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Faizan
Bikram yoga studios are called "torture chambers" by the founder, Bikram Choudhury, because participants work in 104 degree Fahrenheit conditions. The heated environment helps with the execution of yoga poses by loosening up the muscles, according to Choudhury. Once executed properly, most of the 26 poses of Bikram yoga support toning of the lower body.
Thigh Muscle Building
Standing Bow requires one leg to be lifted behind the body and flexed at the knee so that the heel ends up behind the head. Half Tortoise pose requires posers to sit on their heels with their torso bent forward. Both poses stretch the quadriceps. Awkward pose balances the body on the toes, and Balancing Stick balances the body on one leg. Each forces contraction of the outer and inner thigh muscles to support the calf muscles and bones of the feet to maintain stability. Locust pose, Full Locust pose and Bow pose lift both legs simultaneously while lying prone. They contract and build strength in the muscles in the back of the thighs.
Joint Flexing and Tendon Lengthening
Standing Separate Leg Stretching pose stretches all of the leg tendons by making posers bend at the waist with each leg outstretched to each side of the body. It also provides a great hamstring stretch. In addition, several Bikram yoga poses enhance flexibility in the knees by placing them in a state of sustained flexion. These include Awkward pose, Eagle pose, Tree pose, Fixed Firm pose, Half Tortoise pose and Standing Bow. Eagle pose specifically makes the body look like it is wrapping around itself. It increases flexibility in hip, ankle and knee joints.
Calf Building and Hamstring Stretching
Balancing the upper body on the toes with the knees flexed as with the Awkward pose strengthens the calves by placing them in a state of contraction for the length of the pose. Standing Head to Knee is a self-explanatory pose that requires one leg to be lifted to hip level. It stretches the hamstrings and calves of the elevated leg and contracts the calves of the standing leg. Another pose that stretches the hamstrings and contracts the calves is the Wind Removing Pose, which draws the knees to the chest in a supine position.
Foot Strengthening
Awkward pose and Toe Stand require balancing the entire body on the toes in a squatting position. They utilize all of the bones of the feet. Awkward pose is believed to relieve cold feet, and both poses are credited with relief of arthritis and rheumatism in the legs. Toe Stand is a harder balancing act than Awkward Pose because the foot of one leg rests atop the thigh of the opposing leg. The hip and knee joints of the elevated leg open up during this pose. Wind Removing Pose, Locust Pose and Bow Pose also stretch and flex muscles in the feet.
Thigh Muscle Building
Standing Bow requires one leg to be lifted behind the body and flexed at the knee so that the heel ends up behind the head. Half Tortoise pose requires posers to sit on their heels with their torso bent forward. Both poses stretch the quadriceps. Awkward pose balances the body on the toes, and Balancing Stick balances the body on one leg. Each forces contraction of the outer and inner thigh muscles to support the calf muscles and bones of the feet to maintain stability. Locust pose, Full Locust pose and Bow pose lift both legs simultaneously while lying prone. They contract and build strength in the muscles in the back of the thighs.
Joint Flexing and Tendon Lengthening
Standing Separate Leg Stretching pose stretches all of the leg tendons by making posers bend at the waist with each leg outstretched to each side of the body. It also provides a great hamstring stretch. In addition, several Bikram yoga poses enhance flexibility in the knees by placing them in a state of sustained flexion. These include Awkward pose, Eagle pose, Tree pose, Fixed Firm pose, Half Tortoise pose and Standing Bow. Eagle pose specifically makes the body look like it is wrapping around itself. It increases flexibility in hip, ankle and knee joints.
Calf Building and Hamstring Stretching
Balancing the upper body on the toes with the knees flexed as with the Awkward pose strengthens the calves by placing them in a state of contraction for the length of the pose. Standing Head to Knee is a self-explanatory pose that requires one leg to be lifted to hip level. It stretches the hamstrings and calves of the elevated leg and contracts the calves of the standing leg. Another pose that stretches the hamstrings and contracts the calves is the Wind Removing Pose, which draws the knees to the chest in a supine position.
Foot Strengthening
Awkward pose and Toe Stand require balancing the entire body on the toes in a squatting position. They utilize all of the bones of the feet. Awkward pose is believed to relieve cold feet, and both poses are credited with relief of arthritis and rheumatism in the legs. Toe Stand is a harder balancing act than Awkward Pose because the foot of one leg rests atop the thigh of the opposing leg. The hip and knee joints of the elevated leg open up during this pose. Wind Removing Pose, Locust Pose and Bow Pose also stretch and flex muscles in the feet.
Posted in: Yoga & Meditation
