Bikram Yoga Sierras Bikram Yoga Reno, Sparks and Truckee

Page Index: Yoga Etiquette ~ Be Prepared
What is Bikram Yoga ~ What is a Class Like
What are the Benefits ~ How Does Yoga Work
Bikram Yoga Postures Chart ~ "Live" Postures Photos

Yoga Etiquette
Please honor the studio as a sacred place.

In the studio, please:
Turn off all pagers and cell phones.
In the yoga room, please:
no shoes
no gum
no perfume or cologne
no body lotion
no excess jewelry or watches
no glass bottles

How to Prepare for Class
All Classes are 90 minutes,
allow for this time in your day

Arrive 15 minutes before class (for first timers) Be prepared to change your life.
Come well hydrated - drink lots of water before and after class.
Come on an empty stomach-no big meals 2-3 hours before class.
Be prepared to sweat. Wear light, breathable clothing (shorts for men, shorts and tank-top or sports bra for women).
Bring a large towel, yoga mat and water (all available for sale or rent).
Get an Introductory Special Class Rate.

UP TO PAGE INDEX

What is Bikram Yoga

Bikram Yoga is a series of 26 hatha yoga postures or asanas (see also the 26 'Live" Posture Photos) done in a specific order over 90 minutes in a room heated to just above body temperature. The series was brought to the US over 30 years ago by Bikram Choudhury, who learned the yoga from his guru Bishnu Gnosh (brother of the famous Paramahansa Yogananda).

This series of postures are considered the most medicinal of all the hatha yoga postures and are particularly healing to the American way of life. Americans spend a disproportionate amount of time forward bending, weakening the spine, and have a very difficult time being still. In addition, we love high impact sports and exercise that reduces range of motion in the joints over time. Eventually even every day activities become uncomfortable, even painful, due to the bodies natural degeneration.

The Bikram series is so powerful that is has not changed much in over 30 years and can only be taught by Bikram Certified instructors. Minors (not of legal age) are required to sign this consent and waiver form (PDF).

UP TO PAGE INDEX

What is a Bikram Yoga Class Like

Just imagine you are in a cheerful, warm room moving slowly from posture to posture with the encouraging guidance of your certified instructor. Every day the yoga series is the same, but your body feels a little different, helping you to create a strong mind/body connection. Each day you do just as much as your body allows, making progress at your own rate. You are surrounded by every age, body shape and experience level of yogi. You feel welcome and safe.

The experienced students are in the front row inspiring you with their mastery of the postures, but the back row is comfortable (and a little cooler) for the beginning yogis. The heat of the room is a little difficult at first but soon it feels like an old friend relieving your sore muscles, detoxifying your body and melting away stress. Soon you find yourself seeking out the warmer parts of the room - yes, really.

UP TO PAGE INDEX

What are The Benefits

People find a variety of benefits from Bikram yoga including weight loss, injury healing, immune system improvement, increased flexibility, and stress reduction. Athletes see improvement in performance, but yoga is one of the few forms of exercise that you can do at any age, shape or level of fitness. Many of the most valued benefits are beyond the body helping with concentration and relieving depression or anxiety.

Bikram yoga can improve your discipline and sense of well being.

UP TO PAGE INDEX

How Does Yoga Work?

Yoga postures re-establish the body's essential balance through neuromuscular integration and strengthening of the body mind connection. Yoga means "to yoke," or to bring together the mind and body connection. Mind cannot exist without a body and a body is not very useful without a healthy mind.

Yoga enhances health in a natural way, acting therapeutically on chronic disease, achieving and maintaining normal body weight and increasing the body's energy. A regular yoga practice challenges all of the weak areas of the body until radiant health is achieved.

UP TO PAGE INDEX

	Bikram's twenty six postures and two breathing exercises (more "live" photos here), are designed for all fitness levels from beginner to advanced.
Standing Bow
	Each posture tones, strengthens, and elongates every muscle, cell, tendon, joint and ligament in the body, building balance and flexibility.
Balancing Stick
	The Bikram method also stimulates the organs, glands and nerves, moving fresh oxygenated blood and nutrients to 100% of the body, restoring all systems to healthy working order just as nature intended.
Standing Forehead to Knee
	Practicing Bikram Yoga helps to increase concentration, determination, and patience, while building faith, self-control, and will power.
Trikanasana Triangle
	Yoga is the perfect vehicle for self change. By creating a strong and powerful body and mind, it is a starting point from which you can then begin to realize your human spirit.
Ustrasana Camel
The dramatic improvements you'll read about in our testimonials can be attributed to causes besides the yoga itself: a deep desire to get well, the effort of going to yoga day after day, even when in pain, a desire to overcome fear of the unknown, and the confidence the instructor has in the ability of Bikram yoga to bring healing to the situation. All these are important components of the healing process and should not be underestimated.