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Bikram Yoga or
"Hot" Yoga Bikram
Yoga Classes & Bikram's Book: Bikram's
Beginning Yoga Class by
Marianne Woods Cirone, M.S., R.Y.T. ,
Certified Yoga Teacher |
Bikram yoga, named for its founder, Bikram
Choudury, is a relatively strenuous type of yoga which is practiced
in a hot room, thus the nickname, "hot yoga". The rooms
may be heated to up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, with the average
from 90-105 degrees. Bikram Choudury says the heat increases
the body's ability to move and stretch without injury. Bikram
and his associate Julian Goldstein report success with treating various
medical conditions, and diabetes in particular.
This type of yoga is probably more well
known than it is common, although it is reported that there are 100
schools of Bikram yoga in the U.S., averaging two per state, with the
majority along the east and west coasts. Bikram yoga certainly appeals to
a certain segment of the population that is probably relatively fit and
likes heat.
According to Bikram's website, Bikram yoga
works due to the tourniquet effect: stretching, balancing (using gravity),
and creating pressure all at the same time. The blood supply in arteries
and veins is being cut off, creating pressure. When released, a lock gate
effect is created, causing blood to rush through veins and arteries,
flushing them out. Also, pressure is applied to the heart by its relative
position to the rest of the body. When the blood rushes through it takes
oxygen deeper into the tissues than during normal activity. Healing and
strengthening occurs when oxygen reaches damaged and underutilized cells.
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For those who don't have access to a Bikram
class, Bikram has written a book entitled Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class,
which details the 26 poses that he suggests performing for health and
happiness. Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class
also includes suggestions for a proper practice, the medical
benefits of yoga, and notes from students. Many readers have
found the book a
better companion to the classes than as stand-alone material. Bikram also has
an audio tape of the 26-pose workout which takes over an hour, though
Bikram has not yet made a Bikram yoga DVD or video tape. |
Baron Baptiste originally
began his foray into the video market with "Hot Yoga" videos,
but his emphasis is now shifted to "Power Yoga". (For more
information on "Power" or Ashtanga yoga, click on Ashtanga
Yoga).
One of his videos is called Baron Baptiste's
Hot Yoga-The Power Yoga Method, Level 2 and it is 70 minutes long and
challenging. Although this is not Bikram yoga per se, it may appeal
to Bikram fans. Bikram has copyrighted his style of teaching, so in
the future there will be restrictions on the use of this copyrighted
teaching technique, although Baron Baptiste has his own unique program.
Should you decide to try Bikram Yoga at
home, you may have a challenge with your spouse or roommates. While
your spouse may have been supportive of your yoga practice up to this
point, he or she may feel differently when you turn up the furnace to 115
degrees (does it go that high?). Nevertheless, the Bikram yoga poses
are standard yoga poses which are all very valuable in and of themselves
at any temperature. The 26 Bikram yoga poses include standing
deep breathing, the half moon pose, the eagle pose, standing knee to head
pose, standing bow pose, triangle, head-to-knee pose, the cobra, the
corpse, the camel, the rabbit, spinal twist and others of great benefit to
the mind and body also.
If you are thinking of doing Bikram yoga,
you would definitely want to get an okay from your doctor, especially if
you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Many medical
conditions can be exacerbated from intense heat according to experts,
including multiple sclerosis. Experts suggest drinking plenty of water
before class and some have suggested acclimating to the heat in increments of 15-30 minutes
rather than doing 90 minutes on your first time (see hot
yoga article for more information). Attire for Bikram
yoga is minimalist, and I'm told you should avoid anything white, as it
will be transparent when it is soaked through with sweat. Also, remember not to eat
for several hours before class and to bring a towel!
Finding a Bikram Yoga
Class
Click on any of the links
below to find international Bikram yoga classes, as well many located in
the United States.
