Wear a leotard, stretch pants, exercise shorts, or a swim suit. Tee shirts are bulky; tank tops are better. The room is warm (90 plus degrees) so expect to sweat. When we sweat, we use the skin as the largest organ to help the cleansing effects of the yoga.

Expect yoga to offer more than fitness: it offers health, wellness, restoration and relaxation. Bikram says, "Never too late, never to old, never too bad, and never too sick to do yoga and start from scratch again." So, expect to change. Some days you won't want to come at all, or you'll get there and want to leave. These are the days you need to do yoga the most. Yoga 'house cleans' your body, mind and habits. Some days you'll feel different during or after the class than the day before...suspend your judgments and trust the process.

How often Should I Come?

Especially the first year, you will benefit by maximum retraining of your systems (circulatory, respiratory, digestive, muscular, nervous, metabolic, lymphatic, skeletal). A daily practice from the beginning can relax into a 3 or 4 times a week routine, once your systems are out of the panic-stress-HELP!-syndrome. You'll find you want to do this practice. It's fun. It works. You'll start organizing your schedule to fit it in. Remember that this yoga is powerful and challenging, pace yourself; don't force yourself; and don't expect to be perfect overnight! (If you're experiencing health or emotional issues, yoga will support you, so come as often as you can). It's our job to push you to achieve your best, it is your responsibility to know what is enough for your body on any given day. Progress is a slow, sure, but an enjoyable process! Your improvement will depend entirely on the time and effort you put in. Respect your limits (without babying yourself), and expect those limits to change. Just do your best. The harder this yoga is for you the more you need it and the more you will get out of it. There is no need to show off, nor is there a need to be embarrassed about your level of practice. The secret in the success is in the FREQUENCY of your practice. All the hard work pays off. This yoga work! The effort you put into this yoga will return to you tenfold. It's the very best thing you can do for your health, your body, your vitality, and your sense of well being.

Prerequisites for Practice

Do yoga on an empty stomach. Wait 2-3 hours after your last full meal. Up to an hour before class, fruit or fruit juice is workable. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated all day. This is better than drinking water just before or during class only. You're changing from the inside out and the outside in simultaneously. All your elimination systems (GI tract, urinary and skin) will support you in a gradual, useful way when you stay well hydrated.

Go into and out of postures slowly. Follow directions exactly and remember to breath normally while in the postures to maintain strength, balance and ease. You learn to extend without tension (breath is your vehicle to know if you are overextended).