Yes! Yes! to Bikram Yoga Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bow to you

Although the word "namaste" is spoken in Western culture as a verbal greeting, in India, the posture presented on meeting is "namaste" in physical form therefore the word is not spoken. "Nama" means bow. The "te" means to you. "Bow to you" is the literal translation of namaste.

After my teacher tells me this literal meaning, she also explains that in using the greeting word "Namaste" she is also greeting me spirit to spirit. My teacher continues to say that "namaste" is usually said at the end of class when everyone is more relaxed in mind and body.

She informs me that she welcomes newcomers to the class with the word and the posture to familiarize them with new terms and set the mood for the session.

Answer: Yogini

Smiling gently, my instructor tells me, that I can refer to her as a yogini. Also I may call her "Teacher" or by her given name. "Yogini", she tells me is the term generally used for a female teacher of yoga. Explaining further, she goes on to say, that many who call themselves yogini are female master teachers of yoga whose life purpose is to try to attain enlightenment through Yoga the purpose of which is a union of body, mind, and spirit. Diane is my yogini and I will find that through the years of knowing her, she exemplifies the true meaning of the word yogini.

Answer: Bikram Yoga is more disciplined and structured

Bikram Yoga is more disciplined and structured as I find out when the class begins. There is no talking to classmates once the session has begun. Each of the Bikram postures are done twice, and in the exact same way and the postures never vary. The class will be exactly ninety minutes for each session.

A hot yoga class may be performed in 100F but the intensity of the heat and humidity can vary from studio to studio. The postures can also be of different forms at any session, or in whatever order at the discretion of the teacher.

Many other types of yoga may start with the "sun salutation" pose, Bikram Yoga does not. Bikram Yoga is not age limited.

Answer: A mat , a towel, and a bottle of water

For Bikram yoga, a towel is definitely needed. I find out later as I do the exercises, how much a bottle of water is a blessing. Laying my towel and bottle of water aside, I kneel and roll out my bright green mat which I have brought to my first yoga class.

The mat is rubber-like, and soft, but does not give nor move away as it is used. Surely the towel and water are essential in this heat! The mat is a safety factor and a comfort. The heat in the room helps muscles to relax and perform more easily.

Answer: A full length mirror

Did I tell you I am in a very bright room? It is sunny and hot for certain. The wall in front of the class is covered with a full length mirror. The mirror I am told is to benefit the students as they follow the instructions for the postures given by the teacher.

The mirror helps to find a focus point to help one's balance in the standing poses. To see yourself in the various poses aids in accomplishing them in a correct manner. I am reminded of the anxiety I had when I questioned the teacher about flexibility and perfection. My teacher explains what is most important is that one tries to do the best one can.

The bright room helps to see into the mirror and keeps oneself alert. Differentiating itself from other yoga such as Kundalini Yoga, which asks you to close your eyes during the entire session, it is required that, while doing the postures of Bikram Yoga, your eyes must be open throughout the session.

Answer: ponder financial problems

Our yoga room is in silence. There is no music playing. I close my eyes. I can hear my breathing. I feel the sun on my body. I picture the blue of the sky dotted with white clouds. Am I doing this right, I think. I have learned that it is not helpful to allow everyday concerns such as finances or family decisions to intrude. Knowing that we would start the class with meditation, I looked up the meaning of this word.

It is from the Latin, "meditare", to think. The Sanskrit meaning comes from the word, "medha" which means wisdom. I think it is going to take a lot of practice to learn to meditate. I am already distracting myself. Thank goodness I can close my eyes for the meditation part as the teacher has told us that once we start Bikram postures we must keep our eyes open.

Answer: Correct Breathing

Correct breathing techniques are essential to all the different forms of yoga. For Bikram Yoga, one breathes into the stomach, pushing it out to the count of six, then slowly releasing the breath up through the throat, making a guttural sound on release.

This does not come easily I quickly realize. In Kundalini Yoga much of the focus is on "Breath of Fire", which is taking a long deep breath and then exhaling in short staccato blows, similar to blowing out a candle. This is to be done quickly and when learned, a goal of sixty quick breaths in a row is to be achieved. Later as an experienced practitioner of yoga, I learned how much breathing aids in doing all the particular postures in any type of yoga.

The Kundalini breathing technique helps to create relaxation and expand consciousness.

Answer: Sun Salutation Pose

During the first part of the session the poses are in a standing position. Some of the posture terms that may be familiar are Tree Pose, and Triangle Pose. The second portion of the session consists of postures either sitting or lying on the floor. An example of these type poses would be Cobra Pose and Child's Pose. Standing Bow Pulling Pose was extremely difficult this first day and remained a challenge to perform all through my future Bikram sessions.

In his book, "Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class" by Bikram Choudhury, there are four step photographs to attain the pose and instructions accompanying each of them.

Answer: Lock your knee(s)

I am ready for my first balancing pose in a standing position, Standing Knee Pose. My teacher tells the class to stand on tiptoe, feet six inches apart. Now she says stretch through and straighten your spine. Continuing she tells us to stretch both arms forward, six inches apart and parallel to the floor. Ok, I mutter to myself, I got it! So far so good.

Then she says, keeping this position, slowly lower your body as if to sit down on a chair. What! there is no chair! Many of us in the class begin to totter. Our teacher instructs to "lock our knees". To lock our knees we must squeeze our four thigh muscles tightly.

As we do so, the muscle at the top of the kneecap will help the kneecap to rise, tighten and hold. I, and the others, regain our position with our knees locked. We are in Standing Knee Pose without losing our balance. Locking your knees is one of the essential movements necessary to hold many of the standing poses.

Answer: Kolkata

Born in Kolkata, India, formerly known as the city of Calcutta, in the year 1946, Bikram Choudhury began the practice of yoga at the age of three. When he was five years old he studied under Bishnu Gnosh. Bishnu Gnosh has been considered one of the most prominent twentieth century developers of the benefits of physical fitness. Under the tutelage of Gnosh, the young Bikram was a three All-Time Yoga Champion.

The twenty-six postures developed by Bikram came about after he sustained a knee injury at the age of seventeen. Bikram returned to Bishnu Gnosh to see if he could find a way to heal Bikram's knee and return to yoga.

The healing occurred and with Bishnu as his advisor, Bikram Yoga was born. After establishing Bikram Yoga studios in India, in 1976, Bikram opened his first Bikram Yoga Studio in Long Beach California.