Just did first Bikram Yoga class

Science? Yes Please. wrote:

You have a reference for the aforementioned organ and gland activation? Scientific study, peer-review journal, readers digest, anything?

How about sweat? That is gland activation, no?

yung4evr wrote:

Open your mind, educate yourself, read, and clean up your language.

Just Googled "bikram yoga activate internal organs glands". Lots of claims of activating organs and glands, but no explanations behind these claims. What exactly does it mean to "activate" an organ or gland anyway?

Here's a great link with lots of unexplained claims:

"Standing Bow Pulling Pose...activates digestive system". Uh, was it inactive before? Does this mean more stomach acid is being generated or something? So you mean to tell me leaning over and pulling your leg above your head is a signal for your body to produce additional stomach acid?

By the way, the same pose - Standing Bow Pulling Pose - also "helps regulate ovaries and prostate gland". Lol! What??

Look, yoga seems like a pretty healthy way to spend your time. It is obvious that it can improve strength, flexibility, even cardiovascular fitness since your heart rate will be elevated. But a lot of these other claims seem very dubious. Instead of putting the impetus on us to track down possibly non-existent evidence related to organs and glands, how about you just make it easy on us and post the information for us to examine?

During the routines they will quickly say "this activates the digestive system" or "induces blood flow to so-and-so" and I think that's just some of the religion that must be in it, and they only touch on it. Most of the class is about getting the body physically working together - arms hear, legs here, pull, etc. I take the organ talk with a grain of salt. No one does it for "organ activation". It's not the main point. Strawman.

No one denies Bikram is EXTREMELY healthy for you - great for STRENGTH, FLEXIBILITY, and FOCUS. There is NO denying that. As for the organs, the body at least feels all around healthier. I've been eating tons since I started, more so than running five to six days a week.

dhali lamma wrote:

I take the organ talk with a grain of salt. No one does it for "organ activation". It's not the main point. Strawman.

No one here has said or implied that people only do yoga for organ activation. You saying "strawman" as if we had is the strawman.

Yoga is great for the body, I'm just not big on the junk science claims that are flying around here. If I did yoga I would probably do what you do, take that part with a grain of salt and focus more on how the yoga is making me feel better. Ultimately, whatever the mechanic (organ activation or otherwise), the most important thing is the result.

What if you have to fart during the session? I can't go a full 90 minutes without letting one rip.

Bikram is very good for you up to a point i think. For someone like the OP, it is perfect. Weak and inflexible runners will experience surprisingly quick gains in both areas. I'm not sure I agree with all the inner organ stuff, but I can't say its bs either. I do know that bikram was almost solely responsible for fixing my runners knee. But i think if you get really stretchy like some of the people in there, that wouldnt necessarily help you run faster/healthier and might actually be detrimental. That said, it would take a lot of classes and a lot of dough to reach this level.

And yes there are generally really hot girls, which is reason enough to go.

Gordon,

How long did you do it for, how often did you go?

At least you'd have the class to yourself.

I got a monthly and went every other day on average, I found this to be the best frequency for me. After that I got a few weekly specials. Now once a week is enough for maintenence, especially now that i'm running almost everyday. After a month, I could feel my legs were definitely stronger and i was undeniably more flexible. Also i would recommend going all out when you go, so as to maximize the benefits. Very hard but rewarding. One of the instructors said that bikram could cure any soft tissue injury. This is definitely an exaggeration but i think it could cure the imbalances and things like that that cause repetitive soft tissue injuries.

I have been going to bikram for about a month now about 2x a week. I think that it has really helped the flexibility part of the equation, I was never able to touch my toes standing legs together and now I can. I also think it really helps in regards to weight loss, for those of you who are looking for it. I have heard claims that it can naturally raise your V02max, but that could just be from the weight loss I suppose. I think one or two times a week is great for people who are looking for some supplemental training and or a jump start to training.

I'm a serious runner and certified yoga instructor and I have done Bikram a few times. It is not my path or lineage so take my advice with this in mind. I think Bikram is good for glandular cleansing because it really gets the sweat going and has poses that compress the glands which gets the fluids moving within them. Using the breath really oxygenates the blood and as the heart rate increases during the practice due to the heat, and the blood vessels open due to the heat, more oxygen is circulated to places that it may not reach during normal exercise.

With this being said, Bikram (the person) designed this sequence because of a bad knee injury. It helped him recover and he published it. There are other styles out there that may suit a runner more, but by all means, whatever resonates with you is what you should do. I would encourage you to try other types though, as a runner, and see what keeps you healthy and feeling good.

Sorry this is kind of thrown together, but I'll add more when I get home from work tonight. If there are any questions that I may answer, please post them.

P.S. to the OP, Good for you for going out on a limb and voicing your experience. Yoga is great for running, but running is obviously bad for yoga. Stick with is and the yoga practice will show you great things in running!

Ah you're a troll, I didn't get it before.

hey surrounded by spandex...

what city/studio are you referring to? I'm about to graduate college and am looking to move anywhere where there is a good bikram studio. where i live now, it's only offered twice a week. i'm looking to meet my soul mate in a bikram class. i absolutely LOVE the heat 'cause I'm so skinny, so I want someone whose DNA enjoys the same temperature as me. I think that's important.

Gordon wrote:

And yes there are generally really hot girls, which is reason enough to go.

But how many times have you heard the hot girls queef during the plow position? It happens, laddies, and then I'm guessing you won't find them quite so hot.

Thanks for the great posts all.

Yogamon, I am doing a similar type of gig with the Bikram. I am 8 days in so far with a 30 day unlimited pass.

What other types of yoga might you suggest to benefit runners/triathletes?

This thread is hilarious. In multiple ways.