Why Bikram Yoga?

Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury, founder of the worldwide Yoga College of India, was born in Calcutta in 1946. He began Yoga at the age of four with India’s most-renowned physical culturist of the period, Bishnu Ghosh, who was the younger brother of Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the most popular book on Yoga, The Autobiography of a Yogi, and founder of the Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles.

Bikram practiced Yoga four to six hours every day at Ghosh’s College of Physical Education in Calcutta. At thirteen, he won the National India Yoga Championship, was undefeated for the next three years and retired as the undisputed All-India National Yoga Champion. At seventeen, a knee injury while weight-lifting brought the prediction from doctors that he would never walk again. Rejecting their pronouncement, Bikram had himself carried to Ghosh’s school. He knew that if anyone could help to heal his knee, it was his teacher. Six months later, his knee was fully recovered and Ghosh, a famed physical culturist, was the first to document Yoga’s power to cure chronic physical ailments and heal the body.

Ghosh then asked a grateful Bikram to start Yoga schools in India. The schools were so successful that he traveled to Japan and opened two more. Bikram has since introduced his curative methods of Yoga therapy around the world.

As we age, our muscles tend to stiffen, creating more pressure on the joints. Through regular stretching, we prevent this gradual stiffening and joint deterioration. That is why Yoga is rejuvenating. Through regular workouts, vast amounts of energy are liberated that we can use daily to feel more alive and fulfilled; we look, move and feel younger. In a three year research project at Tokyo University Hospital, Bikram helped doctors prove that Yoga regenerates tissues, and thus helps cure chronic ailments.

Each Bikram Yoga student practices in a heated room-- to promote cellular metabolism, detoxification and suppleness of the muscular system and to provide a greater level of safety when doing the poses. Anybody can do Bikram Yoga–at any age, in any size, shape or condition. It is accessible and non-exclusive. We do only beginning Yoga postures -- nothing that can hurt or injure. The postures are held still with maximum effort, not continuous movement—a primary principle of Hatha Yoga (Asanas).

Although the main emphasis is on correctness and safety of postures, the Class is very challenging. You will have to make demands of yourself. It requires tremendous concentration, careful listening to the teacher's precise instructions. Patience, determination, trust and discipline: as these are required of you, they also develop within you.

The Bikram routine is dynamic and exhilarating. The room is intentionally warm so muscles will stretch more easily. The series works equally well for beginning or advanced students. Bikram says: “Never too late, never too old, never too bad, never too sick to do Yoga or start from scratch again.” Wear light, stretchy clothing. Bring a towel and water. Some days, you won’t feel like coming at all. These are the days that will benefit you the most. Yoga “house cleans” your body, mind and habits. Expect many changes–all of them good.

The therapeutic, curative, preventive and overall health benefits of Bikram's system of Yoga are legendary. Since his 3-year research project at the Tokyo University Medical School (1970-73) proving its positive effects, countless people have practiced Bikram's Yoga to overcome chronic problems of all kinds. It takes practice, consistency and determination not to give up and to "try the right way," in order to gain the life-enhancing effects. With Bikram Yoga, you develop the foundation for anything you wish to achieve and maintain in life–athletically, professionally, physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually.

At Bikram Yoga Charleston, as at all schools that teach with the integrity and consistency Bikram insists his teachers hold to, you will discover “The Key to the Kingdom of Health." You will be encouraged to challenge yourself to improve, to make better and maintain your health, your spine and your life.