Bikram Yoga
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| Bikram Yoga | |
|---|---|
| Religious origins: | none |
| Regional origins: | Yoga College of India, Calcutta, India |
| Founding Guru: | Bikram Choudhury |
| Mainstream popularity: | Growing from the late 20th century |
| Practice emphases: | unchanging sequence of postures in a heated room designed as a rejuvenating exercise to strengthen the entire body from head to toe |
| Derivative forms: | |
| Related schools | |
| Other topics | |
Bikram's Yoga, also known as hot yoga, is a style of yoga developed by Bikram Choudhury.[1] Bikram Yoga is ideally practiced in a room heated to 105°F (40.5°C) with a humidity of 40%. Classes are guided by specific dialogue including 27 postures and two breathing exercises. Classes last approximately 90 minutes.
Choudhury lives in Beverly Hills and teaches at his self-founded Bikram's Yoga College of India in Los Angeles. Before emigrating to the United States, Bikram was trained at the Bishnu Ghosh school in Calcutta, India.[2] Bikram holds a U.S. copyright on his yoga, and Bikram yoga instructors are required to undergo a training and certification process to teach it.[3] Bikram has over 500 studios throughout the world, and there are still new studios opening up regularly.[4] The Yoga College of India has trained over 3000 instructors, charging upwards of $9,000 per person plus other expenses for the training regimen. Note that the Yoga College of India does have branches in Japan, but they are wholly unaffiliated with the two small schools run by Bikram's younger brother Budhadeb Choudhury (the poses, method of instruction, and teacher training differ).
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[edit] Overview
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Bikram or hot yoga is a series of yoga poses done in a very heated room, which is usually maintained at a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 40 degrees Celsius). Yoga at this temperature promotes profuse sweating, which is believed to help rid the body of toxins. It also keeps the body very warm and, therefore, more flexible.[5]
Bikram Yoga works toward wellness, restoration and rejuvenation. The heated studio facilitates deeper stretching, prevents injury, and relieves stress and tension. 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 during which the heart, lungs, circulation, muscles, brain activity and mental capacity are all affected. There are two descriptions of the 26 exercises and they are asanas (postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises). Both of these rely on each other to deliver positive 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 in order to (through practice) withstand holding more oxygen. When one is practicing the pranayama s/he will eventually be able to enhance oxygen conversion and absorption, as well as improve blood circulation. (Choudhury, 2007)
It is common for beginners to experience dizziness and nausea. Beginners may feel faint or pass out. It is encouraged to take breaks as needed if a participant is feeling lightheaded.[6]
Choudhury claims that blood circulation is affected immensely during Bikram Yoga because of two processes called Extension and Compression. These two dynamics are said to work together to deliver fresh oxygen to every joint, muscle, and organ within the human body. While performing a specific asana (pose), the body is stretching or compressing a certain part of the body, thus cutting off circulation temporarily. This restriction of circulation causes the heart to pump more blood in reaction to the shortage. The pumping of excess, fresh blood is called extension. Once the asana is complete and the individual comes out of the posture, the new oxygenated blood is able to rejuvenate the arteries that were being compressed. Because of the volume change and influx of fresh blood, it is said that infection, bacteria, and toxins can be released through this process. (2007)
[edit] The 26 Asana (postures)
| # | Sanskrit | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pranayama Series | Standing Deep Breathing |
| 2 | Ardha Chandrasana with Pada-Hastasana | Half Moon Pose with Hands To Feet Pose |
| 3 | Utkatasana | Awkward Pose |
| 4 | Garudasana | Eagle Pose |
| 5 | Dandayamana - JanuShirasana | Standing Head To Knee Pose |
| 6 | Dandayamana - Dhanurasana | Standing Bow Pulling Pose |
| 7 | Tuladandasana | Balancing Stick Pose |
| 8 | Dandayamana - Bibhaktapada - Paschimottanasana | Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose |
| 9 | Trikonasana | Triangle Pose |
| 10 | Dandayamana - Bibhaktapada - Janushirasana | Standing Separate Leg Head To Knee Pose |
| 11 | Tadasana | Tree Pose |
| 12 | Padangustasana | Toe Stand Pose |
| 13 | Savasana | Dead Body Pose |
| 14 | Pavanamuktasana | Wind Removing Pose |
| 15 | Sit up | Sit up |
| 16 | Bhujangasana | Cobra Pose |
| 17 | Salabhasana | Locust Pose |
| 18 | Poorna - Salabhasana | Full Locust Pose |
| 19 | Dhanurasana | Bow Pose |
| 20 | Supta - Vajrasana | Fixed Firm Pose |
| 21 | Ardha - Kurmasana | Half Tortoise Pose |
| 22 | Ustrasana | Camel Pose |
| 23 | Sasangasana | Rabbit Pose |
| 24 | Janushirasana with Paschimottanasana | Head To Knee Pose with Stretching Pose |
| 25 | Ardha - Matsyendrasana | Spine Twisting Pose |
| 26 | Khapalbhati | Blowing In Firm |
