Bikram yoga can get pretty intense.
You’ve taken your yoga lessons in NYC. You know your poses. And yet, you’re still wondering – what’s the difference between what I’m doing and Bikram yoga? What’s so special about Bikram, and why is it so special that they use it to train Olympians? And hey, while I’m at it, how come I’m not an Olympian? Well we can’t answer that last question, but otherwise, if you were wondering why Bikram yoga differs for what you may be doing in yoga lessons in NYC right now, we have the answer for you – heat.
That’s why they use it to train for the Olympics perhaps. Bikram yoga uses temperatures of generally at least (at least!) 105 degrees Fahrenheit to get your body sweating and intensify your yoga experience.
But Bikram yoga isn’t just about turning regular yoga into something hardcore. The idea is that by sweating more through the increased heat, your body rids itself of toxins and such. Furthermore, Bikram yoga is immensely helpful in terms of helping your flexibility too. Your joints and muscles get looser with the increased heat, thus decreasing the possibility of cramping, or worse, potential injury.
Bikram yoga is not for everyone, as the high temperatures make it an activity that really drains you; if you thought regular yoga was tiring enough, this will definitely be too much. But if you’re looking to add to your yoga routine in an interesting and challenging way, Bikram might just be up your alley. Check out all our yoga lessons in NYC on HeyKiki!
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Chris McEwen is an NYU Media, Culture, & Communication major, who spent his formative years in New Jersey, though he'd prefer if you didn't hold that against him. He has large portions of The Big Lebowski committed to memory and is probably eating a Dos Toros burrito right now.