Bikram Yoga is a form of hot yoga where the room is heated to 105 degrees with high humidity as well. To say that is it physically and emotionally tough is an understatement. However, the benefits of the practice are wonderful. I’m one of those men that holds a lot of tension in his body, has large muscles that don’t really want to stretch, and I also am a bit intense at times. However, Bikram Yoga has allowed my yoga practice to improve dramatically. I can literally feel years worth of toxins leaving my body as I sweat out liter after liter of water. I kid you not that I have to shower right after class because the toxins I’ve sweat out cause my skin to break out otherwise. I often wonder that if it’s doing that to my skin, what are those toxins doing to my internal body?
The high heat and humidity seems to make my body more elastic and relaxed and thus easier to go much deeper into stretches. My body has opened up a lot since I’ve been doing Bikram Yoga. And boy has it gotten stronger as well. My mind feels substantially more clear and at peace which has resulted in my meditation practice improving as well. When I first started practicing Bikram Yoga, my mind and body would freak out because of the heat, humidity, and extreme physical exertion. However, as Buddha alluded to, I have begun to find peace in the market place. I find myself allowing my mind and body to accept my circumstance and remain calm. And where better to practice that than in the middle of a hot, humid room full of fifty other people?
If you’re going to give Bikram a shot, take a nice thin yoga mat, large bottle of water, and a big towel that you will put over your mat to avoid slipping. Most men don’t wear a shirt and the less clothing you wear, the better. I personally find that wearing a headband is beneficial because otherwise copious amounts of stinging sweat goes into my eyes. I notice that most of the more experienced practitioners don’t do this, so maybe I’ll at some point become comfortable not wearing a headband, but for now, it’s quite nice.
Make sure that you don’t eat at least an hour or two prior to going to the practice and hydrate extremely well before, during, and after the class. Some sort of electrolyte solution added to your water can be very beneficial. Once you arrive, let the teacher know that it will be your first time and they’ll give you some additional tips and advice. For example, at my studio they ask you not to leave the room unless it is an emergency. But you’re of course welcome to sit as often as you need to. And boy do I sit on occasion 
Bikram Yoga can be so beneficial for men. If you haven’t tried it before, give yourself at least a couple weeks worth of attending regularly. You’re not going to ever be comfortable, but the benefits are sure worth it.