Functional Yoga - aka 26 &2 Yoga

Functional Yoga follows the 26 & 2 (Bikram) sequence of postures, and many are repeated two times. The class begins with standing postures and progresses to floor postures midway through.

This class is

• Practical: The movements and poses have real world applicability

• Purposeful: Each movement serves a specific purpose, contributing to improved body mechanics and well-being.

• Adaptive: Recognizing that poses are modified to suit individual needs and bodies, rather than rigid adherence to a specific form.

• Efficient: Focusing on movements that optimize joint mechanics and muscle engagement, leading to smoother and less strenuous movement.

• Mobility-focused: Prioritizing the ability to move joints freely and efficiently through their full range of motion, which is crucial for functional movement. Mobility is distinguished from flexibility, as it encompasses both flexibility and joint function.

• Biomechanically sound: Referring to practices that consider the body's natural mechanics and movement patterns to prevent injury and promote optimal movement. 

Yes, generally it is! However, Hillary has been doing the series in a non heated environment since covid days forced her to do yoga from home and she has found it to be as incredibly beneficial (though as a heat seeker she misses the high heat experience).

The non-high-heat format extends the opportunity to experience this exceptional yoga series to those who may not have otherwise ventured into the high-heat room typically associated with a Bikram yoga or 26 & 2 class.

For the classic OG hot class, go to Heart of The Valley Yoga in Corvallis. You will not be dissapointed!

The 26 & 2 yoga series is a collection of postures originating from the Ghosh Lineage of Yoga in Calcutta, India. Bikram Choudhury was a student of the Ghosh College of Yoga in India. He studied under Bishnu Ghosh from the age of 4, winning yoga competitions and gaining great respect in the yoga world. At age 17, Bikram had a weight lifting accident, the result being that he was told he would never walk again. He knew if anyone could help his outcome it would be Bishnu Ghosh so he returned to recover under his guidance. After only six months, his knee had all but recovered. 

Some time later, Bikram sequenced the 26 & 2 posture series with the intent that this collection of Ghosh postures would functionally help most people regardless of age, illness, or situation to heal the body and mind.

This yoga series—and the broader tradition it comes from—is a deeply functional form of yoga. While Bikram has become a controversial figure in recent years, it’s important to recognize that these postures long predate him. The true value of this practice lies in the postures themselves, not in the man who helped bring them into modern awareness. If you're willing to separate the practice from the personality, you'll find something truly worthwhile.