[edit] Controversy
Controversy has surrounded Bikram Choudhury's copyright and franchising of Bikram yoga. Choudhury has attempted to enforced claims of copyright and trademark protection, most notably his sequence of 26 asanas in Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class for which he registered a copyrighted on October 24, 2002 (Reg. Num. TX 5-624-003). His cease-and-desist letters and a lawsuit (see the U.S. case Open Source Yoga Unity v. Bikram Choudhury[7], for example) have drawn protest from some North American yoga practitioners. His attempt in 2009 to franchise Bikram yoga and force instructors into one-sided teaching agreements was not well-received by Bikram yoga practitioners across the U.S. and other parts of the world. In addition, his claims have incited numerous Indian historians and scientists to catalogue various yoga poses documented in ancient texts, with the intention of demonstrating that yoga poses vastly predate new copyrights.[3]
Some yoga practitioners protest the application of copyright, franchising, trademarking and personal profit to the yoga tradition.[8] This controversy spawned the 2006 documentary Yoga, Inc.[1] as well as epithets such as "McYoga"[9] and "McBikram".[citation needed]
Choudhury and Bikram yoga practitioners have been criticized for their endorsement of competitiveness in yoga, on the grounds that it deviates from yoga's true nature and purpose. However, Bikram's series of poses is aimed at bettering the individual's flexibility and wellness.[10] The official website also states that "In Yoga there is no standard of comparison except yourself. To be 'Perfect' in Yoga is to do the best you can do."[11]
[edit] Possible risks
There are a number of possible risks associated with performing Bikram and other forms of hot yoga. All exercise should be approached with caution and even a doctor's advice. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and injuries resulting from fainting are also among the possible risks from performing Bikram and other forms of hot yoga. Practitioners may experience one or none of these, but it is worth knowing the risks.[12]
A practitioner of Bikram Yoga is at an increased risk of muscle, ligament, and lower back injuries. Heating of muscles, ligaments, and tendons allows them to be more flexible than when they are cold. This increases the risk of these parts being stretched past a safe limit and can result in tissue damage. Injuries of this type occur frequently amongst yoga practitioners.[12]
Although it is possible for the body to release small amounts of toxins in the sweat, sweating for this purpose may be counterproductive. The liver and kidneys are the main organs responsible in the human body for eliminating toxins. If the person doing Bikram Yoga does not stay sufficiently hydrated, the efficiency of these organs can actually be lowered, resulting in a lower rate of toxin elimination. Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, a professor of dermatology at St. Louis University and founding member of the International Hyperhidrosis Society says, "Sweating for the sake of sweating has no benefits," and "Sweating heavily is not going to release a lot of toxins." Metals, in particular, are released in sweat at a very low rate and are much more readily excreted through the urine or feces.[13] A person seeking to eliminate toxins from the body, due to health complications such as metal poisoning, is at risk of developing further complications if they choose to practice Bikram Yoga rather than seeking professional medical advice.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Corporate registration for "Bikram Choudhury Yoga, Inc." Number: C2288343
- ^ Hilary E. MacGregor, Have You Had Your McYoga today? Los Angeles Times, July 7 2002.
- ^ a b Mindy Fetterman, Yoga Copyright Raises Questions of Ownership, USA Today, July 29, 2006.
- ^ Skajian, 2007
- ^ Yoga, - Articles
- ^ Advisement brochure at Bikram Yoga, Glen Allen, Virginia
- ^ Open Source Yoga Unity v. Bikram Choudhury, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10440, 74 U.S.P.Q.2D (BNA) 1434, Copy. L. Rep. (CCH) P28,982 (N.D. Cal. 2005)
- ^ Joshua Kurlantzick, The Money Pose, motherjones.com, March, 2005.
- ^ Sandiford, Katharine (March / April 2004). "McYoga". Utne Reader. http://www.utne.com/2004-03-01/McYoga.aspx.
- ^ Baer, April (June 10, 2008). "Competitive Yoga Enthusiasts Seek Spot in Future Olympics". OPB News. http://news.opb.org/article/2293-competitive-yoga-enthusiasts-seek-spot-future-olympics/.
- ^ http://www.bikramyoga.com/
- ^ a b Lorraine Kreahling (March 30, 2004). "When does flexible become Harmful? 'Hot' Yoga Draws Fire". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/30/health/when-does-flexible-become-harmful-hot-yoga-draws-fire.html.
- ^ Chris Woolston (January 28th, 2008). "You sweat, but toxins likely stay". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-skeptic28jan28,1,5398316.story.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official website
- 'Yoga, Inc.', a documentary about the Bikram copyright case, 'competitive' yoga and the yoga industry
- Pune’s gurus get into the act to curb West’s yoga piracy Pune Newsline
- Bad Boy: Bikram Choudhury Yoga Journal
- List of all 27 postures with illustrations
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