Bikram Yoga Weight Loss Plan

Bikram yoga, also known as hot yoga or fire yoga, can help you lose weight. However, you must attend class on a regular basis and eat a proper diet to see results. The most effective methods of weight-loss combine exercise and a sensible diet. Practicing Bikram yoga teaches you to stretch, move, control and respect your body, which in turn makes it easier to watch your caloric intake and choose healthy foods.

  1. Join

    • Sign up for a Bikram yoga membership. Many studios offer new members special offers or discounts that allow you to try Bikram before you commit to a monthly or yearly membership. Look for rates on your local studio's website or call directly.

    Arrive

    • Arrive 15 minutes early if you are a first-time student. Otherwise, arrive with enough time to give your body a chance to adjust to the heat. Be prepared to work hard: bring a towel, water bottle and mat. Wear shorts or swim trunks if you're a man, leotard or shorts and a top for women. Towels, mats and water are usually available for sale or rent at the studio.

    The Heat

    • Be prepared to sweat. The recommended minimum temperature for class is 105 degrees with 40 percent humidity. This protects your muscles, allowing you to achieve a deeper stretch and better workout, detoxes the body by opening the pores, and increases your heart rate for a greater cardiovascular workout.

    Eating

    • Eat light meals the day of class and avoid eating three hours prior. Practicing yoga will bring a mindfulness to your eating habits: you will respect, honor and appreciate your body. These feelings will entice you to feed your body with only healthy, nutritious foods. Over time a regular yoga practice will regulate your appetite and control cravings. To lose weight you should eat less and exercise more to create a caloric deficit.

    Practice

    • Practice every day for two months unless you are restricted by a medical condition. At the very minimum, founder Bikram Choudhury recommends practicing at least three days per week. He states, with a devotion to a regular practice, that "digestion and respiration, as well as endocrine, lymphatic and elimination systems will begin to work harmoniously." All of these things lead to weight normalization, according to Choudhury.