What's your experience with Bikram yoga?

[LCBMAX]

I'm especially interested if anyone has used this practice steadily for weight loss (success? frequency of practice?) but also generally interested in your experience.

I went to my first class today, and while I'd never send anyone who doesn't already know their body through yoga pretty well, or who can't monitor their own weaknesses, it seems like a seriously detoxing, cellular altering, deep shifting approach. And I could sure use all that.

I don't find it easy though (I know, it's supposed to be hard.) I challenge myself by noticing that such an intense workout does not give me an energetic lift the way it did before I was pregnant. Previously an underwear soaker of a workout like this would tire my muscles and lift my spirits. Maybe I'm just detoxing, but today it tired my muscles and stunned my spirits.

Anyway, I'm gonna try at least 3 classes this week and re-evaluate. Would love to hear your experience of this practice.
Thanks.

[madskye]

I did 2x per week about 6 months after I had my daughter. I felt like it helped me detox and definitely made me feel better. No real weight loss that I can point to though...and even though it made me feel better, I kind of hate it. I hate the heat and the class atmosphere, and much prefer kripalu yoga.

[Ahappymel]

Hi there,
I practice 3 X's a week, have done Bikram Yoga for the last 5 years.
The studio where I practice is not as militant as I've heard some Bikram studios and teachers can be. Some of the dialogue of the Bikram class is really awful, I think...like in backbends, Bikram has some strange dialogue that says "Your back is going to hurt like hell!" and "Kill yourself!" The Bikram class is jokingly called, "Bikram's Torture Chamber".
Again, none of the teachers at our studio say "Kill Yourself!" but I believe that a log of the formal dialogue can be forceful and teachers have to learn it in training.
So, having said that, I love Bikram yoga...I think it is very challenging and it forces me to center/calm my mind and rely on my breathing.
I do think it's one of those love-or-hate things for many. I personally find it very strenuous and I'm glad I do something that pushes me to my physical edge.
It has toned my body and helped me stay slim like no other exercise I've ever done.

[Ahappymel]

Oh...just to add something I've heard many Bikram people say is that no matter how much/how long you've done it, it continues to be a challenge...there will be strong days and weaker days, no matter what and you can't always predict it.