International Day Of Yoga 2023: Bikram Yoga And Ashtanga Yoga: What Is The Difference?

Add as a preferred source on Google

Bikram yoga is about making use of external fire whereas Ashtanga yoga is about making use of the internal fire created by the body. Ashtanga to most, may sound profound and deep where as Bikram may sound purely shallow and superficial. But views and opinions differ. Bikram yoga is practiced at an ideal temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

The excessive sweating process detoxifies the body in the Bikram yoga. Ashtanga yoga builds the internal fire by practice of flowing movements synchronised with breath. Let us see how these two styles differ in their practice and precepts.

1. Ashtanga: K. Pattabhi Jois, from Mysore gave a shape to this ancient yoga process and spent his entire life in training students. He had a cheerful disposition and was content with what he had. Bikram: Bikram Choudhury is from Calcutta, and he discovered this yoga style when, at the age 17, a weight lifting mishap crippled him by jamming his knees. He practiced yoga and regained his leg movement. He had copyrighted his asanas and hence was very fussy about preserving his tradition in the most original way.,

2. Ashtanga: Ashtanga Yoga is headquartered in Mysore India. It runs under the name of Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute. Bikram runs his Yoga college of India in Beverly Hills.

3. Ashtanga: This yoga is composed of six series that contain multiple steps. Mastering this yoga depends on your level of skill. Most of the practitioners are still struggling with primary or secondary series. Bikram: This yoga is composed of 26 poses, and 2 breathing exercises, that are repeated twice in a span of 90 minutes.

4. Ashtanga: It begins with surya namaskar and then navasanas that have you gasping for breath when the session concludes. The asanas focus on lengthening the hamstrings, and opening the hip portion. The postures are linked by vinyasas as a result of which you build great strength in the arms and the abs.

All that you have in floor postures are forward bends and some inversions just to allow the body to experience good circulation. Bikram: The standing series are about building balance, and strength in the lower body.

The floor series focus on backbends and spine stretches. Compression postures compress the inner organs. You have to learn standing-balance poses like half-moon along with floor poses, It begins with pranayama and a mini corpse pose.

5. Ashtanga: The heat is generated from the practitioner. Bikram: The heat originates externally from the room that is insulated up to 105 degrees

6. Ashtanga: In the initial stages the teacher corrects you and leads you on to the next step. In the later stages it is your own intuition that you should rely on to get the know-how. Each posture will be held for five breaths.

Bikram: Instructor provides verbal cues to poses. Practitioners are asked to use the requisite wall of mirrors to correct their yogic faults. Aligning and correcting the postures are done verbally through cues.

7. Ashtanga is practiced as a nonstop process right from the beginning to the end. Bikram: This yoga allows you time between the poses.

8. Ashtanga: With time, the level of toughness of the poses increases. You require to be strong, flexible and enduring to continue the practice. Bikram: the only thing that is tough to endure will be the heat in the room.

9. Ashtanga: It's very difficult. Start with vinyasa and then proceed ahead to ashtanga. It is very difficult to hold the breath between the poses. Bikram: it is very dangerous due to the heat that overwhelms you. It is impossible to bear the heat in the room.

10. The Bikram sequence is a moving meditation, and allows you to challenge yourself to stretch your limits and overcome your own mental and physical shortcomings.

The Ashtanga method has six series of asanas but it is deeply rooted in ancient yoga and has been popularized by Pattabhi Jois. It also makes use of Ujjayi breath and focal points as its main tools, and is highly revered as a spiritual practice.