hot yoga, part deux: fuck you, toxins

So, I just tried Bikram Yoga for the first time ever. Fuck they are not kidding about the hot part. So, so sweaty. Soaking. Luckily, I like activities that force me to sweat like a mother fucker. Fuck you toxins! Get outta my body. In short, I had a good time. Not a great time, mind you, but a good one.

Some thoughts…

1. Not sure if it is my yoga place, or Bikram as a whole, but the instructor wasn’t demonstrating. Just talking. So, as a beginner, I found it to be confusing. I am not the sort of person who visualizes well from words. I realize I should look pretzly, like that lululemon advertisement guy, but I dunno how to get there.
2. I know what you are thinking, which lululemon advertisement guy? Yeah, that was vague. It was like an epidemic of lululemon.
3. Also, back to the talking — she talked THE WHOLE TIME. Like 90 minutes straight. Wtf?
4. What’s up with carpet in the hot room? Umm, bacteria much?
5. Aside from the confusion, capitalism, chattiness, and carpet, I feel really, really good. I’m all sweated out, my muscles are tired, and I am going to sleep.
6. Will try again.

Some more info, for interested parties…

Wikipedia can describe Bikram yoga better than I can. Because the masses contribute to wikipedia.

Bikram or hot yoga is a series of yoga poses done in a heated room, which is usually maintained at a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 40 degrees Celsius). A vigorous yoga session at this temperature promotes profuse sweating, which rids the body of toxins. It also makes the body very warm, and therefore more flexible.^[4]

Bikram yoga is a system of wellness, restoration and rejuvenation. The heated studio facilitates deeper stretching, prevents injury, relieves stress and tension and detoxifies the body. Bikram yoga was designed to systematically stimulate and restore health to every muscle, joint and organ of the body. Participants are guided through a series of 26 postures. The heart, lungs, blood circulation, muscles, brain activity and mental capacity are all affected by participating in the art of yoga. There are two descriptions of the 26 exercises and they are asanas (postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises), both of which rely on each other to deliver postive results. According to Bikram, many people only use up to 50 percent of their lung capacity, and just like any muscle, the lungs must be stretched and with time will be able to withstand holding more oxygen. When one is practicing the pranayama he or she will eventually be able to enhance oxygen conversion and absorption, as well as improve blood circulation. (Choudhury, 2007)

Blood circulation is affected immensely during Bikram Yoga, because of two processes called Extension and Compression. These two dynamics work together to deliver fresh oxygen to every joint, muscle, and organ within the human body. While performing a specific asana, the body is stretching or compressing a certain part of the body; thus, cutting off circulation temporarily. This restriction of ciruculation causes the heart to pump more blood in the reaction of the shortage. The pumping of excess, fresh blood is called extension. Once the asana is complete, and the individual comes out of the posture, then the new oxygenated blood is able to rejuvenate the arteries that were being compressed. It is said that because of the volume change and influx of fresh blood, any infection, bacteria, or toxin can be released. (Choudhury, 2007)

I also did a little googling around the benefits of Bikram Yoga and found this:

What Benefits Can I Expect That Other Types Of Yoga Don’t Necessarily Offer?

As well as providing the biggest challenge, the heat factor of Bikram yoga provides many of the disciplines’ benefits:

• Heavy sweating helps detoxify the body
• As the blood thins, the circulatory system is cleared.
• The output of cells which fight infection is increased
• The heart rate is elevated
• In Bikram yoga, weight loss is made easier because your muscles are warmed and can burn fat more easily.
• The heated environment is initially very challenging, helping to increase will power and mental strength.

So How Does All This Help Me Lose Weight?

In line with the benefits (of which there are many more!) listed above, Bikram yoga helps you lose weight in the following ways:

• It is well-known that to be effective, a workout should make you sweat and increase your heart rate. Bikram yoga well and truly fulfills both of these criteria.
• Warm muscles burn fat more easily; your muscles also become more stronger and more supple from practicing Bikram yoga. Both these factors allow you to exercise your body more effectively and aid the weight loss process.
• Detoxifying the body and having a healthy circulatory system are known to have a very positive effect on metabolism. This in turn increases the ability of your body to shed weight more effectively.
• It is widely known that practicing Bikram yoga enables many of your bodily systems and functions – digestion, respiration, endocrine, lymphatic and elimination – to work in harmony. As a result, your appetite will normalize (and likely decrease) and you will more than likely lose all your cravings for unhealthful foods.
• Increased willpower and mental strength that comes from the challenge of practicing yoga in a heated environment will help you maintain your resolve and resist temptation when trying to lose weight

How Often Should I Do Bikram Yoga To Gain The Best Weight Loss Benefits?

It is recommended that you attend a minimum of 10 Bikram yoga sessions per month (3 or more sessions per week is optimal) to gain maximum weight loss benefits.

How Long Will It Be Before I See Results?

It is accepted that it takes about 13 sessions for your body to start enjoying maximum benefits from Bikram yoga; three classes to understand and get used to the posture, then ten classes to work optimally with poses.

How Should I Combine Bikram Yoga With Diet And Other Exercise?

Bikram yoga shouldn’t be used exclusively as a weight loss tool; it should be used in tandem with a healthy eating plan and other exercise. Indeed, practicing Bikram yoga can help with other aspects of a weight loss program; the physical benefits allow you to exercise more effectively, and the mind/spirit aspect increases your awareness of what foods your body does and doesn’t need.