Bikram Yoga Experience

Yoga is just AWESOME! I love heated power yoga even more than Bikram (it is even more challenging if you can believe it). You will get used to the heat. Lie down when you feel faint or dizzy. Heat rises, so being on the floor will help.
Sit yourself closer to the window or the door to the studio - a place where it is the least hot.
Make sure you go to class well hydrated. Drink room temperature water. Ice water will keep your body temp down and you will keep getting hot, so that only makes it worse.
Drink ice water after class.
You can also add Emergen-C (a powered supplement) to your water to help you stay hydrated.
But go back! Your body will love you for it. Enjoy!!!!
~G.
www.bebettertoyourself.blogspot.com

I've been wanting to try it so I'm curious to see what answers you get! I hate being hot but have heard so much about how well it works for some people.

JC -

I have been doing Bikram Yoga on and off for 5 years, and it is clumsy and awkward at first. Your body has to adjust to the heat, and it will. No class will ever be the same. Some days you will feel great, do every pose well, and feel awesome. Some days you will fall out of poses and wonder what the heck! But, as a new student, you should continue. Go back as soon as possible, turn your mind off, and be in the moment. The instructor should have spent a little time with you since you are new, so make sure they get you have never been or have only 1 class under your belt. Take all of the suggestions about pre-class preparation - don't eat 2 hours ahead of time, drink a lot of water throughout the day, and be prepared to have an excellent class. I can assure you, you will improve and it is harder than it looks. Once you get acclimated to the heat and you still your mind, you will have some amazing classes. Stick with it!

Definitely keep going. Yoga is such a wonderful stress reliever and benefit to your body. I started doing yoga, bikram style, about six years ago and now I take other yoga classes - hatha, ashtanga - and I just love it. I wasn't in great shape either, but after all this time my body is definitely stronger, more flexible, and the breathing helps me so much. So if you can take the heat keep going, and you will find it easier and easier every time you go. When I started I tried to go every two to three days, which is what I still do and it has worked out for me. Good luck!

Keep going, girl!! It will definitely get easier, and faster than you expect. I used to do bikram yoga several times a week and it made me feel STRONG and fit and full of energy all the time. Even though I think the actual shape of my body didn't change all that much, it made the difference between me feeling great about myself all the time and me constantly criticizing every aspect of my body with a microscope. Now I live in south america far far away from Bikram yoga classes and I miss it terribly--take full advantage of having that option around you! And remember that all of the students started out not knowing how to do it and sweating like lunatics. Sweating is a good thing!! It means your heartrate is up and you are actually progressing with your muscles.
Good for you!!!

It does get easier. You usually get better with practice! I hear the first goal is just to stay in the the room. I would drink waster constantly throughout the day. No heavy meals 2-3 hours before. I lost 5lbs in less than too weeks. I had to quit because I could not afford it. But it was an awesome experience!