THIS ISN’T THE preserve of harem pants-wearing tree-huggers or hippy airheads who love chanting on the beach at dawn.
This isn’t a pursuit practised by just women, or just gymnasts, or the kind of people who need scented candles and slow-beat music to sleep…..bikram yoga is currently sweeping the country and the message is clear; anyone from 18-year-old boys with growing pains to pensioners with nothing else to do should do bikram.
Kate McNamara has practised yoga all of her adult life, and the owner of one of the biggest studios in Cork (Bikram Yoga Cork) says that attitudes towards this type of yoga have changed, and not a day too soon either.
“There was quite a build-up to Bikram Yoga before it came to Ireland because demand for it abroad made sure that everyone knew it was coming. It was well sign-posted and we had a lot of people taking it up initially,” she explains.
Almost three years in business and it’s going from strength to strength. “There was a fall-off after the initial surge,” she outlines, “but you do have a dedicated crew and people know it from other cities and countries. They tend to kind of want to come, as opposed to feeling like they have to. They tend to look forward to it because it’s a good way to de-stress.”
Grab a mat….
Give it a go if…
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“People come for all kinds of reasons but the main ones are for stress relief, injury recovery and prevention and the third would be weight-loss or toning.”
The classes are 90 minutes long and take place in a climate-controlled room, which reaches 40 degree heat and 40% humidity. “It’s a bit like being in Turkey,” laughs McNamara.
“The heat is the big benefit for a lot of sportspeople like GAA players, rugby players and walkers, because when they train a lot they get very strong but then they have tightness and recurring injuries, so the heat is like a therapeutic benefit of the class, so I think that’d be the main benefit of the heat.”
The classes generally last for 90 minutes and McNamara recommends a “minimum of three classes a week”.
“You start to understand more and more with every class. If you did it once a week you’d have forgotten a lot. We have people who come five and six days a week.”
What you need…
As little clothes and as much water as possible. If you’re worried about how you look when you sweat then you’d better conquer this phobia fast!
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
(Bikram yoga demonstrators take a break for a drink of water in New York’s Times Square)
What’s the difference between this and ‘normal’ yoga?
“The main difference is the heat but the other part of it is there’s 26 postures and you repeat them again and again, each class. That allows you to get confident and familiar with the 26 postures. These cover all your major joints and muscles, so you’ve given yourself a full workout.”
Where?
There are bikram studios right throughout the country — but the message is clear, don’t be intimidated the first time you walk in the door.
“It wouldn’t be as humid as a sauna. Okay, when you go into the room initially you feel warm. But it’s only later in the class that you feel the heat and your body starts to sweat, which is what your body does in a hot environment; cools itself down. So the very fact that we’re sweating is a way to rid itself of toxins through the natural process of sweating. The heat then also makes you feel more limber and prevents you from overstretching and injuring yourself.”
Top tip from the pros…
“It’s a big challenge,” she adds, “ but all you can do is take your time, sit down and take breaks, that’s really important, focus on your breathing. And afterwards, you’ll feel so proud and so happy and you’ll go away thinking ‘I’m coming back tomorrow’.
“The focus is on the individual as opposed to trying to keep up with those around you. That’s what we encourage and teach; do not judge yourself by anyone else. Do your best because your goals are not the same as anyone else’s. It’s your body, your history, your health, all of those things are very individual.”
Apart from the physical benefits of yoga, it’s a great way to meet people of the opposite sex. Especially if you’re not fond of the pub scene or this new tinder craic.
Started this year after getting some bad muscle tears playing sport. Had no similar injuries since. Besides the heat the poses are hard to start but you can see an improvement over time. Just be sure to drink plenty water beforehand and be prepared to sweat lots!!!
Hot yoga is tough but a good teacher can guide you through it. The heat really helps limber up and so long as you challenge yourself & dont try to keep up with people doing it ages you will get benefits not injuries.
I dont understand the idea that hot yoga is less useful for participants who are interested in the spiritual side of yoga. The intensity of the work out switches of the chatter & distraction of a busy mind and the relaxation afterwards can be very deep.
If it doesn’t work for you – pick a different hobby.
As for people posting on facebook- yoga is not the only hobby shared, I cant figure out if it’s boasting or motivating themselves to get fitter by involving others?
People do it so they can post Facebook statuses about how great it is/they are and then quit a month later when they realise they actually get no enjoyment from it whatsoever.
We gave a book on that at home. It seems very intense and macho. Personally, I wouldn’t want to try it as I have back problems, and some of the asanas look very athletic.
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Over priced over commercial and far from the spirit and intent of true yoga which values the spiritual as well as the physical aspects of the practice
There are many benefits to yoga without getting into the spiritual side of it
Apart from the physical benefits of yoga, it’s a great way to meet people of the opposite sex. Especially if you’re not fond of the pub scene or this new tinder craic.
Nuts. 90 minutes in 40 degree heat ? Only going to end in tears. .
Started this year after getting some bad muscle tears playing sport. Had no similar injuries since. Besides the heat the poses are hard to start but you can see an improvement over time. Just be sure to drink plenty water beforehand and be prepared to sweat lots!!!
Hot yoga is tough but a good teacher can guide you through it. The heat really helps limber up and so long as you challenge yourself & dont try to keep up with people doing it ages you will get benefits not injuries.
I dont understand the idea that hot yoga is less useful for participants who are interested in the spiritual side of yoga. The intensity of the work out switches of the chatter & distraction of a busy mind and the relaxation afterwards can be very deep.
If it doesn’t work for you – pick a different hobby.
As for people posting on facebook- yoga is not the only hobby shared, I cant figure out if it’s boasting or motivating themselves to get fitter by involving others?
No, it hurts
short answer: it’s torture!
People do it so they can post Facebook statuses about how great it is/they are and then quit a month later when they realise they actually get no enjoyment from it whatsoever.
Deadly buzz but can be intense, not for everyone. Apparently a middle-aged woman in a South Dublin studio died during one of the classes.
Hot yoga is fun, but Bikram Choudhury is an absolute creep of the highest order so I have no interest in taking Bikram classes.
We gave a book on that at home. It seems very intense and macho. Personally, I wouldn’t want to try it as I have back problems, and some of the asanas look very athletic.
Id be afraid i would end up like johnny knocksvile in that episode of jackass.
one word for it “SMELLY”.