I have been contemplating why I love Bikram yoga, considering I grew up in an ashram with kundalini yoga. Bikram yoga is a series of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises practiced in a heated room, generally to 105. All classes are the same postures. The idea came from one of Bikram Chaudhury's students with some link to the environment of a normal day in Calcutta. (I did yoga with a group in calcutta on my last trip there and it was interestingly similar to Bikram's style of teaching.)
I take Bikram classes 2-4 times per week. I find it excellent for my physical endurance and my flexibility. I love to sweat as well. I practice some form of kundalini yoga almost everyday. I have found the bikram yoga has improved my kundalini practice, especially in the long meditations.
To sit for 62 minutes as many of the kundalini meditations require, or even longer, you need serious flexibility, mental strength and even stamina. To enjoy this, you must have open hips, no tension in your back or neck and excellent circulation. Otherwise, it is very difficult. I find the Bikram yoga helps me in all these ways.
I love my bikram classes for its consistency. I always know, when I get to the studio, I am going to get an excellent workout. Combining the intensity of the heat plus the challenging poses mixed with stillness in the breaks of the poses, it is so beneficial to developing a meditative mind and mental strength.
When my wife Siri Om, who is a bikram yoga teacher, suggested a retreat combined with Mirabai Ceiba I thought it was a fantastic opportunity for excellent bikram yoga workouts and the meditative musical elements. To me it would be the ultimate Spirit Voyage experience.
They will be leading a retreat in Tulum March 22nd - 28th. To register, see spiritvoyage.com/yogaretreat
Pre-Register before January 31st and save!
I met Bikram "boss" in washington DC. He is very interesting and a lot of fun.
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[...] Spirit Voyage Blog » Blog Archive » Join us for Bikram Yoga … [...]
Every time I take a hatha yoga class, I feel like it enhances my kundalini – whether it’s asthanga, bikram, vinyasa – they have such an emphasis on form that it’s nice to focus on that every now and then and makes it just come naturally – then when I’m doing Kundalini, I am back to focusing on breath and awareness and motion, and feel like I can make more assumptions about my form being right…..
“Bikram Yoga is the cab that may take one to the rocket ship of Kundalini Yoga”
This phrase sums up my experience …
5 years ago, immersed in Bikram Yoga teacher training in LA I asked “the Boss”…. “What about meditation?”
He bellowed back “Meditation Will Find You!”
And it did, in the form of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan.
For me the two forms of yoga are a perfect marriage… of heart and soul!
Siri Om I hope this retreat becomes an annual Spring Rebirthing Event