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Johannesburg
coming soon
Capetown |
Middle East
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| Israel
coming soon |
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Japan--Tokyo
Shibuya
Japan--Tokyo
Jiyu-ga-Oka
Thailand |
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Auckland, NZ coming
April '03
Sydney,
Brookvale, NSW
Crows
Nest NSW
Sydney,
(Darlinghurst), NSW
Melbourne
VIC
Mt
Maunguanui, NZ
Noosa
QLD
Sydney
(Surrey Hills) NSW |
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Calgary,
Alberta
Montreal,
Quebec
New
Westminster, BC
Ottawa,
Ontario
Richmond,
BC
Surrey,
BC
Toronto,
North
Toronto,
The Annex Ontario
Toronto,
The Beaches Ontario
Toronto,
central Ontario
Toronto,
western Ontario
Vancouver
West Side BC
Vancouver,
West End BC
Vancouver,
Yaletown BC
Victoria BC
West
Vancouver BC
Whistler,
BC
White Rock,
BC
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Vienna,
Austria
Brighton/Sussex,
South England
Ibiza,
Spain opening soon
London,
Hackney / Stoke Newington
London,
Islington opening November 2003
London, North
England
London, West
England
Marseille,
France
Paris,
France
Berlin,
Germany
Erlangen,
Germany
Hamburg,
Germany
Stockholm,
Sweden coming soon |
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| Alabama
Birmingham
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| Alaska |
| Arizona
Flagstaff
opening Summer '03
N.
Scottsdale
Phoenix,
north
Phoenix
new!!! opening June 22
Scottsdale
Scottsdale
Downtown
Tempe
Tucson
Tucson,
Northwest
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| Arkansas |
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| California
NORTHERN
Alameda
Arroyo
Grande
Berkeley
Burlingame
Concord
El Cerrito
Eureka
Fremont coming
soon
Grass
Valley/Nevada City coming soon
Hayward
Ladera
(Palo Alto/Menlo Park)
Oakland
Orinda
Pacifica
Sacramento--Downtown
Sacramento--Elk
Grove
Sacramento--Granite
Bay
San
Carlos
San
Francisco--Columbus Ave.
San
Francisco--Inner Sunset
San
Francisco--Mission Area
San
Francisco--Castro
San
Francisco--Downtown
San
Francisco--Haight Ashbury
San Francisco--Polk
St
San
Francisco-- Marina
San
Francisco--Buchanan St
San
Francisco--outer Richmond
San Jose
San
Luis Obispo
Santa
Clara, San Jose airport
Santa Cruz,
Soquel
Santa
Rosa, North West
Santa
Rosa--Central
Sebastopol
Sonoma
Tahoe
City
Truckee
Walnut
Creek
SOUTHERN
Cathedral
City
Chula
Vista
Claremont
Costa Mesa
Covina
El Cajon
Encinitas
Encino
LaCaņada
Laguna
Beach
LaJolla
Long Beach
Los Angeles
(Headquarters)
Manhattan
Beach
Mira Mesa
Northridge
coming soon
Oceanside
Pasadena
San
Clemente
San
Diego
San Diego--
Kearny Mesa
San Marcos
Santa
Barbara
Silverlake
(L.A.)
S.
Pasadena
Studio
City (L.A.)
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| Colorado
Aspen
Avon
Basalt
Boulder
Broomfield
Colorado
Springs NW
Crested
Butte
Denver
Denver,
NW
Denver, South
Metro
Denver,
South Central
Fort
Collins
Fort
Collins--Oldtown
Glenwood
Springs
Littleton
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| Connecticut
Hartford
--Glastonbury
Milford
New Haven
Norwalk
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| Delaware |
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| Florida
Aventura
Boca Raton
Boynton
Beach
Delray
Beach
Fort Myers
Jacksonville
--Neptune Beach
Jupiter/Tequesta
Key West
Melbourne
Merritt
Island/Cocoa Beach
Miami
New
Smyrna Beach
Orlando, (Longwood)
Orlando,
South
Palm
Beach Gardens
Pensacola
Royal Palm
Beach
Sarasota
South Miami
Beach
St
Augustine
St.
