Previously, I was never a fan of yoga… It wasn’t really my cup of tea – too slow and boring. In my mind, yoga was basically no more than “a Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility”. The practice of yoga was originally associated with meditation and spirit rather than a fit and strong body. So it kind of discouraged me from fully appreciating and practicing it. If you were like me, you probably had similar thoughts about it, why would you exercise by something that doesn’t really make you sweat? Most of us, when we think of losing weight and getting in shape, think of Billy Blanks with his boot camp videos or Denise Austin with her endless aerobic videos. One day my friend saw a coupon on Groupon for an amazing deal on Bikram yoga. So I thought why not? After all, my friends have been talking about it and it was a trendy thing to do. I gave it a whirl and I have to say, it not only surpassed my expectations and became my favorite way to exercise, It also helped me appreciate regular yoga.
So what is Bikram yoga?
Bikram yoga is sometimes called “hot yoga”; it is a mix of low-key twisting poses and cardio exercises practiced in a room where the temperature has been raised higher than 100 degrees. The idea behind performing yoga in high temperature is that the muscles are more flexible, therefore more able to stretch without any injury. It really has become one of the most popular types of yoga and is considered the best practice for beginners as there are only 26 Bikram poses.
Bikram Yoga: The Guru Behind Hot Yoga Shows the Way to Radiant Health and Personal Fulfillment
This is Why I Chose Bikram Yoga
Bikram Yoga activates your thyroid gland
Our thyroid gland is located in our throat in between the Adam’s apple (if you are a man) and windpipe. The thyroid secretes a hormone that regulates our metabolism. One of the main factors that defines whether we have a high metabolism that burns a lot of fat is whether our thyroid is active or not. Yoga can naturally improve the functioning of the thyroid by stretching the thyroid gland. It brings blood circulation and more energy to the gland. The compressing and twisting of yoga is believed to massage the endocrine organs, regulating their function and nourishing them at the cellular level.
Bikram Yoga promotes weight loss
Many people think that jumping, running, or other cardio exercises is the best way to lose weight because it raises your heart beat. However, research shows that this is a misconception because it can make a stressed nervous system even more exhausted, leading to adrenal fatigue. The best way to lose weight is to get your heart rate up for a short time and drop it right down. This exactly what yoga and Bikram yoga does.
Additionally, the twisting poses combined with hot temperature stimulate your internal organs, which helps not only boost your metabolism but also reduce stress hormones and increase insulin sensitivity, so your body kicks into a fat-burning mode.
Bikram Yoga detoxifies your body of toxins
Bikram yoga is one of the most effective ways to detoxify your body. As you know, the body removes many toxins through the skin via sweat; this is where Hot Yoga comes into play. Performing yoga twists in a heated room massages inner muscles and organs, essentially wringing out toxins while bringing in a rush of fresh oxygen and nutrients. This flushes impurities from inner tissues and helps organs perform their functions properly.
Bikram Yoga for Skin and Beauty
A hot yoga can help in cleansing and detoxifying your skin. Bikram yoga has definitely helped my skin. When you sweat, all the toxins and waste products in the pores are released from the pore, leaving you with clear skin. Your pores are opened, allowing natural lanolin to release through the pores, softening and preserving your skin’s elasticity. Intense sweating gives your skin a radiant glow as well.
My first class showed me that yoga can be very physically challenging. And boy, do you sweat! I had never sweated so much doing any other form of exercise. It felt like an hour long boot camp with Billy Blanks. It also had an amazing sauna effect; my skin felt so soft and I definitely experienced amazing relaxation in spite of my sore muscles. If you can’t afford Bikram yoga, you can always do a few poses at home if you have a mirror, a mat and a room you can keep between 95 and 100 degrees.
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