Living yoga master Bikram Choudhury is a guru to the stars and founder of what critics call McYoga – level 105, 26 brands of exercise posture coming soon to a mall near you.
Here we are speaking with Stevan Falk, director of Bikram Yoga San Antonio
What attracted you to Bikram Yoga?
For me, it is a very challenging form of exercise that identifies the many weaknesses of the traditional western methods of fitness (strength training, walking) is not. If I’m not good at something, which usually means that I have to work on it. Apparent after the first class that I really needed to work on it. Come to think of it, certainly after the last class that I really have to work on it ….
Why is yoga, which is backed by 5,000 years of practice, maintaining a reputation for deceit to the public?
Hmmm, hokey. I think the media has made a practice of Yoga / meditation song when it’s really only one aspect of several types of Yoga. Surely it is an aspect of Yoga is easily sensationalized. Combining with (West) our lack of understanding of Eastern culture and is easy to jump to conclusions.
Critics say the dangerous heat. How do you respond?
Driving your car is dangerous. Playing a dangerous sport. Smoking is dangerous. In my opinion watching TV 10 hours a week is dangerous. At some point critics will tell you not to breathe or you may pull the muscles …. come on …. The last time I saw AC is the invention of the 20th century. Apparently there are many people who live, work, hunting, fighting, etc. in the heat in hot climates around the world. Modern life has made us quite soft …. Clearly, we must use common sense and take into account any existing health conditions. If your doctor has cleared you to exercise hard, then just be smart, hydrate, and you should be fine. If you are concerned about personal medical condition then consult with your doctor. If you have a heat problem before (heat stress, heat stroke), once again consulted. Always talk to any teacher, or a fitness professional in this case, if you will exercise and have a condition / injury. That way teachers can make more precise judgments and educated as a class going on.
What most newbies say after their first session?
Wow.
Can I leave before it expires if the heat is unbearable?
Only if you want the guards to take you down at the door. Seriously, though, the heat should not be unbearable. We told each student that if (heat, work, every part of it) gets too much, just lie down and nap in savasana. Last time I checked, napping is not unbearable. However, I am not your mother either. You can leave whenever you want. Just do not get used. This interferes with the other 30 students who stayed in the room. The only people who got into trouble in the room were people who had too much pride to lie down. If your body sends a signal that just listening. It’s no big deal. Heat can be tough for beginners but your body will adjust during the first few classes. Just start small and build up progressively to do more than posture over time.
Who should really not try Bikram yoga?
That’s a very difficult question to answer. Each person is an individual, have a certain level of health and fitness, and may react differently to food, sports medicine, and every stimulus in this case. There are many drugs out there that increase sensitivity to heat. Heat can increase heart rate and have a positive effect on healthy people, but it will be difficult for people with heart conditions. There are many contraindications for heat. So basically, like other forms of exercise started strong, use common sense and go get checked by your doctor. If you are pregnant, wait to try it until after you deliver.
Bikram never met in person? What is he?
In order to teach Bikram Yoga, we have to spend 9 weeks at Bikram Teacher Training in Los Angeles. In this training, you have a day to day contact with Bikram and his senior teachers. This is a training process that is quite rough and broad: classes meet Monday through Friday from 9:00 am until after midnight a few nights (actually, a lot of the night) and even on Saturday morning. He does not care about the flexibility or how cool your posture, he just wanted to see who really want to teach yoga and how mentally tough you are. Bikram is a very charismatic man. Sometimes sweet, sometimes haughty, always entertaining. If you really want to know, then come meet him at the seminar with us in October of this year in the Hill Country Hyatt. Guaranteed to be a blast!
What are the biggest benefits of yoga?
That answer will be different for each student. The biggest benefit for me is to relieve back pain and knee. But I also lost about 40 pounds in the process and I slept like a champ. Stress relief, weight loss, and pain are some of the most common benefits for our students. Most people come back because of how they feel when they finish the class. In addition to superb relaxation and feelings of well-being, they worked very hard and therefore have a strong sense of accomplishment. This is a good feeling.
How many sessions per week do you recommend?
As much as possible. Baron Baptiste, a teacher of yoga and Bikram former students have said, “For the good results come three times a week, for great results come every day.” Obviously, life gets in the way, but like anything else, the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.
Is there a DVD for Bikram tourists?
No, Bikram is not real big on the idea of ??yoga videos and such. In the end, in the future, I believe that he would have one because the demand will be too big. However, there are hundreds of Bikram studios across the U.S. and the world, in almost every major city and in some non-major cities. Went to visit another studio! Having a good teacher or coach is always better than a video.
Bikram Yoga San Antonio 