Can you Change your Life in 30 Days?
The Benefits of a Bikram Yoga Challenge
Bikram Choudhury tells his students: “Give me 30 days, I’ll change your body. Give me 60 days, I’ll change your life.” While it seems impossible given the number of unsuccessful weight loss plans and other advertised fad exercise regimens out there, Bikram Yoga Baltimore has been fortunate enough to see several students experience the truth of this statement first-hand.
Throughout the year, Bikram Yoga Baltimore hosts studio-wide 30- and 60-Day Challenges. These programs are designed to help students delve deeper into their practices, refine their postures, and gain a better understanding of their bodies and capabilities. Often, these Challenges include one or more Posture Clinics and other celebratory events.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a 30-Day Challenge?
The goal of a 30- or 60-Day Challenge is to come to yoga everyday for 30 (or 60) days, and over time see the positive physical and mental changes realized by a consistent practice. - What is a Posture Clinic?
A Posture Clinic, often facilitated by one or more knowledgeable teachers or master Bikram Yoga instructors, is an extended class when several or all of the postures in the Bikram Yoga series are described in detail. During a Posture Clinic, students will demonstrate postures, ask questions, discuss the particulars, and learn tips and tricks about how to execute postures more effectively. It’s a chance for yogis to learn more about the practice they love in an informal, lecture setting. - Are 30 or 60 days of yoga in a row too much?
Not at all. Bikram Yoga is different from most other forms of exercise. Because yoga doesn’t tear the muscles, your body doesn’t require time to repair itself between classes. It is safe to do every day, even twice a day! - What are some of the benefits of a daily practice?
Our challengers have mentioned that they sleep better, gain flexibility and muscle tone, lose weight, handle stress better, smile more, feel more confident in their appearances, see major improvements in their yoga postures, find other forms of exercise and daily activities easier, and pay better attention to their bodies and physical changes while participating in a Challenge. - How often do these Challenges occur?
Bikram Yoga Baltimore hosts studio-wide Challenges about twice per year, but students may take on a 30-Day Challenge at any time. Utilize any of our unlimited class memberships to the maximum and come everyday for as long as possible! You will, guaranteed, enjoy a better, healthier life the more often you practice yoga. - What if I can’t come every day during a Challenge?
That’s ok! Life can be unpredictable and may get in the way of a daily practice. You can use a Challenge to commit to attending class more often than usual: if you normally attend 3 classes a week, make your Challenge to attend 5 days a week. If you skip a day, take 2 classes the next day to make up for it. There are plenty of ways to customize a Challenge, but the goal is to come to class as much as possible to maximize your health benefits.
Here are what some of our 30-Day Challengers have said:
Today was an AMAZING class, thanks to my [AWESOME instructor] for the constant motivation. I was able to do three things that I have never done before in my life. My head touched the floor in separate leg stretching, I finally got down on my left leg for toe stand (never thought this day would come), and I was able to hold triangle for the entire length of time both sets. So glad I did the challenge! –Y. Chelladurai
I feel like I’ve learned more in the five consecutive days that I’ve done Bikram Yoga than all the other classes I’ve taken combined. There really is something to doing consecutive classes: learning from the day before; being attentive to the subtle (and not so subtle) differences of each class. I didn’t get this before just coming a few days a week. –L. Tingley
Up until the Challenge I ‘tried’ to come once a week. Even with that little, I noticed differences. The heat and humidity didn’t bother me. I was able to bend and stretch without difficulty…then [my instructor] said that I should take the Challenge. I am not sure why I believed her. I really had a hard time just doing it once a week, but I said ok. I have done 6 out of 7 days so far and will be doing a double tonight to catch up. I love it. Doing yoga every day is really good and so much more effective than just once a week. It is still hard, but worth it. –M. Ritter