you were right to be concerned, but i don't know what you could have done about it. i've disagreed aloud with teachers in class and let me tell you, it's not appreciated by the teacher or by the other students. now i keep my comments to myself and use my evaluation of the teacher for my own purposes only.
i was very interested to see you say you almost left the class. i find myself in this position sometimes and i'm never sure how to handle it. on one hand, it won't kill me to tough it out for an hour in a class that isn't right for me. i might learn something. on the other hand, i research classes before i attend to ensure they are appropriate for me. when i go to a class and find it completely different from how it was advertised, it infuriates me and i'm not inclined to waste my time. i do always pay regardless of whether i stay or not.
what is a yoga teacher's position on students leaving mid-class?

I don't think you are taking it too seriously. Perhaps you shouldn't be angry, but it's alright to be concerned. Students could be injuring themselves or simply being turned off of the class or yoga in general. I had an instructor push my legs up and hold them for headstand when I asked her not to and I had to ask her to let go several times before she did. My neck was hurt and I sat out the rest of the class and was sore for the next week. I didn't have a long term injury but I never went back to that studio and it was yrs before I attempted a head stand again.

I almost walked out of a badly taught bikram class, too. It felt more like an extreme sport than yoga; it cultivated competition rather than acceptance. I was very angry at the end. Fundamentally, there are many other things wrong with bikram, but, the main point is, I know what you went through. But anger is an opposing emotion you have to embrace, too. It's there for a reason. In this case, it's to let you know not to take that class again.

I, too, am a novice teacher, and could have sworn I was reading my own story when I read your entry. I had almost exactly the same experience in a hot yoga class recently. I ended up coming to the conclusion that, when practiced with awareness, hot yoga can have many unique benefits. The key, however, is honoring your individual body. Although it sometimes helps to be prompted to move more deeply into a pose, finding one's "edge" is the up to each individual yogi. It's quite a balancing act to learn what is too much and what is too little...a skill that often takes years of yoga practice to hone. In a 105 degree room (especially with a teacher such as the one you described) it can be very easy to push past the point of safety into the injurious zone. In my opinion, hot yoga requires a good deal of body awareness and a major relinquishing of the ego. :-) For these reasons, I generally don't recommend hot yoga to my beginning students, however, I don't discount the benefits either.

Emotions arise in all of us when we are in certain asanas, so it's no big surprise that your emotions got the best of you when you are in a room that is 105 degrees. I also don't think that you are off base with being concerned about the method that the teacher decided to invoke.

The whole theory of No Pain No Gain should not apply to Yoga. We should know where our edge is and stop there.

Overtime we will be able to take things a bit further, but why try and run when you are just learning to walk?

A student could injure themselves preventing them from praticing Yoga.

So many injuries in Yoga are so easily avoidable. They should not be encouraged by our teachers.

I haven't read all of the comments posted, but I will say that it is always wise to approach these situations with some constraints...you certainly don't want to "confront" an Instructor in class. Part of the "process" of becomming a great instructor is to be confident in front of your group - some of the best facilitators have been carved out of the rough. Upon determining the person's "approachability", I think it is a great thing to offer suggestions or refer someone to a great teacher training. If you can't be constructive then don't carry the burden - move on. Sometimes, a person needs the guidance and the knowledge that they may lack, just starting out. I've definitely had moments where I didn't want to really stay and complete a class, but felt like over-all, a rude exit would send a message that could really diminish a spirit...we all live and learn..and grow wiser...and it's the one's that lift you up, despite a few shortcomings, that make you want to be a better person - perhaps his downfall was language skills?? Who knows?? It's not for everyone..but a little guidance goes a long way.

It's ok to be angry and concerned. But don't take responsibility for it. It's not your lesson to learn, or is it? Today, yoga teacher trainings are offered to any one of any level of experience on every street corner yoga studio. Teachers are being turned loose at an incredible rate and yoga is every where you look now, unlike just 10 or even 5 years ago.
So it's to be expected that not every yoga class will be taught by an experienced teacher. When I attend a class and find the instruction unsafe or out of sorts with my personal yoga knowledge, I turn within to the teacher within me and do what feels right for my body and I know is safe. Often, when I do this, I find my quiet unspoken guidance is noticed by the teacher and she or he often will correct themselves offering my choice of modification as an example to the class. It's how we gently and non invasively help each other out.

Kind of off the subject. However, I take many yoga classes and am a Republican supporter of George Bush. I find it very annoying when teachers assume that anyone who takes yoga has the same political views and/or believes yoga class is the place to express those views. As a teacher, would you consider me less worthy because I am a Republican? Would you need to feel compassion for me? Anyway, if you are working on building up a client base, staying away from political comments might be something to consider.

