Bikram yoga is one of the best ways to remain stress free, alert and in good health, experts say.
As the fall quarter starts, it’s a perfect time for students to find different ways to relax, stay active and discover new techniques that allows them to relieve stress accumulated from their everyday lives.
Bikram yoga, a 90-minute class in a heated 105 F-room, is a practice that many are unfamiliar with. Despite its low profile, Bikram yoga is one of the best ways to maintain good health.
The high temperature yoga class is composed of 26 yoga postures and two breathing exercises designed to refresh one’s body.
“Your body thanks you for taking time out of your hectic schedule to relax and refuel,” said Mari Ford, former director of a Bay Area yoga studio. “Your body releases all unwanted toxins and breathes in fresh air [while participating in Bikram yoga].”
Ford left her job to embark on a trip to Costa Rica, where she has plans to attend multiple Bikram classes with fellow Bikram enthusiasts.
Ford is not the only Bay Area resident who swears by Bikram yoga. There are several local yoga studios that offer the 90-minute class.
Hot Box Yoga is close to CSU East Bay’s Hayward campus and is always looking for new members.
The staff at Hot Box Yoga encourages members new to yoga to attend class five to ten minutes ahead of time to prepare for the upcoming workout.
“Get ready to sweat your butt off,” said Hot Box Yoga member and student Morgan Moglia. “I always go to class bright and early so I can start my school day refreshed and thankful.”
For University of San Francisco football player Daniel Brown, yoga helped him through his football induced injury.
“I never thought yoga would be something that interested me, especially being a football player,” Brown said. “Once I got injured my personal trainer pushed me into trying yoga and since I love to sweat I enrolled in Bikram yoga and have been hooked ever since.”
Hot Box Yoga is currently offering a new student member special, at $34.99 for the first week and a second week free.
Bikram Choudhury, the founder of this type of yoga, once said “Yoga is the only exercise in the world you can do at any age. There is always a posture that will improve your health, mind, and soul.”
