FAQs

When do you have your beginners classes?

If you are taking your first step in yoga, don't be scared! Everyone was at the same starting point at one time. All of our classes are designed for beginners. They will tell you: What to do, How to do it, and Why you are doing it (benefits).

Most classes have more than one new student, and don't bother comparing yourself to anyone else in the room. It's all about you!

Is Bikram Yoga for me?

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I need to lose weight?
• Am I stressed out?
• Do I get tension headaches?
• Is my cholesterol level too high?
• Do I have an injury that just won't seem to heal?
• Has my doctor told me I need to get some form of exercise?
• Do I have lower back pain? Or any back pain?
• Would I like to improve my running, golf game, marathon or triathlon?
• Do I need a boost in energy?
• Am I tired easily?
• Do I sit at a computer for long period of time?
• Do I have carpal tunnel syndrome?
• Do I have arthritis?
• My current fitness program does not deliver the result I want.

If you answered "yes" to any of the above, then Bikram Yoga is for you.

Why does it have to be hot?

The heat combined with the sequence of the 26 postures is what makes Bikram Yoga so special. In the heated environment, the muscles become more relaxed and pliable which allow you to work deeper in a shorter amount of time as well as help prevent injury. The heat expedites the flow of blood to improve circulation. Also, fatty acids are more mobilized in the heat, which helps burn fat more efficiently. As you progress, you will start to release toxins that have been stored in your system. Sweating helps flush those toxins from your body, giving you a wonderful, energized and refreshed feeling after each and every Bikram yoga class.

Is Bikram Yoga a cardiovascular workout?

Yes, practising Bikram Yoga with sufficient intensity will create an aerobic effect. No matter what your fitness level, you will find Bikram Yoga very challenging. The Bikram Method works your whole body inside out.

With persistence, patience, and dedication, you can lose inches, and develop muscle tone and strength that might never come from other forms of exercise. Each Bikram Yoga class can help burn up to 1000 calories.

Your heart is strengthened in every single posture, and you learn the invaluable lesson of how to breath to create less stress on your body and keep oxygen in your bloodstream.

What if I have high blood pressure?

Unstable high blood pressure responds so quickly to diligent Yoga practice that doctors sometimes doubt their instruments. (This quick response of the blood pressure is one of the most telling demonstrations of Yoga's ability to regulate and synchronize body systems.) If you are tested about a week after starting Yoga, you may see a slight rise in pressure. Don't be alarmed. By the second week, that pressure will be normal or close to normal and will stay there as long as you maintain your yoga regimen.

For more information click HERE.

Can it help my asthma/emphysema?

Without knowing the cause of your asthma, we can tell you that Bikram Yoga will be good for you in several ways.  It is done in a warm room which promotes relaxation of the muscles and nerves, and is the type of exercise that you can do with as little or as much intensity as appropriate for your needs.

In other words, you can do each posture with less effort if you're concerned about overexertion triggering an attack, or you can sit down and rest whenever you need to during the class.

It will relax your mind and help let go of tensions, toxins and negativity. It also strengthens your heart and lungs, improving your lung function.  You will breathe easier and deeper than you ever have before

How often should I attend classes?

We encourage a regular practice of 3 times per week for good results. For life-changing results, 4 or more times per week is a must. The beauty of Bikram Yoga is that you can practice everyday.

Can I lose weight?

Absolutely. But results varies depending on your condition. (check out the testimonials section to read some success stories.) Some people experience dramatic weight loss; some may gain more muscle mass while losing fat. When you have more muscle mass, you burn calories more efficiently. What you will see is a general slimming all over: the size of your clothes gets smaller and your body becomes a lean machine.

What if I feel sore after class?

Come right back to class the next day! Muscle soreness is a buildup of lactic acid, which means your muscles cannot extract enough oxygen from your blood. Instead of burning oxygen, your muscles burn dirty fuel sources such as sugar and creatine to create lactic acid and other by-products that build up in the blood to make you "feel the burn". The best way to get rid of lactic acid is stretching. Also, when you build up more muscle mass, your body will efficiently increase oxygen consumption during exercise.

I have bad back problems, can Bikram Yoga help?

Beginning with Half Moon, my series of exercises is designed to make your shocked and shriveled spine work to both sides, to the back, and then to the front. Only by exercising in all directions can your spine be healthy; and only with a healthy spine can you have a healthy nervous system.

If your chronic problem is something such as sciatic pain, lumbago, sore back muscles, whiplash, vertebrae out of line, shoulder trouble, radiating pains down the arms, tension headaches, swayback, spinal curvature, pinched nerves, or "something not quite right that the doctor said I ought to watch," stop watching. Act! Get to work on these exercises. Even those who have had spinal surgery should get to work--with their doctor's okay and a qualified teacher who can lead them in my particular series of exercises.

People with slipped disc are often in such pain that Yoga seems further torture. However, in numerous slipped disc cases, determined Yoga can save the day. So endure the pain. But please note that those with slipped disc should also work under the supervision of a qualified instructor using my exact series of exercises and the safety rules laid down in the body of this book.

As you can see, the best thing is to adopt a Yoga regimen before any of these troubles develop--for if you do, they probably won't develop.

What about my arthritis?

Click HERE.

Why do I feel dizzy, nauseous and lightheaded during the class?

The most common cause is dehydration; too much tea, coffee and alcohol will further dehydrate your body. Drinking plenty of fluid throughout the day will help make your class easier. If you hold your breath, you will also feel dizzy. Make sure to breathe THE WHOLE TIME!! Sometimes, toxins that built up in your system will contribute to the uneasy feeling during the class as they work their way out of your body.

Would I ever get tired of doing the same postures?

No, the practice is never the same because you are continuously being changed by it. The daily practice challenges you on many levels. Character issues of patience and perseverance come up each time. The practice offers a chance to explore deeper levels of self and develop awareness of emotions and thoughts that the postures evoke. We also have a wide variety of teachers with all different levels of ability and experience. Listen, practice the right way, and you'll never get bored!

Can my kids practice Bikram Yoga as well?

Yes, kids are welcome at Bikram Yoga White Rock. They need to be at least 12 years old, when their sweat glands are fully developed. 

If your kid tends to have 'ants in their pants', perhaps wait a couple of years before bringing them to a 90 minute class, you want to make sure you are getting your time for yourself, and not having to worry about them jumping all over the place!

Any questions, please just ask.

Can I do Bikram Yoga while menstruating?

It is perfectly safe to do Bikram's yoga when menstruating. Inverted postures are normally the postures contraindicated for menstruation. But there are no inverted postures in Bikram's yoga.

So in fact, Bikram's yoga is very good for toning the reproductive system as it directly affects the reproductive organs and the endocrine glands--pituitary, pineal and thyroid gland in particular. The women's cycle becomes regular; complaints of irregularity and PMS decrease.

Can I practice Bikram Yoga when I am pregnant?

Yes, expecting mums can practice Bikram Yoga from the 4th month onwards. However, you will need to take a private class with an instructor first and learn modified postures before joining the group classes.

For more information click HERE.