Your first class

• Bring your open mind, a well-hydrated body, a mat, a towel and water bottle. We can rent or sell you a mat, towel, and water. The mind part is up to you. Wear fitted clothing that is comfortable to sweat in. Avoid long sleeves, pants, and cotton. Avoid heavy meals two to three hours before class. If you must eat go with banana, fruit, almonds. Please arrive 15-30 minutes prior to class to check-in. Apologies, but latecomers are not admitted. (What if . . . you found something to overcome your 'what ifs')
• I've never tried yoga
  Great! Bring your open mind, a well-hydrated body, and a mat, towel and water. We can rent or sell you a mat, towel, and water. The mind part is up to you.

• I'm too old
  You are never too old to practice yoga and begin again.

• I'm too young
  Anyone with fully developed sweat glands can safely practice Bikram yoga.

• I'm stiff as a board and touching my toes requires Herculean effort
  A stiff body is the most common misconception about why not to practice yoga, and one of the best reasons to get into a Bikram yoga class. All the postures are beginning postures and you do not need to be flexible to try them. You will use your strength to develop your flexibility.

• I don't like heat
  Know you are not alone! For most, it's the heat, and not the postures, that makes Bikram yoga challenging. Through regular practice you will learn to not just tolerate the heat but how to use it develop your flexibility, strength, and endurance.

• I'm pregnant
  You can practice Bikram yoga when you are pregnant. A regular Bikram yoga practice can make your pregnancy, labor, and post-partum easier than you expect. In this practice there is no impact to mother and child, and lower back pain often decreases while abdominal strength increases. If you've never tried Bikram yoga, wait until the end of your first trimester to start. If you have a regular practice, keep it up! There is no separate scheduled pregnancy class but our teachers are trained to provide modifications and alternate poses for you during Bikram's beginning yoga class. Rajashree Chodhoury, Bikram's wife, developed a pregnancy-modified Bikram yoga class.

• I have a disc herniation
  You can safely practice Bikram yoga with a herniated disc. With your patience and commitment, Bikram yoga will diminish the pain. A disc herniation occurs when a spinal disc ruptures and makes the inner membrane vulnerable to direct contact with a nerve. When you backbend, your spinal discs (and herniations) compress and move the discs away from the spinal nerves. Strengthening your abdominal muscles, backward bending, and spinal twisting will be your primary sources for healing, and you will get plenty of it here. Read a detailed testimonial about herniated discs that addresses each posture.

• I'm undergoing chemotherapy
  Speak with your doctor first. It depends on the level and course of your treatment. Students with established practices undergoing chemotherapy often find maintaining their practice during treatment helps to speed detox and to stay mentally strong.

• I feel uncomfortable with spirituality commonly associated with yoga
  Bikram yoga is not a religion, a diet, or a deprivation. There are no religious or spiritual symbols, mantras, or expectations in our studio. With the regular practice of yoga, you might find your mind to be calmer and more in tune with your body. That's the natural tendency in yoga practice. Nothing is expected of you except trying your best with what you have, today.

• One size for all
  The standardization of Bikram yoga has raised a few yoga hackles. Know that Bikram's tough love protects you from unsafe practice habits and studio conditions, as well as inadequately trained teachers. Bikram yoga does not compete with or replace other kinds of yoga. Seasoned yogis often find that practicing the Bikram sequence deepens other kinds of yoga practice.