Hold it! It’s hot What yoga in 41 celsius feels like

It was hot, hotter, hottest, and my body was contorted. I vacillated between running out or enduring the torture. Aastha Atray Banan dropped in for a Bikram Yoga class and barely made it

It was hot, hotter, hottest, and my body was contorted. I vacillated between running out or enduring the torture. Aastha Atray Banan dropped in for a Bikram Yoga class and barely made it

When you don't fit into that 30-inch waist-size jean, you know it's time to make a change.

And so, when I happened to read a piece on Bikram Yoga, also known as hot yoga, that claimed to be a sure shot way to lose the bulge, I couldn't resist trying.
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A couple of phone calls, and I was on my way for a trial session at the only gym in Mumbai to offer Bikram Yoga classes.

My instructor, Ben, who was wearing nothing other than a pair of teeny-weeny shorts, greeted me enthusiastically, and then cautioned me to "Take it easy today".

What did that mean? After all, it's just yoga. I walked into the yoga hall and encountered the first of many shocks.

It was hot, 41 degrees celcius to be exact. It was humid too, and that got me wishing I had traded my tracks for Ben's shorts.

The first 30 minutes

A few breathing exercises, and we were on our way. Bikram Yoga involves a 90-minute session of 26 exercises, each repeated for 2 sets each.

By the time I reached the third asana, I was pouring buckets of sweat. It didn't help that Ben was noticing my lame attempts at slowing down or flapping my hand towel around my face to generate some breeze.

"Can we not do that, please. It's distracting," his voice boomedu00a0 on the microphone.

After 60 minutes

The room was getting hazy now. The heat combined with vigorous asanas had left me dizzy.

The stretching was testing my endurance levels that had dipped considerably thanks to the McDonald's burgers I had been feeding on. It was all slowing down now.

"Take it easy," said Ben, and I did. I lay down panting, trying to take in as much oxygen as I could.

Somewhere in the distance a voice was saying, "If you are feeling dizzy and nauseous, you know your body's in bad shape." Noted.

The last 30 minutes

Slowly, I got my strength back. And that's when I was in for another shock. "Now is when the real yoga starts," said Ben. What then were we doing until now!

The floor exercises that followed were easier to handle since every asana was followed by a 30-second break. But after 90 minutes, my body was ready to give up.

And then suddenly, there was a whiff of cool air. Ben had flung open the doors, and with a quick Namaste, he was off.

As I lay on the ground in Shav asana, I wondered whether I could brave another class.

As I stumbled out, gulping down chilled water, I didn't believe I'd be admitting later that evening that I was feeling lighter and fresher than I had in a long time.

At: True Fitness, above Star Bazaar, Crystal Point, Link Road, Andheri (W). Call: 67846784.
Cost: Rs 1,000 per class

What is Bikram Yoga?

Bikram Yoga, also known as Hot Yoga, or Fire Yoga is a style developed by Bikram Choudhury and a Los Angeles, California-based company. Bikram Yoga is ideally practised in a room heated to 40.5u00b0C with a humidity level of 40%.

Classes are guided by specific dialogue including 26 postures and two breathing exercises. The heated studio facilitates deeper stretching, prevents injury, relieves stress and tension and detoxifies the body.
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Bikram Yoga was designed to systematically stimulate and restore health to every muscle, joint and organ of the body.

The heart, lungs, blood circulation, muscles, brain activity and mental capacity are all affected by participating in the art of yoga.

Indian celebs who love it:
Manisha Koirala
Gul Panag
Riya and Raima Sen