Bikram Yoga Decatur

No. Anyone may come to any class, any time. Drop-ins are encouraged. Just be sure to come 15-20 minutes on your first visit

No. Bikram Yoga Decatur is independently owned and operated.

I wish it were consistent enough to give a reliable number but it’s not. By tracking attendance and doing some quick math I can show that we currently average 13-14 people per class but that can be misleading. Some classes may have as few as 3 or 4 people while others may have more than 20. Generally speaking, weekday morning classes are smaller, weekend classes are larger, and weekday evenings can go either way. It’s a crap shoot.

I (very roughly) estimate that our business is between two-thirds and three-quarters women. However, that’s changing. More and more men are starting to realize the benefits of Bikram Yoga. I recently taught a class that was more than fifty percent men.

There are three reasons with the first one being the simplest and most easily understood: the purpose of water in class is simply to keep your mouth and throat moist – nothing works better than water for that. The second reason is also pretty straightforward and logical: bottles sometimes get knocked over and spill their contents onto the carpet. Even a thorough cleaning of juice or a sports drink is likely to leave residue. We strive to maintain a very clean studio and water is easily cleaned up. Finally, if we allow anything besides water, some people will bring in power or energy drinks and many of those have high sugar content as well as caffeine and other additives that could have a detrimental effect on their practice. Simple, plain water is second only to air in importance to overall health and well being.

Yes, but with some limits. People leave so much stuff here that we have to purge once in a while. Here's what you can generally expect:

Valuables: we will hold a very long time (we're still holding someone's Volkswagen keys from a year ago)

Yoga Mats, Towels, Water Bottles: we keep them for about two-three weeks after which they will be sold, given away or thrown out (depending on their condition).

Clothes: we keep these indefinitely, depending on how valuable they appear to be. Once every other month or so we will donate clothes to charitable organizations.

Absolutely. Anybody can do it.

This is one of the reasons I love Bikram Yoga…. it is truly yoga designed for everybody and anybody. Our teaching method encourages everyone to work to their own level of ability. Our students range in age from high school students to senior citizens, from physically fit to frail, from wet noodle flexibility to steel I-beam stiffness, from vegan to ominvore. There really is no typical Bikram Yoga practitioner and we strive to make everyone feel comfortable no matter their level of fitness or experience. I call our yoga studio “the great equalizer.” It is one of my proudest achievements that many people who come to the studio with apprehension end up becoming some of our most dedicated practitioners.

Yes. How much weight depends on your physical condition, your lifestyle and how much effort and commitment you put into it. Yoga is not a weight loss program in itself but many people find that a regular practice helps them achieve their ideal body weight.

Yes. Any activity that raises the heart rate or is intended to improve the efficiency of the cardiovascular system in the absorption and transportation of oxygen is aerobic. During a typical 90 minute Bikram Yoga class your heart rate should reach it’s target exercise zone for at least 20-25 minutes, depending on your level of effort.

That’s hard to know with any certainty. The estimates range from 350 to 650 calories per class. It really depends on too many factors to make any kind of blanket prediction. I let somebody bring a body monitoring device into a class and it showed that he burned 748 calories — clearly he was working hard. The key is to think of calorie burning as simply one small benefit of practicing yoga. There are far more benefits than that.

Most people start to feel some benefits almost immediately but the most profound and long lasting benefits are cumulative. That is, they will continue to accrue as long as you continue to practice. Yoga is not a quick fix for what ails you nor is it a cure-all but many people report feeling positive effects after only a few classes. The best way to know is to try it and see for yourself.

This is something everyone has to answer for themselves. We encourage you to attend class as often as possible when getting started. One of the best things you can do for your overall health and well-being is to create positive, healthy habits. Practicing yoga on a regular basis will not only exponentially increase the benefits but it will help you get to know your body and it’s needs well enough to do what’s right for your unique situation and lifestyle. When you have successfully incorporated your yoga practice into your life your body will tell you when it wants to go to class. All you have to do is listen to it.

Certainly. Bikram has a book, Bikram’s Beginning Yoga Class, which is obviously recommended. We sell the book in our studio but you can also buy it online from BikramYoga.com or Amazon.com. You may also want to buy his audio CD. It’s worth investing in a good space heater and humidifier to realize some of the benefits of working with heat but yoga can be practiced anywhere and anytime by anyone. I encourage home practitioners to try to get to an official studio when possible for a deeper understanding and to get some personal attention but I would never discourage anyone from practicing wherever and whenever they choose.

All Hatha Yoga is, in a sense, a form of meditation. Our approach is very basic with an initial emphasis on the body but our teaching recognizes the importance of the connection between mind and body. In fact, Bikram has described what we do as a kind of forced meditation -- what he means is that the mental efforts required to hold the physical postures requires a natural meditation, which is really just a strong and disciplined focus of the mind.

We don't stare at candles or chant and much of the class time is spent on physical challenges of flexibility, balance and strength but the benefits of our practice are as much in our mental capacity as in the physical. Increased concentration, a reduction of stress levels and an improved sense of well being are some of the many rewards you will discover through Bikram Yoga.

Yes, it's possible that Bikram Yoga can cause heat rash, usually in people who are new to the practice. It's not common but I know of a few instances.

First I must emphasize that I am NOT a doctor nor am I qualified to give medical advice. What follows is from my experience as a yoga instructor and is only my personal opinion.

Heat rash is caused by blockages in the sweat glands. The exact cause is unknown but high heat and humidity can be contributing factors as can any activity which results in intense, heavy perspiration. It usually occurs in parts of the body that are covered by clothing.

Some contributing factors to look for are: clothing that doesn't allow your skin to breathe (cotton is not good in class -- it's best to wear workout clothes that allow wicking), bacteria and heavy or greasy skin creams. There are also medications that have been linked to heat rash.

Heat rash should go away on it's own in a few days -- providing you avoid high heat and humidity -- so it's a good idea to take a break from your practice to see if the rash will clear up on it's own. If it persists much longer than that or if it gets severe (swelling, pus, fever, or swollen lymph nodes) then you should see a doctor.

One student, who also happens to be an MD, told me that he found a vigorous scrubbing of the area with a a dry brush to be helpful in speeding up the healing process.

Yes, but...

It's fine for you to practice with a cold and you will probably feel better after class. The practice can help reduce symptoms and boost your immune system.

On the other hand, you have to think about your fellow practitioners. Colds and other viruses can spread easily so it may be a good idea to stay home during the first couple of days and/or when your symptoms are at their worst.

If you do come to the studio with a cold make sure to wash your hands frequently and cover your mouth when sneezing (it's best to sneeze into the crook of your elbow if you don't have a hanky). Cold viruses can be transmitted by air but they are more often transmitted through the hands.

Yes, but get permission from your doctor first.

Absolutely.

Probably, but always check with your doctor. We have many students with spine conditions such as scoliosis, herniated disks, fused disks, degenerated disks and more.

Absolutley. Anybody can do yoga and the only requirement for Bikram Yoga is that you can stand on two feet.

It depends. If you’ve never done Bikram Yoga then we don’t recommend starting while pregnant. After delivery you may begin as soon as you feel ready to exercise (get permission from your doctor or midwife). If you have been practicing Bikram Yoga regularly before your pregnancy then you may continue to practice during your pregnancy. Some women have continued to practice right up until delivery.

The high heat should not pose any risk to you but if it makes you feel uncomfortable we recommend setting up near one of the fans and resting as often as you like.

There are some pregnancy modifications that you will need to learn as your abdomen grows.