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Benefits of Bikram Yoga

 

FAT BURNING AND WEIGHT LOSS

Bikram’s Yoga creates long and lean muscle tone, and also provides a fat-burning cardio workout. The harder you work in class, the more calories you will burn. Plus, a regular yoga practice balances the systems in your body and causes you to be less inclined to crave eat junk food.

INCREASED ENERGY

As Bikram says, “Yoga class is a gas station, it gives you energy.” In the beginning you may feel slightly drained, but after a few classes, you will begin to feel the unlimited energy potential that is possible with a regular practice. Focus on your breathing. Restore your electrolytes. Increased oxygen intake equals increased energy. Yoga balances the systems of your body, which will result in increased energy. This is what happens when you tap into the incredible potential of yoga power!

 

STRESS RELIEF

Your breathing patterns are directly related to your state of mind. Breathing normally and developing awareness of your breath in challenging situations will help you manage your stress levels. Bikram Yoga places a lot of emphasis on the breath, and we encourage you to explore and pay attention to the breathing cues given by your instructor. Embracing the time, you spend in Savassana (the last posture of class) is a great way to focus your mind on complete relaxation, and to help you cope with everyday life when you are feeling stressed.

INCREASED FLEXIBILITY AND STRENGTH

This class stretches and strengthens every single muscle in your body, even ones you didn’t know you have! Work hard! Lock the knee! Try your best in every posture, and listen carefully to the dialogue. Increased flexibility and strength will naturally follow with your continued practice.

IMPROVED CLARITY AND FOCUS

Set your intention every class to focus on the dialogue and your breath. As soon as you notice your mind drifting off, bring it back to the present moment by focusing on your breathing. The more you practice this, the more your focus will improve in everyday life. The asanas that place your head below your heart (i.e. – Half Tortoise and Standing Separate Leg Stretching,) increase blood circulation to the brain and helps bring your brain cells ‘out of the cold storage. 

HEALING OF OLD INJURIES AND CHRONIC PAIN

Bikram Yoga uses a method called ‘the tourniquet effect’. Blood flow to certain points of the body is blocked off and upon release, healing, oxygenated blood flows through the body, nurturing the development of healthy cells and irrigating scar tissue and calcification of the joints. Old injuries eventually naturally begin to feel better than ever, and chronic pain is diminished as you increase your flexibility and strength. As this blood flows through all areas of the body, your need for painkillers will eventually disappear, and you will restore your body to its natural condition, as nature intended.  The heat helps blood flow throughout the body, strengthening the heart and bringing your body ‘out of cold storage’ as Bikram says. It also aids in a process called vasodilation, which expands the blood vessels, flushing circulation to the body and helping with low blood pressure, sexual vitality, slowing the aging process, and overall health. Bikram Yoga ensures healthy and balanced functioning of the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, nervous, digestive, elimination, respiratory, endocrine, and mental systems of the body.

OTHER BENEFITS OF BIKRAM YOGA