Monday, October 22, 2012

Bikram Yoga


Breanne Ghidotti
Laura Douglas
Yoga: Theory, Culture, Practice
October 22, 2012
                                                           
Bikram Yoga

Bikram Yoga, founded by Bikram Choudhury consists of a ninety-minute sequence that includes twenty-six postures, partnered with two breathing exercises. Each posture is practiced in a set of two, the first half being the standing postures, and then followed by floor exercises. The postures are done in a heated room so that deep penetration is allowed to be more affective when the body is more fluid, without risking any injury. These postures systematically work every part of the body, giving all the internal organs, muscles, ligaments, glands and veins fresh new oxygenated blood restoring the entire humanely system. One of the main goals in this technique is to restore health to the entire body removing all toxins from the body creating a healthy blood flow. This method is a serious work out for both the body and mind, making them both stronger and more flexible.
Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury from Calcutta, India is the founder of the worldwide Yoga college of India. He has been practicing yoga since the age of three and was learning the technique under India’s most-renowned physical culturist at the time, Bishnu Ghosh since the age of five. Learning fast under his guru’s lessons, and practiced Yoga at least four to six hours everyday, Bikram became the youngest regional yoga champion at the age eleven.  After having a weightlifting accident crippling him at age twenty, Bikram began to narrow his focus on the practices of yoga. He used the practice of yoga to help him recover from his physical injury with the help of Ghosh. Ghosh was a celebrated physical culturist and the first to scientifically document Yoga’s ability to cure chronic physical alignments and heal the body. Using this as inspiration, he wanted the rest of the world to discover this practice. In 1937 he traveled to the United States where he founded the Yoga College of India and Bikram Yoga to teach his methods to other enthusiasts. Since that time, Bikram has healed and brought the benefits to millions of students worldwide.  (2)
There has been controversy on the theory of this ‘toxic body’ and why the heat is necessary. The theory behind why heat is crucial originated from Greek physicians during Ancient times. The Greek physicians raised their patient’s body temperature to help their immune system fight against infection. In Bickram Yoga, heat is essential, keeping the room at approximately 100-105 degrees with 40 percent humidity. The instructor regulates the heat by opening up the door and window periodically throughout the class and adjusting the heat when needed. As your body warms, your muscles become far more loose and flexible. Also, the heat opens up the pores, which induces sweat that then detoxifies the body washing away all the impurities in your skin and pores. In theory, this help with circulation and respiration. It is important to stay in the heated room for the entire 90 minutes. The health benefits of this series of yoga poses can only be received if you stay in the room and participate. (2)
Bikram Yoga is also promoted as a weight loss exercise, because of the intense heat. The heat is thought to increase metabolism, providing a greater calorie burn. Much of the initial weight loss is likely to do with the fluid loss during the practice. Without proper hydration, the body cells lose fluid that has the mass and the weight. Therefore, the theory that Bikram yoga presents instant weight loss are likely to be a result of dehydration, and will return when once fluids are reintroduced. However, like any other practice of yoga, Bikram Yoga can increase weight loss over time. The more it is practiced and challenged, the muscles will strengthen lean muscle mass and increase metabolism and calorie burn. In addition, is the theory of the holistic aspect of yoga, which includes proper diet, breathing and stress reduction, and acceptance of self, all leading to an improved appearance.
The more one is familiarized with this practice, the more beneficial it will be. The difficulty of the posture ranges in the personal physical ability. It is also very possible for beginners to be doing a pose wrong that could potentially harm your body. When your body is that warm it is capable of stretching past the normal tolerance, which then can become overstretched, causing muscle damage or torn cartilage. After stretching your ligaments to new limits, they may not be able to return to their original sizes and shapes, and will result in loosening of joints. Also it is very possible to experience short-term effects side effect such as nausea and dizziness. However, with an educated instructor, they will help prevent any injuries being fully aware of each student and their well-being when in a pose.
I attended a Bikram Yoga class located in Boston, Harvard Square. My instructor Jill was a white female, probably in her late forties. I was both intimidated and excited to attend this class. I’ve taken Bikram Yoga once before so I had somewhat of an introductory of what it was like. Since that class was a few years ago, I forgot how intense it really was. Walking into the girls restroom I momentarily forgot how less conservative women in this nature can be, as they fully expose themselves as they get into what little yoga gear that is worn in this practice.  I however didn’t quite feel comfortable enough undressing myself in front of everyone, even if they were all respectable, so I chose to undress in the bathroom stall. I put on my little yoga spanks, a sports bra and a wife beater and then headed to the ‘torture chamber’ as Bikram calls these studios. When I first walked my initial thought was “you’ve got to be kidding me” but I knew that this was far from any joke. I laid my mat down in the back row, lied down letting my body adjust to the heat and waited for the instructor and immediately took off my tank top not being able to bear an extra layer.
