Bend it like Bikram

Bikram Yoga, the “hot” kind practised at temperatures of 40C is one of the most loved workouts of the fit and fabulous.

Bikram Choudhury, the mind behind the moves, talks to Metro about how to survive on an empty stomach, luxury cars and of course, Bikram.

Emptying the Tank
“My evening starts at midnight. I got to bed at five o’clock in the morning and wake up at seven,” Bikram Choudhury explains. “Depending on where I am, I’ll either go to the gym, steam room... anything quick, or do Bikram. I’ll do up to 90 postures in an hour and a half.” This kind of lifestyle would have most of us burnt out but not Bikram. “I eat a little bit of protein at night …I’ve worked at not being hungry since 1964.

“Yogis don’t need food as Yoga is food. You fill up your car tank only once it’s empty, right? With Bikram you fill your body with energy like you fill up a tank. Humans can survive for 16 days without food you know.”

Although it’s hard to believe anyone with a normal life and appetite could survive on such a meagre regime, it makes sense that someone could. “People get energy from nutrition and relaxation. Nutrition comes from food and relaxation comes from sleep.

“The body is a powerhouse. Under the roof there are trillions of powers you’ll never use. If you live ’til you’re 100 years old, you’ll have used three per cent of your body. With Bikram, you’ll use 110 per cent — piece by piece you activate every single internal organ, nerve, vein, ligament, every molecule, every atom.”  

Changing the Gears
Flashy cars, it so happens are Bikram’s one guilty pleasure — he’s never had tea, coffee, drugs, liquor or cigarettes in his life. “I’m crystal clear. Automobile is my one passion, I spend 24 hours a day thinking about the heart, lungs, kidneys, the brain, sometimes I just want to forget about all of that and think about cars.”

Yet he can’t seem to stop coming back to Bikram. “If you own an Aston Martin and live in Park Avenue and all you do is drive it round the block for 10 km/hour what a waste. You should get out on the M4 and drive at 300 km/hour at 700-horse power. The body is the same and Bikram Yoga makes you realise that. You need to change the gear and instead of going 10 km/ hour, go at 300.”