people swear by it. Some people even say you can burn 800 calories a session. I have lost 5 pounds in the last 12 days, but I am also doing 40 minutes of cardio 4 days a week and dieting. Not sure if the yoga is helping with it, but it is definitely not hurting it.

I am able to do my cardio work outs, though, much better. I don't get short of breath and my muscles are stronger for a more intense work out. In conjunction with other exercises and dieting, I think it works. By itself, I don't think it's the best way to spend your time if you want a big weight loss. I was expecting this to be almost a miracle workout, but it definitely is not.

And most importantly, DRINK WATER! Good luck I will add you for support!

kleverkira

Bikram is great exercise, but I echo what a lot of other people have said over here. I use it primarily as cross-training from my primary sport of running. The first class is brutal and frustrating, but you'll have a MUCH better experience with your second class. It's also LONG. I would recommend going to a certified Bikram studio, not just "hot yoga".

LadyQueefsalot

it's amazing and SO worth the money! I've been going for 7 months several times a week and it's changed my like! Currently on Day 5 of the 45 day challenge- give it three classes and you will be addicted!

perfect10isha

I used to go pretty religiously back in the day and absolutely LOVED it. It does a little getting used to but you will feel wonderful when you finish. I don't know if I lost more weight or inches, but either way make sure you are hydrating yourself before and after class. And its extremely important that you focus on form when in the class and breathing properly is also highly important. If you are eating at a deficit you'll lose weight whether you do the yoga or not.

LeenaRuns

Bikram yoga is a huge part of my life, especially since I'm a runner and need that extra oompf the heat gives to help loosen my muscles and stretch!

alyson820

I tried it once and fainted after about five minutes haha. Not for me!

ericachristie85

I love hot yoga, I have only practiced Moksha. I have heard that Bikram is better for athletic training and possible what I'll try next because I have bad wrists and Moksha much like Vinyasa has a lot more wrist strength requirements . If cost is an issue I know that yoga comes up on Groupon and other coupon sites on my area all the time.

iAMaPhoenix

I love Bikram Yoga. I ran 13.1 miles this week and I need to loosen up my muscles so I think I am going tomorrow, then get a massage afterwards so I can prepare for my 16 mile walk this coming weekend. Go Bikram.

pinto_bean

Love Love Love! I've been doing Bikram Yoga on and off since 2006 and I absolutely adore it. I feel incomplete when I haven't been to class in a while.

I've done Heated Vinyasa as well, which I also love, but with Bikram you do the same 26 asanas and 2 breathing exercises every time. There are no surprises, and yet somehow every class is different. Your body is the only variable. It's a great way to track your progress.

Edited because I forgot to mention that when I'm doing Bikram regulary (for me, 2 or 3 classes a week), my body drops the bloat quite easily, I find myself craving foods that are better for me, and I get down to a healthier weight without even thinking about it.

zellagrrl

I love it, but I don't go as often as I would like. That said, there's no magic to pounds melting off or anything. Drink lots of water, bring a towel for your car seat afterwards and be prepared to sometimes just lie down and chill on your mat.

laurad1978

I used to go to Bikram Yoga about 3/4 times a week and loved it. Defiantly helped loosing weight and overall toning, although I think this was in part because it took up so much of my evening there was little opportunity to snack in the evenings :-)

I however found it really difficult to stay hydrated, I was drinking 3lt of water a day and also tried using re-hydration salts. I stopped going when there was a noticeable increase in the amount of lines around my eyes – these went when I stopped going. Did anyone else have this issue and if so how did you overcome it? I tried using different moisturisers and increasing water intake but nothing helped. I love to go back but would be fearful I would end up looking 20 years older after 90 mins yoga.

Laura

carmelamturner

all the forms of Yoga one very famous is ‘Bikram Yoga’ Bikram or Hot Yoga as popularly known in US was introduced by Bikram Choudhury. Unlike other forms this form is not very age old. It was found towards the end of 20th century. He is an instructor in India. He taught this exercise to around 3 million aspiring students and later the American Medical Association asked him to bring this concept there in America. It is known as Hot Yoga because the postures in this form of exercise is practiced in a heated room. It basically rejuvenates and strengthens the entire body and mind. This form of exercise has around 26 poses that are a perfect work out for the entire body in just 90 minutes. The poses involved in this form of exercise create a balance in your body. Using strength, gravity and tourniquet technique, this form of exercise builds up stamina, flexibility and energy in your body.

iheartyarn

I see this is an older topic, but i just had my first bikram class yesterday!!!

i wore my heart rate monitor, and i burned 822 cals! and i was resting through some of the poses!

i do the bikram postures with my community college yoga class, so i was familiar with everything, just never done it in the heated room... after the back bend i got super light headed, dizzy, thought i was going to throw up, i stepped out for a few minutes, felt better, and then went back in and finished the class! I was so happy i stuck it out! i can't wait to go back!!

i got a groupon 20 for 20 classes!! i couldn't believe it!