While the elevated room temperature surely plays a role in how you feel after a Bikram Yoga class, the postures and breathing are both significant factors as well. Bikram Yoga is not for everyone and that may be a determination you make after you take a class. But you should definitely give it a shot, even if you are somewhat apprehensive or put off by the increased heat in the room.

Here are just some of the reasons why it might benefit you:
Reduces Stress
All forms of yoga are ideal for lowering stress levels and Bikram Yoga is no exception. In fact, it’s become one of the more popular styles preferred by beginners and seasoned veterans alike for helping to deal with stress in a natural and healthy manner.

Improves Flexibility
A heated environment is going to make it easier for you to achieve the poses that are part of any hot yoga class. After all, stretching after a basic warm-up is a lot safer and more effective than stretching your muscles cold. So a Bikram classroom can increase your flexibility in areas such as the shoulders, lower back, and hamstrings.

Eases Depression
This is another benefit that can be gained through just about any type of yoga class. However, Bikram Yoga is ideal for bringing relaxation and peace of mind. This can work towards reducing feelings of depression and help to adjust your mood so the symptoms that come with a depressed state of mind become muted.

Nourishes The Skin
It’s not hard to guess that Bikram Yoga is going to make you sweat a whole lot. You will sweat more in one of these classes than you will in another that doesn’t bring up the room temperature. But when it comes to getting healthy skin, sweating can be so good for you, as it increases the flow of oxygenated blood to the skin cells which nourishes your skin from within.

Builds Bone Density
What makes Bikram Yoga so advantageous for anyone who chooses to take these classes is that a heated environment can increase the benefits that normal yoga provides, and that includes improving bone density. Postures that require you to support your own body weight are good for building your bone density. We lose density as we age, but Bikram Yoga has been shown to reverse those effects of aging in the neck, lower back, and hips.

Burns More Calories
If you’re looking to boost your calorie burn, turn up the heat. While the average person can burn roughly 150-200 calories with a traditional yoga class, that number can be almost doubled during a 90-minute Bikram Yoga class. Most hot yoga classes can provide you with this advantage for weight loss.

Provides a Cardiovascular Boost
Performing a range of poses in a heated classroom increases their difficulty. This is a good thing for the cardiovascular system as it keeps the heart pumping and promotes the flow of fresh, nutrient-rich blood to the organs. This can do wonders for speeding up the metabolism as well.