I'm right there with you. When I was up at college, the only yoga studio in my area was a hot yoga studio owned by an ex college football coach.

He was a real jerk, encouraging us to push ourselves beyond what was reasonable or productive. After a few months of enduring the taunting from my "master" I finally realized that he was doing it not to help me push my limits, but for the sake of his own ego. I quit the studio and look back on those days with a kind of bemused "what was I thinking?" emotion.

To me, the worst part is that this man is getting into the yoga business full steam ahead. Apparently, he's a better businessman than he is a yogi, and he has been successfully touting himself to the local youth as a hep cat who knows how to give a good workout (a similar one could be had from any hardcore gym). Being the proprietor of his own studio, he is not likely to come into contact with a teacher who could help him overcome himself any time soon. Even if he did meet such a person, I am not sure that he would know it. That is sad, but what really worries me are how many people are going to his studio and leaving thinking, "this is yoga. Yoga sucks!" Even scarier than that? Somehow(cough, it's not that hard, cough), this man is certified to train instructors! The horror! And that is what is really wrong with American yoga: there is not enough real expertise to go around, but plenty of inferior teachers cash in on those who don't know any better.

And I know, that, being a yogi, I'm not supposed to euphemise all of that, but that's one contortion that I've never gotten the hang of.

Elisabeth,

Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I recently had a lengthy conversation with a fairly conservative yoga teacher about this very topic. Ironically, it seems that the yoga community is sometimes very devisive. Sometimes we leave people out without realizing it. (I know my boyfriend doesn't like being around my yoga friends because we talk about yoga so much, and he doesn't feel included.)

Sometimes what people don't get is that yoga really can be all-inclusive--regardless of physical abilities, talents, wealth, race, ethnicity, political or religious views, etc. We all have something to learn, and something to gain.

I like to think of myself as an equal-opportunity yoga teacher... (And I am as annoyed as you are when yoga teachers talk about politics during class!!) That was kind of the point of my post. I strive for tolerance and acceptance.

And I think even the Republican have to admit that sometimes our president makes some big public speaking mistakes... I'm not judging, just observing.

I have been doing Bikram Yoga off and on for 15 years and am certified to teach. Having said that, I have taken long breaks from my practice including when I had my daughter and gained 40 lbs. I'm still carrying this extra weight and my practice isn't so great at the moment and I get annoyed, too, when the teacher is pushing me. My extra weight and the heat and whatever attitude I've developed about the external circumstances can all be hindrances to my practice. Over the years, I've discovered that my yoga discipline includes simply staying in the room, focusing on myself and doing my best for that day no matter what is going on around me in class. External forces whether its the teacher's voice, lack of experience, bad timing, or a variety of other possible annoyances are all lessons in focusing on myself and not letting my mind get distracted or give myself permission to quit. This has been true when I've taken other yoga classes, too. As for the controversies around locking the knee and pushing yourself, that's personal preference. I've taught beginners who were arthritic or so overweight that they couldn't see their feet or had such bad backs that they couldn't sit in a chair. Bikram style yoga worked for them but I know it doesn't work for everyone. I find the main detractor isn't that the poses harm students, but the students who don't like the style tend to have a preconceived thought that Bikram's approach can be harmful. Those are the ones who don't tend to like it or benefit. I'm one who happens to really believe in the Bikram series and am returning to a regular class schedule to get this body and mind back in shape. It's a challenge -- I'm standing at the back of the room by an open door and I sit out one set of triangle -- but it's getting easier every day. I encourage anyone to try it. It works.

YOu are certainly entitled to have your say when it comes to our yoga experiences. However, an article about yoga is not the place to exhibit your limited knowledge or opinions of our President. You cetainly blemish your article by inseting information that is inappropriately displayed. Unless I am severly mistaken you are writing about yoga and want responses about such. YOu cheapen the integrity of your writing.

I too have taken just one hot yoga class. I walked out of there about ready to throw-up and I thought to myself..."this is not helping me at all. This is NOT what yoga is about." That was my first and LAST hot yoga class. Thanks for sharing.

Unfortune as it may be, that is how Bikram teaches us to teach. Lock the knee, lock the knee, lock the knee. During training that was drilled into us several times a day. I no longer say lock the knee because I've had 5 knee operations and realize what a strain this can be on the knee. The most important thing is to listen to your own body.

