I’m thinking about trying out bikram yoga, there isn’t much appeal but its offered where I go and Im curious. I know it will be hot and sweaty and it supposedly rids of the body of toxins. Will I need a special yoga mat? What are other benefits of doing bikram yoga? Is it good for weight loss? Tell me your experiences with Bikram yoga.
Im thinking about practicing a few times at home with the heat on to see how my body reacts. Advice or tips are appreciated.
Bikram is great for loosing water…most toxins do not leave the body via sweat…any kind of exercise along with healthy eating will help you to loose fat…no need fr special mat…expect to sweat alot!!! and do only 26 asanas always in the same order with the same instruction every single class.
Take care of yourself in a Bikram class…many teachers encourage you to push yourself and you can easily over do it and hurt yourself…take great care of the backbends if you do not have good body awareness and core strength…check what the teacher means when they yell “lock your knee” make sure you are not hyper-extending your knees…
Give it a try…make sure you are well hydrated…and rehydrate after…there is only one way to see if you like it.
Be sure to bring a full size mat towel as you will sweat a ton. Also I suggest drinking a lot of water before the class. When I say a lot I mean drink until you cannot drink anymore because you will sweat a ton.
i have been practicing hot yoga 3-5 days a week for a few months and it is great! although you do sweat a lot and a mat towel is nice to have its not required. for myself i found this type of practice to be very beneficial. i am the type that tends to push my body alot so the heat helps protect my muscles from over stretching or harm which is a nice benefit. and between the heat the postures and the inevitable water consumption you are cleansing and detoxifying your body. which is also great.
the benefits to this type of yoga are endless and if you enjoy yoga in room temperature, i would suggest you try.
my only suggestions are: make sure to bring at least a litter of water. take breaks whenever you need (which is usually recommended by the teacher anyhow). and listen to your body. this is a very different practice then typical classes but it is worth it!
good luck and i hope you like it!
If you eat a lot of salt you may want to cut back… Otherwise you will have salty sweat constantly getting in your eyes 
I find it worthwhile to try other things. It can help keep the mind open and it is a form of exploration. It is best to sample some things after one has a sense of how to remain safe in the doing. When that is not already present the exploration can be the learning through injury and that isn’t particularly fun - though it can be some of the more impactful and long-lasting lessons we absorb.
Toxins are purged by the body on its own. Yoga is not required for the body to function as it is designed. However there is some added benefit to periodic, controlled sweat for some people (sweat lodge, sauna, et al). It is not something I personally feel is required on a daily or weekly basis. It’s best to examine toxins from the other end of the continuum. Stop putting them in in large doses and there will not be such a calling for getting them out
There is always benefit. The question is whether the benefits are delivered safely or “do they outweigh the risks”. That is for each person to answer for themselves. I will say there is a tremendous dedication on the part students doing this practice and commitment is absolutely part of the path. We could all learn from such dedication and discipline - as long as it doesn’t move into addiction.
when asked about the bikram yoga…i think of Yama Brahmacharya ~ Nonexcess, moderation…it can be a normal asana practice for some people…