Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Bikram Yoga


Yoga: Theory, Culture and Practice
Bikram Yoga
Professor Laura Douglass
Emily Scolaro


I attended a Bikram Yoga class at Bikram Yoga Boston in Harvard Square.  According to their website, their mission is to help individuals “get physically fit and stong, while discovering new levels of energy”.  Before I decided to attend Bikram class I research Bikram Choudhury to get a better grasp of where this type of yoga originated. 
Choudhury began yoga due to a knee injury caused by a weight lifting accident.  Many believed that he would never walk again, but Choudhury did not accept that diagnosis.  He trusted that his teacher and yogi, Ghosh, could aid in his recovery.  He worked with Ghosh through yoga therapy and six months later Bikrams knee had heeled completely.  Due to his personal experience, Choudhury was inspired and decided to expand his yoga knowledge.  His influence on hatha yoga culture has greatly changed the view that many people have on yoga culture. 
Through participation, I was able to experience a variety of the different features that Bikram Yoga includes.  Here is what I found: Bikram practice consists of 2 breathing exercises (pranayamas) and 26 postures (asanas).  Each posture is repeated two times.  The technique used by Bikram instructors is called the tourniquet effect, which is composed of stretching, balancing using gravity, and producing pressure all in unison. 
Bikram Choudhury once said: “It takes courage and intelligence, you know, to do the stages of Yoga right, and to start with this Hatha Yoga… It’s just you and nothing but you, standing in one spot frozen like a statue with no place to go for help or excuse or scapegoat except inward”. Bikram Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga.  One aspect of this is the 26 asanas. As we have discussed in class that pranayamas are the breathing exercises that are the foundation of yoga.  They allow for one to regulate the energy of the body and to generate a clear mind.  According to the Swami Muktibodhananda’s book, asanas are the core of the body and mind relationship.  It is a therapeutic development that teaches individuals that the body is a vehicle to create mental and physical stability. Although Bikram Yoga adopts many of the present day cultural influences; the practice still incorporates these asanas and pranayamas, in contract to many modern adaptations of yoga.  The key thing to remember about hatha yoga is that this practice is more about the process and less about the end goal. 
People of any age can participate in Bikram Yoga, but in this particular class the majority of the people ranged anywhere from late adolescents to middle adults.  Bikram states on his website that “It’s never too late, it’s never too bad, and you’re never too old or too sick to start from scratch once again”.   Prices ($16 per class) lead one to believe that this particular type of yoga is focused towards individuals in the middle to upper class range.  Many people were wearing the specifically designed yoga clothing, which are usually pretty expensive.  People who seemed experienced in the Bikram practice obtained the “Bikram” clothing, water bottles, mats, and even towels.  It was evident that participants in this class fed into the societal view and propaganda of yoga.
There are two major aspect of Bikram Yoga.  One is the structured universal outline that all Bikram instructors train to memorize.  Bikram Choudhury states on his website that he has “scientifically designed this 90-minute program to deliver total health through the balancing and strengthening of every system”(Bikram Yoga Website).  Bikram classes are specifically designed in a verbal script, which is explicitly repeated throughout the duration of the class.  This verbal repetition consists of constant talking where the instructor pushes the limits of all individuals partaking in the class.
The other crucial aspect of Bikram Yoga is the environment.  Bikram Yoga is practiced in a very hot room that is approximately 105 degrees.  During class the instructor, Corina, was regulating the temperature by opening up the door and window slightly to cool it down, then closing it and turning up the heat to raise it again.  She attempted to keep the heat at the exact 105 degrees.   A flyer that I received after class stated, “the room is hot to open pores (detoxify the body), warm the muscle tissue (increase flexibility), think blood (flush the circulatory system), give a better cardiovascular work out, improve stamina, increase strength, burn fat and keep the body from overheating (contrary to popular misconceptions)”.  Bikram Choudhury states on his website that heat therapy is a healing method.  Many people, including myself, find it very difficult to focus and calm the mind due to the heat.  Bikran Yoga Boston believes that “as you build your ability to focus on you mind, and still your body, the heat and struggle will soon disappear”.  This is an interesting idea to ponder.  One would think that getting accustomed to the heat would come first then the poses would be easier, but it is in fact the opposite.  By focusing on ones self and remaining as still as possible between postures, one will be able to reach the goal of calming the dynamic fluidity of the mind. 
A short interview with Corina before and after class inspired me to go back for more. We had a conversation about what it took to become a licensed Bikram instructor.  She informed me that it takes a drastic about of training.  Bikram Yoga flyer states, “all of their teachers are Bikram Certified Instructors, which means the successfully completed Bikram Choudhury’s rigorous and thorough 500 hour training program”.  Corina informed me that it takes a great amount of courage, strength, and passion in order to obtain a Bikram certification.  She has her bachelor degree in psychology which pairs nicely with her Bikram certification.  She was a pleasure to be in class with and truly made me feel welcomed. 
Through observation, it was difficult to understand why exactly individuals were partaking in this Sunday morning Bikram yoga class.  At first, I assumed that people were there for strictly exercise.  As I was sitting there, sweat already pouring down my face, watching individuals lay solemnly on their mats, I realized there are billions of reasons that people attended this specific type of yoga class.  Behind all of those reasons I quickly found a common overlying factor among all participants; people who attend hot yoga classes are seeking out physical and mental health.  From this, people have the ability to do drastic things to their body.  The mental stability and concentration that was exerted from within individuals was outstanding and truly inspiring.  People were twisting, curing and bending in all ways, doing poses that resembled all types of shapes.  The thing that amazed me the most was the perseverance people exhibited though stability of their mind and body. Individuals were able to, while pouring sweat, stand on one foot/leg with their knee bent, and maintain a hold (with interlocked fingers) onto their opposite foot with locked knee and straight leg out in front of them, parallel to the floor.  You can only imagine what that looks like.  I was unable to do this and got extremely frustrated when my fingers were continuing to slip apart.  I envied the mental and physical strength many people demonstrated. 
            Attending this class in Harvard Sq has greatly changed my view on yoga.  I have learned that yoga is a very general word encompassing breathing exercises, body and mind unity, health, and relaxation.  Bikram Yoga aims to successfully fulfill all of these factors as well as promote a cardiovascular workout, improve stamina, increase strength, and aims to keep the body from over heating.  Many people have misconceptions regarding Bikram Yoga, but personally I found it rejuvenating.  I have always been a knowledgeable person surrounding nutrition and overall holistic health.  I am proud to say I have expanded that awareness through the practice of Bikram Yoga. 




Works Cited
Muktibodhananda, S. (2009). Hatha Yoga Pradapika. Bihar, India: Yoga
Publications Trust.
Pyman, A. (2012). Bikram Yoga Boston & Bikram Yoga Harvard Square – Bikram
Choudhury & Bikram Yoga. Bikram Yoga Boston Back Bay, Financial District & Bikram Yoga Harvard Square. Retrieved February 27, 2012. From http://www.bikramyogaboston.com
(2010). Bikram Yoga. Retrieved February 27, 2012. From
http://www.bikramyoga.com

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