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Is Bikram Yoga for me?
2) Why 40ºC?
3) Is Bikram Yoga a cardiovascular workout?
4) Can I lose weight?
5) How often should I attend classes?
6) What if I feel sore after class?
7) Why do I feel dizzy, nauseous and lightheaded during the class?
8) Would I ever get tired of doing the same posture flow?
9) Can my kids practice Bikram Yoga as well?
10) Can I practice Bikram Yoga when I am pregnant?
1) Is Bikram Yoga for me?
Ask yourself the following questions:
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Do I need to lose weight?
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Am I stressed out?
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Do I get tension headaches?
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Is my cholesterol level too high?
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Do I have injury that just doesn’t seem to heal?
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Has my doctor told me I need to get some form of exercise?
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Do I have lower back pain?
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Would I like to improve my running, golf game, marathon or triathlon?
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Do I have a good level of energy?
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Am I tired easily?
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Would I like to be able to play with my kids/grandkids more often?
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Do I travel frequently?
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Do I sit at a computer for long period of time?
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Do I have carpal tunnel syndrome?
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Do I have arthritis?
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My current fitness program does not deliver the result I want.
If you answered “yes” to any of the above, then Bikram Yoga is for you.
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2) Why 40ºC?
The heat combined with the sequence of the 26 postures is what makes Bikram Yoga so special. In the heated environment, the muscles become more relaxed and pliable which allow you to work deeper in a shorter amount of time as well as help prevent injury. The heat expedites the flow of blood to improve circulation. Also, fatty acids are more mobilized in the heat, which helps burn fat more efficiently. As you progress, you may start to release toxins that have been stored in your system. Sweating helps flush those toxins from your body, giving you a wonderful, energized and refreshed feeling after each and every Bikram yoga class.
3) Is Bikram Yoga a cardiovascular workout?
Yes, practising Bikram Yoga with sufficient intensity can create aerobic effect. No matter what your fitness level, you will find Bikram Yoga very challenging. The Bikram Method works your whole body inside out. With persistence, patience, and dedication, you can lose inches, and develop muscle tone and strength that might never come from other forms of exercise. Each Bikram Yoga class can help burn up to 600 calories.
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4) Can I lose weight?
Yes, but result varies depending on your condition. Some people experience dramatic weight loss; some may gain more muscle mass while losing fat. When you have more muscle mass, you burn calories more efficiently. What you will see is a general slimming all over: size of your clothes gets smaller and your body becomes a lean machine.
5) How often should I attend classes?
We encourage a regular practice of 3 times per week for good results. For life-changing results, 4 or more times per week is a must. The beauty of Bikram Yoga is that you can practice everyday.
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6) What if I feel sore after class?
Come right back to class the next day! Muscle soreness is a buildup of lactic acid, which means your muscles cannot extract enough oxygen from your blood. Instead of burning oxygen, your muscles burn dirty fuel sources such as sugar and creatine to create lactic acid and other by-products that build up in the blood to make you “feel the burn”. The best way to get rid of lactic acid is stretching. Also, when you build up more muscle mass, your body will efficiently increase oxygen consumption during exercise.
7) Why do I feel dizzy, nauseous and lightheaded during the class?
The most common cause is dehydration; too much of tea, coffee and alcohol will further dehydrate your body. Drinking plenty of fluid throughout the day will help make your class easier. Sometimes, toxins that built up in your system will contribute to the uneasy feeling during the class.
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8) Would I ever get tired of doing the same posture flow?
No, the practice is never the same because you are continuously being changed by it. The daily practice challenges you on many levels. Character issues of patience and perseverance come up each time. The practice offers a chance to explore deeper levels of self and develop awareness of emotions and thoughts that the postures evoke.
9) Can my kids practice Bikram Yoga as well?
Yes, kids are welcome to Bikram Yoga City Hall. They need to be at least 9 years old when their sweat glands are fully developed. At Bikram Yoga City Hall, our youngest student is 10 years old!
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10) Can I practice Bikram Yoga when I am pregnant?
Yes, expecting mums can practice Bikram Yoga from the 4th month onwards. However, you will need to take a private class with an instructor first and learn modified postures before joining the group classes. More information here.
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Emmy Cleaves, a 32-year student and teacher of Bikram Yoga, once said, “ My first Bikram Yoga class was in 1973. For 20 years prior to it, I had taken various yoga classes that had not done much to improve the flexibility of my rather stiff body. I had also suffered a brain aneurysm. A life-threatening event of this nature shatters one’s faith and trust in one’s body. During my very first Bikram class, I immediately recognised the power of the corrective training effect in the systematic and repetitious nature of the practice. Since 1973, I have continuously practised and taught Bikram Yoga.” |
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