Hot Yoga v Bikram Yoga

Hi Bonnie,
You have brought up a good question. One that is asked often, but not always answered clearly. I trained with Bikram back in 2000 and always practiced in Bikram studios before opening my own. We opened as a Bikram Studio and shifted a few years ago to being a Hot Yoga Studio. There were a number of reasons for the shift for us.

A while ago, Bikram was tightening the rein on “Bikram” studios. This was during the time of threatened lawsuits etc. You can research the web for more info. There were no franchises or agreements to sign at that time. He became more and more focused on “strict dialogue”, to the point it was rumored that he was sending around “secret shoppers” to relay back to him whether the teacher stuck with the dialogue. With all due respect to “strict dialogue” lovers out there I joked with my students that they should take me out back and shoot me if I was required to never veer from dialogue. We do follow a dialogue, but it allows for flexibility in the classroom with regards to a dynamic learning process that goes on in the room. I’ve been teaching for 8 years now and would love to do it for ages and and ages. Having the flexibility in the dialogue will keep it fresh for me for years to come.

Another reason is that due to economic reasons we offered other styles of classes at the studio and different class lengths. This is a big NO NO to Bikram. Bikram only wants the 90 minute class, no silent classes, no hour long classes, no 75 minute classes offered at a Bikram Yoga Studio. I do agree with him that it is best to offer one style of yoga and be an expert in that style, we no longer offer other styles and it has been best for our studio and our students. I also agree with his assertion that the 90 minute class is best, hands down. But what if you can’t make a 90 minute class? I think an Hour long class is better than no yoga at all. We offer a Beginning Series, with all of the regular Bikram postures. We have added hip openers and an option for people with current back injuries during the Standing Forehead to Knee. So we have 30 postures in all. We offer different class lengths and have a silent class to music.

Another reason is that the focus of our practice has shifted. Over the years I became less “militant” in my thinking. I am no longer interested in push, push, push…farther, farther, farther. I did all of that for a long while. My body is older now, it has different needs. The practice is such a comfort to me now. I don’t go in to the studio just killing myself. I work hard and with great discipline. And mainly I wanted to have “truth in advertising”. People come to expect a more “aggressive” style from a Bikram studio and I found that some of our customers visiting from other towns wanted the boot camp experience, to be yelled at and be somewhat antagonized. And we simply don’t offer that, I don’t need to be antagonized nor do I have the need to antagonize anyone. For us, it became a philosophical shift from Bikram to Hot Yoga.

Finally, a large part of the reason for the shift is out of respect for Bikram and the practitioners. If we are not offering the same style, the same 90 minute classes, the same dialogue you would expect from a class at Headquarters then we should change our name from Bikram Yoga Anytown, Earth to Hot Yoga Anytown, Earth :).

So those are some of the reasons we shifted from Bikram to Hot Yoga. I hope this helps. I look forward to hearing other’s experiences as well.
Staying tuned.
Warmly,
Outward1

People come to expect a more “aggressive” style from a Bikram studio and I found that some of our customers visiting from other towns wanted the boot camp experience, to be yelled at and be somewhat antagonized. And we simply don’t offer that, I don’t need to be antagonized nor do I have the need to antagonize anyone.

Just as we were scratching our heads wondering how to answer this diplomatically, you come along with a far more eloquent answer than I could have … THANK YOU Outward1 for taking the time and stating what we believe too – that there can be a much better way.

(I just partially quoted you for the sake of brevity – I loved the whole post!!)

*with appreciation*

Robert

thumbs up

Bikram Yoga is a series of 26 poses and 2 breathing exercises, suitable for all ages and levels of ability. It is done in a heated room to warm your muscles, prevent injury, allow a deeper workout and cleanse the body by flushing toxins.

“Never too late, never too old, never too bad, and never too sick to do this yoga and start from scratch again”.

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Interesting discussion. It means that hot yoga can really be anything as long as there is heat, which is much like other yoga styles with no set series. As an outsider, meaning I haven’t been certified, the “politics” behind all of this is fascinating. My current studio does use the bikram banner but his style is very meditative, not at all drill sargeanty, and he does have silent classes. First time I went to a different studio I was majorly surprised by the differences. But have found that I can maintain the meditative practice, which is important to me.

I think I’m a very lucky gal.