Jane Benson of Bikram Yoga Mornington highlights that Bikram yoga is a unique form of yoga that is practiced in a heated room. It consists of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises that are performed in a specific sequence.
If you’re new to Bikram yoga, you may be wondering what the five pillars of this practice are. In this article, we’ll explore the five pillars of Bikram yoga, and how they can help you improve your strength, balance, focus, and overall health.
The first pillar of Bikram yoga is the heat. The room is heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, which helps to warm up your muscles and promote flexibility.
The heat also helps to increase your heart rate and promote sweating, which can help to detoxify your body and improve your cardiovascular health.
The second pillar is the sequence of postures. The 26 postures are performed in a specific order, which helps to promote balance and focus.
The sequence is designed to work every part of your body, from your toes to your fingertips.
The third pillar of Bikram yoga is the breathing exercises. The two breathing exercises, known as Pranayama, are performed at the beginning of the class.
These exercises help to calm your mind and prepare your body for the postures.
The fourth pillar is the focus on strength. Bikram yoga is a challenging practice that requires strength and endurance.
The postures are designed to work your muscles and improve your overall strength.
The fifth and final pillar of Bikram yoga is the focus on balance. The postures require balance and concentration, which can help to improve your overall balance and coordination.
Fundamentals of Bikram Yoga
If you are looking to improve your strength, flexibility, balance and breath, Bikram Yoga could be a great option for you. For a better training experience, you can go to Bikram Yoga Mornington.
In this section, we will explore the origins, key characteristics and the 5 pillars of Bikram Yoga.
Origins and Philosophy
Bikram Yoga is a type of hot yoga that was created by Bikram Choudhury, an Indian yoga teacher, in the early 1970s. It is based on the traditional Hatha yoga, which focuses on the physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation.
Bikram Choudhury developed a sequence of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises that are practiced in a heated room for 90 minutes.
The heat is meant to help you sweat and detoxify your body, while the postures and breathing exercises help to improve your muscle strength, flexibility and balance.
Key Characteristics
One of the key characteristics of Bikram Yoga is the heated room. The temperature is usually set to around 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) with a humidity of 40%.
This helps to warm up your muscles and make them more pliable, allowing you to stretch deeper into the postures.
Another key characteristic is the sequence of postures. The 26 postures are always practiced in the same order, which helps to create a sense of discipline and routine.
The sequence is designed to work every part of your body, from your toes to your head, and is meant to be challenging but accessible to all levels of practitioners.
The 5 Pillars
The 5 pillars of Bikram Yoga are the foundation of the practice. They are:
- Proper breathing: In Bikram Yoga, you are taught to breathe deeply and slowly through your nose. This helps to calm your mind and improve your focus.
- Proper alignment: The postures are designed to be done with proper alignment, which helps to prevent injury and maximize the benefits of the pose.
- Proper balance: Many of the postures in Bikram Yoga require balance and concentration. This helps to improve your overall balance and stability.
- Proper concentration: Bikram Yoga requires a lot of concentration and focus, which helps to quiet your mind and reduce stress.
- Proper determination: Bikram Yoga is a challenging practice, and it requires determination and perseverance to stick with it. This helps to build mental and physical strength.
Practical Aspects and Benefits
Physical and Mental Benefits
Bikram Yoga is a unique form of yoga that offers a challenging workout while promoting flexibility, strength, and detoxification.
Practicing in the high heat helps to enhance the detoxification process through sweating and can improve cardiovascular health by increasing heart rate.
This practice aims to create a balance between strength, flexibility, and endurance.
The heat in the room helps to warm up the muscles and increase flexibility, allowing practitioners to safely deepen their poses.
The postures in Bikram Yoga can strengthen the core and help to increase the range of motion in the joints, which can help reduce pain and stiffness.
The increased flexibility can also prevent injuries, making it a great form of exercise for both the young and the elderly alike.
The practice of Bikram Yoga can also help to improve lung capacity, kidney function, and blood circulation.
Postures and Sequences
Bikram Yoga consists of a sequence of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises, which are always practiced in the same order. Each pose and exercise is performed twice.
The sequence is 90 minutes long and begins with pranayama, followed by 12 standing poses and then 12 floor poses.
Some of the postures included in Bikram Yoga are the Awkward Pose, Eagle Pose, Balancing Stick Pose, Triangle Pose, Tree Pose, and Toe Stand.
Each posture is designed to target specific muscles, joints, and organs, helping to improve overall physical and mental health.
Guidance for Practitioners
If you are new to Bikram Yoga, it is recommended that you start with a beginner’s class and work your way up to more advanced classes. It is important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard. This is especially important if you are dealing with injuries or health issues.
When practicing Bikram Yoga, it is important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water before, during, and after class. The high temperature in the room can cause you to sweat a lot, so it is important to replenish your fluids.
It is also important to follow the guidance of your instructor and focus on proper alignment. This will help prevent injuries and get the most out of your practice. Bikram Yoga is a mind-body practice that requires patience and mental clarity to achieve the full benefits of the practice.