Bikram Yoga – Learn How To Do It At Home

Everyone knows that Bikram Yoga is one of the most challenging yoga routines you can do.

It involves a series of 26 postures performed in a room heated to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The extreme heat causes your body to flush out toxins and increases your metabolism. 

It, in turn, makes it easier to lose weight and get healthy. However, many people who try Bikram Yoga find it too difficult to stick with it.

They give up after a few classes because it's too hard to deal with the heat and the time commitment. 

But, there is good news. You don’t need to go to a Bikram Yoga class to do the fantastic health benefits of the routine. 

In this article, I will share with you my secret to doing Bikram Yoga at home. It means no more excuses!

What you will need

• Timer
• Mat
• Two large bath towels
• Bathroom with a hot shower
• Humidifier

Locate a spot in the house

To practice Bikram yoga correctly, you’ll need to find a place in your house where you can isolate the heat and humidity. This room will be used as a bathroom (assuming it is large enough). 

With the help of a hot shower, you may dramatically raise the room's temperature while also raising the humidity.

Heat the room

If you’re in the bathroom, turn on the hot water and close the door to let the room steam up and warm up. Next, turn on the humidifier so that the room is very humid and hot. 

Finally, increase the heat of the bathroom or other room you've chosen for your Bikram yoga practice if you have specialist heating that can be switched on in just one room.

Otherwise, you’ll have to turn up the heat throughout the house, which can be costly.

Ready yourself

Get into your Bikram yoga clothes, including tights or shorts to help with the sweat. You may also want to put on a towel so you don’t track dirt into other parts of the house, but remember to take it off before entering the hot room. 

Practice yoga

Once you are ready, go into the hot room, take off your towel and start doing yoga. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after class. 

It is essential to drink plenty of fluids during yoga practice, but it is even more important after you finish for the same reason. Yoga classes are best done in the morning before you eat.

Finish up

Sit or lie down in the hot room for at least 5-10 minutes before getting out when class is over. Otherwise, you may begin to feel uncomfortable, which will make it harder to lose weight and become healthier. 

Stretch to help your body stretch out after you are done.

Take a shower

Once you are finished, it is time to clean up. You can leave the room for some time to allow your body to cool off.

But if it is your first experience with the hot room, then desert yourself an hour at least before taking a shower so you don't start feeling sick. 

If possible, do not turn the heat on again until at least 12 hours have passed so your room can cool off properly. 

Can you do Bikram yoga without heat?

According to Bikram Choudury, you can practice the poses of a Bikram class in a nonheated environment, but you may not be able to reap the same benefits. 

He compares practising yoga without the use of heat to working with metal without first heating it. 

Although it is feasible, heating the material allows for more flexibility and ease of service. Likewise, yoga poses cannot be performed at full potential without the body’s internal temperature raised.

Precautions

Bikram yoga is incredibly beneficial but also comes with its own set of risks. Just like any workout or physical activity, there are some things you should (and shouldn’t) do before getting started. 

For example, pregnant women should never do Bikram or other high heat practices because a hot room can cause a miscarriage. People with heart diseases and high blood pressure should also avoid exercise. 

If you experience any skin irritation, stop practising at once and see your doctor.

Conclusion

Although it may be tough to stick with a Bikram yoga class every week, you don’t have to go to a class if you want to reap the benefits.

It is possible to do Bikram yoga at home without heat, but remember that it isn't as effective or as easy as going to a regular yoga class. 

Fortunately, with the proper steps to follow, you can practice Bikram yoga at home without heat, getting all of the health benefits of the routine with less sweat and stress. Share your experience with us in the comments below!