I loved Bikrams yoga... I don't think it is wrong or bad. I find often it is spiritually a bit flat compared to other yoga classes I have taken but I still loved it. The price tag is quite high here though with no flexibility for single parents so sadly I no longer do Bikrams. That is really my only complaint. It seems very corporate and more expensive than other yoga. I miss it but I just can't justify the price tag. For now I have found a really great Ashtanga studio that meets all my needs financially, physically and spiritually. I think there is a yoga that is right for every person out there. Different people, different yoga practices.... I too have come across snobbery but I just ignore the words. Bikrams is a hell of a lot better than sitting on a couch doing nothing. That said heat does come with danger. Just like a sauna can be dangerous so can a super hot studio. I think it is important to listen to your body and take appropriate measures for safety in regards to your own health and limitations. But you have that with every studio, whether it be hot or not.

I love my Bikram yoga. I imagine it costs more given the overhead. The owner of the place gave me a free month. I've been doing it for about two months. I've done other yoga and loved that as well. I do believe my knees are starting to hurt, but I used to complain about my back as well. I think the key is that you back off when it may injure you, but if I backed of on many of the things I do, my back would still be hurting, my rotator cuff injury would still be an issue.

I think the key is consistency; at least every other day. If I had the time, I would do it six days a week.

I am told by people that I've become much less excitable. I am pleasant to be around. I am very happy and I still have yet to start a career that has anything to do with me. At least, I am totally happy from a physiological point of view. I attribute that to Bikram yoga.

I’ll accept your word on your success with the Bikram ‘style’ of yoga.
There are some who seem to thrive. There are some reasons that I think people should be cautioned.

It is a dangerous environment… by any, any medical or sports physiology standard. Of course then there is your faith in Bikram and your own experience. I think your own experience should be taken with a note of caution as well. That’s not the most objective viewpoint, seriously. In any and all cases, what do you do when the medical and sports physiology experts unaminously agree that it is a dangerous environment… you take it slow, you proceed cautionsly, if at all. Don’t take it on faith. What are the risks? Just google “heat, exhaustion, humidity, edema” whatever. Educate yourself a bit.

There are some bogus claims first of all. Heat in India does not reach 105 on average. Not even in the hottest month in the hottest place. I don’t know whether people practice yoga over there when it does. Bikram is NOT mimicking those conditions. It is not mimicking conditions anywhere, as far as I know, much less places where they are practicing yoga.

It’s a standard set of postures that Bikram has tried to copyright. I have no opinion about that. I don’t really mind, just surprised. I suppose it’s the same as if I would make a series of jumping jacks, push-ups, pull-ups and a 6 mile jog and then call it MY sequence, and take out a patent and try to sue others who copied it. Great… If I could get away with it. Maybe I’d insist that we do it at 36 degrees farenheit in 10% humidity and say I had a dream about it. Then you’d take me seriously, wouldn’t you?

Well maybe you would if I required everyone to do it in strapless swimsuits and bikinis in a mirrored room.

Cleansing… Sure there is some cleansing with yoga. Add heat? Sure, it foments the internal circulation of lymph and blood; especially with the compression of tissues that normal yoga provides. It’s a kick for the body. You could also get a boost through Thai-massage (yoga and passive/active massage). You could get a boost through ultrasonic application or normal massage (often with heat). Sweat itself is not necessarily cleansing nor indicative of cleansing. It’s a reaction to heat. Through yoga you are increasing circulation of internal fluid and it can be an imbalance (see the many reports of swelling). Those types of imbalances can be long lasting (days) and can be dangerous (swelling, or edema can subsequently restrict normal circulation with secondary effects).

Any exercise, yoga, compression can be ‘cleansing’ in the sense that it promotes the healthy circulation of fluid, waste and nutrients through tissues, glands and cells. A judicious application of heat can be a healthy boost both for the body and the motivation. Over application of heat.. well, judge for yourself. I think you’re wasting a good thing.

Stretching… This is complex… I think judicious and professionally applied heat can be a terrific boost to range of motion and can ease stretching. Increasing your range of motion with yoga or any type of stretching is a complex topic. I don’t think the Bikram application of heat is helpful, certainly not in the way it’s promoted. Heat, external and internal is applied medically to range-of-motion conditions. In any yoga and stretching, you are in charge. You are the expert. That’s part of the wonder of yoga. Bikram, on the other hand, really doesn’t allow you to be the expert. That’s a drawback. The one-size, one-heat, one-approach is applied to all. There’s very little individual instructor leeway (comparatively). There’s little variation. As a practitioner, what latitude are you given?

Anyway, for me, as a therapist and a long-term fan of yoga, I think part of the wonder of yoga is developing that internal sense of your body, of being your own expert, so to speak. It’s something that has to be developed. That happens in most sports and yoga practices. As a therapist I like the benefits of the application of heat to many conditions and for the state of mind and body it brings. I think Bikram comes up short on both counts especially considering the input of time and the level of risk involved.

