Spring, Sweat and Savasana: Bikram Yoga in Aurora
- Kari Huizenga
- Mar 22, 2016
- 3 min read
Hello friends!
Welcome back to Campus Meets Community.
Spring has officially sprung! If you are like me, you have been planning to get healthy and work out all winter. If you are REALLY like me, that fitness plan stayed a plan without turning into much action. (oops)
A problem I face when working out is a lack of motivation, due to a boring exercise routine. I always look for unique exercises that will help me stay fit and have fun. I want to share a great way to improve your strength, flexibility and peace of mind.
Bikram Yoga in Aurora, Illinois is an awesome way to kick-start your workout journey. Not only is the facility clean, but the instructors are encouraging. This location is about 10 miles from the AU campus.
Bikram yoga includes challenging poses and high temperatures. A 90 minute class is a made up of 26 poses and 2 breathing exercises. However, instead of doing these yoga poses at room temperature, the room is 105 degrees with 40 percent humidity.
I know what you are thinking, and you are right; this sounds terrible. Why would anyone in their right mind subject themselves to that extreme heat for 90 minutes?!
Before making your final decision, read my thoughts and suggestions on the class. While I am not a fitness guru, I can provide you with my personal views as a beginner in Bikram yoga.
Eating Before Your Class?
Bikram Yoga is supposed to be practiced on an empty stomach. As a person who is very by the book when it comes to rule following, I made sure not to eat for the recommended 2-3 hours before my first class. Not eating and working out in extreme heat made my "hot yoga" experience a hot mess.
The first tip I have is to know and trust your body.
I found that eating something small an hour or so before my class was enough to stop my hunger and give me the energy I needed to work hard. My next class was SO much more enjoyable!
This exercise activity is tricky. Due to the workout intensity and high heat, make sure to do what feels right for you on the day of your first class. After that, you can make adjustments as you see fit.
Worries: Skill Level and The Dreaded Sweat
If you are worried about your skill level, do not be! The classes offered are created for beginners. The major challenge is to stay in the room for the full 90 minutes. If you feel dizzy, the instructors encourage you go to you savasana pose, meaning to lay on your back with your palms open to the ceiling.
If the heat does not bother you, the sweating might. Just remember; it is totally worth it.
This visual might be a little gross for some readers, but Bikram yoga sweat is not a little dampness beneath your underarms. This is heavy-duty sweating, people. It is wise to bring spare clothes and a secondary towel. However, the more you sweat, the better you will feel. Check out all of the health benefits that come from Bikram yoga here.
Prices
Bikram Yoga classes are not as cheap as a day pass to the YMCA, but they do offer discounted rates for college students! (YAY) You can attend 1 class for $12 dollars.
If you are in love with this style of yoga after your first class, there are other packages for you to purchase. Or, if you want to dive right into Bikram, new students can pay $30 for 30 days of unlimited yoga.
You can visit the Bikram Yoga website for more information about rates, class times and poses. On the website, there is a tab that indicates what beginners should expect and bring for their first class.
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While it may be difficult to start working out, choose an activity that entertains you! Whether it is Bikram yoga or going to a trampoline park, there are exciting ways to stay active, get fit and have fun in Aurora.
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