Bikram Yoga - For weight loss?

What is Bikram Yoga?

The Bikram method of Hatha Yoga is a series of 26 stretching and strengthening postures (asanas) with 2 breathing exercises performed in a room heated at 40 Cº/105 Fº and with a humidity of 40% (reason to be fuming and sweating while exercising). The series is scientifically designed to provide 100 percent total body workout from bones to skin, fingers to toes. By the end of the 90 minute workout, you will have worked every muscle, tendon, joint, ligament as well as internal organs and glands while systematically moving fresh oxygenated blood throughout your entire body.

Can Bikram Yoga Help With Weight Loss?

Of the many reasons which make people look after Bikram yoga is the fact that the heat generated during such yoga exercises helps cure many ailments. There are a few scientific research papers which support the fact that some type of yoga exercises and postures can help in reducing pain that is chronic in nature. Heat is also known to increase supply of oxygen to the red blood cells of the muscles. However what is of doubt is the reason for packing so many people in such a small, hot and smelly room. Is this the reason for the so-called weight loss?



Many supporters of Bikram Yoga claim that they have lost significant amount of weight because of the heat generated which releases and melts the fat cells. It also helps increasing the metabolism rates by firing up the endocrine glands. Though people do not experience dramatic weight loss by this method, many of them do agree to the fact that they have also significant amount of weight through this method. The absence of dramatic weight loss could be because though you are losing fat cells, it is getting compensated building of health muscle mass, which indeed is good news.

Further according to Bikram Choudhury in his website, these exercises and postures help in also reducing pain apart from weight loss. However, it is important for you to take at least 10 classes a month to see the right kind of effect. For a beginner it takes around 3 to 4 classes to understand and get accustomed to these exercises and postures. Only after 10 classes will the body start feeling the effects of these exercises. Many yogis claim that through such exercises and postures, your body will have better respiratory and digestive functions, and your lymphatic, endocrine and elimination functions will also improve quite substantially. Your appetite will become normal and your cravings for unhealthy junk food will get reduced.