Hi! How are you all? Great news…I survived my first bikram yoga class! Another one crossed off the bucket list. My friend and I purchased a coupon from Living Social for ten bikram yoga classes at Bikram Yoga Westside. We have had this coupon since September and are finally getting around to using it. Better late than never. 
My friend has gone to a bikram yoga class before, so she gave me some tips in order to make my class a bit easier.
Here is what she recommends bringing: 2 towels (one large and a smaller one), a frozen water bottle, cold water bottle, and frozen wash cloth. (Oh and of course your yoga mat)
The frozen bottle was so refreshing. Crazy how fast it started to defrost! I could have left my other bottle in the locker since I didn’t drink it. It ended up getting a bit warm.
The frozen wash cloth helped out quite a bit. Although it also defrosted fast, it kept cool and felt good on my face.
Here is a tidbit from their site on bikram:
“Bikram, or hot, yoga is a series of 26 yoga poses done in a heated room, which is usually maintained at a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit.”
I wasn’t sure what to expect except for the fact that I knew it was probably going to be super uncomfortable.
I will say the one thing that bothered me initially (and throughout class to be honest) was the smell in the room. I mean, I know there are a bunch of sweaty people, but I think they could spray some febreze on the rug or something. It was a bit distracting. Moving on…
I really enjoyed it! I did have to take quite a few breaks. I felt a bit lightheaded at times and knew I needed to listen to my body. It was frustrating to be honest. I wanted to join in so badly!
The instructor was awesome! Since he knew it was my first time, he was very aware of my poses and how I was feeling.
Hard to see, but my friend and I post-bikram! Boy, was I drenched! (Tried to get a clearer pic without flash but I think people were wondering why we were taking pics after class. Ahh, the joys of being a blogger )
Before we left the studio, we both picked up a Vita Coco coconut water. It was so refreshing and just what I needed after class.
Most of you have probably heard of coconut water being used in place of a sports drink. It has electrolytes as well as carbohydrates. In a comparison, coconut water has more potassium but also less sodium than your traditional sports drink. It is a great choice (and tastes delish) but the cost is more.
Here are the stats: (Per 1 serving) 45 calories, o grams fat, 11 grams carbohydrate, 515 mg potassium, and 30 mg sodium.
Although my class was tough, I am looking forward to my next one. My goal is to try and not take rest breaks.
Have you ever tried bikram yoga? What was your experience like? If not, is it something you would like to try?
Other Swanky Scoop:
- I am going to Seattle for New Years! I am so excited to go on a mini vacay! I leave on Thursday so I will be sure to post again before I leave.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
In all honesty, I have no desire to try bikram yoga. I hadn’t even thought about the smell…wrinkling nose. I don’t mind sweating, but if I don’t have air movement, I start to feel very claustrophobic. How fun to be in Seattle on NYE!
I have never done Bikram because I am too much of a chicken. The tips that you posted about the frozen water bottle and towel will be most helpful if I ever get over my fear of the class.
xo
I’ve taken one hot yoga class and loved it! Luckily it wasn’t that crowded/smelly during my first class. I definitely had to take breaks to rehydrate.
Have fun in Seattle!
Glad you enjoyed your first Bikram experience! I tried Bikram once a few years ago and I liked it, for the most part. I didn’t bring cold water or washcloth, so I felt a little too hot at the end!
Have a great time in Seattle, Kristen! (Love your new font on your post titles, by the way
)
That’s awesome re: Seattle! Have fun! I practice hot power yoga regularly but it’s usually not as hot as Bikram. I like the variety in the flows that a great instructor can come up with.
Congrats on your first Bikram class! I am yet to try Bikram but I really want to. I get lightheaded very easily during exercise, so I am a bit weary, especially hearing you had some issues with that, too. Not surprising though…105F!!! And you, as a LV girl, can surely handle that better than this Midwestern gal
You’ll have a blast on your mini vacay for NYE! I’m jealous!
I have never tried it before but that is because I really don’t like yoga. It frustrates me because I am super unflexible. People always tell me I need to stretch more and more often and it will help, but I am sad to say it likely won’t. Even when I was doing gymnastics 3 times a week, cheerleading and ice skating where I stretched a lot, I was still rarely able to reach my toes. I find it really painful and always have. I guess I could always try again, but you would think as a kid I would have been more flexible and not that it would improve with age.
Have a great time in Seattle.
You might like bikram because the heat does help you stretch deeper. If you don’t enjoy yoga, it might not be for you. At the same time, it will definitely help you to get a better stretch.
Loved this post, Kristin!
Thanks for sharing. I’ve always wondered how’s Birkram Yoga Class like.
wow thats hot
thanks for the kind comment on my blog have a fab new years in Seattle
hugs Rebecca
Good to know on the smell—that would drive me crazy, too.
There’s no hot yoga (that I know of) in my small town, and I’ve wondered about it, but I still heart Ashtanga as my number 1 style. Fun to experience Bikram vicariously through you!
Have a GREAT TIME in Seattle! Hope your heat-loving self doesn’t mind the chill too much, and Happy New Year to you!
I definitely wanted to try this type of yoga but I am fearful of the heat. I get so hot working out in the first place that I think this would just kill! thanks for your perspective though!
Oh! Oh! I think I’ve passed by that place before! It looks so familiar. I’ve always wanted to try Bikram…but I get dizzy easily especially in hot areas, so wondering if it’s safe for me. You look like a nice sweaty mess though! Great workout indeed!
I’ve never done any bikram yoga, but it’s always been something that I thought would be fun to try. After years of Texas summers, I feel like I *might* be able to handle the heat…for about 10 minutes.
Great tip about the coconut water, by the way. I never knew that it had all that potassium!
Well I have been doing alot of Zumba classes, but i always wanted to try Bikram Yoga but too scared in case i passed out and made a fool of my self. But seeing your blog i think i might give it a try using a few of your tips of frozen water and towel. Also i will make sure i have a nice cold bottle of cocofina coconut water in the car to rehydrate my self. Thanks for the information. Great Blog
So glad you stopped by!
I would recommend trying bikram at least once. It is one of the most challenging classes I have ever tried, but I’m glad I did. I may even try to get myself there again soon. They do have showers which you can use right after class. That helps out a lot too! Good luck! I’d love to hear what you think of it!
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