Yoga, stretching, diet, anything.. takes time. You can have noticeable changes in 6 months. You can have sublime changes in years. Expectation of anything in less time is foolish. In any application of movement or exercise ask yourself… “Is this smething I want to be doing for 6 months consistently?”. Most movement/exercise regimens must be somewhat flexible to individual needs and be able to be varied in order to maintain interest and motivation.

Now, some have compared the Bikram experience to a sweat lodge…. I’ve done both. I wouldn’t deny the comparison but… A sweat lodge is an experience you might want to savor once a month, perhaps more likely, every 6 months. It’s a spiritual cleansing. There’s a physical aspect to it. Also, the sweat lodge experiences I’ve had, we had a cooling break after 40 mintues to an hour before re-entering. That in itself was very cleansing and rewarding… Please compare.

Now the sauna and the steam room and the Jacuzzi are great things that can be enjoyed even daily. You know how long you are supposed to stay in there. You know how long you AREN'T supposed to stay as well.

I wanted to pierce the many myths of Bikram. It seem wonderful to many practitioners, but there are myths and inaccuracies and those can be dangerous. It’s not for everyone. Personally, in my opinion, it’s beyond the envelope of acceptability. It’s too dangerous. I’ll explain why in a moment….

First of all, the idea of a fixed session of that duration and focus and repeatability is a great thing. It’s a challenge, no matter who you are. It’s a extreme situation in which to measure yourself as you develop in other ways. It’s predictable and guided. When in training and sometimes when not, a fixed routine can be just what is most comfortable.

The problem is… It’s outside the envelope. Here are my complaints. First of all, practitioners are encouraged not to leave, nay, they are discouraged from leaving a heat-risky environment. You are encouraged to lie down, in that same heat, when it is just too much….

When is it too much? It’s always too much at 45 to 50 minutes. You are heat compromised, if you are human. There is some individual variability. Everyone is affected, compromised in that heat/humidity. It’s a medical fact. You can’t stretch as well, you can’t relax or concentrate as well. Your postures will be less than what you are capable of on many levels. You’ll sweat more. That’s not a plus, in the long run. Your immune system is compromised even in the long run. You’ll suffer various internal balances… The body is a homeostatic organism. Throwing it into an extreme environment is going to kick off some imbalances. Judicious application of heat and exercise can be motivating and a boost to your progress whatever your goals or path is. But, arbitrary application of extreme conditions is simply providing an imbalance.

You’ll feel better after the first few days… because your body has been kicked out of its habitual patterns and you are experiencing the slight, physical euphoria of internal change and potential levels of capability. That’s the euphoria of potential. Actualization of those levels of capability takes internal discipline and won’t be affected through the arbitrary (artificial and external) conditions as exist in the Bikram studios. That practice, longer term, will inhibit just those changes. Actualization of changes is an internal process that takes months and years. It’s a self-directed process. You can’t do it through an external application. Walking into a Bikram studio is your contribution. That’s not enough. You have to contribute the whole process, body and soul.

What are you risking? Cellular damage. Sure every exercise affects the cells. Muscle cells are destroyed so they may be rebuilt longer and stronger. Bikram, like any application of movement/exercise, carries risks of over extension. I accept that part. However, what you are risking in a heat-risky environment is damage to the brain. That part of you doesn’t recover. That’s what I can’t understand and can’t accept. You also destroy cells drinking certain quantities of alcohol. It’s a matter of level. In my opinion, Bikram is outside of the envelope of safety and acceptability. No matter how it feels, the short term imbalances produced by the extreme environment are simply too dangerous. And furthermore, there is no variation, no chance for evolution of the series or practice and no room for individual or studio initiatives to respond to these issues. It’s a hierarchical structure and, perhaps we can all agree, of questionable business oriented motivations. Those are the issues.

What’s so frustrating is that it is so easily fixed!
We can have a heat-aided environment and a predictable serious of postures. It’s a matter of degree. First of all, NEVER restrict cooling down on an individual basis… ENCOURAGE it. Secondly 90 minutes in that heat is damaging! (no ifs ands or buts about that).

Why aren’t a variety of heated studios showing up? I’m motivated to start one myself.
First of all, I would have up to an hour heated session (<100, less heat, more benefit) restricted to perhaps twice a week. That could be followed or preceded with normal temperature practice.
You could have a prescribed set of asanas but why just one? Normal temperature practices would complement and anchor the heat-aided ones. I think it all would be more individually motivating and rewarding. I would be using heat in an adaptable way. It’s not the answer or solution… it’s an adaptable tool that’s all!

Most importantly, I would allow room for individual and studio variation and for the evolution of the practice.
Come on, open those studios. Let’s put this Bikram thing to rest!

So if you are going to try Bikram… go into it intelligently. Read the facts about heat exposure and risk. Measure your response but don’t fully trust your personal experience. Take your symptoms SERiously. The downside potential is too great. Go into it intelligently because, if you stick it out… you may not be so intelligent when you come out of it.

Beautiful.... thank you for your perfect words....Lisa j.

I agree, there are so many paths in life and everyone has their own.

If one path doesn't work for someone, that doesn't mean it doesn't work for EVERYONE.