Posted 11:26 pm Sunday, December 18, 2011
Sweaty Yoga Trend Heating Up At Tyler Bikram Studio
By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
In a new yoga studio off Old Jacksonville Highway, a few people quietly took their positions on yoga mats or towels in a mirrored room, where the temperature reached 105 degrees and there was 40 percent humidity.
For 90 minutes, they contorted their bodies, breathed deeply and panted while enduring extreme humidity and heat. The heat loosens the body to stretch into 26 poses, while the humidity is said to increase the heart rate, improving circulation.
It's called Bikram yoga -- a branch of the ancient exercise that has participants drenched in sweat and fatigued. While on the floor, each pose ends with savasana, or corpse pose, to help rejuvenate the body.
"It's the posture that your body reaps the benefits of the previous posture," said Rachel Hudson, owner of Bikram Yoga Tyler.
The workout ends with a soft "namaste," a common greeting in India, which shows respect and wishes blessings to others. The session also includes two breathing exercises.
Bikram Choudhury, a native of India, created the brand of yoga more than 40 years ago. Since then, his self-proclaimed "torture chamber" has become a hit with a diverse cross-section of yoga enthusiasts. They include NFL and NBA athletes, as well as adults in their 80s who've used the exercise to ease joint pains.
Throughout the 1.5-hour session, class members may feel pushed to the limit, but by the end and throughout the rest of the day, they say they feel incredibly good. There is a possibility of weight loss, but it's not the only selling point. The exercise is said to detoxify and heal the body of its ailments from the inside out.
Emily Thornton, 28, of Tyler, was on day 53 of a 60-day Bikram yoga challenge Thursday.
She admits she took the class without thinking about it, but when she noticed that the different pains she experienced began to improve, she wanted to commit to it.
"It's the after-effect that keeps you coming back to it," she said. "You have more energy and have a lot more focus, and you're relaxed. Some days feel like the first class. It's only relaxing after."
The class provides a different challenge to each individual, so participants pace themselves, Ms. Thornton said.
"Everybody here in the class, we go through pain and issues. It's not competitive. The main goal is to stay in the room," she said.
Ms. Hudson, 41, an East Texas native, brought the trendy style of yoga to Tyler in October, and she has a good following. She's done several forms of yoga since 1995 and was introduced to Bikram yoga in 2004. She became a certified instructor in 2009. Ms. Hudson has always loved doing yoga and welcomed the challenge.
"I've had two knee surgeries," she said. "I had several knee injuries and I couldn't do anything other than yoga. I heard this was really good for knee pain and knee injuries. So, I tried it and was pretty much hooked."
Ms. Hudson said completing a minimum of 10 classes in 30 days ensures participants get the most out of the extreme yoga.
During the class, deep breathing and the stretching of the arms with poses allows participants to use 100 percent of their lung capacity, Ms. Hudson said. The breathing brings the heart rate back down to normal. She calls it a "natural irrigation of the circulatory system with the use of the respiratory system." Over time, the body adjusts to the intense workout.
"Do the best with the body you have that day," she said. "Your body's changing every day. We tell you the same thing. We give you the same 26 postures and two breathing exercises, and it's just you. It's the only thing that's changing is your body, your mind."
USE CAUTION
Bikram yoga may not be for everyone. Fitness experts and doctors advise individuals to get the approval of a physician before attempting. They say engaging in physical activity in a hot environment puts people at risk of heat-related illness.
Jeramie Hinojosa, a health fitness specialist and director of East Texas Medical Center's Olympic Plaza, said during this type of yoga, the body temperature can increase to critical levels.
"Heat puts stress on the cardiovascular system, and therefore, people with any type of cardiovascular disease should avoid practicing Bikram Yoga," Hinajosa said. "Pregnant women, young children and the elderly should avoid this type of yoga because overexposure of these individuals in this environment is a health hazard."
However, Hinajosa said individuals can become acclimated to exercising in the heat through repeated exposure, resulting in an improved ability to handle the thermal stress through physiological changes that improve the body's cooling mechanisms.
But that may take one to two weeks for those changes to occur, so even healthy people can be at risk of health-related illness at first. Participants should understand the signs of heat illness and come to the studio prepared, Hinajosa said.
"If an apparently healthy individual insists on exercising in a hot and humid environment it is imperative that they hydrate accordingly by consuming adequate fluids before exercise, every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise and replacing lost fluids after the exercise bout," he said.
"The goal of hydration during exercise should be to avoid greater than a 2 percent decrease of bodyweight due to water loss. In addition these individuals should be acutely aware of the signs and symptoms of heat related illness including dizziness, cramps, nausea, rapid heart rate and decreased sweating."
Ms. Hudson said participation in the class is safe if individuals are well-hydrated and maintain their own pace.
"I tell every class before I start, 'Stay in the room. Breathe. Everything else is optional.'"
Although she had worked in restaurant management for many years, yoga always had been and will continue to be her passion.
"This is it," she said. "I will do this until they put me in the ground. Because at any age, you can do it."
BIKRAM YOGA SURVIVAL GUIDE
• Check with a doctor first, especially if you are pregnant or have medical conditions.
• Be prepared. Drink plenty of water before the class and stay hydrated all day.
• Understand and be able to recognize the signs of heat-related illness. Also, wear the least amount of clothing possible.
• Let the instructor know that you are new to the class.
• Have an open mind, but know your limits. If it's too much, modify or rest.
• Don't forget to breathe.
