Yoga

Doing intensive exercise like Bikram Yoga causes oxidative stress on the muscles. The build-up of free radicals during stress needs to be balanced with antioxidants.

Bikram Yoga heats the body from the inside and increases metabolism. Heat is distributed throughout the cells through fluid which is released as sweat.

The origin of almost all diseases is dehydration and acidity. More than 90% of all Europeans are on the acid side. Most diseases can only nurture in an acid environment. Bikram Yoga requires intake of Electrolytes rich drinks. Our body must contain a proper electrolyte balance inside and outside of our cells to properly transport water to and from our body’s major systems. When our electrolytes are imbalanced, we don’t function at peak levels.

Important when doing exercises is to sweat; it is released from the body’s largest organ, the skin. The heat allows toxins to be mobilized from the cells and fat tissue that is released as sweat. This is the key to anti-aging. If our cells clog, they can’t function anymore and die. The more cells die, the more we age. Cancer, for example, grows amidst a body full of toxins. The types of toxins creating this prone environment are: acids, carcinogens, pesticides, heavy metals, synthetic food chemicals (such as aspartame), artificial colors, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, medical drugs, toxins from bacterial / fungal infections, etc… To prevent these toxins from accumulating, the body has five major routes of detoxification: intestines, liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin. Bikram yoga activates all five of these routes. Without proper hydration we cannot detoxify properly.

Oxygen is critical to the functioning of normal, healthy cells. A reduction of oxygen by 35% could cause de-differentiation of cells (i.e. normal cells could potentially transform into cancerous cells).

Within the walls of a tumor lie billions of cancerous cells that cannot withstand oxygen; in fact, they may die in the presence of oxygen. This discovery quickly prompted many alternative cancer treatments aimed at reversing cancer through increased oxygenation. They include hyperbaric oxygen chambers, ozone therapy, and the mineral germanium. Even if one does not brave the alternative cancer treatment world, he/she can still take advantage of many lifestyle strategies to bring more oxygen into the tissues.

One of the best ways to re-oxygenate the body is through Bikram yoga. From the Pranayama breathing at the beginning, all the way to “fire breathing” at the end, yoga instructors will always tell you to focus on your breath. Long deep inhales, followed by full exhales, help to move “stagnant” air out of the lungs. It moves out acids (such as carbon dioxide) and makes room for oxygen to come inside. Once inside, the oxygen quickly diffuses into the blood, to be carried throughout the body. The improved oxygenation promotes aerobic metabolism, rather than dangerous anaerobic metabolism with its resulting lactic acid buildup. Strong levels of oxygen promote a healthy environment within the body. Bikram’s breathing exercises have a deep and powerful impact on health.

Both the instruction and style of Bikram Yoga requires discipline because it is both a physically and mentally challenging style of yoga. Breath regulation is a tool. When we practice regularly, we gain more control over our breathing. Observing our breath is a great way to remain focused during class. It may also help improve our concentration or reduce stress outside of class. It is also about learning the skills to concentrate on a specific object.

More and more people live a stressful life juggling between job, family and freetime activity. Hardly anyone still has time for good quality meals and daily exercise. To keep up the energy level too many unhealthy drinks and foods are quick at hand. Bikram Yoga’s success worldwide is the all inclusive workout for body, mind and soul. All physiological functions, respiration, movement, including thinking are acidifying. If we do not effectively remove these acids through excretion processes – sweating, urination, defecation – the accumulation of these acids lead to fattening, diseases and premature aging.

Imbalanced pH within the body is dangerous. In a toxic or stressful lifestyle, the body becomes excessively acidic. Bikram yoga greatly contributes to removing acids from the body. This happens through several routes. The lungs are a powerful vehicle for eliminating dangerous acids within the body. In chemical terms, they are called volatile acids i.e. they can diffuse into air. The deep breathing techniques throughout yoga help to clear out many of these volatile acids.

The kidneys are a major route of eliminating acids. The more acidic the body, the more acids will be eliminated by the kidneys. A higher urine pH usually reflects less acid buildup. Because Bikram yoga increases metabolism and heart rate (and possibly glomerular filtration rate), the kidneys will clear out more acids. In addition, the water we drink during and after class helps to flush out additional acids.

Another major route of acid elimination is through the skin, via sweat. Bikram yoga induces more sweating than almost any other form of exercise. Imagine how the body must feel to have released so many stored-up acidic toxins.