Bikram Yoga is a style of hot yoga where the room is heated to 104 degrees, making the body sweat more. Many celebrities swear by it, but a large number of people believe Bikram Yoga is dangerous and bad for your health. Take these safety precautions to limit the amount of risk involved if you decide to attempt Bikram Yoga.
Check with your doctor first- Some professionals condemn Bikram Yoga and would not recommend it to any of their patients. People with preexisting health problems such as high blood pressure or history of a heart attack or stroke should make it a priority to visit their doctor before attempting this type of yoga. A doctor might ask an overweight patient to get to a healthy weight before they sign up for classes. You should never attempt Bikram Yoga if you are pregnant and it is not designed for children under the age of eighteen. People suffering from depression or other forms of mental illness may be too sensitive to heat to be able to do Bikram Yoga.
Buy the Right Equipment- Clothing worn for regular yoga is usually loose and comfortable like cotton. These articles of clothing would not be good for Bikram Yoga as over time it gets wet with sweat and sticks to the body. Wear light sports clothing made from fabrics that breathe. These are usually clothes that bicyclists or runners wear because they plan to be soaked in sweat after their workout. The type of mat for Bikram Yoga is also different from regular yoga as it needs to keep its grip even when wet due to the amount of sweat the user gives off during class.
Start Slow- Starting out can be the hardest part and usually determines whether or not Bikram Yoga is right for you. Go twice a week for the first month and then add in classes if you feel comfortable with hot yoga. If you feel tired, dizzy, or sick to the stomach, stop immediately and rest or leave the classroom to cool down.
Stay Hydrated- Bikram Yoga is practiced in a very hot room, making the practitioners sweat and lose massive amounts of water. That can cause you to become dehydrated quickly and even pass out. Keep at least four water bottles near you when you first try it, and then go down to two once you are comfortable with that. After class, concentrate on rehydrated for the next two hours. Most classes offer a water break one third of the way into class to encourage hydration.
Do not eat a heavy meal within 3 hours of starting- Since Bikram Yoga is heavy exercise in a hot room, having a great amount of food in your stomach could cause you to vomit. Try eating a light snack a half hour before class so you do not feel faint but you are not completely full. After the yoga session allow the body to cool down before eating a meal.
Check with your doctor first- Some professionals condemn Bikram Yoga and would not recommend it to any of their patients. People with preexisting health problems such as high blood pressure or history of a heart attack or stroke should make it a priority to visit their doctor before attempting this type of yoga. A doctor might ask an overweight patient to get to a healthy weight before they sign up for classes. You should never attempt Bikram Yoga if you are pregnant and it is not designed for children under the age of eighteen. People suffering from depression or other forms of mental illness may be too sensitive to heat to be able to do Bikram Yoga.
Buy the Right Equipment- Clothing worn for regular yoga is usually loose and comfortable like cotton. These articles of clothing would not be good for Bikram Yoga as over time it gets wet with sweat and sticks to the body. Wear light sports clothing made from fabrics that breathe. These are usually clothes that bicyclists or runners wear because they plan to be soaked in sweat after their workout. The type of mat for Bikram Yoga is also different from regular yoga as it needs to keep its grip even when wet due to the amount of sweat the user gives off during class.
Start Slow- Starting out can be the hardest part and usually determines whether or not Bikram Yoga is right for you. Go twice a week for the first month and then add in classes if you feel comfortable with hot yoga. If you feel tired, dizzy, or sick to the stomach, stop immediately and rest or leave the classroom to cool down.
Stay Hydrated- Bikram Yoga is practiced in a very hot room, making the practitioners sweat and lose massive amounts of water. That can cause you to become dehydrated quickly and even pass out. Keep at least four water bottles near you when you first try it, and then go down to two once you are comfortable with that. After class, concentrate on rehydrated for the next two hours. Most classes offer a water break one third of the way into class to encourage hydration.
Do not eat a heavy meal within 3 hours of starting- Since Bikram Yoga is heavy exercise in a hot room, having a great amount of food in your stomach could cause you to vomit. Try eating a light snack a half hour before class so you do not feel faint but you are not completely full. After the yoga session allow the body to cool down before eating a meal.