WHAT IS HOT YOGA AND WHAT ARE ITS BENEFITS?

Bikram Choudhury is a living yoga master and Hot Yoga innovator. His method is a set of 26 yoga poses including breathing exercise, each of which is performed twice in a 90-minute class. He founded the Yoga College of India in Every Hills in 1974.

Hot Yoga is a series of yoga poses (asanas) done in a room maintained at a temperature of 95-100 degrees. This promotes sweating and rids the body of toxins. When the body is very warm, it becomes more flexible. The heat also improves circulation.

It is important to have your own yoga mat and towel when doing Hot Yoga because of all the sweating you do. Students wear only a little clothing for the same reason. It is best not to eat two hours before class. Drink plenty of water before and after class so as not to get dehydrated. If you want to be sure to follow Bikram's method, make sure the Hot Yoga studio you choose has been certified to teach Bikram Yoga. Hot Yoga is not advised for pregnant women.

Bikram Hot Yoga is designed for beginners but it appeals to students at all levels. Bikram chose the 26 positions out of thousands available because they are beneficial for all bodies no matter how sick or old. Every pose starts and ends in a neutral positions. It is not necessary to complete one pose to get to the next one. Thus, you are able to move therapeutically to the extent to which your body allows.

Bikram Choudhury, is a controversial figure in the yoga community. He copyrighted the series of poses he uses, which he took from 84 classical yoga postures. He threatens legal actions against studio owners who fail to teach according to his guidelines. Teachers in the yoga community argue that Indian tradition cannot be owned.

His tightly controlled empire of 500 certified yoga studios and 6,000 yoga teachers is growing. With a Bikram studio in almost every major American city and a million students worldwide, Bikram has earned the nickname "McYoga".

If you are new to Hot Yoga, don't sign up for a bunch of classes until you've tried one or two. You need to know if you mentally and physically enjoy the classes. You should be able to get through a class without any shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, nausea or fatigue. The atmosphere should be supportive not competitive.

Choudhury explained in an interview with 60 Minutes' Correspondent Mika Brzezinski where meditation fits into Hot Yoga. "It starts on the outside. In pushing the body to the extreme. You use the body as a medium to bring the mind back to the brain. Perfect marriage between body and mind. Then you can knock the door to the spirit."

In Hollywood, people have been doing Hot Yoga for decades. Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Candice Bergen and Broke Shields are fans.

Some of the benefits Bikram Hot Yoga claims include:

Works every organ, gland, nerve, tendon, ligament and muscle in the whole body
Expands capacity to breathe fully and deeply
Prevents injury and may prevent or improve chronic illness
Promotes better sleep
Fabulous body toning effects
Weight loss or gain depending on your body's needs
Improvement in posture and body awareness
Improve the healing and regenerative powers of your body
Improvement in T-cell function and immune system
Lengthening and strengthening of muscles
Increased flexibility
Improvement in metabolism/digestion
Nervous system is exercised
Weight bearing exercise will prevent osteoporosis
Builds mental strength and teaches you to hold your mind in a focused and meditative state

If you are completely new to yoga, it is recommended that you first try a basic Hatha Yoga class. First learn your limitations in regular room temperatures. Then you can be more receptive of your first Hot Yoga experience.