If you’re easily repulsed by the sight of sweaty people, then stay away from Bikram Yoga. Practicing this form of yoga involves sweat. Lots of it. It’s pretty easy to get turned off, really. But if you give it a chance, you’ll soon find out that Bikram Yoga has excellent benefits.

By Pauline Mangilog-Saltarin, Pinay Traveller

Bikram Yoga is a set series of 26 Hatha yoga poses or asanas done in a heated room with temperatures kept at 38 degrees. Also known as "Hot yoga" or "Fire yoga," it was developed by Bikram Choudhury more than 35 years ago.

The concept of doing yoga in a heated room can make one skeptical. But some, like lawyer Katrina Bote-Veguillas, found the idea intriguing and signed up for a seven-day trial class.

“My goal, of course, was primarily to lose weight and to start a fitness regime again because I have not done any physical activity for quite some time. I was beginning to feel lethargic, lazy, unfocused, and fat! I was glad to discover that Bikram, aside from providing a healthy exercise program, even helps in the functioning of one’s internal organs, blood circulation and have other medical benefits."

Doing regular yoga is hard enough, but doing it in a heated room sounds like torture. Apparently, though, this is where the magic happens.

A vigorous yoga session done at this temperature promotes excessive sweating thereby flushing out toxins. It is also meant to make your body warm allowing for more flexibility, and thus preventing injury. Heat also improves blood circulation. The series of postures are designed to temporarily restrict and move fresh oxygenated blood thereby rejuvenating the arteries. During a 90-minute class, one gets to work and stretch every muscle, ligament, and tendon in the entire body. So aside from detoxifying the body, one gets to relieve tension and stress resulting in an incredible sense of peace and wellbeing.

But Katrina admits that Bikram Yoga is not without its hurdles.



“The most difficult part of Bikram, I think, is being able to sustain the position, especially the ones which require balance. Practice makes perfect, so I just try to attend class regularly. With respect to flexibility, your [muscles] are stretched to their limit and later you find yourself being more flexible than before."

There is also the matter of feeling dizzy and to some extent, fainting. But according to Katrina, it’s all in the breathing-something that the instructor has always reminded Katrina’s class from Day One.

“(He told us) that feeling a bit dizzy in the middle of class is not unusual, and I can stop for a few minutes to catch my breath or drink; but this can be avoided by, again, breathing normally. It would be advisable to come a few minutes early to prepare for class by meditating a bit and getting accustomed to the heat."

For Katrina, the best part of practicing Bikram Yoga is experiencing the sense of tranquility at the end of each class.

“I am often stressed and tense because of work, and I’m sometimes very tired and suffer from lack of sleep, so I found Bikram very helpful. It was just the activity I needed to de-stress and detoxify as well. After class, I always come out more [flexible], more relaxed and refreshed, and happier that I did something good for myself and my body, and proud too that I survived another 90 minutes
without fainting!"

If you think you can handle 90 minutes of stretching in a hot room full of sweaty individuals, then Bikram Yoga is for you. You can sign up for trial classes at Bikram Yoga Manila. They offer an introductory package at P1,000. This will give you access to any class over a seven-day period. There is also an unlimited 30-day package priced at P5,000. Bikram Yoga Manila studios are located in Makati and Quezon City. You can visit their website at www.bikramyogamanila.com or email them at info@bikramyogamanila.com for more information.