Bikram Yoga Benefits the Mind and Body

Since last spring, Kerry Ledquist has been instructing at Bikram Hot Yoga in Riverdale Park.

Ledquist said, “I was drawn to the yoga community because of the people here. Everyone’s very welcoming and it’s so easy to come in and feel accepted right away."

Bikram yoga stands out from other forms of yoga because of the heat in which it is practiced. The hot yoga room is typically set at 105 degrees Fahrenheit with 40-50 percent humidity in order to allow for muscles to stretch flexibly and prevent soreness. The temperature causes excessive sweating, which detoxifies the skin.

It emphasizes a “mind-body connection,” which recognizes the importance of taking care of your spine and everything else will be healthy. Bikram yoga helps with balance as well. According to Ledquist, you can apply what you learn in the classroom to other parts of your life. It’s a well-rounded form of exercise because it can be a spiritual thing or just an exercise.

All classes are beginner’s courses that follow the same 26 postures in the same sequence.

Bikram Hot Yoga also offers Pilates classes, as a complement to yoga. Pilates, an intensive training workout, is taught in a room that is 95 degrees and focuses mainly on core building, said Pilates instructor Cincere Cook. “Whatever areas you may be weak in in yoga, you can strengthen them in Pilates.”

Bikram Hot Yoga offers new student discounted prices at $49 as well as a deal for 30-day access to the yoga studio at $30 for yoga and Pilates classes. The studio also offers classes at a $22 drop-in fee seven days a week.