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I've done it and hated it.
I think the heat is a gimmick. If you have 90 spare minutes to work out, I think you're much better off doing circuit training than this!
I have to say - everyone hates the first class! I am really enjoying it actually, just wondering if anyone has done it and had any successful weight loss/toning
Thanks!
Yes! Bikram is amazing! I've done it for about 2 years now (roughly 2x/week), and it's helped keep me about 10 lbs trimmer than I was before. Plus it's amazing for how I feel (working in front of computer most of the day). I did hardcore Bikram (every other day for 2 months) before I did b-pics, and again 1 month before the wedding, and the extra kick both times helped tone me up enormously.
It IS a time commitment, but when I do it 3-4x/week, I don't go to the gym otherwise. So, I figure that it averages out to 45 min/day over an entire week...and that doesn't make the time commitment on Bikram days quite so bad.
@KD2009 - thanks a lot for the feedback. I've been trying for 5-6 times per week and I'm hoping that gets me in good shape before my dress fitting, which is in 16 weeks. I don't have the guts to do b-pics, but if this goes well I may re-think!
I haven't done anything else at the gym - you think you can achieve a good figure with bikram alone?
I love Bikram. I am the type of person who needs someone telling her what to do, so going to a gym really wasn't helping me, and I was completely unmotivated to do anything at home. Bikram is an excellent choice for people who want to tone and increase flexibility. You get as much out of it as you put in. Currently I go 4-5 (sometimes 6) times a week. I have been able to get off of my dumb migraine meds and I am an all around happier person. You will def HATE the heat your first class, its a given, but it makes you that much more appreciative of every little breeze you feel during class. some tips:
Hope you enjoy it! :)
Thanks for the tips - I made the mistake on my first day of eating too close to class. I sometimes have fruit 2 hrs before, but that is the only food that I digest quick enough - otherwise it is definitely a 3 hr window!
Have you found you've lost weight or your appetite has changed at all?
I love Bikram! I go back and forth between Bikram and other yoga classes because the repetition gets to me after a while. It's such a great workout!
My appetite has gone down. I do not eat as much as I did before (unless it is of mac and cheese, my kryptonite!) Because of a decreased appetite you will prob see some inital weight loss.
I hated the instructor - here's how my first (and only) Bikram class went:
Me: struggling hard to get the pose right and not pass out
Instructor: "Girl in the purple shirt, you're doing it wrong"
Me: who is wearing a purple shirt besides me? looking around
Instructor: "Purple shirt!" looking directly at me
Me: crud. I hate this. I want to die. Screw you lady. I am so not blissed out right now.
Luckily, the yoga studio had other "hot yoga" options, so I just moved to power flow classes in 105 degree heat and enjoyed it much more. And never went to another of that instructor's classes ever again.
Moral of the story: if Bikram doesn't work for you, it doesn't mean all hot yoga sucks. If it does work for you, it's a great workout!
I don't do it, but want to try it. I have a friend that swears by it. She's one of those lucky ladies that stays thin no matter what, so this is the only workout she does. She likes it because she says she can sweat out all her toxins, and she just feel healthier and more relaxed when she leaves. It's also REALLY helped her flexibility because the heat allows your muscles to stretch further.
It's definitely not a calorie-burning workout, but a great one for overall fitness balance, she says. I'm still scared to try, though, because I'm sensitive to heat, and I'm terrfied I'll pass out or something.
My old roomie is a "hot yoga" instructor. 1st of all, it's rediculous how flexible she is!
I tried a "warm yoga" class with her last week and loved doing it, but, It wasn't challenging enough for me. I didn't get much of a "whole body" workout, mostly legs, and it didn't feel "warm enough." it could have been MUCH hotter! Most of their hot yoga classes are 60 min. but they do have a few a week that are the full 90.
I can get a guest pass for a week unlimited for $20 but the cheapest you can get is $94/month for a full year contract. Otherwise it's $16/class or $140+ a month. I'm tempted to do 6 months, but I'm 9 months out from the wedding, and the money I'd spend to add the extra 3 would give me a whole year... but $1000+ is expensive! Considering there is no treadmills or other things to benefit from too...
never done it but i LOVE yoga but i HATE being hot. so prob not for me. its a cool thought though. let us know if you decide to do it and what you think
@Miss Chapstick - I'm surprised you said its not a calorie burner - my heart rate is definitely up throughout most of the class! I once wore a heart rate monitor and it said I had burnt about 500 calories - they aren't that accurate, but even give or take 100 cals, that is still pretty decent!
You definitely get used to the heat - I would recommend checking out a certified Bikram studio - it will be the required heat level & the class will be 90 mins. I don't know much about the differences though with 'hot' yoga.
Finding everyone's experiences very interesting - keep em coming!
It's def. a calorie burner! My instructor ex-roomie sometimes burned over 1200 calories a day at work! lucky girl :-) When she started she had a really hard time trying to eat enough... lol
I found this, don't know how accurate it is
http://www.bikram-yoga-noosa-australia.com/weight-loss-and-yoga.htm
I retract! I retract! I'm just going off what my friend tells me. She says on the rare occasions she goes for a run, she feels like the run is a lot harder and gets her heart rate up and therefore, burns more calories.
But like I said, I've never done it, so you guys would know better!
It will burn calories. It also will affect appetite because you are hydrating much more than usual (for most people). So burning calories + less food + more water = weight loss. I don't have much weight to lose so I am seeing more firming and flexiblitiy than anything else.
