Bikram Yoga

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It has been suggested that Bikram Choudhury be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since April 2012.
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Bikram Yoga
Founder Bikram Choudhury
Established 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.

Bikram Yoga is a system of yoga that Bikram Choudhury synthesized from traditional hatha yoga[1] techniques and popularized beginning in the early 1970s.[2][3] All Bikram Yoga classes run for 90 minutes and consist of the same series of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises.[4] Bikram Yoga is ideally practiced in a room heated to 105°F (≈ 40.6°C) with a humidity of 40%.[5]

Contents

Bikram Choudhury [edit]

Bikram Choudhury, founder of the Bikram Yoga system, is also the founder of the Yoga College of India. Born in Calcutta in 1946, Bikram began practicing yoga at age four. He practiced yoga 4–6 hours every day. At the age of thirteen, he won the National India Yoga Championship. He was undefeated for the following three years and retired as the undisputed All-India National Yoga Champion. Bikram later devised the 26 postures sequence and founded Bikram’s Yoga College of India. He has also written books and sings.[6]

In 2006, he had 1,650 yoga studios around the world (up from 1,200 the previous year).[7]

Notable practitioners [edit]

Notable practitioners of Bikram Yoga include Dan Hardy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,[8] Kobe Bryant,[9] David Beckham,[10] Lady Gaga,[11] Ashton Kutcher,[11] Robbie Williams,[11] Andy Murray,[12] Charles Barkley, Jennifer Farley,[11] Lacey Turner, Madonna, Elton Brand, Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev, Pippa Middleton, Daniel Craig, Brooke Shields, Bruce Bowen, John McEnroe, Beyoncé Knowles, Demi Moore, Tommy Smothers, George Clooney, David Robinson, Jennifer Aniston[citation needed], Jeff Bridges, Lena Headey, Lola the Vamp, Toby Jones, Lea Michele, Kiran Chetry, Jesse Williams, Benedict Cumberbatch,[13] Richard Armitage.,[14] Juliet Simms,[15] and Andy Biersack [16]

Benefits [edit]

Benefits of Bikram yoga include weight loss, enhanced strength, increased flexibility, clarity of mind, improved posture, and the healing of many injuries.[citation needed]

Controversy [edit]

Safety [edit]

Although many individuals enjoy practicing hot yoga, there are certain health risks involved and the main reason for this is the extreme heat. Some sportsmen and professional dancers claim to prefer Bikram Yoga, because proponents argue it has injury-healing, emotion-strengthening, toxin-flushing, weight-managing, and career-extending effects. However, no concrete peer reviewed evidence has arisen to back up these claims.[17] Excessive sweating can result in dehydration, but can be prevented by drinking water or sports drinks, particularly those that contain electrolytes. Some instructors encourage sipping water during the class; most recommend not eating heavy food 3 hours before doing hot yoga.[18]

Also, there is a risk of hyperthermia, which is overheating of the body. Symptoms include nausea, dizziness, or fainting, which can lead to a heat stroke. People with heart problems and high blood pressure or those who can't bear high temperatures, should be especially careful with hot yoga.[18] People who take medications for depression, nervousness, insomnia, or high blood pressure should always check with a doctor to make sure the heat is safe for them. Bikram Yoga is often used by dancers to increase flexibility, however this is a debated point because forcing hypermobility on the hyperextended joints can result in their instability. However, some have argued that hot yoga can also be used to increase their sense of limb placement in space, though again these claims have yet to be tested.[17]

Competition [edit]

 This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2011)

Another controversial component of Bikram Yoga pertains to the prevalence of Yoga Asana Championships, regionally and nationally. While practitioners of other forms of yoga maintain that competition contradicts the idea of peace and unity, Bikram contends, "Competition is the foundation for all democratic societies. For without 'Competition', there is no democracy."[19][citation needed]

In India, where yoga originated, yoga competitions have been around for over a century.[20] Yoga Sports Federation which hosted The 9th Annual Bishnu Charan Ghosh Cup in June 2012 says that yoga competitions inspire both practicing yogis and newcomers to sharpen their skills. Another aim of the Federation is to turn Yoga Asana into a recognized Olympic sport.[21]

Legal issues [edit]

