Bikram

This very branch of yoga is named after its creator, Bikram Choudhury. Being the newest trend in Hatha yoga, this branch of yoga was brought by its creator (who was a weightlifter from India) to the United States in the decade of the seventies. The innovative and effective approach of Bikram yoga received a wide range of acceptance in the United States. At present, there are about 655 Bikram yoga institutes worldwide. Specifically in the United States, Bikram yoga is hugely popular, because of its ‘no pain no gain’ approach. In especially humid places like South Florida, Bikram Yoga holds an extra appeal as people living in the state of Florida are accustomed to hot climates. So getting adapted to the recommended increase in temperature for Bikram yoga is not difficult for them. In other words, the idea of Bikram yoga or hot yoga in South Florida holds a high degree of attraction. Similarly Bikram yoga is also very popular in the state of California. Specially, the linkage between Las Vegas and Bikram yoga is absolutely strong. Overall, appropriate Bikram yoga locations are all those locations, which have a warmer climate so that the people living in that place find less difficulty in getting acquainted with this specific yoga approach.

In relation to the addition of extreme heat to the treatment of Bikram yoga (which is the most unusual feature of Bikram yoga), there are specific points that need to be taken care of. In terms of Bikram yoga clothes and other Bikram yoga accessories, one should always be careful that the clothes and accessories used during Bikram yoga classes do not become a source of irritation or discomfort. In fact, the clothes and accessories should make the entire experience of Bikram yoga much more convenient and relaxing so as to fulfill the ultimate purpose of practicing Bikram yoga.

In the course of practicing Bikram yoga, there are specific asanas (postures or poses) that one needs to practice. On a whole, there are about 26 Bikram yoga positions. The basic purpose of practicing these Bikram yoga postures is to enable the promotion of the union of the mind and the body. In addition to that, it also gives relaxation and provides a strong source of spiritual, psychological, and physical therapy with the help of holistic healing. The names of the Bikram yoga poses are ‘standing deep breathing’, ‘half moon pose’, ‘awkward pose’, ‘eagle pose’, ‘standing head to knee pose’, ‘standing bow pulling pose’, ‘balancing stick pose’, ‘triangle pose’, ‘tree pose’, ‘cobra pose’, ‘sit up’, ‘bow pose’, ‘locust’, ‘full locust pose’, ‘fixed firm pose’, ‘wind removing pose’, ‘dead body pose’, ‘half tortoise pose’, ‘Standing Separate Leg Pose’, ‘Standing Separate Knee Head to Toe Pose’, ‘Standing Bow Pulling Pose’, ‘Camel Pose’, ‘Rabit Pose’, ‘Head to Knee with Stretching Pose’, ‘Spine Twisting Pose’ and ‘Blowing in Firm Pose’.

With the help of these postures and the regular essential requirements of Bikram yoga, a person can achieve a high level of physical and mental fitness. The benefits of bikram yoga are countless to consider but the main ones include mental relaxation (decrease in the level of stress), detoxification of the body (as a result of the high temperature recommended for the practice of bikram yoga), along with providing exercises to the colon, pancreas and kidneys and also heals lower back pains, protruding stomachs and bronchitis problems. However there are also some negative effects of bikram yoga which are pointed out by the critics of this form of yoga. The central idea of this criticism is the heat in which bikram yoga is practiced. According to the critics, this heat could lead to major health risks. But counting the benefits of this type of yoga, they definitely overshadow the disadvantages, making bikram yoga an effective form of maintaining physical and mental fitness.