Understanding the Bikram Yoga Posture

The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj” or “to yoke” which refers to the union of the individual’s soul (Atman) with the universal collective soul (Brahman); both are Hindu ideological terms used as a reference to the mind, where Oneness only truly exists. Yoga is one of six classic Hindu philosophy systems with roots dating back more than 5,000 years.

Bikram Choudhury, the world-renowned creator of the Bikram Yoga Posture, began his journey by practicing Hatha Yoga in his native India at the age of three, and quickly became a champion; at the age of 11 he was the youngest contestant ever to win the National Yoga Championship.

Bikram continued his athletic training in earnest until, at the age of 17, he was crippled by a weightlifting knee injury; the European specialists examining him determined that Bikram would never walk again. Not surprisingly, his yoga experience taught him not to accept that inevitability; training with his former teacher, his knee had completely recovered six months later.

Recognizing the power of the Bikram yoga posture methodology, his teacher asked him to start several yoga school in India; these were so successful that Bikram opened schools in Japan, and in the years since then has pought his unique curative yoga to the rest of the world.

Bikram yoga is a system of wellness, restoration and rejuvenation suitable for all ages and all levels of fitness training, based on the combination of a series of 26 asanas (poses) which constitute the core elements of the Bikram yoga posture, and two peathing exercises, or pranayamas.

The series of poses, performed twice in a session (sessions typically last 90 minutes) was designed to scientifically warm and stretch muscles, ligaments and tendons, and to do so in a specific order. Because people typically utilize only a portion of their total lung capacity, the pranayamas will stretch the lungs over time, resulting in improved oxygen absorption and improved blood circulation.

26 Poses in the Bikram Yoga Posture

Bikram Yoga is practiced by instructors in licensed Bikram yoga studios around the world; the typical 90-minute session consists of two challenging sets of the poses, designed by Bikram to systematically stimulate and restore health to every muscle, organ and joint of the body. The order, duration and configuration is important to the overall achievment obtained in each session.

Each of the 26 asana is targeted at improving the functional state of a specific body part or region; here are a few examples, the number refers to the specific Bikram yoga posture pose sequence in the overall session:

Number 11 is the Tadasana, or Tree Pose – it improves posture, thighs, andhas an impact on back pain.

Number 17 is the Salabhasana, or Locust Pose – it targets the spine, back and chest, and improves spine flexibility.

Number 25 is the Matsyendrasana, or Spine Twisting Pose – it stretches the spine for flexibility and helps reduce back pain.

Hot or Not?

Bikram’s Yoga is incorrectly referred to as Hot Yoga, because the Bikram yoga posture of 26 asanas is performed in a heated room; Hot Yoga is a form of Hatha yoga performed in a heated room, but is not taught according to Bikram’s exact philosophy or practice, and the instructors are not always trained in his methods.

There is some controversy; with the benefits of a heated environment well-documented, the hot yoga-style has gained wide popularity. Recently, Bikram chose to prevent anyone who was simply teaching yoga in a heated room to promote it as Bikram Yoga unless the instructors were certified by his college and precisely followed his prescribed Bikram yoga posture methodology. The resulting lawsuits were ultimately settled when Bikram agreed not to further pursue the members of the Hot Yoga collective, and they in turn agreed not to use the Bikram name. The confusion still exists, however, with the common understanding that they are one and the same.