Body Movin'.

Stand The Heat At Bikram Yoga.

Welcome to Body Movin', our new feature where, each week, we take a closer look at wherever you'll find health-minded folks jogging, crunching, lifting or otherwise moving their bodies in the name of fitness. Because, listen, we all need to get off of our ass from time to time. Hey: No pain, no gain.

Fast Facts on Bikram Yoga Dallas.
• Degree of Difficulty Scale for Beginners: 8 out of 10.
• Calories Burned in 90 minutes: 450.
• Muscle Soreness After The Fact: 3 out of 10.
• Location: 6333 East Mockingbird Lane, #253.
• Classes Offered: Each instructor has their own style but their core practice is always the same.
• Introductory Offer: Intro special of one month unlimited yoga for $49.
• Price: $99/month of unlimited classes. A 20 percent discount is offered for students, active police officers, firefighters, EMT and military personnel.

Overview.
Yeah, it's yoga. But, here, it's taught for 90 minutes and in a room heated to 105 degrees.

The idea isn't just to get you sweating, though. The heat warms your muscles and allow your body to get deeper into your postures — poses that instructors are here to help with, no matter your level of expertise.

But, let's just be real, the true challenge of the class is indeed withstanding the brutal heat.

According to instructor Erika Mardones, that's just part of the process: “You're putting yourself through a stressful situation in here to learn how to cope with stress better everywhere else in the rest of your life.”

With Bikram Yoga in particular, says Mardones, the idea is definitely mind over matter.

And, once you get past the fact that you are sweating from places you didn't know you could sweat from, it really is an incredible experience. The heat allows your muscles to increase their flexibility and, all told, practicing in the heat is actually a much safer way for beginners to start their yoga journey.

Also? Not only is it a good workout, but the heat increases circulation in your blood vessels to quicken your blood flow. And all that sweating makes an incredible detox and body cleanse.

Class Structure.
A complimentary mat and towel are provided for your first class, where everyone is spread throughout a heated room. The room is also lined with mirrors on two sides so you can make sure your postures are correct.

The class starts rather simply, with some breathing exercises led by an instructor with a microphone, who stands on a platform at the front of the class. From there, the rest of the class is entirely filled with postures, positions, and stretches — and, yes, the occasional water break mixed in to help you catch your breath.

Struggle as you might, the instructors provide plenty of comfort at the beginning of class by reminding everyone that it's OK if you can't do every pose, but that you should just do what your body feels comfortable with. As with most forms of yoga, listening to one's body and using self-discipline to move at one's own pace are better than overdoing it.

And for all the mumbo jumbo yogis like to spew, it really is true: The experiences one gains during a yoga practice seems to seep into the rest of one's life experiences.

Mardones says it quite well: “If you can make it through this, you can make it through anything.”

Getting Started.
Your first month at Bikram is discounted at $49 for unlimited classes because, according to owner Karen Buckner, newbies should attend between six and 10 classes before deciding if yoga is right for them. Ain't that nice of her?

Following suit, the first few classes are all about getting accustomed to the temperature and listening to your body when it needs to take a break. Soon, though, those who decide to stick with Bikram Yoga for any length of time will begin to notice that things do get a little easier each time. Also? The program builds muscle, enhances balance, lowers stress and helps people shed up to 600 calories per workout.

So if you have been nervous about the idea of working out in a room hotter than the Texas summer — or just starting yoga in the first place — know that this type of exercise has so many other incredible benefits for you.

It's definitely worth a try.

Grade.
Overall, I'll give Bikram Yoga Dallas a B.

Previous Body Movin’ Grades:
• East Dallas CrossFit: B-.