Are you kidding? You should have walked out. Bad Yoga can cause real physical damage, not just hurt feelings. My knee operation probably could have been avoided if I had not done so main Sun Salutations with slightly bad alignment.

I took a single hot yoga class and disliked it very much. Id never take another one. In any case, if im advised to do a posture in a way that doesnt feel right, i ignore the instruction. for example, in that bikram class, i placed my back foot in the ashtanga manner and didnt lock any joints. we do what we know is right for us (and, ideally, dont get antagonized by the freshly-minted instructor with the voice of a care-bear). thanks, erica, for bringing this up.

Wow! Can we cut the writer some slack she wasn't bashing Bush only making a point. No matter what your personal opinions of the man or his politics he is in fact an awful public speaker. SHEESH!! And to address the subject..being new to Yoga it is a concern that a teacher would want me to risk injury!

There are many different styles of yoga just as there are many different people. One of the advantages of living where I live are there are tons of classes everywhere if you don’t like one please try another find what works for you. With that said I am a Bikram Yoga practitioner and teacher. I have been practicing for four years and teaching for one. I know only my experiences what I’ve seen, felt and taught. I thought a little insight into my world may clarify some things for you.
Reasons for heat (these are just a few)
-Detoxification as your body sweats it releases toxins stored. Toxins can have many classifications here fatty foods, substances such as alcohol and drugs, and held emotions are just a few. As the heat works into your body these things are broken down and released it’s not uncommon to feel very emotional as this happens from happy to sad to enraged it’s all normal.
-Heat makes muscles more elastic and less susceptible to injury.
-Heat speeds up the breakdown of glucose on fatty acids and burns fat more easily
-The Mind it’s a powerful thing and in the end we are trying to help you still your mind, the class is a 90 min. moving meditation and there are a lot of things in the way. A giant mirror allowing or forcing you to see yourself therefore study each and ever posture you do, the teacher who talks continuously for 90 minutes, the small clothing that never is in the right spot and most of all the heat once you have the ability to let none of these things steel your peace you go through your entire class knowing it’s hot and not thinking twice about it.
The instructors
I’ve heard it all and I must say we are not all the yoga Nazis we are made out to be. We are all trained by Bikram for 9 weeks. During these nine weeks we eat, breath, and live yoga. During my training I was at the studio 12-16 hours a day. We took two classes a day, studied the postures along with having regular guest lectures. Our class is always the same sequence of 2 breathing exercises and 26 postures and I know these postures. I know everything about them I know how to get a beginning or advanced student Safely into thru and out of each posture. I know the medical benefit of each posture and the areas of the body each stretches and strengthens. We are taught to push our students to encourage them to work as hard as they can and probably harder than they’ve ever worked before. It’s not always a comfortable process if you’ve had tight knees, ankles or hips you know it’s not always pleasant opening them back up. There can be a pain that comes from stretching there should Never be any sharp, shooting pain anywhere. I am very protective of my students, I push them when I think they should be pushed but in the end I never correct them with my hands all of my adjustments are verbal. As a student it is your responsibility to listen to your body to do what you can and if you hear something directed that you cannot do simple you do not do it, in the end it is always your body.
The class
Always the same 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises it’s designed to work your entire body inside and out bones to skin. It’s a rigorous practice not easy at all but anyone can do it from gumby to I can’t touch my toes. I work hard, my students work hard. I am not teaching to be anyone’s spiritual guru, I am not preaching, or directing anyone on a specific path I am teaching Bikram Yoga. Hatha yoga asanas are designed to strengthen and limber the body so one can sit in meditation for long periods of time the asanas are also designed to still the mind. With continuous practice I have been able to still my mind and when it’s quiet it’s amazing what I hear. The path I am directed to take becomes clear. I am a facilitator to my students. I help them have healthy bodies. It’s takes a healthy body to have a healthy mind and it’s up to you what you do with your mind.
I have seen this yoga practice do so and heal so much for so many but I’ve written enough there’s not enough space for me to share all. To all reading this I hope I’ve been able to give a little more information about Bikram Yoga to you. It’s a process and the body and mind take a bit of time to adjust to this practice try it out not once or twice give it an honest effort a month and see what happens. As you acclimate to the heat, get the swing of the sequence, and start to recognize and feel what happens you will fall in love with your self. If this isn’t the class for you after a handful of goes find another there is so much for us to choose from something will fit all of us.
One more thing I haven’t addressed and feel I should the “knee lock”. It’s not as scary as it sounds and can be a mental block for some in short here’s the deal. Knee locked = leg straight, knee cap lifted, quadriceps muscles contracted entire foot grounded into the floor all four corners. We lock our knee during a series of standing balancing postures done on one leg. When standing on one leg it is important to have a solid foundation if your leg is bending, wobbling and moving you are more likely to fall over and hurt yourself. In this set of balancing postures first you lock your knee (establish your foundation leg straight, kneecap lifted, thigh contracted, body weight distributed all over the standing foot equally the same) then you go further in the posture but it’s the start the number one step. I hope some of this info is usefull to you happy teaching.