I am not a yoga gal no matter what kind of yoga it is. It doesn't get me in a mental zone, I am too ADD - haahaahaahaa I do much better in a pumped up Cycle class, haahaahaa - - - HOWEVER my two girlfriends LUURRRVVVEEEE their Bikram Yoga, and I agree with almost everything stlginkgo has said. There are changes in your body in your emottions and you do lose weight and love the results. Keep at it and enjoy!
I'm really happy that ya'll are posting about this!! I was JUST thinking about getting into Bikram. I've done a few light vanesse yoga classes before but I want that extra push for better flexibility, better workout, and more mental calmness. My issue is not so much a physical workout (I have a trainer 3x/week and spinning 2x/week) but the mental aspect of being able to CALM my mind.
This place offers a freek week, and it looks like they have locations lots of places - http://www.corepoweryoga.com/
www.yogajournal.com has some free podcasts - great way to get that yogic mind at home when life gets crazy. Every so often, I'll pull up the sun salutations and just do 20 minutes to get me grounded.
Glad to see there are some other Bikram enthusiasts out there - I've searched for blogs and websites to find out more info and hear people's stories, but there isn't much out there...
Will just have to see for myself where it takes me - hoping it can keep me calm AND lean in the run up to the wedding. I would like to lose about 20 lbs, so I've got a ways to go, but everyone in the classes are so toned, hoping it all falls into place!
I will add, I had a bride who did "hot yoga" religiously for her wedding. (we don't have any "Bikram" studios.
She lost a good 30+ pounds before the wedding! I will say though, be carefully when loosing weight... her dress barely fit her. In some pictures there's a good inch gap from loosing more weight after her last fitting.
@KLP2010 - that is incredible she lost so much weight w/Bikram - I really hope to be so successful! Do you know if she followed a diet or did she just do Bikram? Any idea how many classes she attended per week?
I'm not really dieting - just trying to watch what I eat and making healthy choices, but I'd be thrilled with losing 30 lbs!!
I just have to say:
I'm a Bikram yoga instructor (so I'm slightly biased!) :-), but Bikram yoga is a wonderful way to boost self-esteem (in addition to losing weight and toning the body from top to bottom!). I first started practicing two years ago, not to lose weight, but to heal a back injury I had from playing my instrument. The self-acceptance that slowly came after staring at myself in the mirror for 90 minutes a day was AMAZING!! I was a girl that would blowdry my hair in a dark bathroom, and would use a tiny mirror to put on makeup...I just didn't really enjoy looking at myself. After practicing for a few months I felt toned and in shape but more importantly, I felt like I could look at myself and be happy with what I saw in the mirror. Just a thought!!
@ 2bedaugherty - thanks for that feedback. I have heard a lot of positive things about the self acceptance people gain from doing Bikram. I'm definitely not there quite yet, but hoping it comes, along with the other great things Bikram is supposed to bring. I am not doing it entirely to lose weight, but hoping it helps in my journey to get lean before the wedding.
Bikram is a wonderful program, as long as you stick with it through the tough beginnings to start seeing results!
I've been doing Bikram for a little over a year, and the one thing I've noticed are the different atmospheres at different studios. When you're in a comfortable environment with a friendly teacher, it pushes you harder without scaring you away. When you're looking forward to class, you're going more often and feeling the results sooner. Namaste!!
I do hot power vinyassa and hot hatha yoga, and I LOVE it. I haven't been going enough to notice a physical difference yet (I'm in an intro class that is once a week), but what it has done for my stress level is inredible. Seriously, I leave that class without a care in the world!
I wish we had this here!! I have always wanted to join it because I think that hot weather increases flexibility and makes the muscles more flexible and pliable.
I'm in a yoga class at my school, but it's not bikram. This just sounds really fun, so tomorrow I'm going to the army base and seeing if they offer a class!
I have been doing Bikram for about a month now, and absolutely love it!! I am purposely not weighing myself, but I am seeing a difference in the way my clothes fit. I have also notices a significant change in my mood and motivation, which is huge!!
I too have tried working out by myself at the Y and what not, and I just don't have the focus to do it by myself. I like having the instructor talk you through the entire routine and reminding you of all the little things that I would otherwise forget to do. I like that the instructor isn't doing the poses with us, rather they are talking us through them, so they can watch what we are going. When something need to be corrected, they don't call out any individual student, rather, they address the whole class, which I also like because it doesn't put anyone on the spot.
The expense of it was a lot for me to swallow. I originally started with a 2 week trial membership for $25. In that two weeks, I went 5 times each week and loved it! The full price however is $155/month or $99/month if you have it automatically withdrawn from your checking account. I went a week without Bikram after the trial ended, I even tried going back to the gym. I just felt like I wasn't getting as good and as focused of a workout as I did with Bikram. So once the yoga withdrawal set in, I bit the bullet and signed up for the $99/month plan and I have not regretted a moment of it. I go on average of 5x week. I love the flexible schedule, they offer 4-5 classes a day at different times. If I don't make it to my preferred 6am class, I know I can make it to the 5:30 class.
sorry such a long post, I just love it so much!
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Has anyone tried bikram yoga to get fit and lean for their wedding?
I used to be an avid gym goer, than gave P90x a try, but struggled to stay committed with an at home workout. I have decided to pick up Bikram yoga, not only because its meant to be great for getting lean, but also excellent for stress relief which can come in handy with a high pressure job & planning a wedding from another country.
Just wondering if anyone has had any success with Bikram??