Are Hips Strengthened by Bikram Yoga?

Bikram is a style of yoga, derived from Hatha yoga, developed by Bikram Choudhury. During a Bikram yoga class, you will perform 26 asanas, also known as poses, in a heated room. Each pose was chosen to activate different organs, ligaments, muscles and veins. The series of 26 poses works every part of your body, including your hips.

  1. Standing Poses

    • Standing poses in yoga have a variety of benefits, such as posture improvement, stretching and building leg muscles. In Bikram yoga, various standing poses performed strengthen and stretch your hips. The Half-Moon pose and Hands to Feet pose activate your hips in addition to your waistline, abdomen, buttocks and thighs. The Awkward pose and Eagle pose both strengthen and stretch your hips and also activate your upper and lower legs, arms and abdomen.

    Seated and Twist Poses

    • Although specific poses provide different benefits, seated poses improve posture, while stretching leg and hip muscles. Twists provide various benefits including stretching and strengthening the spine. In Bikram yoga, you will perform both types of poses. The Sit Up pose strengthens the hip flexors and abdomen, and also improves your spine’s flexibility. The Spine Twisting pose improves the flexibility in the hips while firming your abs, thighs and buttocks. This pose also activates the spine from the top to bottom at the same time.

    Backbends and Forward Bends

    • Forward bend and backbend poses benefit your entire body by stimulating organs and stretching and strengthening muscles. The specific muscles and organs that benefit depend on the pose. In Bikram yoga, the forward bend, Standing Separate Leg Stretching pose, improves hamstring and hip flexibility and strengthens all leg muscles. The Head to Knee pose activate the hips and improves the flexibility of the ankles and knees. The Bow pose, a backbend performed in Bikram yoga, strengthens your abs, upper arms, thighs and hips.

    Restorative Poses

    • A variety of restorative poses are performed in Bikram yoga, which rejuvenate and relax your body. The Fixed Firm pose activates your hip flexors, knees, ankles and quadriceps, while improving the flexibility in your lower spine. Wind Removing pose is another restorative pose performed in Bikram yoga that firms and improves the flexibility in the hips. This pose also firms the abs and thighs.