Bikram Yoga Decatur

Absolutely. Anybody can do it.

This is one of the reasons I love Bikram Yoga…. it is truly yoga designed for everybody and anybody. Our teaching method encourages everyone to work to their own level of ability. Our students range in age from high school students to senior citizens, from physically fit to frail, from wet noodle flexibility to steel I-beam stiffness, from vegan to ominvore. There really is no typical Bikram Yoga practitioner and we strive to make everyone feel comfortable no matter their level of fitness or experience. I call our yoga studio “the great equalizer.” It is one of my proudest achievements that many people who come to the studio with apprehension end up becoming some of our most dedicated practitioners.

Yes. How much weight depends on your physical condition, your lifestyle and how much effort and commitment you put into it. Yoga is not a weight loss program in itself but many people find that a regular practice helps them achieve their ideal body weight.

Yes. Any activity that raises the heart rate or is intended to improve the efficiency of the cardiovascular system in the absorption and transportation of oxygen is aerobic. During a typical 90 minute Bikram Yoga class your heart rate should reach it’s target exercise zone for at least 20-25 minutes, depending on your level of effort.

That’s hard to know with any certainty. The estimates range from 350 to 650 calories per class. It really depends on too many factors to make any kind of blanket prediction. I let somebody bring a body monitoring device into a class and it showed that he burned 748 calories — clearly he was working hard. The key is to think of calorie burning as simply one small benefit of practicing yoga. There are far more benefits than that.

Most people start to feel some benefits almost immediately but the most profound and long lasting benefits are cumulative. That is, they will continue to accrue as long as you continue to practice. Yoga is not a quick fix for what ails you nor is it a cure-all but many people report feeling positive effects after only a few classes. The best way to know is to try it and see for yourself.

This is something everyone has to answer for themselves. We encourage you to attend class as often as possible when getting started. One of the best things you can do for your overall health and well-being is to create positive, healthy habits. Practicing yoga on a regular basis will not only exponentially increase the benefits but it will help you get to know your body and it’s needs well enough to do what’s right for your unique situation and lifestyle. When you have successfully incorporated your yoga practice into your life your body will tell you when it wants to go to class. All you have to do is listen to it.

Certainly. Bikram has a book, Bikram’s Beginning Yoga Class, which is obviously recommended. We sell the book in our studio but you can also buy it online from BikramYoga.com or Amazon.com. You may also want to buy his audio CD. It’s worth investing in a good space heater and humidifier to realize some of the benefits of working with heat but yoga can be practiced anywhere and anytime by anyone. I encourage home practitioners to try to get to an official studio when possible for a deeper understanding and to get some personal attention but I would never discourage anyone from practicing wherever and whenever they choose.

Bikram Yoga is suitable for ages 16 and up. It is not recommended for children under the age of 16. Children 16-17 must have a parent or legal guardian come to the studio and sign a waiver for them in the presence of an instructor.

All Hatha Yoga is, in a sense, a form of meditation. Our approach is very basic with an initial emphasis on the body but our teaching recognizes the importance of the connection between mind and body. In fact, Bikram has described what we do as a kind of forced meditation -- what he means is that the mental efforts required to hold the physical postures requires a natural meditation, which is really just a strong and disciplined focus of the mind.

We don't stare at candles or chant and much of the class time is spent on physical challenges of flexibility, balance and strength but the benefits of our practice are as much in our mental capacity as in the physical. Increased concentration, a reduction of stress levels and an improved sense of well being are some of the many rewards you will discover through Bikram Yoga.