Bikram Yoga

kfister
kfister Posts: 22
edited September 25 in Fitness and Exercise
I've just started doing bikram yoga--for those who don't know, it's a 90 minute yoga session in a room heated to 105 degrees. The positions are around the same difficulty as regular yoga, but the real challenge is the heat. I obviously sweat like a pig, and really feel my heart pounding. Sources say it burns up to 900 calories for someone my size (about 140 lbs) but I feel skeptical, even though I only found one other that shared my skepticism and I had no reason to believe it was credible. What do you guys know about bikram?

Replies

  • KrisMauch
    KrisMauch Posts: 1
    I was also skeptical. That was until I started seeing the fasted results I've ever seen. I toned up fast and lost weight and inches. LOVE it!
  • jrbanta
    jrbanta Posts: 4,368 Member
    I haven't done it yet but have a gift certificate to try a month unlimited membership at a local place. I can't wait to do it. I'm going to try it after my Zumba classes end in May. I know a doctor that combined a low sugar diet with bikram yoga and lost over 90 pounds in 9-12 months.

    What is the heat like? I'm a little nervous about it. Do you drink tons of water before, during and/or after?
  • NurseNatalie2011
    NurseNatalie2011 Posts: 281
    I lost a lot of weight when I first started. My HR monitor says I burn around 1200 cal in a 90min class. (I weight 167) I work my butt off but I still think it is too high.
  • Losing2Live69
    Losing2Live69 Posts: 743 Member
    I've watched videos on it. I also have a friend on here (EmperorsDream) that practices it regularly. The only thing I don't like is that you can't really do it correctly out of a studio. I mean, how could I get my apartment up to 105 degrees. Some of the videos looked doable to me (I weigh over 200) and some look way too complicated! I don't have any reason find it skeptical. I just wish it would be possible to do it at home too. I guess a person could always do the moves without the heat.
  • dsev78
    dsev78 Posts: 11 Member
    I was doing Bikram yoga, until I found out pregnant, and was losing and toning very quickly. I did read some information that said eventhough you are sweating like a pig, the water that you drink during and after evens out. The website(s) were also saying that the weight lose was not as fast as people were promoting. I just felt so awesome after that I didn't care about what people were saying.
  • pinkgigi
    pinkgigi Posts: 693 Member
    I've been doing it for about a month. I have also been restricting my diet in that time and do lots of other exercise so any results wouldn't be just because of Bikram. Having said that, weight is not shifting how I would like, so I wouldn't be expecting weight loss results just due to Bikram.

    However, I have had wonderful results with my foot. I injured my foot badly playing tennis in September, and even though I have been having physiotherapy every 2 weeks since, there had been no improvement until I started Bikram.

    I don't believe the high calorie burns that people are putting out there, but as far as flexibility and strength is concerned, I am impressed. Also, I have had a 1 cm decrease in the size of my upper arm, which is odd, and I attribute it to holding my arms up in the standing poses.

    As far as the heat is concerned, you may think you will die the first time you do it, but as they advise, go within 24-48 hrs and you will get used to it. It actually helps your focus and meditation aspects, and the heat actually helps you get more out of the flexibility moves. I haven't been able to get my nose to my knee in years (I'm 49) and did the first time I did Bikram.

    GG
  • suzieqdiva
    suzieqdiva Posts: 183 Member
    Well I did do Bikram a longtime ago.. but the heat is not only for the sweating.. it is so you do each asana/pose in a much more intensive & deeper way. So you are working your muscles more intensely & also flushing toxins out at a higher rate. That is a HUGE burn. I would recommend you trying to wear a RM with a calorie counter next time you do a session, caz I would not be surprised of the calories burnt there to be pretty high.

    someone did just that.. read... http://oncommonground.blogspot.com/2007/06/calories-burned-in-bikram.html

    though it might make sense for yo to do your own test as it would be a different value for different body weight & intensity.
  • callipygianchronicle
    callipygianchronicle Posts: 811 Member
    There are a couple of threads about Bikram if you search the forum, but the general theme is the same. People love the way it makes them feel, many find great toning benefits, and almost everyone doubts the calorie burns are 900+. I am definitely interested in trying it, as yoga has become the center of my health and fitness and everything I’ve read about the Bikram practice sounds appealing. Like all yogas, the benefits are sure to stretch far beyond the calorie burns. So, I’d probably log it conservatively, say 600 calories, and nourish myself well on the days I practice.
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