Hot Yoga - Sweeping Away an Image
Martin Haworth
There are many benefits in using Bikram Yoga, which is a form of yoga that can totally change your life.
Bikram Yoga or Bikram Method Yoga, is widely known as the "hot yoga". And was developed by Bikram Choudhury, who is 60 this year. Based now in the US, he is, of course, a yoga practitioner himself and he developed Bikram Yoga after injuring himself in a weightlifting accident.
Since then, many have proven the benefits of Bikram Yoga, so the practice has grown.
Some people practice Bikram Yoga for healing purposes and physical therapy. This type of yoga has proven helpful in bringing holistic (whole body) benefits, to those who practice it.
In order to be successful, with the healing processes, of Bikram Yoga, you need real devotion, because it is practiced in rooms with a recommended temperature of a minimum of 105 degrees farenheit and about 40% humidity.
This temperature is important because:-
- It (ironically) keeps the body from overheating
- To protect the muscles allowing for deeper stretching
- So that toxins are encourage to be 'sweated out' through open pores
- To thin the blood and encourage much better circulation
- It gives a better cardiovascular workout
- It improves muscle strength
- Fats in the body seem to be made more fluid and more easily cleared from the body
With this type of yoga, muscles are given a thorough workover. Cellular level lipids and proteins are reorganize optimally in such conditions, allowing for better circulation.
Joint strength and muscular alignment are better co-ordinated and together with strengthened bones, the organs of the immune system within the bones (red marrow) are boosted. It is a whole-body developmental experience.
The lymph nodes are massaged, lymph is pumped throughout the body, and white blood cells are distributed throughout the body as the lymphatic system works more efficiently.
Although there are some who do not believe in the benefits of Bikram Yoga. Bikram Choudhury developed it with the help of scientists from the University of Tokyo University Hospital.
They proved that Bikram Yoga has medical benefits including the repairing of tissues and curing chronic ailments. As early as 1972 the findings and benefits were presented at an International Medical Conference where it was confirmed scientifically that Bikram Yoga has the ability to affect the body internally.
Bikram has come up with twenty-six different posture exercises which are related, each working with previous postures, in a sequence, to treat the body effectively. This is a daily experience, where possible to maximise the benefit.
Anyone who wants to do yoga can use Biktam Yoga. It is not age specific. Because of the demanding nature of this type of yoga, if the body is weak, applying the practice and consequent healing will be difficult to achieve.
Thanks to Bikram Choudhury, we can now have some alternative solutions to some of our medical problems which really have been shown to be effective.
Always remember that the more you are able to practice this type of yoga, the more beneficial it is, but be careful to ensure that you are fit enough for it by having a medical check first.
About the author:
(c)2006 Martin Haworth has a useful website with lots of
information for those new to yoga as well as extended
information for experts. Check it out at www.makethemostofyou
ryoga.com