HOT BIKRAM YOGA – DEFINITELY NOT FOR WIMPS!

Premier Bikram yoga brand, Hot Bikram Yoga, has reported a surge in the number of men employing the discipline to improve strength, flexibility and mental toughness.

“Bikram Yoga is definitely not for wimps”, says Hot Bikram Yoga founder, Olga Allon: “Figures show that 25 per cent of all people attending our classes are men. This is very high for yoga classes and we believe the reason for this is twofold.

Firstly, many ‘weekend warriors’ are looking for marginal gains to improve performance in their chosen sports. Bikram Yoga is performed in a room heated to 40 degree Celsius which means that muscles are able to work through a broader range of motion, positively impacting strength and flexibility. These small improvements can make the difference between an average performance and a personal best.

Secondly, more and more elite male athletes are introducing Bikram Yoga into their training regimes and reaping the benefits. Andy Murray, tennis ace, is a big advocate, Rob Miedzybrodzki, GB Beach Volleyball player and members of premier league including former Fulham FC player Moritz Volt have all attended Hot Bikram Yoga classes. As other men start to hear about this they want to emulate the physical and mental successes of their sporting heroes and are trying it out.

Many of the 90 minute classes taught at our three London studios attract as many men as they do women. Bikram Yoga is mentally and physically demanding and I challenge anybody who believes otherwise to come along and give it a go.”

Here are Olga’s top five Bikram benefits for men:

1. Strength
Interval training is an effective way to build strength and fitness and Hot Bikram Yoga is identical in the results it achieves. Each pose is held for 20-30 seconds before moving into a state of 100% relaxation. It’s similar to weight-training but you use your own body as the weights and pulleys, which mean you build lean muscle strength.

2. Stamina
Hot Bikram Yoga provides a full cardiovascular workout so it perfectly complements an intense training regime. The breathing exercises are a vital part of each session and as well as increasing your lung capacity, they also keep your heart rate low and help you keep calm and focused under pressure, which is particularly helpful with the mental aspects of long-distance running.

3. Injury Prevention
The unique environment helps reduce the risk of injury, allowing muscles to stretch further without any aches or pain the following day. Also, the postures act as a tourniquet, cutting off the blood supply to the particular joint or organ you’re working on. Then, when you release after a hold of 20-30 seconds, blood and oxygen flood back in, nourishing and rejuvenating the area. If you’re someone that does high impact sports, you will certainly benefit from postures that focus on the knees and spine.

4. Weight Loss

Thanks to the heat and humidity, a person can expect to burn over 600 calories at each session. As your body fights to stay cool, your pulse rate increases which helps burn more calories. The high temperature will also help your body achieve a more balanced metabolism.

5. Increased Flexibility

Stretching in high temperatures allows you to stretch further than you could normally. The temperature in the room reflects that of muscles and body fluids once it has warmed up. Once your body is relaxed, you can move it further and if you’re susceptible to stiff, aching joints, you’ll be able to enjoy a deeper stretch without any pain the following day.

To learn more about Hot Bikram Yoga, book a class or find out about special offers, visit http://www.hotbikramyoga.co.uk/ . Studios are located at Fulham, Balham and London Bridge.

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If you would like to interview Olga Allon, sample a Bikram Yoga class or obtain imagery, please contact:

Alison Bledge

PROMOTE PR

01628 507 665

alison.bledge@promotepr.com

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Hot Bikram Yoga
Hot Bikram Yoga was founded by successful businesswoman and mother of three Olga Allon. Olga was the sole representative from the leisure industry to be named in the UK’s first ever Power Part Time Top 50 list which was published in FT in November 2012 in bid to debunk the myth that only low skilled, low paid jobs can work on a part time basis.

Olga’s three studios, based in Fulham, Balham and London Bridge, offer over 125 classes per week and reflect the ethos of Bikram Yoga, the UK’s fastest growing form of yoga. Hot Bikram Yoga uses 26 postures and two breathing exercises practiced in a set sequence in a room heated to 40 degrees Celsius. It was developed over 40 years ago by Bikram Choudhry, who used it to rehabilitate himself from injury. Hot Bikram Yoga offers a total body workout and has been designed for all levels of fitness. Benefits include injury prevention, weight loss, improved posture and flexibility, lowering blood pressure, mental clarity and reduced stress.

All of Hot Bikram Yoga’s instructors have undertaken intensive training in Bikram Yoga and have been personally trained by Bikram Choudhry. Classes deliver outstanding customer care and deliver the ultimate Bikram Yoga experience in studios architecturally designed to the highest specification.