Do Bikram Asanas Require a Bikram Yoga Mat?
ByWhile not absolutely necessary (and many yogis get started without a mat at all) it's an excellent idea to use a Bikram yoga mat when you exercise with yoga if you want to attain maximum comfort, traction and safety during your workout.
Bikram Yoga Mats Are Safer
As can be inferred from the name, yogis that perform Bikram yoga will per force (in most cases) be required to use a Bikram yoga mat. Bikram yoga, or "hot yoga" as it is also known, is a form of yoga in which the yogi moves very smoothly through a number of different poses in a room that has been heated to around 100 degrees Farenheit. The aim of performing Bikram yoga is to allow the heat from the room to increase the yogi’s ability to stretch and sweat out toxins. As a result, Bikram yoga practioners get HOT! Their sweat, literally pouring off of them at the end of a good workout, can create slippery and dangerous conditions on a hardwood workout floor, that's why most yoga studios (and even home users practicing with a Bikram yoga DVD) will benefit from the use of a Bikram yoga mat.
Can you get away without using a Bikram Yoga Mat?
Of course, it is not absolutely necessary to use a Bikram yoga mat to do your Bikram yoga routine. I have worked out on carpet in my house, a bathroom towel (over the carpet to catch the sweat) and outside in a warm climate - the beach! However, I found that with less stable footing, I was not as confident in my postures. There are certain benefits to using a yoga mat that just can't be duplicated without one. Characteristics specific to bikram yoga mats in particular include their ability to absorb sweat (either through the use of cotton or another absorbent material, or an "open cell" rubberized mat that lets sweat fall into tiny openings in the mat, rather than pooling on its surface.
A Bikram yoga mat can ensure that you do not slip on sweat since this is a kind of yoga mat that has been especially constructed to absorb all the sweat produced. This in turn means that the surface of the Bikram yoga mat will not be slippery from puddles of sweat and that of course ensures that you will be able to perform your exercises without fear of slipping on a wet surface.
A Bikram yoga mat also provides sufficient traction and friction to ensure that you can perform your Bikram yoga poses in a stable manner as such mats do not become slippery and the additional friction ensures surefootedness. This means that there are fewer chances of slipping and injuring you and so you can perform your Bikram yoga without any fear.
You can choose an especially thick Bikram yoga mat or one that is oversized (such as an extra long yoga mat, helpful for taller people). It is all a matter of personal preference. You need to, of course ensure that you get sufficient support as well as cushioning from the mat and it should also have an especially firm connection with the floor or ground.
So, as you can see, using a Bikram yoga mat is not just a matter of looking trendy on the street or at the gym. It's an important piece of equipment to enhance your safety and personal comfort while doing Bikram yoga. If you are serious about advancing in your yoga practice, or working out for life, not just a few weeks, there is really no excuse to be without a Bikram yoga mat that you like.
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