What is the difference between hot yoga and Bikram?
Bikram Choudhury developed the Bikram style of hot yoga in 1974. It is performed in a room heated to approximately 40 °C (105 °F) with a humidity of 40%. Classes consist of 26 asanas (poses) and usually run for 90 minutes.
Hot yoga is also in a heated room of approximately 40 °C (105 °F) with a humidity of 40%. However, the class can run for 60 or 90 minutes and consists of asanas (poses) that vary from Bikram’s poses to Hatha, Vinyasa, Power.
Ok I know the temp, but really, how hot is it?
Hot! Expect to sweat… a lot. Personally I don’t really *like* the heat, and I hate hotness/humidity around my face, but I am distracted in class so it really doesn’t bother me.
How much water should I drink?
In an ideal world, at LEAST 3 liters. This 3+ liters should be taken during the entire day, not directly before class. The idea is that you want your body to be fully hydrated, not just water-logged an hour before class!!
I find I know I’m hydrated when I see barely any sweat on my mat. If your mat is a lake after you are finished a class, to me that’s a sign your body is working extra hard to cool itself because you are dehydrated and overheated. I personally drink about 3.5 liters, sometimes even 4 liters.
How much, what and when should I eat?
I personally can eat up to an hour before, but something light. Anything heavier should be about 90 minutes before class. But you DO want to eat something as you need fuel, power – this is a really intense class and you need energy! If you’re eating a heavy curry dinner or pasta, trust me, you’ll feel it in those upside down poses or laying on your stomach!! So eat, but eat light.
What should I wear?
You can wear what you want. Keep in mind though, you want something comfortable as you will sweat right through it, and you want to actually SEE your body. You want to see your position in the poses, make sure your alignment is correct, and you can’t really see that with an over-sized T-shirt and baggy pants. It doesn’t have to be Lululemon expensive yoga clothes. I wear a pair of yoga capris (that I usually fold up to under my knees) and a yoga top that goes to my hips with an exercise bra underneath. That works for me. If you are comfortable showing more skin, go right ahead!
Are the poses hard?
Well, let’s just say they are definitely doable. Obviously yoga takes practice, and any practice takes dedication. You can’t expect your first class to magically be perfect in all the poses. There is always something to learn. And once you start going frequently, you will learn from different teachers how to do little adjustments in all your poses to start growing with them and getting better.
Other tips?
Electrolytes. I would definitely suggest electrolytes for hot yoga. I take one package of them during the day that I’m going to do yoga, and mix one package in my water that I take into class with me. I don’t drink a lot of water during class, but drink most of it after class. The kind that I take are these: Emergen-C Vitamin Drink Mix.
Stand in front of the mirror. Okay, I know when you’re new you do NOT want to do this. BUT, let me tell you something, it really, really helps. You really need to see your body and what it’s doing. Trust me, nobody is looking at you! They are all focused on themselves. You see people out of the corner of your eye and are aware of them, but you are NOT looking at them. And there has never, ever been a time that I have seen a new person stand in front of the mirror and thought to myself (haha, how dare they, they look stupid). In fact, I’m always impressed because to me that’s a sign that the person is serious about learning.
Alignment Cues. Really try and listen and take note of the alignment cues your teacher gives you.
Example: One of the ones I have to really focus on remembering is my hips being even, especially in Warrior III Pose (Virabhadrasana III). It’s WAY better to make sure your hips are even than to kick up your leg as high as you can. Obviously the ability to do both is what you are aiming for, but at first this is tough for some people (i.e., me!).
More coming soon…
