It’s going to be hot and sweaty – the (possibly shirtless) teacher, you, the double-jointed circus freak next to you and the room – but it’s not exactly the pleasurable kind. That’s Bikram Yoga, a scientific style of yoga founded by Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury who apparently recovered from a serious knee injury through yoga despite pessimistic diagnosis by leading European doctors. For this yoga, you work out in a room heated to a minimum of 41C and you carry out a fixed sequence of 26 postures and two breathing exercises. Madonna, Sharon Stone, George Clooney and Jessica Simpson are reported to be fans of this form.

The heat might take some getting used to but it’s good for you. It promotes profuse blood circulation and sweating, and thus helps eliminate toxins from the body. The heat will also make your body more flexible so that you can achieve deeper stretching and at the same time prevent injury and relieve stress and tension. The entire workout focuses on stimulating and restoring health to your muscles, joints, organs and even mental capacity.

True Fitness is offering a free two-hour Bikram Hot Yoga Posture Clinic to help you get started. Conducted by the fitness group’s regional Bikram Yoga teaching director, Rich Nichols, the workshop will delve into the more specific aspect of Bikram Yoga, particularly the health benefits from various postures that can aid common ailments.