Petersburg
Titusville
West Palm
Beach
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| Georgia
Atlanta
Atlanta,
Marietta coming soon
Decatur
Roswell
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| Hawaii
Honolulu
(Island of Oahu)
Kailua (Island
of Oahu)
Kahului,
Maui
Kauai(Kapaa)
Kihei,
Maui
Lahaina,
Maui
Paia(Island
of Maui)
Waialua,
north(Island of Oahu)
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| Idaho
Ketchum
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| Illinois
Chicago--Bucktown/Wicker
Pk
Chicago--Central
Chicago--Lakeview
Chicago--Lincoln
Park coming soon
Naperville,
opening soon
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| Indiana
New Albany
Evansville
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| Iowa
Iowa
City/Coralville
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| Kansas
Lawrence
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| Kentucky
Crestwood
Louisville--Crescent
Hill
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| Louisiana
New Orleans
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| Maine
Portland
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| Maryland
Baltimore
Crofton coming
soon!
Rockville
coming soon!
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| Massachusetts
Allston/Boston
Auburn
Boston
Cambridge
Cape
Cod--Hyannis
Cape Cod--E.
Dennis
Foxboro
Ipswich
Newton
Northampton
Swampscott
West
Roxbury (Boston area)
Woburn
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| Michigan
Ann Arbor
opening new location soon!
Detroit
Detroit--Plymouth
Farmington
Hills
Gross
Pointe
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| Minnesota
Bloomington
Plymouth
Minneapolis
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| Mississippi |
| Missouri
St. Louis,
coming soon!
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| Montana
Bozeman
Missoula
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| Nebraska
Omaha
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| Nevada
Las
Vegas SW
Reno
Sparks opening
2003
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| New Hampshire
Portsmouth
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| New Jersey
Hoboken
Maple Shade
Rumson
Voorhees/W.
Berlin
Westwood
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| New Mexico
Albuquerque
coming soon
Santa Fe
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| New York
Bridgehampton
Brooklyn--Brooklyn
Heights
Brooklyn--Park
Slope
Dix Hills,
(LI)
Elmsford
Larchmont
Locust
Valley (LI)
Mt. Kisco
New York
City--Chelsea
New
York City--East Side
New York
City--Flatiron
New York
City--Union Square
New York
City--Midtown
New York
City--Soho
New York
City--W 72nd St
Ossining
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| North Carolina
Chapel
Hill
Charlotte
North
Raleigh
Raleigh
Winston
Salem
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| North Dakota |
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| Ohio
Columbus
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| Oklahoma
Tulsa
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| Oregon
Ashland
now open!
Beaverton
-- Hall Street
Corvallis
Hood River
Portland
-- John's Landing
Portland
-- Fremont St (NE)
Portland
-- Moreland (SE)
Sheridan
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| Pennsylvania
Philadelphia,
downtown
Lancaster,
central
Lancaster,
west
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| Rhode
Island
Cranston
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| South Carolina |
| South Dakota |
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| Tennessee
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| Texas
Addison
Austin,
North Central
Dallas
Dallas,
downtown
Ft. Worth
Grapevine
Houston,
Rice/West U Central
Houston,
Galleria/Memorial
San
Antonio
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| Utah
Salt
Lake City
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| Vermont
Barre
Burlington
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| Virginia
Charlottesville
coming soon!
Richmond
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Washington,
DC--Tenleytown
Washington
DC-Dupont Circle
Washington
DC-Rockville, MD |
| Washington
Bellingham
Bellevue
coming soon!
Issaquah
Kirkland
Renton
Seattle, Fremont
North
Seattle,
Belltown
Seattle, University
District
Seattle,
Capitol Hill
Tacoma
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| West Virginia
Parkersburg
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| Wisconsin
Madison
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| Wyoming |
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