Bikram’s Yoga is a demanding series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises, suitable for all ages and levels of ability. Each posture stretches and strengthens the muscles, ligaments and joints in a specific sequence, working synergistically and cumulatively, each posture preparing the body for the next, helping return the body to a more balanced state. The yoga builds strength, stamina and flexibility. It incorporates balance, strength and breath, challenging the body while calming the mind. The poses stretch and strengthen, as well as compress using the tourniquet effect. This technique allows the stretching, squeezing and massaging of the internal organs, flushing out the cardiovascular system and stimulating the endocrine and nervous systems. In addition the series combine skills of concentration, patience, determination and self-control, increasing mental clarity and reducing stress.

Bikram Yoga is done in a heated room to warm your muscles and allow you to work deeper and safer, as well as making you sweat, a lot, flushing toxins from your body.

Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury is the founder of the worldwide Yoga College of India™. Born in Calcutta in 1946, Bikram began Yoga at the age of five with Bishnu Ghosh, brother of Paramahansa Yogananda (Autobiography of a Yogi, founder of the Self Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles). Bikram practiced Yoga four to six hours a day at Ghosh's College of Physical Education in Calcutta; and at the age of thirteen, he won the National India Yoga contest. He was undefeated for three years. Bikram arrived in the United States in 1973 at the invitation of President Nixon. He quickly became the foremost yoga teacher in the West, helping millions of students worldwide through his school in Beverly Hills and at over 600 affiliated schools worldwide.

For more information on Bikram yoga, check out Bikram’s Yoga College of India. www.bikramyoga.com. Here you can find out about Bikram, Bikram yoga, teacher training, schools, books, tapes and more.