In the United States, Choudhury has claimed, and been aggressive in enforcing, broad copyrights in most aspects of the practice, teaching, and business of the system. While these claims are not definitively resolved (i.e., by any judicial ruling on the merits), Choudhury has extracted legal settlements from a number of yoga teachers and studios.[3][22] However, in a recently issued official statement, the US Copyright Office concluded that copyright for Bikram's sequence of 26 postures had been issued in error.[23]

In Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class (First Edition), Choudhury claims he conducted "medical" studies at the Tokyo University Medical School validating the medical benefits of his 26 postures. During one of the lawsuits, defendants demanded copies of the "medical" studies and Choudhury claimed he could not find them. In Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class (Second Edition), Choudhury removed all references to "medical" studies.[24]

The 26 Asanas (postures) [edit]

The following are the 26 postures of Bikram Yoga. These are taught in the Beginning Bikram Yoga Class. The sequence is taught by people who have been trained and certified by Bikram Choudhury.[25]

# Sanskrit English
1 Pranayama Standing Deep Breathing
2 Ardha Candrasana 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 Pada-Hasthasana Hands to Feet Pose
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 Janusirsasana with Paschimottanasana Head To Knee Pose with Stretching Pose
25 Ardha - Matsyendrasana Spine Twisting Pose
26 Khapalbhati Blowing In Firm Pose

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Bikram's Yoga College of India". Bikramyoga.com. Retrieved 2011-12-28. 
  2. ^ Corporate registration for "Bikram Choudhury Yoga, Inc." Number: C2288343[dead link]
  3. ^ a b Farrell, Maureen (September 3, 2009). "Bikram Yoga's New Twists". Forbes.com. 
  4. ^ Wilson, Cynthia. "Different types of yoga and their benefits". Womenio. Retrieved 26 September 2012. 
  5. ^ "Bikram Yoga Basic". BikramYoga.com. 
  6. ^ “Bikram Choudhury,” last modified 2010, accessed April 4, 2012, http://www.bikramyoga.com/Bikram/bikram.php
  7. ^ Shakespeare, Jocasta (10 June 2006). "Bend it like Bikram". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2012. 
  8. ^ John, Morgan (September 27, 2003). "USA Today: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is hot for yoga". Retrieved 2003-09-26. 
  9. ^ Pugh, Clifford. "Culturemap Houston Newspaper: Mr. Hot Yoga: How Bikram Choudhury changed the way we exercise". Retrieved 2010-10-22. 
  10. ^ TheIronYou. "Beckham: Bend It Like Bikram!". Retrieved 2011-07-10. 
  11. ^ a b c d TheIronYou. "The Iron You: Robbie Williams, Lady Gaga, Charles Barkley and Ashton Kutcher: Three Bikram Yoga Devotees!". Retrieved 2011-05-28. 
  12. ^ Anastasia Stephens, "What HOT yoga can do for you", Daily Mail, 27 September 2008. Accessed 30 April 2012.
  13. ^ Erin Walsh, [1], "Benedict Cumberbatch Interview SHERLOCK; Also Talks About Steven Spielberg’s WAR HORSE". Accessed 26 January 2013.
  14. ^ Oliver Franklin, "Richard Armitage on The Hobbit, beard grooming and dwarf workouts", GQ British, 14 December 2012. Accessed 23 December 2012.
  15. ^ Juliet's Twitter feed contains multiple references to her hot yoga uses [2]
  16. ^ Juliet Simms captured a photo of the two in a hot yoga class and posted it on her Instagram feed [3]
  17. ^ a b Peters, Jan. "Taking the Heat", Dance Magazine, October 2010 Vol. 84 Issue 10, p22-22
  18. ^ a b "Bikram 101". Yoga.com. 
  19. ^ Official website[dead link]
  20. ^ Beck, Sara (11 June 2012). "Yoga Is Not Just Posing as Sport at World Event". The New York Times. 
  21. ^ "The 9th Annual Bishnu Charan Ghosh Cup". Bishnu Charan Ghosh Cup. 
  22. ^ "Yoga, Inc.". Bad Dog Tales, Inc. 
  23. ^ "Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 121 / Friday, June 22, 2012 / Rules and Regulations" (PDF). U. S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 9 February 2013. 
  24. ^ Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class (Second Edition)
  25. ^ "Bikram yoga 26 postures". BikramYoga.com. 
Rāja yoga
Hatha yoga
Hindu views on monotheism
and reform movements
Contemporary yoga styles
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