Now, I know that I've been a bit of a Cad and Bounder of late but when I say I just wanna make you sweat I am not probably on the same page as Snoop.

So this post isn't exactly about bumping uglies (although it could well be beneficial to it).

Its about my latest venture, my latest way to keep me focused and an excuse to take my clothes off lol

It is of course...Bikram Yoga!

Had my first taste today and I was blown away by just how demanding and tough it was.

And not just because I'm a big lump. Remember, I'm a big fan of Pilates so have reasonable core strength and balance.

But i was simply not prepared for what has so far been THE workout of my life. I had read all about how:

It has been proved and experienced by millions that these 26 postures systematically work every part of the body, to give all the internal organs, all the veins, all the ligaments, and all the muscles everything they need to maintain optimum health and maximum function. Each component takes care of something different in the body, and yet they all work together synergistically, contributing to the success of every other one, and extending its benefits.

But,come on, it's just Yoga! Boy, how was I wrong!?
Within minutes, I ws pantng and my heart rate was pounding at 155 ....and that was only on seeing all the semi clothed hotties in my class lol

I was pushed for over 80 mins and I felt exhausted but energised (walked 2 miles of the journey home). The 26 postures stretched (pun intended) me to the limit and at 833 kcals burned, not too a shabby return and a lot more than I expected.

But I would have to say that even someone new to yoga could attempt most of the postures successfully with progresssion most likely leading to increased range (it was painful just looking at some of my classmates postures).

Would love to hear if anyone else has sampled Bikram.

I want to do this I need to find a class I love yoga but I am very much wanting to find a class to make sure what i'm doing at home is safe,is bikram the one done in heat, i'll click the link in a mo. my next challlenge find a yoga class to go too I dont pay for the gym any more so I could do a couple of classes and for that kind of calorie burn I'm there!!

oh stephen did you see this it made me chuckle, this guy seriously needs to fill out his cheeks skin and bone

Breathing in Fart Yoga

No sound on my pc at the moment but is he talking about enclosed space, no air and passing of germs and toxic gases lol?

I did notice that the room was a little more full of odours than I was used to but still loved the class

oh no you have to hear it lol yes he isn't a fan of Bikram fart yoga carpet toxin aircon yoga lol he is a fan of yoga though out door tropical yoga if you want hot yoga do it in the sun

eh,I live in Scotland emember. Only Sun we get is a newspaper ;o)

I know a sales guy that loves Bikram Yoga. Though, he tried to tell me that it burned as many calories as running a marathon, to which I smiled and didn't respond.

It sounds like being in the depths of hell... not for me. Though, I just signed up for the super-duper gym in Lexington and I will attend my first Yoga 101 class tomorrow if I can remember to buy a yoga mat beforehand. I have to work on touching my toes.

To burn that many calories I would assume you would have to elevate your heart rate and move your body in such a way that you actually expended that many calories, similar things like xcountry skiing, biking, weight lifting for a long period of time, but doing yoga in a hot room, would likely not elevate your heart rate that much, and I don't know how you would do it long enough.
On the other hand how many calories one burns is largely up to the person we are talking about and how long the activity is done for. I would think that my time running a marathon would be in the 6.4 hour range if I could last that long. I bet the guys who run it in less than 3 burn fewer calories, and do a heck of a lot of things a heck of a lot more efficiently than I.

I also weight a huge amount so I probably burn a few calories doing this, on the other hand I have large muscles so I can move my mass rather easily compared perhaps with a slim dood wearing a weight vest bringing him up to my total.

The variables are tremendous. I have a feeling though that unless we are talking about an 80 lb guy who is 9' tall running a marathon in 55 minutes vs a 6' tall 480lb guy doing hot yoga for 455 minutes, there is likely no comparison on calorie consumption.

I've wondered this before and I'll wonder it again here. Is strength incompatible with flexibility?

I recently read an article about nude yoga classes, I can only imagine that like nude beaches, none of the people putting on a show are the ones you want to see doing nude yoga. The use of your own mat becomes paramount though I suppose.

It would be more comfortable if the heat is going to be so high though.

Al, the 833 kcal burn was registered by my Polar FT7 with my rate being elavated to 80% of my max.

And I think you are probably making the same asssumptions that I did.

That it is just a little bit of stretching.

But it was a serious workout, with almost all of the postures requiring both mental and physical exertion on my part.

I've wondered this before and I'll wonder it again here. Is strength incompatible with flexibility?

And I would ask you to look at the Australian Open Tennis champion, Djokovic to see a guy
who is both strong and flexible.

So strength and flexibility are compatible but maybe mass and flexibility are not and personally I'd rather be functionally strong than big.

Goos Luck Angie I'm going to research classes today I notice the more of Jillians work outs I do the less flexible I become so need to get the streching back I want to always be able to touch my toes.

Watching that Vid you put up Stephen certainly shows the amount of effort needed to complete the postures and that in a hot room too oh and maybe pin the paper on the wall while you work out? is that the same thing?

Session two of my Bikram Yoga and although it was only 650 Kcals this time (didn't feel as warm), it was still a exhausting workout and I surprised myself by being able to hold a few postures that only last week were "impossible".

Albeit, I'm still a little flu ridden, I'm actually benefiting from the rest and feel ready to up my efforts and train smarter.

I tried that bikram yoga with my wife about 7 years ago. It about killed me. I felt like puking and I think it caused an anxiety attack. I like regular yoga... been wanting to sign up for another session. Maybe in a few weeks.

I read somewhere that your increased heart rate isn't equivalent to calories burned. Cant remember where or I'd find it and link it, but something like your heart rate is increased because it's hot. Not because you're working hard. Therefore you dont burn as many cals as you would think

Sam, yes, the increased heart rate is due to the combined exertion and heat. With the body having to regulate my core temp, my heart and lungs are working hard. But I think both heat and increased heart rate boost the metabolism a little

And heat only increases heart rate by about 10 beats a minute which is less than cutting the grass

Bikram yoga requires a lot of exertion with the 26 poses selected specifically. It's far from easy (for me at least) but if it only increases my flexibility I won't complain. With running, kick boxing etc, I should (better) have plenty of cardio to help me burn fat while things such as my kettlebells training will help build more lean mass.