The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › General Hot Yoga Discussion › Hot Yoga *faq* › Difference between Bikram and Hot Yoga?
The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › General Hot Yoga Discussion › Hot Yoga *faq* › Difference between Bikram and Hot Yoga?
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Please forgive if this question has been covered before, but I am having a hard time finding some simple explanations regarding the difference between Bikram and Hot Yoga. I understand that Bikram has a very regimented program with specifics in script, carpeted flooring, etc. and that the Bikram name can only be used by those who have specifically trained in this way.
My studio does “Hot Yoga” only. We practice on mats on a wood floor with mirrors on three walls and turn sideways to keep poses on the mat. When I look at the poses pictured here, most of ours are the same, but we do tree pose differently, we do two poses that are not pictured here, and do not do a few of the poses (such as toe stand) that I see here. For any studio that offers Hot Yoga, are there specific poses/is there a set routine that they must follow to call it Hot Yoga, or can any yoga practiced in the heated room be considered Hot yoga? This studio has several instructors who basically follow the same program with slight variation, but can any Hot Yoga studio design their own program or will all be generally the same?
Also – arm poses such as crane and peacock – to which type of yoga do these belong? I used to take dance classes with an instructor who incorporated poses like this into our warmup and I really enjoy those. This is my first time doing yoga, so I only know the way my studio does it. I am loving my practice and just can’t get enough!
I also found another form of hot yoga called Moksha yoga. Some of the poses look similiar to bikram yoga, with different name.
Here are some video on different poses.
Thanks, that’s interesting. The Moksha poses and series look to be very similar to the type of hot yoga I practice. I’ve also found info on Sumits yoga which looks to be much the same. I wonder – since my only experience is this type of hot yoga, will I be thrown for a loop in a Bikram class, or will I find it familiar? I haven’t found a Bikram studio nearby, but I am very happy with my current yoga practice.
Hi Mary
Moksha, Sumit (who is a nephew of Bikram btw) and many other styles coined as hot yoga are either exactly the same, change a pose or 2, omit a pose or 2 or add a pose or 2 or 6, to the yoga series popularized by Bikram!
There are styles that add poses that include down dog, high and low push ups and other poses you find in Vinyasa, Power or Ashtanga classes.
All you can do is investigate by either phoning, looking at a website or trying a class. It’s great to try a class (well a few classes of a different style or permutation) and feel what it does for your body, your strength, your core strength and your general satisfaction.
The great thing is that it is all yoga!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Thanks for the information! The studio I’m currently attending is apparently “Sumit” hot yoga. Some of the things i’ve read regarding Bikram make it sound more difficult, stricter, and a bit intimidating! Good to know it’s really not that different than what I practice now. I’ll see if I can try Bikram at some point, but I really love the atmosphere of this studio.
Thanks so much for offering your wisdom and advice to so many via this website!! What a great resource!
For me, I see hot yoga as a distinct lineage from Calcutta, that of Bishnu Ghosh (Bikram’s teacher), and encompasses more that 26 postures and a rigid sequence. This post might help explain what I mean:
http://lindsayfields.com/2009/11/27/what-is-hot-yoga-and-how-is-it-different-from-other-yoga-styles/
Good question!
I am 43 and overweight (250 and 5′ 9″). I started Bikram about 3 weeks ago. I don’t know any other types of yoga but to me it doesn’t seem too strict or hard core or anything like that for me. If I have trouble with a posture the teacher will give me an alternative. We don’t use straps and blocks typically and instead adjust a bit to get into a pose. (Trust me I can’t balance so I just keep trying, eventually I will)
Bikram has a book that I have found very interesting. I was scared the first time but I went and did it, and I love it. The great thing about yoga is that there is something for everyone.
Thanks, everyone… great information. I am attending a new studio that is “Sumit” Hot Yoga. Sumit Banerjee credits Bikram as his main teacher and mentor and also mentions a few others in his bio, so I think this is sort of his own “version” of Bikram. There are apparently 5 or more Sumit’s hot yoga studios in the US now. I am loving this practice!
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