Bikram Yoga...

[enfuego23]

I bought a Groupon to a local Bikram studio. I'm a bit nervous because it looks more intense than the power flow yoga I dabble in. 

I'm going to my first class today at 4:30 and 90 minutes seems crazy as do all of the poses. Tell me what to expect...

[hannahb]

It's hard because of the heat. The poses aren't that hard. I find power flow harder in that aspect. I love bikram. Some dislike it because it's the same every time but I always feel so stretched out and relaxed after

[arch01]

I LOVE it. I haven't done a non-heated class since I started doing yoga again (I only took a few classes on college, so 10ish years ago). The class I go to is only 45 minutes though, but it's amazing to see the difference at the beginning of class compared to the end of class when it comes to flexibility.

[Raggedeannie]

I agree with hannahb that the poses themselves are not hard. I feel like power flow is way more of a strength workout. Bikram is great for stretching, though, as you get deeper with the heat.
But I agree with @kirkette with the feeling of being trapped. I actually hated savasana the most of all because all of a sudden there was no air flow and I felt claustrophic/suffocated by the heat.

Bikram is not my thing but I think it's worth a try!

[jene]

I hated it, but I think it was more because the studio I was going to smelled like feet (the room was carpeted, I imagine it was hard to clean)

[jene]

Jul 29, 2015 10:09:41 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Jul 29, 2015 9:50:11 GMT -5 jene said:

I hated it, but I think it was more because the studio I was going to smelled like feet (the room was carpeted, I imagine it was hard to clean)

I cannot imagine all of the gallons of sweat and bacteria hanging out in that studio carpet

I went twice and couldn't handle it after that.  SO GROSS

[taratru]

I loooooove Bikram. I wish I could afford to go regularly.

[arch01]

Jul 29, 2015 10:35:57 GMT -5 taratru said:

I loooooove Bikram. I wish I could afford to go regularly.

I've given up a little of my Starbucks habit to keep going. That's saying a lot for me . I also studio hopped for a bit via Groupon, which helped.

[Raggedeannie]

Jul 29, 2015 10:13:37 GMT -5 jene said:

Jul 29, 2015 10:09:41 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

I cannot imagine all of the gallons of sweat and bacteria hanging out in that studio carpet

I went twice and couldn't handle it after that.  SO GROSS

ew ew I forgot this part.  Mine also was carpeted and stank so bad.

[enfuego23]

I am now more scared than ever to go:) Smelly carpet...gag

What should I wear? The website says shorts and a sports bra and even mentioned coming in a bathing suit - ummm...no. I'm not doing yoga in just a sports bra or my bathing suit.

[arch01]

Jul 29, 2015 11:36:46 GMT -5 enfuego23 said:

I am now more scared than ever to go:) Smelly carpet...gag

What should I wear? The website says shorts and a sports bra and even mentioned coming in a bathing suit - ummm...no. I'm not doing yoga in just a sports bra or my bathing suit.

I wear a pair of old running capris that are too stretched out to run in anymore and a sports bra. My belly is far from the flattest, but I really don't care. I can't imagine going in a swim suit. Nope, nope, nope.

[Raggedeannie]

I usually wore fitted shorts, sports bra, and a tank. I took an extra tank to switch into before leaving and would toss on loose fitting pants afterward. The more clothes you wear the more clothes will be soaking wet when you leave...

[enfuego23]

I went and I survived:)

It wasn't my favorite yoga class - the heat was suffocating at times and I didn't like that the instructor wouldn't let us freely drink water. She told us "no water" for the first 25 minutes and one other time she said no water before one of the poses. It's freaking 105 degrees and I'm sweating my butt off - I should be able to drink water when I need it.

I definitely understand why you wear as little as possible - i soaked my clothes in about 5 minutes.

[kams]

Jul 29, 2015 20:44:27 GMT -5 enfuego23 said:

I went and I survived:)

It wasn't my favorite yoga class - the heat was suffocating at times and I didn't like that the instructor wouldn't let us freely drink water. She told us "no water" for the first 25 minutes and one other time she said no water before one of the poses. It's freaking 105 degrees and I'm sweating my butt off - I should be able to drink water when I need it.

I definitely understand why you wear as little as possible - i soaked my clothes in about 5 minutes.

Huh. I don't do bikram but I do hot flow, and every class I ever go to seems to say take water or rest at any time. That is weird.

So glad you survived

[kams]

Jul 29, 2015 20:44:27 GMT -5 enfuego23 said:

I went and I survived:)

It wasn't my favorite yoga class - the heat was suffocating at times and I didn't like that the instructor wouldn't let us freely drink water. She told us "no water" for the first 25 minutes and one other time she said no water before one of the poses. It's freaking 105 degrees and I'm sweating my butt off - I should be able to drink water when I need it.

I definitely understand why you wear as little as possible - i soaked my clothes in about 5 minutes.

Huh. I don't do bikram but I do hot flow, and every class I ever go to seems to say take water or rest at any time. That is weird.

So glad you survived

[awick14]

Not being able to drink water during certain parts of the class is weird. But I'm glad you survived.

[arch01]

That is weird about the water! One class I go to the instructor pauses 5 poses in for a quick water break, otherwise they don't say anything. The other class I go to the instructor says to take a water break/modify poses at any time if you need it.

Glad you survived!