Erica, I don't think your reaction was abnormal at all. I'm an Iyengar snob :), and proud of it, and I've tried lots of other styles. I've been taking Bikram classes for a bit more than a year, and I enjoy the change of pace and the sweat. I haven't noticed any ill effects, except for a pounding headache afterward if it's just too humid in the room. I also like that it's the same poses each time, so it's easy to gauge progress (or the lack of it!).

(And by the way, I've heard some folks refer to a generic "hot yoga" that isn't Bikram, which makes me nervous).

The heat doesn't make me angry, but there is one pose in yoga that often does: ustrasana. Bikram classes have helped me in this pose, but it's slooowww progress. I think the eliciting of emotions in yoga poses is fascinating, but that's another topic.

I will say there is a lot I don't like about the Bikram rigidity: The sameness of the dialogue, which is often ungrammatical; the "no pain, no gain" approach, which, to me, is anathema to yoga (although some poses are certainly a challenge, I was never before taught to go past my edge); the intolerance of talking during class or asking the teacher a question; the lack of hands-on corrections; and what I perceive as an intolerance to other forms of yoga. Although I'm an Iyengar snob, as I said, I recognize the other interpretations of the practice, and I've tried several, but Bikram teachers seem extrememley rigid and holier-than-thou in many cases.

I've also been in a few classes in which the teacher acceded to a student's request to make the room hotter, which really annoyed me. So much for democracy!

As others have said here, you have to pay attention to your own body -- nobody knows it better than you. If it's the class or teacher and not your body's reaction to the poses that's making you angry, then don't subject yourself to it!

It's so unfortunate that so many have had a negative experience with Bikram yoga, which limits access for so many more. I've been fortunate enough to have found many good teachers at quite a few studios over the years, and with diligence, patience, and continuous effort over the last decade I have improved my life immensely through practicing Bikram yoga. It is never easy, but always worthwhile. I've tried other yogas over the last 20 years, and enjoyed them all, but Bikram yoga has been the one that hooked me. No more antidepressants, I sleep great (used to take pills from time to time), my PMS decreased hugely, my adult acne is gone, my skin is always soft from detoxing trough sweat (I used to moisturize), I am happy and calm and confident (I feel proud of my practice, it's an accomplishment every time I don't give up, but I'm also happy when I need to rest in Savasanah), I am balanced enough to have a relatively happy marriage, and I have learned to look at myself in the mirror without judgement (inside and out). Bikram yoga has been an indispensable part of my physical, mental, and spiritual development. I am teary writing about it now!
Having said that, I know that there are alot of teachers out there that push too much, or are reckless with other's bodies. It's an unfortunate aspect of the way they are trained. Bikram is Indian, a "World Champion of Yoga" twice over, and he comes from the school of Guru devotion where your Guru tells you to stay in a posture while he eats lunch, and you do. Indian, not American.
When a teacher tells/asks me to do something that I can't/ am not ready for/ or even just don't feel like doing, I don't do it. And I have never hurt myself from going too far, yet I have "advanced" postures.
It's so strange that this thing, this Bikram yoga is such an outcast in the yoga world. Bikram is just not PC! Here I am, browsing the Yoga Journal website, always hoping to see something about the yoga I love, but find only harsh criticism and bad experiences... such is my Karma! I have to laugh and not be too concerned what others think, because so many people just hate it. But if it IS for you, you have no choice, because the class is your medicine, your meditation, your peace.

Tasha and Anonymous,
Thank you so much for your accounts of what Bikram Yoga has done for you. You almost make me want to go to another class... (the key word here is "almost"). :)
Erica

Hi Erica,
I am a big fan of gentle yin yoga; having said that I went through my Bikram phase and took classes for about 3 years. I found a huge range of teachers - some of them VERY ego based and some wonderful. Like any other group I guess, really. Sadly, because the classes are scripted and many adhere to the "push through the pain" message -- the bad ones are really bad. I travel quite a bit for work and once, in Atlanta, a co-worker and I went to a Bikram class where the instructor literally got in my face and yelled at me. I have to admit I was shocked and asked her, as politely as possible, to move away from me. It was one of those moments when being tall and a size 14 made me very, very happy. Yikes. On the other hand, in Madison, where I live, there is a teacher named Carla who is awesome. Very gentle, and integrates other styles into her classes - even though I don't think it's completely kosher by Bikram's strict standards.

