Bikram Yoga

Thinsposa
Thinsposa Posts: 40 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone has tried Bikram Yoga (hot yoga), I just found a place a few blocks away and was going to give it a go on Monday. What's it like? What's your average calorie output? Any recommendations for getting the most out of it?

:smile:

Replies

  • nadiaez
    nadiaez Posts: 132 Member
    Not sure on exact calories but know its a good output....the heat is a big shock to the system when you first arrive but your body acclimatises and 90 mins is a long time, you sweat like crazy, but the feeling afterwards is amazing! 100% recommend
  • vegantimtam
    vegantimtam Posts: 15
    I researched it when I was considering it for a while...people say they burn a lot of calories because of the heat and people took in heart rate monitors and got high results but other people doubted this. But the general consensus was that you'd burn more calories than regular yoga. In the end I decided bikram seemed a bit controversial for me (too hot, same poses, crazy franchising and lawsuits from the bikram guy) so I thought I'd do just any hot yoga, which I haven't tried yet but intend to. I think you have to be really careful to keep yourself hydrated.
  • been2boston
    been2boston Posts: 100 Member
    I haven't done Bikram, but I regularly do power yoga (usually Baptiste), and Forrest yoga, both of which are in heated rooms. I absolutely love it. Yes, it does burn more calories than regular yoga, not only because of the heat, but because of the pace of the sequences. A few things I wish someone had told me before I went the first time:
    -bring 2 towels. 1 to put on your mat so you don't slip slide all over, and 1 to wipe your face.
    -don't eat for at least 2 hours before. If you must, be sure it''s light (a banana or piece of toast). Between the heat and the vigorous exercise, you might get nauseous.
    -Stay hydrated. Drink water before, bring water with you, and drink plenty of water after! I have found that sometimes I get migraines after class, and even drinking water doesn't help, but if I drink a sport drink with electrolytes (i.e. PoweradeZero), or Function Water, I won't.
    -Don't stop after just one class. One class might stink. Try at least 3-4 classes before you decide it's not for you. A different instructor or studio or style might make all the difference in the world!

    Good luck! Namaste!
  • TheeGeeMarie
    TheeGeeMarie Posts: 59 Member
    been2boston covered most of the things I was going to say about preparedness. Great advice! I would add that Bikram is no fun during the heaviest days of your TOM and reiterate that you want to hydrate like a mofo the entire day before class, drink during class and drink after class.

    Side note, I couldn't read your profile so I have no idea, but if you're a yoga purist, you will probably find that Bikram isn't your thing. The yoga instructor in me is not a fan of Bikram. I have trouble focusing on my form when I'm that hot and uncomfortable - I just want the pose to be over so I can wipe the sweat out of my eyes! I've also found most Bikram instructors to be light on the demonstrations and the student assists (not that I blame them - who wants to touch a super sweaty stranger?) while breezing over Savasana.

    That being said, I'm also a person who wants to challenge her body and that side of me enjoys a good hot yoga class now and then. Bikram barely falls into the category of "yoga" for me, however. It's more like competitive stretching and endurance.

    I would encourage you to try it once. Let us know what you think!
  • Thinsposa
    Thinsposa Posts: 40 Member
    Thanks for your help everyone! I start tomorrow morning, so I'll soon find out if it's as good as people hype it up to be.

    :smile:
  • been2boston
    been2boston Posts: 100 Member
    So... how was it? What did you think???
  • sharoncollitt
    sharoncollitt Posts: 1
    Hi All,
    I started hot yoga this week went 4 times and really enjoy the detoxifying feeling that my body was craving. The only question I have is around calories burned and making sure I am eating enough to avoid too little calories. I only eat around 1200 calories a day and a calculator I founds says that I am burning 915 during a 90 min class. Oh and I managed to put on .5kg this week go figure! considering I am eating so much healthier than I have been and went to the gym the 3 days I didn't do yoga.
    Can anyone help?

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