Most studios and fitness centers offer yoga in a warm or hot room, but Bikram yoga, sometimes called the original hot yoga style, is a whole ...KnowBeforeYouGo:BikramYogaWrittenbySophiaBreeneonMarch26,2013Moststudiosandfitnesscentersofferyogainawarmorhotroom,butBikramyoga,sometimescalledtheoriginalhotyogastyle,isawholedifferentballgame.Technically,BikramisaversionofHatha,atraditionalbranchofyogathatcombinesposturesandbreathing.Butit’snotjustastyle,it’saspecificexperiencewithacult-likefollowing(Beyoncéincluded).Everyclassfeaturesthesame26setposes,takesplaceina105-degreeroom,andistaughtbyaBikram-certifiedinstructor.Buttheheatandtoughposturescanprovidedifferentchallengesthanatraditionalyogapractice.Here’sthe411onhowtostaysafeandgetthemostoutofaBikramsession.ShareonPinterestPhotobyColinGouldWarmBodies—TheNeed-to-KnowBackinthe1970s,BikramChoudhury(afour-timeYogaChampionofIndia)createdaseriesofposesforamateuryogis.SinceBikramdevelopedhispractice,hundredsofBikramyogacentershavecroppeduparoundtheworld,fromSerbiatoSanFrancisco.Regardlessoflocation,eachsweaty90-minuteclassfeaturesthesameseriesofpostures,suchasthehalfmoonandthestandingbow.AccordingtotheBikramofficialwebsite,theheathelpssweatouttoxins,stretchmuscles,andimprovecirculationthroughoutthebody.Theheatdefinitelygetstheheartpumping,butthejury’sstilloutonwhetherornotitcountsasacardiovascularworkout.Theevenlypacedmovesaresuperlow-impact,makingBikramagoodoptionforrunnersoranyonewithsorejoints.Researchalsoshowsthatthisformofyogacanbooststrength,flexibility,andevenaidweightlossBikramyogatrainingandphysicalfitnessinhealthyyoungadults.TracyBL,HartCE.NeuromuscularFunctionLaboratory,DepartmentofHealthandExerciseScience,ColoradoStateUniversity,FortCollins,Colorado.TheJournalofStrengthandConditioningResearch.2013March;27(3):822-30.Ontheotherhand,criticsclaimthattheheatcanlimberupabodyabittoomuch,andactuallydomoreharmthangoodwhenpeoplearesuddenlyabletopushthemselvesbeyondtheirusuallimitations.Theexcessiveheatcanalsobeaproblemforpe