Bikram Yoga Leicester

Bikram is the perfect yoga for body and mind. Read the real testimonials from people who have discovered the health benefit of bikram yoga for themselves…

" I have always been into sport and used to attend kickboxing. A couple of years ago I injured my Sacroiliac (hip) joint. To find out that you cannot do something that you enjoy, was hard to come to terms with.

Over the last few years I have tried a number of activities, from going to Sports Centres, Road Running, Tennis, Spinning Classes etc. I have been searching for something which is physically and mentally challenging, without experiencing pain afterwards.

I started coming to Bikram Yoga in August this year. and although I have only been coming for weeks. I know I have found something, which I will not get bored of, and has challenged me every time.

I have experienced physical benefits including feeling myself walk taller and I do not slouch so much and have increased flexibility. I am looking forward to feeling more benefits in the future. Above all though , since coming to Bikram Yoga, I have experienced no pain in the hip during or after sessions!

A huge big Thank You to Rachel, Libby and Dom and all the staff at Bikram Yoga. Who have been excellent. Profesional and friendly at all times."

Fin.

Where do I start?

Bikram is brilliant. If I do it 3 times a week I get an energy level and zest for life which I’ve not found elsewhere. Physically, it’s like having eight fresh pints of blood pumped through me whenever I do it.

Mentally it’s amazing - fresh clear positive thinking, the mundane soul destroying aspects of daily life in Leicester doesn’t piss me off anymore.

With bikram as long as I do it, nothing else matters.

It gives me confidence but not arrogance. It’s very grounding, natural and healthy.

Doing something I enjoy which is good for me is a really cool feeling.

Bikram is the best thing in the world – if I do a lot in a row I’m just on a real mental and spiritual high. I like the fact you can go anywhere in the world and do it and it will be to a certain standard. That’s the difference between bikram and other yogas. Bikram is perfect, the union of body and mind, the best aspects of east and west meeting making life better.

I can’t imagine life without it, enough said.

Martin - 30/07/05

Prior to coming to yoga, I had been off sick for 4 months with a combination of stress/depression/anxiety, 2 months later I was back at work, 2 months on from that I am back full time, in a new job enjoying my work again – for the most part anyway!! I suppose there has been two types of benefit for me, mental and physical.

MENTAL
The actual practise of the yoga has been an enormous help, however other factors of coming to yoga have also helped…sense of achievement, social interaction etc. One of the biggest benefits that I noticed early on was the improvement in my sleep patterns, I went from someone whom couldn’t sleep till 2 or 3 in the morning to being asleep by 11.00 and having the most restful sleep I have had in years. I have also found that whilst I am practising, the time seems to stand almost still – the concept of flow comes to mind – as if it had become a meditation in itself. After the breathing and the first set of the first postures, I am not really aware of time till near the end when it’s like shit we’ve nearly finished. My ability to deal with stress has improved enormously. I have also become more tolerant or more in tune with how other people are feeling, bit like an increase in my ability to empathise.

PHYSICAL
What was weird was after the first class, I could really feel my toes again... sounds weird but it’s almost as if the circulation in my feet had returned... and the longer I have practised the more I am aware of all of my body. 10 weeks on from starting Bikram, I had stopped smoking, been through Christmas and still managed to loose 2.5 inches off my waist. I was 4 inches from touching my toes when I started, now I can place my hands flat on the floor, that’s getting on for 12 inches of flexibility!! I have also noticed my cardiovascular fitness improve. I went swimming the other week, and could seemingly just keep going... not something most people would associate with yoga. Whilst there I also went to the gym, I couldn’t believe how boring it was, no wonder I have never managed to keep going to one!!

I have always had an interest in yoga since trying it as a student (10 years ago or so) and seeing how it improved my overall life style and significantly reduced the psoriasis at the time. I am really glad I have found somewhere to practise, that is without the chanting and incense, where I get a proper work out and where the persons running the studio really care about the people and the yoga they teach.

I just wanted to share my experience of practising bikram yoga and its impact on my health. Prior to starting bikram yoga I have suffered from Pompholyx eczema, which is a type of eczema that affects the feet and hands (no known cause). As a result I had painful blistering on the soles of my feet, which made it painful for me to walk. I have tried various types of steroid based medications which did not make a difference.

Now for the strange part, I did not make any changes to my lifestyle e.g. diet etc…except the practise of bikram yoga. Within 3 weeks my symptoms disappeared. Firstly, I thought this was a coincidence but when I stopped practising for a couple of months the symptoms reoccurred. However, when I started again, the symptoms and blistering disappeared again. Bikram yoga has not only helped my medical condition but has improved my overall flexibility and strength. I would definitely recommend it.

Tina - 16/05/06

Benefits to me personally are:

I immediately went from sleeping with two pillows to one very thin one
My posture is more upright
My waist is actually going in, can’t ever remember having a proper waist line I have always been very straight down
My bum has definitely lifted!!
I sleep so much better when I have been practicing
I have seen my hip bones for the very first time, still have a podgy belly but working on that!!
Apart from physically it is also a very mental/spiritual thing, I feel calmer, more able to deal with stressful situations, I often want to stretch and find myself doing some of the actions whilst just standing or in meetings. I often wake up on a Saturday morning raring to go and full of energy rather than wanting a lie in. I cant believe what it has done to me both mentally and physically thank you for introducing me to this brilliant thing!!

Lisa