9/6/13 YO-GA-GA

Publication: Mumbai Mirror ;Date: Apr 2, 2009;Section: You;Page: 20

YO-GA-GA
The cream of Hollywood and Bollywood swear by it.
Celebrated yoga guru Bikram Choudhury tells Lekha Menon
in a two-part series why his brand of yoga is so hot —
literally

Call it fitness packaged in 26 poses. Patented by celebrated yoga guru Bikram Choudhury, Bikram Yoga or
Hot Yoga is ideal not just for mental and physical health, these therapeutic exercises, say its followers,
rejuvenate and energise the body like few other forms do. Choudhury, who counts Madonna, Richard Nixon,
Brooke Shields and Raquel Welch among others as his followers, explains why:

FEELING HOT AND HOTTER

The main difference between other forms of yoga and Bikram Yoga is the choice of environment. Hot Yoga is
performed in a studio where the temperature is set to 40-42 degrees Celsius. The heat factor builds greater
flexibility in the muscles, improves circulation and helps flush out toxins. The intense atmosphere helps build
endurance and burns calories faster. It also helps you discover your inner strength. The result: a sparkling new
you in a few sessions.

NUMBER 26

The core of Hot Yoga are the set of 26 asanas, that are designed to benefit every system in the body. Beginning
with the respiratory system the series moves on to exercises that concentrate on the circulatory, digestive, spinal
and nervous system. Each asana is performed twice in the 90-minute session, each one aimed at overall
wellness, rejuvenation and restoration.

Madeline Blackman, Bikram yoga trainer currently in Mumbai at True Fitness, Andheri shows us just why
these 26 exercises can change your life. Check out the accompanying pics. Watch out tomorrow’s issue for
the next set of asanas designed for holistic health HOLLYWOOD'S FAVOURITE YOGA GURU

Founder of the worldwide Yoga College of India, Kolkata-born Bikram Choudhury trained under renowned physical
culturist Bishnu Ghosh (brother of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of The autobiography of a Yogi). Bikram Yoga
is his own creation of 26 postures in a heated room. Bikram holds a US copyright on his yoga, and instructors
must undergo a training and certification process, which he conducts twice a year, to teach his brand of yoga. It’s
said that at 17, a knee-injury brought prediction from leading European doctors that he would never walk again.
But undeterred he carried himself back to his guru’s school and in six months, he was totally recovered. It is this
kind of magic that his famous clients swear by.

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PRANAYAMA SERIES
• GOOD FOR DETOXIFICATION

ARDA CHANDRAHASANA
• CORRECTS BAD POSTURE

PADA HASTASANA
• STRENGTHENS THIGHS AND CALVES

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UTKATASANA
• STRENGTHENS AND TONES LEG MUSCLES

GARURASANA
• IMPROVES BALANCE

DANDAYAMANA JANUSHIRASANA
• IMPROVES CONCENTRATION

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DANDAYAMANA DHANURASANA
• OPENS SHOULDER JOINT

TULADANDASANA
• INCREASES CARDIOVASCULAR CIRCULATION

DANDAYAMANA BIBHAKTAPADA PASCHIMOTTANASANA

• HELPS REDUCE ABDOMINAL OBESITY

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TRIKANASANA
• REDUCES SADDLE BAGS

DANDAYAMANA BIBHAKTAPADA JANUSHIRASANA

• BALANCES BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS

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TADASANA
• ASSISTS IN CORRECTING BAD POSTURE

PADANGUSTASANA
• CREATES BALANCE

SAVASANA
• STILLS AND FOCUSES THE MIND

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