Frequenty Asked Questions
Q: How do I get to your studio?
A: The address is Červeného Kříže 7, Ostrava. The studio is located on the first floor. We are 2 minutes walk from the Fifejdy Hospital. We are also 2 minutes walk from the Namesti Republiky trolley and bus stop. We are also 1 minute walk from the bus stop Červeného Kříže. Please see map located on Contact page.
Q: How early do I show up for class?
A: New students should show up 30 minutes before their first class to register and familiarize themselves with the studio. Returning students should show up 20 minutes prior to class.
Q: What do I bring to my first yoga class?
A: For first time students you only need to bring your yoga/workout clothes. If you plan to shower you should also bring a towel. If you purchase the introduction special you will receive rental of a yoga mat. All students (new and returning) should eventually purchase your own yoga mat and 2 towels (1 for class and 1 for the shower). We sell a variety of clothes, towels and mats in the studio.
Q: Once a class starts can I leave the yoga room?
A: You may only leave the yoga room in an emergency. Leaving the room will disrupt the hot air flow as well as disturb the other students that are concentrating to hold a pose. If you feel light headed or dizzy please lie down on your towel.
Q: If I am new to yoga where do I stand in the class?
A: New students should stand toward the back wall near the windows. This will allow you to watch other more experienced students in front of you. Additionally, since the main heaters are toward the front of the room it may be 1 or 2 degrees cooler toward the back.
Q: How does Bikram yoga help to heal and prevent injuries?
A: Combining stretching, balancing, and pressure, all Bikram yoga postures have a tourniquet effect on the body. Each posture is designed to temporarily restrict blood flow to certain parts of the body, causing pressure to build in the arteries and veins. When the posture is released, a lock gate effect is created, and the body parts that were constricted are flushed with blood. Blood is responsible for providing all the tissues of the body with the oxygen and nutrients they need for normal function and repair, so increasing the flow of blood enhances the body's natural ability to heal and prevent injuries.
Q: With a proper diet, is Bikram yoga good for weight loss?
A: Weight management is one of the many benefits of a regular Bikram yoga practice. Bikram yoga optimizes all body systems: digestion and respiration, as well as endocrine, lymphatic and elimination systems will begin to work harmoniously. Your appetite will normalize, and your unhealthy cravings will diminish. All of these results will help to normalize your weight if you devote yourself to a regular practice of at least three times per week.
Q: Can I do Bikram yoga if I am pregnant?
A: If you have never practiced Bikram Yoga we do not recommend that you begin your Yoga training during pregnancy.
Q: Is there a recommended diet to follow with Bikram yoga?
A: Many practitioners naturally find themselves eating more sensibly when they practice Bikram yoga regularly. More attuned to their bodies' needs, they choose healthy foods in the right quantities, and thereby achieve their ideal body composition. By regulating the digestive and endocrine systems, Bikram yoga improves the body's metabolism and absorption of vital nutrients. Although Bikram does not recommend a specific diet, he does recommend chewing food carefully, and eating smaller, more frequent meals rather than three large ones. It is also recommended not to eat two hours before practicing Bikram yoga. However, the stomach should never be completely empty to avoid damage by gastric juices to the inner lining of the stomach.
Q: Why is it important to learn from a certified Bikram yoga instructor?
A: It takes more than a hot room and a list of postures to make your Bikram yoga practice a safe, rewarding experience. Bikram yoga is highly specialized, requiring appropriate training and knowledge to teach it effectively. Bikram Choudhury, the creator of Bikram yoga, personally trains and certifies his instructors to ensure that his methods and philosophy are preserved and properly taught. Prior to certification, an instructor must complete an intensive nine-week training requiring over 500 hours of study. Bikram yoga studios guided by certified instructors provide the best possible instruction. Their continued relationship with Bikram Choudhury and his training staff allows the them to draw from all of the resources Bikram's training center has to offer, including special seminars, posture clinics, guest instructors, and answers to questions that may arise in a particular student's practice. Anyone can claim they teach Bikram yoga, but unless there is a certified instructor supervising how and what is taught at the studio, you are not getting true Bikram yoga.
Q: What are the higher goals of yoga?
A: 'Yoga' is Sanskrit for 'union' - of mind, body, and spirit, but also with each other, the environment, and the universe. The practice of yoga allows us to achieve this union by tying the mind and body to the breath, through which we channel the universal life force, or prana. By learning to control the breath, then, we also gain control over our minds, bodies, and emotions. On the spiritual path of yoga, this harmony of mind, body, and spirit is necessary to attain enlightenment. But no matter what your goals are in life, the ability to control mind and body through the breath will enhance your ability to achieve them.
Q: What if I'm not flexible?
A: This is the most common misconception that prevents people from coming to a yoga class. Yoga is not about how flexible you are, but about strengthening your body and spine in all directions. All that matters is that you try the right way, go to your personal “edge” and you will get 100% of the benefit!
Q: Why is the room heated?
A: The room is intentionally heated to warm your muscles and allow you to work deeper and safer. The heat also heals, helps prevent injuries and promotes sweating which flushes toxins from your body.
Q: Is it a cardiovascular workout and can I lose weight?
A: People of all fitness levels find Bikram Yoga very challenging. Each posture combines flexibility, strength and balance to work your whole body from your bones to your skin. With persistence, patience and dedication, you can lose inches and develop muscle tone and strength that might never come from other forms of exercise. If there are any other questions you need answered please see receptionist or teacher before or after class.
