How healthy is Bikram Yoga?
Relaxed doing sports at 38 degrees Celsius? Named after the inventor, Bikram Choudhury, the new trend, Bikram Yoga, is trained in a heated exercise room for 90 minutes to make muscles, tendons, and ligaments extra stretchable. At the same time, toxins are sweated out. Supporters of the hot yoga technique claim: Both an over-or under-function of the thyroid and arthritis should be alleviated by Bikram yoga. And of course you could lose pounds. Because by sweating and drinking a lot of the metabolism is stimulated.
On the other hand, sports medicine experts warn that the great loss of water and salt - up to one and a half liters of fluid are sweated out during exercise - and overheating can lead to muscle cramps and, in the worst case, to circulatory collapse. In addition, experts say that only active tension can heat muscles, not the outside temperature. The professional association of yoga teachers is also critical of the Bikram Yoga: With the unity of body, mind and soul, this method has little to do, the focus is on Fitwerden.
If you still want to try it: Start slowly, repeat the exercises less often, drink a lot, take breaks. For cardiovascular problems, low or high blood pressure: Be sure to ask the doctor first.
Address:
Berlin: Bikram Yoga College of India Berlin Gneisenaustr. 2 10961 Berlin Tel. 030/69 56 55 22 Fax 030/69 56 55 33 www.bikramyogaberlin.de
