For the past two weeks Andy and I have been going to Bikram yoga on Monday and Wednesday nights from 8:30-10:00pm. My friend Nagisa got me into it and told me about a deal where you can go as many times as you want in 20 consecutive days for $19.99. The price for the ‘night owl’ class is typically $10/class and the price for regular drop-in classes in $18.
Bikram Yoga consists of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises in a room heated to about 105°F with a humidity of 40%. They go through the same poses in the same order every class. Apparently that is how you get the benefits. At first I thought that this might bug me, but I actually really enjoy it. It’s nice to know what is coming next so you know how much energy you can use or conserve.
So here are some of the things I have heard are benefits to Bikram yoga, although I’m not entirely sure how true some of them are. But I am always a skeptic.
– The sweat from the heat detoxifies your body.
– The blood that rushed back to your legs after some of the poses can heal the scar tissue if your legs over time.
-It enables the bodily systems and functions – digestion, respiration, endocrine, lymphatic and elimination – to work in harmony.
– Helps to tone, lengthen and strengthen muscles.
– Helps posture, balance and coordination.
Here is what I know:
– I feel amazing after doing this yoga class.
– It helps to strengthen the muscles around my knee to help my running, likewise it helps with my balance.
– After doing Yoga for a week I was able to run 3 miles without pain in my knee, which was the first time since December!