Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class

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Summary: A Miraculously Helpful Set of Postures
Review: I attended classes at Bikram's Yoga College of India for three years, and have received instruction from Bikram himself during quite a number of those classes. About two years ago the college moved to a different location and since then I have continued my practice at home.

Everything they say about Bikram the man is true. Yes, he is an egotist. Yes, with his millions of dollars and multiple Rolls Royces he has fully embraced the materialistic lifestyle of his adopted country and in particular of his home city of Beverly Hills. He is well aware of his egotism and materialism, and revels in both to the point of self-parody.

None of this erases the fact that the 26 Bikram postures are perhaps the most concise, therapeutic, balanced and adaptable compilation of the yoga repertoire ever brought together under a single method.

They are concise, in that every part of the body is exercised, but if the same part is exercised in more than one posture, it is always in a slightly different way, and always in a way that takes advantage of the repetition to further increase the flexibility of the body, and always far enough from the original posture to make the repetition meaningful rather than redundant (e.g., standing head to knee is posture five, while the seated head to knee is posture twenty-four). They are therapeutic, in that circulation is enhanced, muscles are stretched to release toxins, and intense heat and perspiration help to carry those toxins out of the body. They are balanced, in that each posture that stretches in one direction is invariably followed by another that stretches in the opposite direction (e.g., camel pose followed by rabbit pose). Finally, they are adaptable, in that every posture can be done to a greater or a lesser degree, allowing both beginners and long-time practitioners to benefit from exactly the same set of postures.

In so many ways, this makes the Bikram postures "all you really need" - a comprehensive set of postures beyond which you need look no further in order to maintain your flexibility and health.

Yes, just as some others have reported, I too made an effort to attend classes taught by "anybody but Bikram" while I was at the college. While he is very knowledgeable, his constant banter often interrupted the flow of the postures, and his classes invariably ran late as a result. But I will always be grateful to him for having developed his method, which has been of enormous assistance to me in maintaining my physical health and clarity of mind.

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Summary: Extremely useful for this Bikram student
Review: I believe one reviewer missed the point of this book. It is not intended to be a do-it-yourself yoga course. It is a guide to the yoga student who attends a Bikram yoga class. I'm fortunate to have a Bikram studio only two blocks from my house in San Francisco. Classes are crowed and instructors don't have time for a lot of one-on-one instruction. That's why it is helpful to read through the descriptions, especially after you are familiar with the poses. It gives lots of hints which cause lightbulbs to go off in my head. Bikram at home? First of all, you *must* have a super-heated room and a wall-sized mirror. And an instructor is mandatory, especially if you are beginning. It's not yoga for sissies, and I'm pretty much a sissy. But you will be surprised how good you feel about yourself after completing 90 minutes of stretching,sweating and pushing yourself to your limits. The other thing is you get maximum benefit from your workout even if you are beginning, as long as your pose is in good form.

A great thing about the photographs is that he uses a variety of ages and body types so that no one is excluded. Thin, fat, young and old are all there. And I was delighted with Bikram's sense of humor--he's a great showman! He's not afraid to be silly and by doing so he takes some of the sanctimoniousness out of yoga.

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Summary: This is a do it yourself book
Review: I do not agree with the comments of the other reviewers that you have to take Bikram's classes even though it would be ideal. I picked up the book and started doing the exercises as good as I could. The descriptions and photos are very helpful to do the various poses. I recommend that you take it easy in the beginning and do the poses as good as you can. Then when time goes on you can reread and reread the book to catch the finer points. (I already can do the resting pose really well)

But no matter where you start you will benefit from the exercises and I have found them very save when you follow the guidelines. After the workout I always feel very serene and relaxed and I am already more flexible. In the beginning you will be soar all the time but do not give up because this will disappear after a week of regular practice. I do the exercises when I come home from work but you do need an understanding partner because the exercises can take two hours and more when you start learning them. Good luck

