Bikram Yoga Help

[kiwilime]

Is this type of yoga a cardiovascular workout and how many times a week should this be done? Has anyone done this and seen a change in their body and mentality?

[Rawnga]

Bikram yoga is a decent cardio workout. Towards the end of the standing series your heart is really pumping! Bikram says that if you want a total transformation you should do it six times a week for three months. I once did 80 straight days with no breaks at all and I felt great! I toned up quite a bit and felt really balanced mentally. Amazingly, I didn't loose any weight during this time. I didn't want to so it was cool. You may want to ease your way into going six times a week as it takes a while to adjust to the heat. Three times a week is enough to see results.

Anyway, it's a phenominal workout and I'd recommend it to anybody who likes intense exercise!

[kiwilime]

Thanks for replying. I tried it, it was so awesome. I actually loved the heat. The only problem is the nearest studio by my house is still pretty far. I can't believe you did 80 days straight. From everything that I have read and including my instructor, I was told 6-7 days a week for the first couple of months. Well, I got my weeks pass and it was so much fun even though I kept falling out of my poses. But its a great exercise and I am so glad I tried it.

[heather]

i take baptiste power vinyasa yoga. it is similiar to bikram in that it is strenuous and done in a warm room. WHOA what a workout - both mentally and physically!

locate a teacher:
www.baronbaptiste.com

[Rawnga]

Yeah, some people have a greater tolerance to the heat and some can't stand it. I was somewhere in the middle at first. I didn't love it but it wasn't unbearable. After my first few classes my face was beet red. It was pretty funny.

My initial goal was to just do 30 straight days and around the second week I totally hit a wall. I was wiped out! Shortly after that I hit my stride and felt like I could go forever so I decided to go until Thanksgiving. Then I found out that they were having an early class Thanksgiving morning so I decided to go until Christmas. Christmas eve was my 80th day. I would have wet for 100 but they were closed on Christmas. Oh well. I plan to do the Bikram training so I wanted to see what I could handle.

Anyway, glad to hear that you tried & enjoyed it and I hope it works out for you!

[Rawnga]

Heather,

I did an all day intensive with Baron Baptiste here in Colorado at the Estes Park Yoga Conference. He kicked my butt! It was awesome though and he's really cool. I wish we had his yoga in my town. They have it in Denver but that's too much of a drive for me. I'd love to do one of his bootcamps someday though. Have you ever been to one?