The first thing you should know before embarking on a Bikram yoga class, or hot yoga as it’s also known, is this: be prepared to sweat like you’ve never sweat before. No, really. Think summer in the middle of the Sahara Desert. It’s that hot. And you’re expected to exercise in it.
For Bikram yoga, the tmeperature of the studio is usually 105 degrees. During the 90-minute class, you’ll be asked to do 26 Hatha Yoga postures and two Pranayama breaking exercises. You’ll work muscles, tendons and ligaments you probably never knew you had.
While you’re probably familiar with all the health and physical benefits of yoga in general, you’re probably wondering why does it need to be so darn hot? Is it a special form of torture? A sick joke, perhaps?
Bikram Yoga is performed in a hot room because the heat detoxifies your body (through sweat), tones your muscles as well as flushes your cells and organs. Think of it as a body cleanse – only you don’t have to give up eating for a week.
Make no mistake-- this class is not for the faint of heart. It can be difficult to perform these poses in such high heat. Think long and hard about your physical abilities and tolerance before you sign up. If you do decide to try your hand at hot yoga, make sure you wear some light-weight clothing – maybe a tank top and shorts to help keep you on the cooler side.
Once you’re in the class and performing the poses, you may feel nauseated, dizzy or tired, which is normal. Make sure to pace yourself and only do what you think your body can handle. There will be many more classes after this one. Because many of the poses involve abdominal compressions, you may want to steer clear of eating a large meal at least two or three hours before the class.
In the aftermath of your hot yoga class, make sure to hydrate. You should drink lots of water or a sports drink to replace all that you lost during the class. Every person is different, so not everyone has the same reactions to hot yoga. You could experience muscle soreness or fatigue. Or you could find yourself with increased energy. Either way, it’s worth it to participate in at least two or three classes before you give up. The more you do it, the easier it will get.