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Summary: A great read for the Bikram enthusiast.
Review: I flew through this book. I found it entertaining and informative. Some people think that Bikram comes off as arrogent and mean but I like how he challenges his students and I think he really wants to help people. For people who want to be physically pushed, Bikram is a great system and this is a good book for you. But if your into a more mellow practice, you have no need for this book or the yoga system it refers to. It's all about what your looking for in your practice. I personally like to be challenged; I like a good workout and dynamic postures; I like it when a teacher pushes me to go further. That's just where I am in my practice. As I get older I'll probably get more into the spiritual side of yoga but for now I enjoy the physical side the most. As Bikram says "You must master the physical before you can know the spiritual."

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Summary: My experience - it works!
Review: I have been using Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class (the book alone, no instructor) and found it to be tremendously effective for improving flexibility, strength, conditioning, and energy levels. I do my best to follow the instructions to the letter and perform each pose as well as I can, and it really works.

I knew nothing about yoga before I started, so I intentionally chose this book for it's defined program and limited set of poses, as opposed to others that have a smorgasbord of poses that I could dabble in. As other reviewers have pointed out, some of the poses are not easy, and there are many that I still probably only get 25% right because I don't have the strength and flexibility, but the honest effort I make is paying off.

I found myself getting more and more out of shape because nagging injuries stopped me every time I tried to start an exercise program. My formerly active lifestyle was slowing way down, and I just felt bad -- and felt bad about myself as a result. Bikram's yoga has turned that around in 2 short months. I've lost some weight, gained a tremendous amount of flexibility, added muscle tone, and feel a lot better about my long term health outlook.

I do the full program (it takes me about an hour and 15 minutes) at least 4 times a week, usually 5 or 6. I'll probably take a class with an instructor eventually.

Is Bikram's yoga the best way? I don't know. But it's working for me.

Rating:
Summary: Great experience
Review: I have practiced Bikram Yoga on and off for 2 years and this book proved to be an invaluable guide. I use it to refine my poses and when I am not able to make it to a class it allows me to practice at home, although creating the proper room temperature out side a studio is a challenge.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has tried a Bikram's yoga class and enjoyed it. It's images provide a useful guide to proper asanas and the instructions reinforce them and provide encouragement. I am very pleased with this book.

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Summary: Brillant
Review: I love Bikram Yoga and have been practicing for 1 year now. It is the best workout ever and makes you feel great. The book is funny and gives you indepth details on the poses. Bikram yoga is really tough, but you improve quickly.

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Summary: A nice book, but....
Review: I really enjoy Bikram yoga and find this book helpful. I also really appreciate that they have updated the book with current pictures of the same yoga models years later--I find this very inspiring as they all still look great and healthy. However, am I the only one that finds Bikram the man to be a bit of a jerk???? Some of this stuff is just mean. I had a friend who went to his main studio who went out of her way to catch his wife's classes and not his. After reading this, I understand.

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Summary: Great book to go along with the class..
Review: i really enjoyed this book. i am currently taking Bikram's yoga class in Houston. i already see much improvement in only a couple of weeks. my skin has cleared, i feel better, i am getting more flexible, etc..

the book is best when used in conjunction with the classes. i would not have been able to get the "point" with only the book.

i like the way the book was written and i enjoyed reading Bikram's "chatter".. it has helped me improve my poses during my classes.

Rating:
Summary: A decent understanding of Bikram's
Review: If you are a fan of Bikram's yoga, this is a great companion to the practice. If, however, you are new to yoga, or have never taken a Bikram class, the sequence of the postures may be hard to follow. For those new to yoga, the Bikram method may prove to be strenuous and frustrating, especially with the room being heated to 100 degrees. My recommendation would be to take a few beginning yoga classes to develop sound knowledge of basic poses before engaging in this method. If you have a yoga practice but are new to Bikram, it may be difficult to remember the sequence of postures without jotting a few notes and bringing them with you as you practice. But all in all, it's a good resource.