Science Behind Bikram Yoga

Improved Physical Fitness

Colorado State University randomly split 21 young, healthy adults into two groups: a control group that didn’t do any Bikram Yoga and a group that did. After 24 classes over eight weeks, members of the second group exhibited increased strength and flexibility and decreased body fat compared with the control group.

 

Better Sleep

Massachusetts General Hospital and Washington University followed 13 participants over two weeks to see if they slept better after practising Bikram Yoga. The researchers found that people who woke up in the middle of the night after doing yoga earlier that day fell back asleep much more quickly.

 

More Mindfulness, Less Stress

Researchers from Australia and Boise State University tested 51 adults aged 20 to 54 who did at least 20 Bikram Yoga classes in eight weeks. Participants showed improvements in mindfulness, perceived stress, cardio-respiratory endurance, flexibility, and balance. The conclusion: “Bikram Yoga may give people the tools to decrease perceived stress, potentially having an effect on chronic stress-related illnesses.”

 

Prevention of Bone Loss

A University of Southern California study tested the bone mineral density (BMD) of 14 pre-menopausal women who practised Bikram Yoga at least three times a week for three or more years. Each of the participants’ BMD was above that expected for normal, healthy, women of comparable age and ethnicity.

We’ve got lots of reasons to love Bikram Yoga! Read them here!