Hot (Bikram Yoga) ~

[baylian]

I took the plunge right before Christmas and loved it. Unfortunately the studio is 85 miles away In Farmington Hills, MI although they just opened a new studio In Troy, MI that is only 75 miles away. I have to say that my joints have never felt better after a class. Turning 50 this year sent me into a tail spin especially after I found out that I have Osteopenia and some arthritis in my hips and shoulders. The studio is pretty state of the art - the floor is an antimicrobial type of flooring (looks like melted rubber bands) and the walls are a water proof type of drywall so to speak. Honestly - it doesn't stink. I fully expected it to.

I am not a huge fan of Bikram Choudray as I feel he has turned the yoga community on its ear with his endless lawsuits. Plus his training is almost bordering on ridiculous. You spend 9 weeks in L.A. and workout sometimes up to 15 hours a day - and all it costs is around $10-$12 grand. I don't know how people do it. I know that Yoga Fit has added a new component called Yoga Sweat but I have not heard the details.

I am wondering if any of you have taken a hot yoga class that is not otherwise associated with the Bikram College of Yoga and what your take is on it.

 

[Bobbi-B]

I was under the impression that Mr. Bikram sues the pants off of any studio that tries to conduct "hot yoga" classes that aren't officially Bikram trained/certified. But there might be new legal information on this front, I stopped paying attention several years ago. I know what you mean about feeling so good after class, but I got tired of the same poses over and over, and I didn't feel good about supporting someone like him.

 

[RapidBreath]

I'm not a huge fan of Bikram. Up here in N. CA we have lots of hot yoga studios. I don't suppose all of them are Bikram. I really wish he would give the law suits a rest. Yoga is an ancient practice, how could anybody actually presume that their style is new or novel? The sheer age of the practice must place it as a tradition not one that can be 'copyright' protected.

Maybe a yoga disc in the summer without air conditioning would help?

I think I remember Vee saying that in India it is always hot so anytime you practice yoga its hot yoga.

Alisha

 

[Elle_p]

Not sure if Bikram would think this violates one of his copyrights, but whenever I stay in an ashram during the summer months we practice outside in the heat. The yoga studio I attend in the city is pretty small and it can get pretty hot in there during a class, especially when it's really busy.

Obviously, you can push yourself more when you are warmed up so I can see why the "hot yoga" classes are so popular but I'm more of a traditionalist so I tend to avoid these big yoga studio chains. It's just my preference and what works for me.