Rick:

I hear where you are coming from about bikram yoga's dangers concerning both the heat and the sequences. Yes, it is incredibly hot in that room and that draws the yang sports enthusiasts, that I am admittedly a member of, by the droves. What I have to say in Bikram's defense is that within the heat one can start to hear and clear the voices in her head, and I have found that as I sweat, I sit with my old food cravings and pent up emotions along with healing an old and persistent running injury, giving me a stronger yin-yang compass for my next macro meal. The majority of my instructors begin the class with asking about our various injuries and the better of them show modified forms of the asanas. With each class I find a different practice, but each feels centering much like macrobiotics. It's a bit like my 10 day rice fast in that it's not easy, but is rejuvinating and restoring and helps my body to tell me what I need. Now, this is my first intense yoga practice barring a few dvds used mostly to supplement a lifetime of running, so I could feel equally (or more) freed by other forms of yoga. I hear and absorb what you have said, though I still suggest others to give Bikram a go. It's not for all, like anything else, but the joy it's brought me is something I want to tell everyone, it's that feeling that comes with a good balanced macro life and we should all at least know it's out there. You can only explain the taste of an ume plum but so much before you just want to give one away! Thanks again for your post.