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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