bikram-related stories
Hot Yoga
Hot yoga is a style of yoga that is practiced in a heated environment. Some often hear "hot yoga" and immediately think of Bikram yoga, but that's not the only type of hot yoga that exists. Bikram yoga was developed by yoga master Bikram Choudhury, founder of the Yoga College of India in Beverly Hills. However, only classes endorsed by Choudhury are able to use the name Bikram Yoga.
Traditionally, hot yoga is practiced in a heated room. Ideally, the room will be heated to between 95 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit (35 and 40.5 degrees Celsius) with 40 percent humidity. Classes last approximately 90 minutes and consist of a series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises.
The reasons behind the intense heat in a hot yoga session are twofold. First, excessive sweating is believed to be a method of cleansing the body of toxins. Second, the increased heat in the muscles is thought to improve flexibility.
Hot yoga is fairly widespread and popular, but it's also controversial. Practitioners could suffer from dizziness, dehydration or heat stroke during a hot yoga class. Some experts feel that regular participants are risking injury if they push themselves too hard.
Those interested in trying hot yoga should remember to bring their own yoga mat because of the excessive sweating that the practice involves. Second, it's necessary to drink plenty of water before a hot yoga session because of the risk of dehydration.
More Yoga Terms Defined from That's Fit:
Ashtanga Yoga
Hatha Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Power Yoga
Prenatal Yoga
Strengthen With Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga
Yoga Benefits
Yoga Journal
Yoga for Weight Loss
Flow Yoga
Traditionally, hot yoga is practiced in a heated room. Ideally, the room will be heated to between 95 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit (35 and 40.5 degrees Celsius) with 40 percent humidity. Classes last approximately 90 minutes and consist of a series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises.
The reasons behind the intense heat in a hot yoga session are twofold. First, excessive sweating is believed to be a method of cleansing the body of toxins. Second, the increased heat in the muscles is thought to improve flexibility.
Hot yoga is fairly widespread and popular, but it's also controversial. Practitioners could suffer from dizziness, dehydration or heat stroke during a hot yoga class. Some experts feel that regular participants are risking injury if they push themselves too hard.
Those interested in trying hot yoga should remember to bring their own yoga mat because of the excessive sweating that the practice involves. Second, it's necessary to drink plenty of water before a hot yoga session because of the risk of dehydration.
More Yoga Terms Defined from That's Fit:
Ashtanga Yoga
Hatha Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Power Yoga
Prenatal Yoga
Strengthen With Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga
Yoga Benefits
Yoga Journal
Yoga for Weight Loss
Flow Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga: What is it?
Vinyasa yoga connects movement and breath. The word vinyasa means "breath-synchronized movement." You will move from one asana (yoga posture) to the next on your inhale and exhale. The yoga postures can be arranged into different sequences, depending on the practitioner's mood.
Cat-cow is an example of a vinyasa, where the yogi moves between the cat pose to the cow pose when inhaling or exhaling. Another example is a sun salutation. Each movement in the series is done on the inhalation and exhalation.
A "vinyasa" can describe a series of three poses. If your yoga teacher says to move through your vinyasa, you will go through plank (using core strength), chaturanga (hover and lower slowly to the ground) and upward facing dog (a big back bend).
More Yoga Terms Defined from That's Fit:
Ashtana Yoga
Hatha Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Power Yoga
Prenatal Yoga
Andy Murray gets hot and sweaty off the court
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Motivation
Murray has really seemed to come into his own recently, making it to the US Open final by beating Wimbledon champ Rafael Nadal. He lost to Roger Federer, but the performance still brought the 21-year-old to number four in the world -- not too shabby!
He attends Hot Bikram Yoga in Fulham, West London, where he's joined by Olympic athletes as well as professional soccer and tennis players. It makes sense that the athletic elite would be drawn to Bikram -- the founder of Hot Bikram Yoga explains that it's a 'holistic workout,' stretching participants mentally and physically, all while giving them a cardiovascular workout. Besides all that, it can help prevent and even treat injuries -- good news for those pro athletes! Have you ever tried Bikram?
