Yoga - Bikram or Asthanga?

Goldigga

I want to include a yoga session at least once a week in my training to aid my flexibility. Has anyone done both of these? which one can you recommend?

Inspector Coptoor

Bikram is the one i do.
90 minute workout at about 40 degrees celsius.

Ashtanga/Vinyasa is meant to be a bit more advanced.
I;ve only done it the once but found it very good.

d'Oracle

I have never Done Bikram but have seen it done.
I would recommend Ashthanga, although I didn't do loads of it.

I would have nothing to do with anything relating in any way to Bikram Choudry.

Goldigga

I would have nothing to do with anything relating in any way to Bikram Choudry.

Why not?

d'Oracle

Goldigga wrote: »

Why not?

Lots of reasons.
Principally the Documentary "Yoga. Inc".
Copyrighting postures that are in the public domain is pretty bad Form IMO.
Also the man is an absolute tool.

I'm sure lots of people have real benefit from Bikram.
But there has been some talk of risks of Doing yoga in a Hot Environment and there is ample evidence of people passing out and stuff in early lessons.
Not to say this is really dangerous, but seems bloody stupid in a yoga class.

Goldigga

ok. Sounds a bit dodge. The heat does seem a bit extreme alright. Maybe I will give the Asthanga a go then. Cheers!

Inspector Coptoor

if the Ashtanga is done right, its done at a higher temperature too.
the heat enables you to stretch more and really feel the benefits.

I was dubious at first as well, but after doing it for a couple of years now, i dont notice the ehat that much.

if you do try bikram, bring 2L of water and 2 big towels.

you'll feel great after it as you'll sweat out a lot toxins/impurities and more importantly, great stress reliever

d'Oracle

Liam Henners257 wrote: »

if the Ashtanga is done right, its done at a higher temperature too.

Asthanga may sometimes be taught by people in hot rooms, but I dont think K Pattabhi Jois does.
Im pretty sure Bikram was the first to do that and Jois was teaching a lot longer than Bikram.

Ashthanga generates its own heat, through the movements.

Goldigga

I was looking at this place for Bikram. introductory offer isnt bad 49 euro for as many sessions as you want in 30 days, but its pretty pricey after that
http://www.bikramyoga.ie/

Can you recommend any places for Asthanga in Dublin...southside?

gdogg09

I go to Bikram once a week and def think it helps core work. If you're looking to lose a few pounds as well this will help as it's a sweat bath from start to finish. Have never done Asthanga but friends have and they reckon they got a good work out from it. Bikram is a bit expensive after the initial offer period alright. Still, worth a go if you are curious.

d'Oracle

Goldigga wrote: »

Can you recommend any places for Asthanga in Dublin...southside?

I can't recommend. I did it while I was on a year away.

There is a place in Blackrock.
I'm sure there are more places around.
But I can't recommend anything sorry.

http://www.ashtanga.ie/

Goldigga

I dont need to lose weight. Quiet the opposite actually. My main reason is to increase flexibility. Do you think Bikram may hinder my attempts to gain weight through strength training considering the heat involved?

Goldigga

Thanks for the link d'Oracle. looks good, but once again very expensive. 180 for 2 x 2 hour introductory sessions and 4 weeks usage. Seems to be the way with all these Yoga centres

d'Oracle

Dont see how the heat would harm your weight training.

There seems to be a school of thought that too much flexibility is bad for strength training. I think its a school of stupid thought, but what would I know.

I think Yoga classes are generally fairly expensive.
If you only want to increase range of motion, you might consider Iyengar Yoga too.
They tend to use props to help you work on weaknesses/previous injuries.
Less dynamic than Ashthanga.

Transform

d'Oracle wrote: »

I have never Done Bikram but have seen it done.
I would recommend Ashthanga, although I didn't do loads of it.

I would have nothing to do with anything relating in any way to Bikram Choudry.

agreed

Transform

d'Oracle wrote: »

I can't recommend. I did it while I was on a year away.

There is a place in Blackrock.
I'm sure there are more places around.
But I can't recommend anything sorry.

http://www.ashtanga.ie/

david and his wife in balackrock is possibly the most traditional teacher of ashtanga around.

also check out the yoga room and dublin yoga - google

Goldigga

david and his wife in balackrock is possibly the most traditional teacher of ashtanga around.

Maybe, but the prices are way too expensive in my opinion. €175 for one month or €1400 a year.. Cmon now. How can that be justified?

Effigy

Hmmm..was just thinking to sign up for some classes in Bikram yoga, after a friend in Oz recommended it...can anyone recommend a cheap daytime class? Northside preferably!:)

Transform

because the best people cost more!

am i more expensive than other trainers with less experience - yes!

also that price is to go as often as you like - if you are really into yoga you might go 3-4 times per week - you can still pay as you go also

ragg

Maybe so but that is an outrageous price, Us consumers are extremely price sensitive at the moment, I'd love to try something like that, but i couldn't justify paying it

Transform

ragg wrote: »

Maybe so but that is an outrageous price, Us consumers are extremely price sensitive at the moment, I'd love to try something like that, but i couldn't justify paying it

well IMO he is the very best around and you can still pay as you go so i really do not see the problem - i have taken classes with all of the best teachers in dublin that i know of.

Goldigga

because the best people cost more!

This may be true, but I think these prices are out of touch with reality. I understand that they may pay as you use options, but even going twice a week the cheapest option (€280 for 20 sessions) would cost you 120 a month!

I dont want to single out this particular Yoga Centre, as I have checked prices on a number of other places and have found overall the rates for yoga classes in Dublin to be very expensive.

A decent service for a reasonable price. Not too much to ask I would have thought!

d'Oracle

280 for 20 sessions is €14 a session.

Thats not that bad.
Plus you don't have to go continuously all year or what not.
You can learn it and do it at home....

MissFitz

Hi Goldigga,

A few weeks ago, I was looking for exactly the same thing as you. I have recently taken up jogging and wanted to add a weekly yoga class for flexibility and stretching.

I also considered bikram but ruled that out due to costs and also some fairly dubious reports I've read on the Internet!!

The cheapest Ashtanga yoga classes I found are here: Yogaspace based near St Stephen's green. If you sign up for 8 classes, you pay €80, which is the best rate I could find in the city centre or southside.

I have only been once so far but found it good and could definitely feel the benefits the day after

Hope this helps!!

Goldigga

Cheers MissFitz. I will check it out!

Bodysmart

I did the 30 day offer with www.bikramyoga.ie a few months ago.

Based on my experience with it, I believe that the heat is the only useful aspect of the class! I truly believe you could get similar (or better) results doing your own bodyweight exercises and stretches in that heat.


If you want to detox or cut weight for competition, I'd imagine that a few bikram classes would be very beneficial. From the point of pure yoga benefits, however, I'd recommend Asthanga ahead of it every time .

Paul

groovyg

Think there are bikram yoga classes on the North side, I remember reading about the teacher in the Irish times supplement a good while ago.

I tried out that introductory offer to bikram last year and went to about five classes. Didn't really mind the heat but it was awful stale smell in the room that made me decide it wasn't for me.

There is also the ivengar yoga centre in Phibsboro - which offers 16 1hr classes for 150 yo yo and you can go whenever you want. www.iyengaryogacentre.ie