There are many types of yoga practices that you can venture into or try. Most are relatively simple to begin and enjoy the benefits of. However, there are also styles of yoga that may be too challenging, and potentially harmful for beginners to try. And the sizzling Bikram yoga belongs to the latter. So you need to understand the dangers of Bikram yoga to avoid serious injury.

Founding of Bikram Hot Yoga

Bikram Choudhury is a renowned name in Olympics. In the 1960s, he won the gold medal for weight lifting. He adapted traditional yoga techniques and incorporated the naturally hot and humid environment of India. He designed Bikram yoga as a form of yoga which increases muscular strength, endurance and weight loss.

Choudhury has gone to great lengths to keep his form of yoga intact and guarded from misinterpretation. To even teach this form of yoga, you must be licensed by Choudhury after attending his Yoga College of India in California. On can learn a true sizzling Bikram yoga only through attending the Yoga college of India set-up by Choudhury or from those who have obtained license from him to do so, others who just boast to teach the specialized form of yoga might just be fooling you.

How is it Different from Traditional Yoga Practices?

Bikram hot yoga is done in a room heated to 105 degrees. The clamminess in the room should also be regulated and it should be between 40% to 60%. It is the only kind of yoga which utilizes heat as part of the components of the sessions. The heat factor involved makes this yoga form a relative calisthenics session and not a respite. An extreme amount of perspiration is expelled; cleansing the body of toxins. It is important to be properly hydrated before beginning to avoid any dehydration issues. The heat gets the cardiovascular system pumping for an ultimate workout and allows the body to stretch further and hold poses longer, which increase endurance and strength.

The session involves a total of 26 postures, or asanas. The asanas are performed in a custom manner repeatedly. The poses are each held for roughly 10 to 60 seconds. And the total session is 90 minutes long. The initial 12 asanas require being on the feet. And the rest are done either in sitting positions or by lying down on the floor.

The various asanas involved in the sizzling Bikram yoga are:
1.    Standing deep breathing pose
2.    Half moon pose and hands to feet
3.    Awkward pose
4.    Eagle pose
5.    An asana which is done wherein head is allowed to touch the feet
6.    Standing bow pulling pose
7.    Balancing stick pose
8.    Standing separate leg stretching pose
9.    Triangle pose
10.    An asana wherein you are required to perform head to knee poses towards both the legs
11.    An asana where you are required to pose like a tree
12.    An asana where you are up on your toes
13.    Dead body pose
14.    An asana where you pose like leaving up all the unwanted wing inside you
15.    Sit up
16.    An asana wherein you have to pose like a snake and ravel around
17.    An asana which requires you to act like a locust
18.    An asana which involves a pose of a full threat locust
19.    An asana which requires to pose in the shape of a bow
20.    An asana wherein you pose like a firm and fixed thing
21.    An asana wherein you pose like a half tortoise and dwell
22.    Camel pose
23.    Rabbit pose
24.    An asana wherein you have bring your head toward your knees
25.    An asana which shows as if you are turning your spine around
26.    An asana which shows as if you are blowing air firmly

Aside from the obvious benefits of Bikram yoga, there are many advantages of doing this sizzling Bikram yoga. Choudhury and others who are devoted followers of this type of yoga claim symptoms of various ailments can be alleviated by doing this type of yoga at least ten times a month, if not daily. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis and auto immune disorders may be helped by doing Bikram yoga. Since this form of yoga brings on excess of perspiration, it helps in oozing out toxins from your body resulting in a glowing skin with no skin related issues.

While some may feel this hard-core version of yoga loses some of the spirituality and calming effects yoga is meant to enhance, others feel it is the best way to combine the benefits of traditional yoga with a cardio workout. Source