Posture perfect
Owing to the high level of stress in everyday life, more and more people have started practising yoga to release negativity and tension in their bodies.
Bikram yoga, the new challenging, exciting and vigorous form of yoga
Owing to the high level of stress in everyday life, more and more people have started practising yoga to release negativity and tension in their bodies. One form of yoga called Bikram yoga has been introduced in the UAE at Club Stretch in Dubai.
It is a sequence of 26 traditional Hatha yoga postures which are practised in a heated room.
"The idea behind this is that you have postures that are designed in a set format making it easy to follow for everybody. Bikram yoga is unique since you have to be a qualified instructor, certified by Bikram himself to teach," says Brian Ward, practitioner and owner of Club Stretch.
The postures are always taught in the same sequence and they are designed in a way that allows you to work on every muscle of your body.
The result is greater flexibility, balance, endurance, reduced cholesterol level, clarity, maintenance of proper weight and improved digestion among other things.
The room is intentionally heatedso that all the people practising can sweat, thus flushing out toxins from their bodies giving them a wonderful glow; also, the heat makes it easier to practise the postures.
"The room is only slightly hotter than the body temperature making it easier to stretch, working on every muscle of your body. After one class you can see the difference and feel absolutely amazing," says Terry Wagner, instructor.
Bikramyoga can be practised by people of all ages and does not require prior experience. "This is a class about you and can be performed by anyone. All it requires is that you come with an open mind," he says.
The beginning
Bikram yoga was created by Bikram Choudhury when at the age of 20 he shattered his knee in an accident. With assistance and help from his guru and doctors he designed 26 postures which he perfected with scientists at Tokyo University. Bikram is called the most knowledgeable yoga teacher and his method is being taught all over the world by instructors trained by him at Bikram Yoga College of India in Los Angeles.
