An Introduction to Hot Yoga
by Carlos Green
Mind, body and soul are the three aspects that make up the holy trinity of spirituality. Many people spend their whole lives looking to attain even one of these three and the primary practice of people wishing to get the point where these three things marry up is yoga, and a particular form that has gained notoriety is Bikram Yoga.
The inventor of this controversial form of yoga is Bikram Choudrey, an ex-All-India Yoga Champion who remained undefeated until his retirement from the competition. Having practised yoga since he was four, he has dedicated his life to it and has established himself as a prominent character on the scene - his much-talked about technique is the reason why.
Hot yoga is practised in a room with 40% humidity and a recommended temperature of 105 degrees. These intense conditions have a notable effect on the body, including the relaxation of muscles and breathing. Bikram Yoga consists of a series of twenty-six yoga positions, also known as 'asanas', which include two breathing excercises. The heat is said to affect the capacity of the lungs, allowing for deeper breathing which aids in the achievement of each position. The heat is seen as a challenging aspect and many, including some professional sportsmen, have cited Bikram Yoga as a real test of endurance. Professional tennis player Andy Murray said of the practice, '"Until you do it you can't comment on how difficult it is. It's tough. It's ugly."
Mentally, Bikram is a challenge. It is practised in a room of intense heat and can be difficult to adapt to even for seasoned yoga enthusiasts. There are many risks to exercising like this such as dehydration due to sweating and it is therefore recommended to sip water during classes. Another danger can be hypothermia which is the overheating of the body; symptoms for this are dizziness, nausea and fainting which can lead to heatstroke. This pressure on the body also has an extended risk to the mind. Many experts and sportsmen have claimed it builds up mental stability and helps strengthen emotions. Yoga has particular notoriety as being something that requires dedication and almost something of a lifestyle change, so the added pressure that Bikram applies is not for the faint-hearted, however the long-term effects have been praised.
Bikram's scientifically designed programme is aimed at primarily allowing the muscles to relax, which allows for the prevention of injuries and is said to have an almost regenerating effect. One pioneer of Bikram is Michele Pernetta, who is credited as bringing this form of yoga to Great Britain. He says of this regenerating factor, "Most sports have long-term effects but yoga is the science of putting the body back to the way it's supposed to be." A ninety minute session contains two breathing exercises and twenty six poses to be done in a particular order which maximises flexibility; it is frequently practised by dancers for this effect.
Bikram Choudrey has a different view on yoga from most. Having been a champion of competitive yoga he feels that competition is what democracies are based on. Some say he's a bit of a character, well known in the U.S.A for suing a lot of people for copyright infringement, but people are still going crazy for his idea, and the benefits seem to be obvious!
This brings us onto the soul, surely the most important of the spiritual holy trinity. Many people who practice yoga have said that Bikram is focussed too much on the physical and less upon the spiritual side, however seasoned Bikram fans say the key to the spiritual side is self-acceptance. The pressure of the heat and the intensity of the twenty-six asanas are mentally-challenging in a way that other forms of yoga lack. While the temperature can be suffocating the simple fact that it also aids the relaxation of the muscles and the humidity has a powerful detoxifying effect on the body, allowing the release of all pollutant products in your body which leaves the body in a state of oneness. Bikram Choudrey is a controversial character, having filed many copyright lawsuits in the US and being regarded as somewhat strange, however this has only made his technique more talked about and the benefits have yet to be argued, so, provided you are up to the challenge, Bikram Yoga could be the way to reach the oneness of mind, body and soul in today's hectic, fast-paced age.
To learn more about <a href="http://www.bikramhighburyandislington.com/timetable/">a yoga venue in North London, Highbury and Islington to be precise!</a> and enrol in some classes click through to view information about a centre in Highbury and Islington.
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New Unique Article!
Title: An Introduction to Hot Yoga
Author: Carlos Green
Email: info@seogemini.com
Keywords: bikram yoga, hot yoga,sport, exercise, hobby, ,yoga, london, bikram
Word Count: 742
Category: Hobbies
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