A Bikram's class lasts for ninety minutes in a room heated to temperatures between 100-105 degrees. During class, students complete twenty-six poses, each twice, in a sequence created to methodically warm and stretch the body. Following the poses in their specific order is necessary to warm the body properly and prevent injury.

The founder of the "hot" yoga series is Bikram Choudhury, who began studying yoga over fifty years ago as a young boy in Calcutta with Bishnu Gosh (brother of Paramahansa Yogananda). Ghosh was a celebrated physical culturist and the first to scientifically document Yoga's ability to cure chronic physical ailments and heal the body.

At the age of thirteen, he won the National India Yoga contest and remained undefeated for three years. In his late teens, a weight-lifting accident crushed his knee and brought the prediction from doctors that he would never walk again. Not accepting their pronouncement, he returned to Ghosh's school, and through the practice of yoga, completely healed his knee.

Bikram was asked by Ghosh to start several Yoga schools in India. The schools were so successful that Bishnu sent Bikram to Japan where he opened two more. Combining Eastern doctrine with three years of working with Western doctors and scientists at Tokyo University Hospital, Bikram perfected his comprehensive system of 26 postures, designed to work the whole body, for all ages and levels of fitness.

The foundation of Bikram's teaching is that every organ, every muscle, every system in the entire body receives the benefit and is revitalized through his heated series of poses. After completing just one class, you will physically understand this statement.

Bikram has been teaching his method of yoga for over 30 years now, bringing health and happiness to people all over the world.

Visit Bikram Yoga College of India Website