As I waited I was so consumed in everyone else, what they were wearing, how their body looked and who I was next too because I myself was self-conscious, especially being surrounded by mirrors. The class was very diverse, ranging from age, race and ethnicity, but a majority were white, young adult women. I was probably the youngest in the class out of the fifteen students who attended. I was a little embarrassed because when Jill, the instructor walked in she asked “where is Breanne?” and then announced I was a first timer, which disrupted my plan of hiding in the back hopefully going unnoticed. But in this practice the instructor was very engaged to each one of her students and was correcting their form throughout the session, not allowing them to fall back.We started with a breathing exercise called Pranayama breathing.  This is a standing pose allowing for deep breathing and learning how to control the breath. It helps get the body warmed up, expands the lung capacity and increases elasticity. I was amazed how much I was already dripping of sweat just by this one breathing exercise and was hardly working any muscles. As we continued on, Jill kept on emphasizing on the importance of focus and mental stability and as time went on I quickly learned how large the component of a focused mind is to properly execute each one of the twenty-six poses (asanas).
            Though Bikram Yoga is such a Physical practice, the mind controls what you can and cannot do with your body. Bikram calls the mind your “telecommunication system, the vehicle that sends messages not only to your body, but to the world around you.”(3) We have to learn how to discipline our minds, which is one of the most imports tasks in life. Bikram broke it down to five categories; also know as ‘five aspects of the mind.’ The first one being faith, we have to believe in ourselves as we feel the challenge of the pose, knowing that it is possible to achieve and conquer. We have to build faith by continually struggling towards our goals. It can take time to achieve this kind of faith, but as we continue practicing, we will see what we are capable of accomplishing, transcending and achieving. The second aspect is self- control. This is found in the time of need. Either when we’re too hot, tired and thirsty or all we want to do is run out the door, or stop the pose and drink water. I found myself struggling with this many times throughout the session. There were times when I just wanted to step out of the room and inhale a deep breath of fresh air because the hot air was suffocating-like. “Different from mere discipline, self control and self discipline is being able to use your own guidance, to chose a path that finds equilibrium between your mind and soul.” (3)
With concentration being the third aspect, it is also one of the most crucial aspects in whether or not you will stay balanced when in a pose. It take focus to stay balanced, to keep your muscles engaged and to keep your mind clear. As the challenge of the class becomes more difficult, your ability to concentrate becomes vital, ensuring that you can survive and enjoy the remaining of the class. Finding the concentration within the yoga room, when all other forces are pulling against your focus, is the meditation of Bikram Yoga. The fourth aspect is determination, which is primarily found seconds before doing the pose as well as the last 10 seconds of holding the posture. The more determined we become, the more we are able to see things through. Lastly, Patience is the fifth aspect of the mind, also one of the most essential to a successful yoga practice.(3)
Patience was a difficult task for me throughout the session. I easily became frustrated when I could not hold a pose, or even get into one. In Bikram Yoga patience is developed because you can’t possibly accomplish the postures in just one session. The most beneficial aspect of the mind to me was concentration.  I soon was so less concerned in my surrounding and really focused on myself looking into the mirror in front of me. When I was truly engaged with myself, is when I was able to achieve and hold a pose for the entire time. I felt a since at satisfaction every time I could internally feel this engaged connection between my mind and the body.
By the end of the session, I did feel as if I worked every muscle in my body. I had a better sense of how the entire practice worked with the mind and the body. Each pose has a purpose to better the body. We ended the class exactly how we started it, with a breathing exercise. The final blowing in firm pose, properly known as Kapalbhati is the last detox for the lungs. This breathing exercise is good for the internal organs and the abdominal. The skin and lungs are the best detox for the body, so with the combination of the immense amount of sweat and the deep breathing throughout the class, supports the theory behind the cleansing of the toxic body.
If I were to take this class a second time, I would benefit more by being more prepared. Bikram Yoga in Boston and Harvard Square gave helpful tips afterwards, so you could get the most out of your first few classes. They recommend taking your second class within 24 hours, especially if you’re sore. We have awakened and stimulated every system in our body within the first class. These systems receive 2-3 times the nourishment and healing when taking the second class the following day. If you take at least 10 classes as close together as possible, you will began to feel like a new person physically, mentally and emotionally. Some things I wish I new before taking the class was to be drinking lots of water throughout the day and coming to the class fully hydrated as well as coming to class on an empty stomach. Most people find they need to leave 2-3 hours between their meal and the class. As you become more familiar with the practice, you will learn the proper timing that is right for you. As you build your ability to focus your mind and still the body, the heat and struggle will soon disappear. (2)





Works Cited


1. "Bikram Yoga Richardson." Bikram Yoga Richardson. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bikramyogarichardson.com/history.shtml>."Bikram
2. Pyman, A. (2011). Bikram Yoga Boston & Bikram Yoga Harvard Square – Bikram Choudhury & Bikram Yoga. Bikram Yoga Boston Back Bay, Financial District & Bikram Yoga Harvard Square. Retrieved February 21, 2011, from http://www.bikramyogaboston.com
3. Yoga And theàMind." Bikram Yoga and TheàMind |. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://ohmybikram.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/bikram-yoga-and-the-mind/>.

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