As you guys can tell if you’ve been reading the blog lately, I’ve been taking full advantage of Breathe‘s 40 days for $40 offer that I bought earlier this month.
Last week I went to my first hot “tapas” yoga class there, and tonight I attended my second, so I thought I’d write about my findings. The class isn’t called Bikram because in order to be designated a Bikram class, the instructor/style has to follow the method developed by Bikram Choudhury – “a set series of 26 yoga poses, including two pranayama exercises, each of which is performed twice in a single 90 minute class.” ( source: http://yoga.about.com/od/bikramyogahotyoga/a/bikram.htm)
I’ve taken Bikram at YogaSource many times with many different teachers and enjoyed the predictability of the class. It’s always the same 26 poses, done twice. The first time held longer than the second. Bikram is very athletic – you’re striving to hold the pose, reach deeper, or wrap stronger. I know that if I attended that class on a regular basis, I would get inspired by my progress with each pose. Since it’s always the same exact ones in the same order, my improvement would be measurable. As it is right now, I can get into some of the poses, but many of them require me to significantly modify the original pose. Which I’m fine with, because I know I’ve worked to the best of my ability. Even as a sporadic student, I always leave the class feeling accomplished.
With hot yoga, it’s just that – yoga poses done in a heated room. The class that I attend on Tuesday nights is very relaxing and therapeutic, just as you’d expect a yoga class to be. The teacher, Joan, is so supportive, encouraging, and gentle. She reminds us constantly throughout the class that whatever we can do is where we should take our practice. Very non-competitive. I leave feeling better about myself.
I’m planning on taking the Thursday night hot yoga class this week, which has an entirely different teacher, and it will be interesting to see if/how that experience compares.
Both classes help the body release built-up toxins, though sweating. I walk out of each studio feeling as if I’m floating – like I’ve just risen from a sauna or steam room. The benefits of both Bikram and hot yoga are clear:
Practiced regularly, this deep body cleansing practice will give you better circulation, a stronger immune system and higher energy levels.”
At this point, I can’t really say that I like one practice over the other. Each has their place in my heart for different reasons. My competitive side likes the challenge of Bikram, while the side of me that needs encouragement and soothing loves the hot tapas yoga. In both, I love the feeling I have as I’m driving home – one of complete contentment, relaxation, and calm.
Plus, you really can’t beat the calorie burn with heated yoga – look it up on any calorie calculator and you’ll be amazed. I burn well over 1000 calories (1156 in a 75 minute class, 1387 in a 90 minute class) each time. Of course individual results vary, depending on how much you weigh, but no matter what, the burn you can achieve doing something this good for your body and mind is remarkable.
I highly recommend trying some form of hot yoga – if I can attempt it, you can, and should, too.
I had no idea you could burn so many calories! That’s crazy!
I would really like to explore yoga more, like you describe. I’m intimidated because I have no flexibility. I’m like you are about trying spin.
I can absolutely relate. The flexibility definitely improves as you continue.
I always wondered what the difference between the two was. I’ll definitely give both a try. It sounds like you’re getting a lot out of your 40/40. I’m so glad!!
I was so excited to read this post that I muted the morning news so that I could focus completely! Haha! So I’ve never tried hot yoga, but I LOVE the name “tapas” (mmmm!!) and have been waiting for your review since you said you were doing it. I’m taking a break from Bikram after this week, so maybe I’ll check out hot yoga in Feb. I’m impressed with your calorie burn. I’ll have to check my heart rate data from last week, but the other times I’ve checked it, my heart rate is close to the same level as walking, but with a few spikes, so I’ve never felt like it’s a good workout — but of course I love doing it for all those other reasons, the calm, the quiet, the detox, the competition against my old self, the strength, the flexibility, the challenge, the amusing things people wear…
I’ve never been to a Bikram class but the Hot Yoga class that I attend includes the majority of the BY 26 poses. It feels like yoga boot camp but I feel amazing and content (and a bit invincible) after class.
I have done both Bikram and Hot Yoga (truthfully a modified version of Bikram, almost all the same poses, with a few modifications).
I love it! The burn is great, and my tight runner muscles always feel so much better after a good stretch at yoga. I find that the heated yoga gives me a much better stretch and I worry less about injury.
I’ve been trying Bikram recently but do prefer other types of yoga. I’ve been a proper yogi for a decade, although for the first 6 years I only did astanga.
I always turn the heat up to 32 degrees C when I go into the room and much prefer it because I’m always worried about injury if too cold.
However, as to the calorie burning achieved by yoga, this is something I was looking at today. This article is very interesting: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-greenfield/yoga-weight_b_1229126.html
I’m going to be posting my thoughts on bikram next month so you might like to drop by.
All the best,
I love Bikram. They call it practicing for a reason