Bikram Yoga’s health benefits

When someone suggested I try Bikram Yoga, I was apprehensive whether I can stand practicing in a heated room. Practicing yoga in normal room temperature was challenging enough as it is, I imagine it would be much harder to keep focused and maintain my balance when the room is heated to 38 degrees.

But when I read the various health benefits I would get from practicing Bikram, I was convinced that it was worth trying. When I searched about Bikram, I found long lists of health benefits and these are just some of them:

- Weight loss

- Strengthens the immune system

- Detoxifies the body and improves blood circulation

- Increases energy, decreases stress

- Promotes mental clarity and focus

Of course, weight loss was the main benefit I was after. The studio allowed me to have a three day trial so I can see for myself if I can take the heat. After getting a feel for it, I signed up for a whole month to find out if I could indeed lose weight with Bikram.

Can you really lose weight with yoga?

You must be wondering how breathing deeply and posing in place can possibly melt off your fat. But when you try Bikram, you’ll definitely find out why.

Tough was the only word I could use to describe my first try. I was sweating profusely only after a few minutes of practicing. I could stand the heat but I needed to exert more effort to focus so I won’t fall down. Maintaining balance was another challenge with sweat continuously flowing in every nook and cranny of my body.

The benefits

You may be wondering if I got any benefit from my first workout. Well, the good thing is I did feel detoxified right after my first session. After releasing all that sweat and toxins, I definitely felt lighter.

When you’re practicing yoga or any workout for that matter, it’s important to remember that the results will come only if you practice consistently. You won’t see results overnight because, let’s face it, you didn’t really gain that weight overnight. But when you practice everyday for one month, you will see results.

After one month of practicing Bikram Yoga, I lost three inches from my waistline. For me measuring inches instead of pounds is more satisfying because losing inches mean getting to fit in my jeans. I also noticed how much stronger and healthier I felt inside and out.

My body became more flexible and I lost all those little aches and pains I would usually feel when I was stressed.

I also naturally altered my diet and started eating healthy. Engaging in such a tough practice every day would have been useless if I went home and gorged on chocolates and chips. Interestingly enough, I found it easy to eat foods that I knew nourished my body.

I also loved how I became more peaceful and calm. I wasn’t easily ruffled by daily stress and I could handle my challenges quite easily.

Is Bikram for you?

However, I can’t say that Bikram Yoga is for everyone. Practicing in a heated room is no joke so it’s always better to consult your doctor and go for a trial so you can evaluate your ability to handle a daily practice.

When you find that it is suited for you, make a commitment to show up for practice everyday. It’s definitely going to be tough at first, but when you see the results in the end — the physical and mental benefits — you’ll be glad you gave it a try.

Bonus tip: When practicing Bikram Yoga, make sure you use a thick eco-friendly yoga mat to cushion your body and to provide more grip even when you get sweaty during practice. Good choices are Manduka eKO, Jade Yoga Mat and Prana Yoga Mat.

About the Author

Learn more about the best eco yoga mats at ecofriendlyyogamats.org.