So yesterday I decided to try out Bikram Yoga for the very first time. On a cold winters day in December, why not commit myself to 90 minutes of postures in a heated room with a number of other yoga enthusiasts. Having heard various horror stories about sickness and water on the lung, from Bikram sessions, I was apprehensive if I'd be able to complete the whole 90 minutes. I'd been advised to take a large bottle of water for constant re hydration.
When I first walked into the room the heat didn't hit me straight away, but within a few minutes the entire studio was getting warmer and it seemed to simulate a beach style yoga class (the instructor wearing swimming trunks for example!) I was told that if I wanted the temperature to be higher, that I move to the centre of the studio. I was quite alright with where I was for now.
We started the session with a series of standing postures, which I could join in for the first half, and then I took a rest. The instructor said it was fine to do this and any newcomers are advised to do this anyway but they don't like you to leave the studio, as the first step is to get used to the heat, and that in itself will do your body some benefit.
Secondly, we moved on to floor poses which I found to be a little less strenuous, but again had to sit out of some, purely down to not being used to the heat in the room. I had to concentrate to synchronise the movements, and breathing in a new hot yoga environment. I was constantly sweating, and drinking water and splashing it over myself to try and cool down.
Overall, I'm pleased that I tried it out, and will continue in the New Year to reap the benefits. After the class my cheeks were fully flushed. I was very impressed with the clean products the yoga studio stocked, including natural and organic hand and body wash.
When I first walked into the room the heat didn't hit me straight away, but within a few minutes the entire studio was getting warmer and it seemed to simulate a beach style yoga class (the instructor wearing swimming trunks for example!) I was told that if I wanted the temperature to be higher, that I move to the centre of the studio. I was quite alright with where I was for now.
We started the session with a series of standing postures, which I could join in for the first half, and then I took a rest. The instructor said it was fine to do this and any newcomers are advised to do this anyway but they don't like you to leave the studio, as the first step is to get used to the heat, and that in itself will do your body some benefit.
Secondly, we moved on to floor poses which I found to be a little less strenuous, but again had to sit out of some, purely down to not being used to the heat in the room. I had to concentrate to synchronise the movements, and breathing in a new hot yoga environment. I was constantly sweating, and drinking water and splashing it over myself to try and cool down.
Overall, I'm pleased that I tried it out, and will continue in the New Year to reap the benefits. After the class my cheeks were fully flushed. I was very impressed with the clean products the yoga studio stocked, including natural and organic hand and body wash.
