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 the Mind."
Bikram Yoga and The Mind |.
N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2012.
<http://ohmybikram.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/bikram-yoga-and-the-mind/>.
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