Bikram

What it is

    Yoga poses in a sauna-like room. The heat is cranked up to nearly 105 degrees and 40 percent humidity in official Bikram classes. If it's called "Bikram" (for inventor Bikram Choudhury), it will be a series of 26 basic yoga postures, each performed twice. There's no vinyasa-ing and in that kind of heat you'll be glad. 

 

Best For    Weight loss—you can burn 350 to 600 calories in one class. You'll build stamina to boot. "Tolerating the heat is really an athletic challenge," says Donna Rubin, co-owner of Bikram Yoga New York.

Who's gotta have it    Exert-aholics, ex-jocks, and others who don't think they've worked out unless they leave a puddle.

Need to know     If touching your toes is a pipe dream, take heart: The steamy air increases flexibility. However, this kind of heat can have the same effect as lots of martinis, leaving you too loose. So be careful not to overstretch and injure yourself, champ. And leave the modesty at home—with most of your clothes. To keep your core temperature down, wear as little as possible. A sports bra and boy shorts will suffice. Most important: Bring water.

Trends and trivia     The style is best-known for Choudhury's flamboyant capitalist shtick (he collects Bentleys and Rolls Royces), outrageous quotes ("I have balls like atom bombs!"), and Hollywood students (including the likes of Goldie Hawn).