The lights were dimmed. Everyone in the room was sitting quietlyand meditating while waiting for class to start — seemingly atypical setting for a yoga class.

This class was different though. As students waited for theinstructor, they began to sweat profusely. The room felt like asauna.

One of the newest trends among exercisers and yoga enthusiastsis Bikram, or “hot” yoga. The 90-minute class is donein a room heated to 105 degrees. Many people say that it is thebest physical workout for the body.

Erica Jones, a teacher at the city’s first Bikram studio,Bikram Yoga Dallas, has been an avid follower for three years andsaid this form of yoga has many benefits.

“It’s a total workout — physically, mentally,spiritually,” Jones said. “It focuses mainly onphysical aspects, but you’re getting mental and spiritual aswell. It heals the body system.”

Jones had been a devoted runner and weightlifter before shestarted taking Bikram yoga.

“I got into it because a friend of mine did it andconvinced me to try it,” Jones said. “I quit all of[the weightlifting and running] because Bikram feltamazing.”

Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury, after which this style of yoga isnamed, developed the practice about 25 years ago in Calcutta,India. Only recently has it started to become popular in the UnitedStates. Choudhury has opened yoga studios throughout the country— including five in the Dallas area.

David Buckner, the owner of Bikram Yoga Dallas, said that Bikramstudios are opening every day around the world. His three-year-oldstudio has grown so much that it had to move to a bigger space.

“We outgrew our initial space in the first year, requiringus to move to [a new] space,” Buckner said. “Since ourstudio opened in the fall of 2000, four other studios have openedin the D/FW Metroplex. Bikram Yoga Dallas is the wellspring ofthose studios.”

The class starts out with simple breathing exercises and thengoes through 13 standing and sitting postures over a 90-minuteperiod. According to the Yoga College of India’s Bikram Website, www.bikramyoga.com, a person can burn as many as 600 caloriesin one 90-minute session.

Jones said that the room is heated to relax the muscles and toflush toxins from the body through sweating. Because thebody’s muscles are relaxed, they are more flexible and can dothe exercises more efficiently.

Maryann Delea, a senior psychology major, said that she has doneBikram yoga before and that it is a total-body workout.

“The first time I went to a class, I felt like I had justhad a really good workout,” Delea said. “My heart wasbeating like I had just run a race and I was sweating like I was ina sauna room. It felt really good.”

While interest in Bikram has grown dramatically, the very thingsthat make it unique can also make it unsafe. Dr. Peter Davis of theMemorial Health Center said people need to take precautions if theygoing to partake in this activity.

“In theory, exercising while muscles are warm will enhanceflexibility,” Davis said. “When we do any type ofexercise in the heat we need to take precautions.  The mostimportant is being well hydrated before exercising.  Taking influid during exercise is important too.”

The normal amount of water a person should consume each day isabout 64 to 80 ounces. The Bikram Web site recommends doubling thisamount during a yoga session to prevent a person from becomingdehydrated.

Regardless, some people should avoid this type of yoga, Davissaid.

“I would not recommend this type of yoga to individualswho have a history of heat illness or have had problems withexercising in the heat in the past,” Davis said. “Also,people with chronic respiratory illnesses (i.e. asthma) or cardiacconditions, including hypertension, should not do this type ofyoga.”

For someone who is doing the class for the first time, Jonesrecommended several things.

“They need to come 10 to15 minutes early with an emptystomach,” Jones said. “They need to be well-hydratedand come with an open mind.”

Light clothing is also suggested because of heavy sweating, asis a bottle for use during the session. Jones recommends that if aperson feels light-headed or faint to sit down and wait for it topass. Delea said during her first class she felt very woozy.

“About half way through the class, I started to get reallydizzy, and I thought I was going to pass out,” Delea said.”I just sat down on my mat for a few minutes until I feltsteady enough to continue.”