Yoga is the traditional way to give your body the much-needed tuning and helps toning. However, for those tackling excess baggage, intense workouts win hands down as it promises to burn more calories. Busting the theory, famous yoga guru Bikram Choudhary’s take on ‘Hatha Yoga’ comes to Hyderabad -- promising a balanced approach to workout.
‘Bikram yoga’ also known as ‘hot yoga’ was developed by yoga practitioner Bikram Choudhary and includes 26 poses based on the traditional ‘Hatha Yoga.’ This form of yoga works the whole body in 90 minutes and are meant to work in synergy to bring the body to a balanced state. According to Paloma Gangopadhyay, administrative head of Bikram’s Yoga College of India, the yoga builds energy, stamina and flexibility along with incorporating strength, balance and most importantly the tourniquet effect. The Hyderabad branch of Bikram Yoga Studio located at Banjara Hills is an addition to the 2200 centres across the world which include followers among celebrities ranging from Ashton Kutcher, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, as well as Sonam Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan closer home.
A certified trainer at the Bikram Yoga Studio in Hyderabad, P Naveen says, “The Bikram technique allows for stretching, squeezing and massaging of the internal organs, flushing out the cardiovascular system and stimulating the endocrine and nervous systems in order to release any deficient hormones and enzymes. The body is self-regulating and self adjusting.” At the studio, the room is intentionally kept warm so that muscles stretch more easily, including a humidity system designed to remove excess humidity or add moisture -- earning it the moniker of ‘hot yoga.’
The studio was established in the city on July 1 and has been witnessing a steady growth in clientele. Deepthi, a housewife from the city who has enrolled for the classes says, “My body has become very flexible. I can see it bending more every day. It feels good.” There is no restriction on the age of the students who can practice such yoga. A.S.Narayana, a 60 year old retired bank manager says, “I feel fit. I have taken over 13 classes and I feel near perfect.” Paloma, who is Bikram Choudhary’s niece, talks about her experiences of growing up while watching her uncle teach yoga. “He always used to say that we have become too busy with our schedules. One needs to find a way to feel happy and take that happiness home,” says the Pune-based trainer who visits the Hyderabad studio in shifts. She adds that this form of yoga is known to have extraordinary health benefits like relief from arthritis, back pain, diabetes, asthma and thyroid regulation. Moumita Basumullick, granddaughter of Paramahansa Yogananda, Indian yogi and guru is also a trainer at the Hyderabad studio.
The trainers believe that Bikram yoga has a great psychological impact as it acts as a stress buster. Naveen says, “It is natural. You do all the work without any force from an external source. Watching other students slimming down or feeling happier motivates you to do better as well.”