Sometimes I think that all the rigidness of some of our yoga styles really needs to be examined. And any class that is scripted, where the teacher tells students to push and doesn't seem to encourage us to be in our own body, in the present doing what is right for us ... well it doesn't seem like yoga to me. And, just because it seems worth mentioning -- getting angry is often a very appropriate response both to badly taught yoga and to badly run administrations!

I totally experince what you are writing here,I am a new yoga teacher also,started to teach since march.I sometimes find myself evaluating the teacher when he/she teaches the way I wouldn't.To my surprise when we talk afterwards with other experienced students,I find out they liked it.each teacher brings her own experience to her eaching but I agree that there are some fundamental things that you cannot ignore. once someone told me that at a workshop or when you are working with a new teacher don't let her/him adjust you because they don't know what you are able of/or not. I sometimes tell this to my students if they join oter clases as well, I tell them to be careful about certain things.as long as you know what is good for you I believe you can apply that to your practice and don't get hurt.At least you can protect yourself but other people are that teacher's responsibility and unfortunately there is nothing we can do about it.We are not the doer, if sth is going to happen , it is going to happen.good luck

Tasha and Anonymous, thank you so much for sharing with us how Bikram has changed your lives. I truly do believe that there is room for all different styles of yoga - we can all get along. I think it's more about educating our teachers the correct way, rather than placing blame on a certain style of yoga. I for example have challenges with my hyperflexible joints, so for a teacher to tell me to lock my knees would be a disaster. Anytime you lock any joints you leave them vulnerable. That said, that has nothing to do with certain styles of yoga, but more with the lack of anatomy knowledge of some yoga teachers. I myself have taken a few Bikram classes in the past and have enjoyed it due to the fact that the teacher really focused on each individual student's level of practice.
So basically what I am trying to say is, as teachers, let's educate ourselves properly so we don't do more harm than good. We can't pretend to know what's going on inside someone else's body, just by knowing ours. We need to listen to our students, they are our best teachers......

Hi, I'm a new teacher too, teaching for 2yrs. I too have been to 1hot yoga class for beginners. More than 50% of the students there were 1st timers.

I remember how hard the teacher was pushing everyone and shouting 'lock knees'. I was originally from East Asia that can get very hot throughout the day, yet I cannot endure the heat and stuffiness of a hot yoga class.

My master once told me that there was no need for hot yoga. Try doing yoga in the afternoon in India and the natural heat will be enough for profuse sweating.

Not wanting to sound like I have germs phobia, but the thought of poor ventilation, no windows to the heats room, and staring at the grey dusty heater duct while in trikonasa made me paranoid of all the sweaty germs in the hot humid enclosed room. I left immediately after which was halway through the class.

2new students had to stop and sit within the first 20mins.

My yoga practiced started over 3 years ago when the studio was still Bikrams. Since then my body and mind have been transformed and I am greatfull for the 26 postures and two breathers. However Our studio has suffered the wrath of Bikram himself, arrogance and self service have nothing to do with yoga! Since our departure from Bikram's manic dialog and attitude I love the hot series even more and become a certified instructor. Not at Bikram's torture shop but at our own studio by experienced instructors, that actually taught us how to teach, and to get the very most out of a student that they have to give. Without the focus on pushing, without any forcing language, and allow for the fact that every body is different and that each individual will advance at the rate that is good for them. By allowing modifications and instruction that are not in the original curriculum students are able to advance safely and just as quickly if not faster. Sharing knowledge from self experience and what it took to get my 3 ruptured disks, bad knees, and aching body back to good health and vitality is as rewarding as the healing process itself.
Value each Instructor's input into your practice, each will have their bit of info that is unique. Allow your anger and frustrations to leave you with each breath and don't be so serious with your practice that you forget to enjoy it!

I have been to 3 Bikram classes. I enjoy the discipline. I love the way that I feel afterwards. I think the yoga community is a diverse community. I for one am a Christian and I focus on honoring the Holy Spirit within my practice. I have to look beyond some of the New Age suggestions in some styles of yoga and focus on my Truth. I believe that each of us is responsible for doing what is right for their bodies as well as their spirit. Hot Yoga isn't for everyone.