Bikram yoga, also known as 'Hot Yoga', is a style of yoga developed by Bikram Choudhury. It offers a twist on the 5,000-year-old Indian practice of yoga, at which Choudhury was four times the Indian champion.
Ideally practiced in a room heated to 40C and humidity of at least 40 per cent, conditions are designed to loosen muscles and help participants sweat out toxins. Classes last approximately 90 minutes and involve 26 postures and two breathing exercises.
People of all ages, abilities and body types can enjoy the benefit of 'Hot' yoga, especially athletes. Following his acclaimed victory over Roger Federer in the unforgiving climate of Dubai, young tennis star Andy Murray credited his success to this widely celebrated spiritual practice.
Conscious of a 'mental weakness', which has afflicted his game in the past, Murray now incorporates Bikram yoga into his rigorous training regime. The 20-year-old believes it has instilled him with a stronger resolve to win.
Murray initially turned to Bikram yoga in order to increase his ability to cope with intense competitive situations and he remained calm and composed throughout his match with Federer
The regime, introduced to Murray by his two fitness trainers, Jez Green and Matt Little, involves concentrated stretches and complex poses. One of the most important factors in any game of sport is to believe in your own ability, to believe that you can in fact win. With this in mind, Bikram yoga can play a vital role in any training program, by boosting confidence and providing optimum physical conditioning.
Celebrity fans of Bikram yoga include Madonna, George Clooney, Elle Macpherson and Robert Downey Jnr, who enjoy the benefits of improved flexibility and muscle tone.
All 26 postures of Bikram yoga have been scientifically designed to work every part of the body in the correct order. Each pose prepares the body for the next pose, and the sequence maximises oxygenation and detoxification of your entire internal system. Strength and flexibility are worked together to create harmony in the body, and the extra heat facilitates stretching and prevents injury.
The Benefits of Bikram
1. Reshapes your body 2. Restores flexibility 3. Tones, strengthens, and lengthens your muscles 4. Strengthens your spine 5. Improves circulation 6. Reduces risk of sports injury 7. Achieves relief from pain 8. Reduces your weight - lose pounds by balancing your metabolism 9. Raises energy level 10. Diminishes the effects of stress 11. Increases balance, coordination, focus and discipline 12. Clears your mind 13. Calms your soul 14. Ensures healthy and balanced functioning of the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, nervous, digestive, elimination, respiratory, endocrine and mental systems of the body.
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