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If you practice Bikram yoga, you are familiar with the nature of this style of fitness routine. Essentially, it's a challenging series of 26 asanas (postures) that stretch, strengthen, and invigorate every part of your body. If you are not familiar with this type of yoga, it would be worth your while to try it. Some people say that Bikram yoga is addicting (in a good way) and that they actually feel a sense of withdrawal if they go even just a few days without practicing it. Others have said that it has actually eased or cured life-long ailments such as high blood pressure and migraine headaches.
Bikram yoga is designed to systematically restore health to your muscles and joints and to rid your body of toxins that can drain energy, cause muscle fatigue, and leave you susceptible to a variety of illnesses. One of the ways that Bikram purges these toxins is through sweating. Sweating is guaranteed because in addition to the strenuous poses, the room where you practice this type of yoga maintains a temperature of 110° fahrenheit with humidity at 40%.
Attend a this kind of Yoga class with a fully qualified instructor. Bikram instructors devote numerous hours to training and certification. The certification levels are 200-hour and 500-hour. Make sure your instructor has completed at least the minimum number of hours for certification
Sweating during a Bikram yoga session is guaranteed which means that the room could become pretty pungent. Applying deodorant before attending the class does help reduce the odor. However, out of courtesy to others refrain from wearing perfumes or colognes that might trigger an allergic reaction.
Have realistic expectations and gradually work into the postures. There are some poses that your body is not ready for. If you can't do a pose, don't force it. Injuries happen if you attempt to do too much too fast. If you see someone else performing a pose with ease doesn't mean that you can. It is not a competition. The level you are at with each session is where need to be.
Bikram Yoga Tips For Beginners
Because of the intensity of the workout, beginners commonly experience dizziness and nausea during the first session. However, these symptoms do not last and generally cease to occur with more practice. You always want to pace yourself and take a break if these symptoms appear. You are not doing yourself any favors by suffering through the session. Know your limitations and allow yourself to gradually progress through the program.
Bikram yoga is a very structured activity so punctuality is important. When you attend the Bikram yoga class, arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of class. Late comers will not be admitted.
Because of the amount of sweating you do during a Bikram class, attend the class fully hydrated and then hydrate frequently throughout the class. Sweating alone does not rid your body of the toxins; you need to cleanse your system. Therefore, it is important that you restore the fluids and electrolytes in order to prevent heat exhaustion, nausea, or dehydration. It's easy to avoid these ailments if you drink water often throughout the session.
Due to the strenuous nature of this kind of yoga, it is recommended that you eat no less than one hour before attending the class. It's best to practice this type of yoga on an empty stomach. This will reduce your chances of being overcome with nausea and even vomiting. If you experience any of these symptoms, give yourself a break, but do not quit attending. These ailments are temporary and as you get stronger you will progress.
If you follow these tips, Bikram yoga can be a satisfying and health promoting experience.
Bikram Yoga Tips: Preventing Injury
One of the reasons for keeping the room so warm during the yoga class is to keep your muscles loosened and more flexible. However, this is no guarantee against injury. There are other steps you can take to prevent injury during yoga.
The Bikram yoga instructor certification levels are 200-hour and 500-hour. Make sure your instructor has completed at least the minimum number of hours for certification.
Your instructor is there to do more than teach the class so take the opportunity to learn more about any concerns you might have or something you might not understand. Instructors are happy to consult with before or after class about how to get the most benefit from your class. The instructors recognize most of the ailments and difficulties you face when learning Bikram. They can provide information about how to best deal with these concerns.
Have realistic expectations and gradually work into the postures. There are some poses that your body is not ready for. It even takes instructors months of practice before they can perform all the postures. If you can't do a pose, don't force it. Injuries happen if you attempt to do too much too fast. You are not going to have the same level of flexibility as the others in your class. Therefore, it is important to know your body and make decisions that are best for you.
Know what muscles are prone to injury and approach the poses that use those muscles with caution.
The three most important components of Bikram yoga are breathe, remain still while in a posture, and rest completely between postures.
Yoga is a journey. It is not a process to be abandoned after you reach a milestone such as your ideal weight or overcoming an ailment. There are numerous types of yoga that bring about different results so you can always find new purposes for doing some form of yoga. The benefits to practicing yoga are exponential and if you continue to practice, it will become an important part of your lifestyle.
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