Ashtanga and Bikram Yoga

[TurnAgainCat]

Does anyone practise ashtanga yoga or Bikram yoga? I have been attending a fairly generic but lovely council-run class for a year, and also did a Ruth White weekend, and now am looking for another class or at least a one-day workshop to cover the summer holiday period. I have tried looking on the internet for London workshops and wondered about ashtanga or Bikram, to try something different. Why are these styles so trendy? Is it just fashion, or do they tend to attract a younger crowd? Some of the classes look a bit scarily strenuous, although I am quite fit. Also, are the ashtanga or Bikram classes full of intimidating sweaty men (although my yoga teacher (we only ever get one man in our class who looks well over 50) was joking that if you should go to ashtanga if you want to meet men - and that would be a plus!).

I do Bikram, though am on break because of the summer holidays. I find if you don't take it too seriously it is fine. Lot of skinny hipsters in tiny clothes, it took a long time for me too see someone who was bigger then me. I love it though. It is really hot, something that takes a while to get used to. I did some yoga in India, and I know bikram is controversal amoung other yoga people, but I love that it is the same 26 postures over and over, and I feel great when I do it. As I understand it (I maybe wrong) Astanga has more movement in it. Bikram is two sets of each of 26 postures everyone works at own pace and class is open to anyone. Most centers have a ten day for ten pound deal, so if you hate it you never have to go back. have to run but will chack in later if you have other questions

I havent done yoga classes , but a therapist I see has taught me yoga breathing and some positions. I have been talking to DH's cousin recently who does yoga and retreats worldwide , her tutors thoughts on Bikram are that really its not the best for the body. Due to the mad heat of the rooms (which is part of it) you can strecth your body further than you really should, sometimes causing really bad damage.Its very a rigourous and quite harsh form. Its meant to be a good way to loose weight though !!

sorry shoundt dicount it really . Must go and try things first before!!! I actually liked the look of it before I spoke to cousin!!

I would disagree about the weight thing, I actually was going 3 times a week for a few months and didn't lose much as one must get ones heart rate up to actually lose weight, sweating a lot doesn't always mean that your heart rate up!

I think people get in trouble in Bikram when they try to do things they shouldn't, it took me months to get up to the point where I did all the postures, and still after almost 6 months I would say I can't do them all. But you get some people in class, on their first class trying to do what people who have been doing it for 6 years are doing.

But I have to say again Bikram has a very bad reputation, and most people who do other types of yoga slag it off a lot. I just don't pay attention because I don't think bikram is the best form, it just works for me, the place I go to has a bunch of classes at all different times and that really fits into my schedule as I am not always sure if my husband is working late etc. I can go to any class as there is no beginners or advanced. And as I go home to the USA a lot I can go to the one there too and know I will be doing the same thing. The place was really clean too which scores big points for me!.

Hi TurnAgainCat, I've started going to classes at Templeton House Yoga Studio at Templeton House,33-34 Chiswell St, London (phone: 020 70746000) they do lots of different types of classes throughout the day and you don't have to book in advance so it may be worth trying out the classes there first before committing to doing loads of sessions. The lunchtime ones are £8 and the first session is free. I think it is pretty close to you, too.

TurnAgainCat, I practised ashtanga yoga (am pregnant now)for a while. I have been to a few different places, but my favourite is Triyoga in Primrose Hill. I really really enjoyed it - I don't really enjoy going to the gym and it was brilliant to find a sport that I enjoyed and which was good for me. Yes, there are a fair few toned bods, (and I am not one of those!), but you don't notice really. At the 3 different gyms where I've done classes, people aren't particularly trendy. Triyoga (which also has a centre in Covent garden) has some one day courses, and some introductory 6/8 week courses, which are really good. They have a website too.

oh and there are a few sweaty men in the classes, but mostly sweaty women!

Wow, as ever MN is a mine of information which my search engine could not find. I only have 2-3 weeks of weekdays available in August for this, while ds is visiting his grandparents, as I'll be visiting them every weekend. Normally the babysitting cost prohibits me from anything other than my council yoga class, which has a creche. But it is quite strange and exciting to have the prospect of doing what I like for so many weekdays (well outside office hours)! august24, I actually am trying hard not to get any thinner these days, so perhaps it is silly to consider Bikram, although definitely cheapest at £10 for 10 days, and kind of intriguing? I have also found the Halo centre on my way to work, which does Ashtanga Mysore self practice classes at 6.30 - 9.00 am and has showers, for £10 (ouch) drop in, and is quite tempting to fill the gap when I will not be getting ds ready in the morning. Does anyone do Mysore self practice? They said beginners welcome. But Templeton Studios looks nice too, and is cheaper. Do they have showers sis? pollyanna, I hadn't realized there was a triyoga in Covent Garden, which is quite interesting, as they seem to have very good teachers, and also thank you for sounding normal, as triyoga in my mind was only populated by Madonna and friends! I don't know what to do now!

Yes, I think they do have showers but as I only do hatha yoga and don't have the time for a shower in my lunch hour, I haven't tried them.

check out the bikram website that I go to for more information. There are three locations with this branch, and if you go to the offical site it tells you all the centers in and around London