bikram/"hot" yoga for flexibility

HollySatine started this discussion · 4/3/2011

Has anyone tried bikram or "hot" yoga? How did you like it, how often did you do it, and did it help you? Is the focus specifically on improving flexibility, or is general strength and balance stressed just as much, like in some other forms of yoga? There is a bikram studio near me that offers great intro prices, but I am really mostly interested in their classes if they will help me become more flexible so I can get better extension in my pole moves...

7 replies

nymphdancer · 4/3/2011
haven't yet but have been wanting to!
JeHanne · 4/3/2011
Bikram yoga is intense! I did a 60 day challenge where I did one class a day for 60 days in a row... I was out of my mind. After that I took a few classes a week. It is a very specific sequence of poses that work all angles, strength building and flexibility. I found some calming of the mind benefits as well. Personally I found it extremely demanding physically, especially due to the heat and brightness of the studio. It is heated to 105 degrees with around 50% humidity. You have to really work on restoring lost fluids and sufficient rest and recovery after a class like that. I actually gained 15 pounds during the 60 day challenge and my friends started to call me 'quadzilla' since my legs were ripped like nobody's business. I did gain flexibility especially in my hamstrings and spine. It is something I stopped since it was just horribly sweaty and too hot for me. You should talk to an instructor at the studio you are interested to get more information. I tried it, enjoyed it for the time being but decided it is not the sport for me to continue at this time. I would suggest that you take a single class to get a feel for it and see if it would be something you would want to add to your routine. Let us know what you think about it if you try it!
UTpoler · 4/3/2011
I just tried my first class yesterday and loved it!!! I think I'm going to start doing it more once the boot camp I'm signed up for is over in 6-weeks.
JBStarryEyedGirl · 4/3/2011
I will be starting to teach hopefully in a few weeks, and I was considering doing a bikram series 6 week class. I love regular yoga, so I see this as a way to learn better posture and new technique that I can use in a class setting. Plus, I'm still on Day 8 of no smoking, and I'm also doing a cleanse so I thought the heat would be very therapeutic.
HollySatine · 4/4/2011
thanks for the responses! @JeHanne - that's about what I'm thinking of doing too - the studio offers either an intro week (7 consecutive days) or an intro month (30 consecutive days) for new students starting with your first class, but you have to pick one before you really know what it's going to be like (if you take just one class you won't be a "new student" and won't get the discounted rate)...i figured a week wouldn't be long enough to see any results and committing to a month right away is a little intimidating for it being something I've never done before... do you feel like it helped your pole work at all?
JeHanne · 4/5/2011
Hi HollySatine! I think the 7 days is a great way to get a feel for it. The sequence of moves for Bikram last 90 minutes. Honestly I was not poling when I did that form of yoga. I feel it helped me generally with strength, concentration and flexibility. I bet due to all the spine, leg, side stretching it could only help poling. You might find yourself very sore initially... I was! Instead of taking yoga classes I have found that spending 15-20 minutes stretching after a pole session jamming out to some favorite tunes has really helped me. It is something totally unstructured that I look forward to. Be sure to stay hydrated and take a big container of water to your first class. Also... dress appropriately. It is hot and humid in those rooms. I used to feel like a crispy chicken nugget baking to death under those lights. My modesty quickly vanished! If you go check it out... let us know how it goes!
Mechie · 5/11/2011
I'm a regular in yoga...and I tried hot yoga for the first time this past weekend: It. Kicked. My. Butt. The first 60min I was fine...it felt like normal yoga to me but just sweat a bit more...then, I was SHOCKED when the class did not end after 60min...it turns out to be a 90min class!! The last 30min took A LOT out of me...I drank almost 2 bottles of 20L. I think I like hot yoga...but I didn't like the instructor we had (I went w/ my bf). She was really "boot-camp" style...she didn't play any music, she tell us to change pose after like 2 seconds...it just didn't flow. Eh...I bought a Groupon for 10 classes and since the first class was free, I'm just going to finish up my 10 classes and find another place for Birkam yoga. Oh...most importantly...It does help you with flexibility and if you hate cardio like me, hot yoga might be the best way to lose some weight! ^_^