Baptiste Vs. Bikram Yoga

Yoga classes can range from gentle, nurturing sessions to high-intensity power classes with thumping bass beats. Depending on your fitness and emotional or spiritual health goals, certain classes will suit your intentions. Yoga’s popularity has spawned numerous high-profile gurus proclaiming the value of their particular programs; Baptiste and Bikram are examples of two yoga types with massive followings. While the programs share some similarities, key differences remain.

  1. A Tale of Two Men

    • Baptiste comes from a family of yogis and health devotees, according to Baron Baptiste.com. In the 1990s, he helped popularize “power yoga” as a fitness format to the American public. Since then, he’s published books, created DVDs and taught workshops and classes. In addition to bringing yoga to the National Football League, he integrates yoga with national and international volunteerism efforts. Bikram Choudhury, born in Calcutta, gained national recognition for his yoga abilities before suffering a serious knee injury, according to Bikram Yoga Grand Central. This inspired him to create his 26-pose Bikram sequence. Since then, Bikram has amassed a major following that includes very wealthy and famous individuals.

    Yogic Philosophy

    • Neither Baron Baptiste nor Bikram yoga styles are particularly spirituality-based, focusing instead on fitness, alignment, health and strength development. Baptiste doesn’t claim to be a spiritual guru; he draws lessons from his own life and experiences to share with yoga followers, according to Baron Baptiste.com. He’s referred to his yoga retreats as “boot camps” because of their physical rigor and intensity, according to “Yoga Journal.” Similarly, Bikram has referred to his yoga classes as “torture chambers” and his trained teachers are known for encouraging students to push past pain, according to “Yoga Journal.” Bikram claims that his style is the only “real” yoga style that adheres to the ancient traditions.

    Differences in Practice

    • Baptiste advocates a flow-based, power yoga sequence that includes Sun Salutations, warrior poses, balance poses, backbends, core work and mat stretching. In a flow yoga class, you incorporate breath and transitional poses between poses that are held for longer breath counts. This creates internal heat and fluidity of movement. Class sequences might change from session to session. In contrast, Bikram’s 26-pose sequence doesn’t flow from posture to posture; they’re each completed twice and without transitional poses. Bikram classes are also known for their extreme heat. Classes take place in rooms heated to temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Both Baptiste and Bikram classes conclude in a final resting pose, however, and you might find some of the same poses in either program type.

    Concerns and Warnings

    • Critics of Baptiste’s yoga sequences point out that not all bodies are at the skill level to complete powerful, challenging flows. Feeling rushed or pushing past your body’s ability could result in injury. Similarly, Bikram critics point out that ignoring pain can result in physical injury. In both Baptiste and Bikram yoga sequences, practitioners must pay attention to the body’s signals for exhaustion or pain. Stop if you feel dizzy, nauseous or lightheaded.