Bikram Choudhury, the man who founded Bikram Yoga, is highly controversial because he decided to copyright the 26 different positions performed in Bikram Yoga. In order to become a certified “Bikram Yoga” instructor you must pay a $5000 fee to take his courses and then pay a franchising fee to open your own studio. Once you open your own studio you MUST abide by these specific guidelines: (more…)
I’ve been looking everywhere for a good website that provides detailed information on the poses and their benefits. I finally found what I was looking for on the Bikram Yoga Seattle website. Check it out! Roll your mouse over each of the poses, and then the description and health benefits of each pose will pop up on the left hand column. Enjoy!
I’ve mentioned Bikram Yoga in a few posts here and there, but sometimes visuals do so much more than words can. Here it is – Bikram Yoga straight from the horse’s mouth – Bikram Choudhury’s interview with CBS:
Microfinance has been a longtime interest of mine so imagine my surprise when I found something that tied two of my loves – yoga and microfinance – together! Yay!
Microfinance is the supply of loans and other financial services to the poor who are unable to qualify for loans through regular banks. It was founded by Muhammad Yunus, who believed that in order to help the poor we need to help them help themselves. He thought one way to do this could be to provide them with small loans that they would repay over time. This would give the poor the opportunity to get the funding needed to start up their own little businesses and slowly earn revenue, thereby supporting themselves in the long run.
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How many of us stay up late at night in an effort to get some extra work done? We need more hours in a day! Unfortunately for us, we’re going to have to make do with 24. Like I briefly mentioned in my last post, there is a strong correlation between the amount of sleep you get and weight gain. We can blame our weight frustrations on more than just a lack of willpower on our part to eat right and exercise.
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Bikram Yoga is no joke! This is tough stuff, making it all the more important to be well prepared and know what to expect before going to a Bikram Yoga class.
Hydrate! One of the most important things is to get water into your system! You’re going to be in a 105 degree heated room with a humidity level of 40%! Make sure to drink plenty of water before, during, and after your practice. The hot yoga room is going to increase fluid loss due to all that sweating you’re about to do. Being properly hydrated will also help prevent fatigue. It takes about 30 minutes for water to fully absorb into your system, so try to drink a lot of water at least an hour before your class starts. I’ve made the mistake of going into class dehydrated and just trust me on this one, it was no fun at all. Please don’t be stupid like me.
Do you ever have those days when you walk into a yoga class (or any other workout) and know that it’s going to be one of those off days? I mostly do Bikram Yoga, so my bad days kind of start like this – from the moment I wake up I debate for 10 minutes in my head whether or not I want to go before I finally drag my lazy butt out of bed. As I drive to class I am still having this ongoing debate in my head, but somehow convince myself that I’ll feel great afterwards. I walk into the yoga room and start feeling lightheaded and get that inkling of a headache. Uh-oh, I already know it’s going to be a long 1.5 hours, but I can’t leave now! I have trouble breathing from the first pose and my balance is even worse than usual. (more…)
When I first tried yoga or pilates I didn’t even think it’d make a difference what kind of mat to get. A mat is a mat right? How different could they possibly be? Well, let me tell you – I’ve owned cheap, bad, non-sticky mats that made me slip and slide all over the place. I can’t stress enough the importance of finding a good, long-lasting yoga mat you can use for years to come. A few of the essentials I look for are:
That question really depends upon your preference and goals. A common misconception is that yoga and pilates are the same, or that pilates is just a more difficult version of yoga. Although pilates and yoga do share some similar techniques in order to strengthen, lengthen, and tone the body… their areas of difference are significant.
Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India, its practitioners sought to bridge the disconnect between body and mind. Yoga literally means “to unite”, and yogi’s hoped to achieve this harmonious balance of body, spirit, and mind through a series of controlled flow movements. For this very reason, yoga is considered to be very therapeutic. In yoga, only the resistance of your own weight is required and you’re breathing in and out of your nose the entire time. Through continued practice, people will find themselves more aware of their body’s movement, posture, and alignment. I wrote in an earlier post about my 10 Reasons For Yoga, which explains in more detail the joys I find in yoga.
For those thinking about pilates, there’s a few ways you can go about it:
My first experience with pilates was neither at a gym nor a pilates studio. In fact, my first time doing pilates was in my living room with nothing more than a mat and a DVD. This is a great way to go for those on a budget since private pilates classes can cost a pretty penny. Because I had little knowledge of pilates, I decided to start with the appropriately named Pilates Workout for Dummies. I found the directions easy to understand and precise – I knew exactly when to inhale or exhale, where to place my hands, when to tuck in my belly or press my hips to the floor, etc.
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