Bikram Yoga is a style of yoga that consists of a series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises, practiced in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.6 degrees Celsius) with a humidity level of 40%. The class is 90 minutes long and each posture is repeated twice.
The 26 postures and two breathing exercises of Bikram Yoga are:
- Standing Deep Breathing
- Half Moon Pose with Hands to Feet Pose
- Awkward Pose
- Eagle Pose
- Standing Head to Knee Pose
- Standing Bow Pose
- Balancing Stick Pose
- Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose
- Triangle Pose
- Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee Pose
- Tree Pose
- Toe Stand Pose
- Dead Body Pose (Savasana)
The second half of the class consists of postures practiced on the floor:
- Wind Removing Pose
- Sit Up
- Cobra Pose
- Locust Pose
- Full Locust Pose
- Bow Pose
- Fixed Firm Pose
- Half Tortoise Pose
- Camel Pose
- Rabbit Pose
- Head to Knee Pose with Stretching Pose
- Spine Twisting Pose
- Blowing in Firm Pose
Bikram Yoga is often practiced in a heated room to increase flexibility, reduce the risk of injury, and promote sweating, which is believed to help detoxify the body. It was founded by Bikram Choudhury in the 1970s and is also known as “hot yoga”.