Bikram Yoga > FAQs about Bikram Yoga

What should I bring with me to class?

What should I wear to class?
You will be sweating, so dress accordingly. Clothing that is close-fitting, breathable and lightweight is more comfortable. Men: bathing suits or shorts for women: shorts with tank tops or sports bras, leotards or bathing suits.

Why is the room hot?
The heat combined with the sequence of the postures is what makes Bikram yoga so special. The room is heated to warm muscles, which allows you to work deeper in a shorter amount of time, seeing results faster. Heat takes the trauma out of stretching, heals and helps prevent injuries. Yoga is not just about working muscles: you are massaging deep tissues, glands and organs as well. As you work deep within your body, you may start to release "poisons" or "toxins" that have been stored there a long time. Your skin is the largest elimination organ in your body. Sweating helps flush toxins from your body, giving you a wonderful glow from head to toe.

I felt nauseous and a bit dizzy during class and very tired after. Is this normal? What should I do about it?
It is not unusual to feel nauseous or dizzy during your first class. Practicing yoga in a heated room reveals to us our present condition and inspires us to take much better care of ourselves. Usually the problem is that we do not drink enough water for daily living, let alone for exercising in a heated room. Nutritionists tell us that we need 64-80 ounces of water a day to help the body function properly. If you feel disoriented or like you need a good nap after your first few classes, this is likely because your body has begun to cleanse itself as a result of the yoga practice. Don't be scared. After the first few classes this sensation will pass. The more you can relax as you give your full effort during class, the more energized you will feel throughout the class and throughout the rest of your day.

What if I'm not flexible?
This is the most common misconception that prevents people from coming to a yoga class. However, yoga is not about how flexible you are. All that matters is that you try the right way and find your personal "edge," and you will get 100% of the benefit!

How many times a week should I practice?
It is recommended to practice no less than 10 times a month to get the most benefit from Bikram yoga. Unlike weight lifting or other forms of exercise, it is not necessary to take a "resting" day from Bikram yoga. The more you practice, the more benefit you get. You should consider your yoga practice as internal hygiene: you have to clean out the insides to have good health. Bikram tells many new students, "Come every day for the next 3 months and I will give you a new body, a new life!"

What are some of the benefits?
There are unlimited benefits to Bikram yoga, from exuberant health and mental clarity to lasting joy. Yoga is a means of manifesting your highest potential: physical, mental and spiritual. With regular practice (at least three times a week), you become more fully alive, more yourself.

Is it a cardiovascular workout, and can I lose weight?
No matter what your level of fitness, you will find Bikram yoga very challenging. With persistence, patience and dedication, you can lose inches and develop muscle tone and strength that might never come from other forms of exercise. More importantly, yoga gives you the body you were meant to have.

Is it safe to do Bikram yoga when menstruating?
It is perfectly safe to do Bikram's yoga when menstruating. Inverted postures are normally the postures contraindicated for menstruation. But there are no inverted postures in Bikram's yoga.
So in fact, Bikram's yoga is very good for toning the reproductive system as it directly affects the reproductive organs and the endocrine glands--pituitary, pineal and thyroid gland in particular. The women's cycle becomes regular; complaints of irregularity and PMS decrease.

Does Bikram Yoga help with balancing the emotions?
Bikram Yoga helps balance the emotions in several ways.
Physiologically, regular practice harmonizes the nervous and endocrine systems, two systems which figure heavily in emotional well-being.
In addition, practicing Bikram Yoga cultivates the mental faculties of faith, self-control, concentration, determination, and patience. As we become more aware of our inner life, we notice how events, interactions, and even the atmospheric pressure effect us. When we are aware, we can exercise choice in our response. This helps us balance our emotional life.


Can I practice Bikram yoga with asthma?
Without knowing the cause of your asthma, we can tell you that Bikram Yoga will be good for you in several ways. It is done in a warm room which promotes relaxation of the muscles and nerves, and is the type of exercise that you can do with as little or as much intensity as appropriate for your needs.
In other words, you can do each posture with less effort if you're concerned about overexertion triggering an attack, or you can sit down and rest whenever you need to during the class.
It will relax your mind and help let go of tensions, toxins and negativity. It also strengthens your heart and lungs, improving your lung function. You will breathe easier and deeper than you ever have before.