In pictures: Bikram yoga at Hot House Health and Fitness Club at Al Zeina

Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose): Warms up the entire spine, helps fight fatigue. Strengthens abdominal muscles, corrects bad posture. Releases frozen shoulders, stretches hamstrings and hips. Aids in recovery of slipped or ruptured discs. Helps cure indigestion, constipation and bronchial problems; good for diabetes. Helps tennis elbow, good for the liver, spleen and kidneys. Ravindranath K / The National

Utkatasana (Awkward Pose): Relieves sciatica, arthritis, rheumatism and gout in the legs. Cures slipped disc and lumbago in the lower spine. Firms all muscles of the thighs, calves and hips. Creates traction in the spine, improves strength in the weight-bearing joints. Increases blood circulation in the knee and ankle joints. Helps with neuropathy. Ravindranath K / The National

Garurasana (Eagle Pose): Improves flexibility of the hips, knees and ankle joints. Relieves tension in the neck and shoulders. Supplies fresh blood to the kidneys. Releases and generates energy in the male and female reproductive organs. Improves sexual vitality and control. Helps prostate problems Ravindranath K / The National

Dandayamana Janushirasana (Standing Head to Knee): Improves flexibility of the sciatic nerve. Strengthens the tendons and biceps of the thigh muscles and hamstrings. Reduces diabetic conditions. Increases blood flow in the heart and circulatory system. Flushes cholesterol from the arteries, improves arrythmea and blood pressure. Relieves flatulence and nervousness. Improves memory and helps with acidity. Ravindranath K / The National

Dandayamana Dhanurasana (Standing Bow Pulling Pose): Fresh blood is brought to all internal organs and glands, stimulating the nervous system. Increases circulation to the heart and lungs; increases elasticity of lungs. Revitalises the endocrine system (adrenals, pancreas, thyroid and gonads). Improves flexibility of the spine and helps with lower-back pain. Helps high blood pressure and chronic heart conditions. Regulates menstrual cycle, stretches the sciatic nerve. Creates marriage between strength and balance; enhances the equilibrium and improved balance throughout the body. Ravindranath K / The National

Tuladandasana (Balancing Stick Pose) The most cardiovascular pose in the series. Increases blood flow all over the body at the same time. Keeps the stomach trim, strengthens the legs and shoulders, corrects bad posture. Clears blockages of the arteries for prevention of cardiac disease, strengthening the heart muscle. Helps high blood pressure, tennis elbow and varicose veins. Ravindranath K / The National

Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Paschimotthanasa (Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose): Helps relieve depression, loss of memory and constipation. Increases circulation to the brain and adrenal glands. Regulates thyroxine hormone production in the thyroid gland, flushes the pituitary, hypothalamus and thymus glands. Improves flexibility of hips, ankles and last five vertebrae of the spine. Cures and prevents sciatica pain. Helps functioning of the internal abdominal organs (especially large and small intestines). Ravindranath K / The National

Trikonasana (Triangle Pose): The whole body is effected: muscles, nerves, veins, cells, glands and tissues. Improves chemical imbalances in the system, cleanses the lymph nodes, the visceral system and the mammary glands. Helps with menstrual disorders and fights against obesity. Good for hip and back pain, strengthens muscles in the abdomen and obliques. Improves the immune system and the circulatory system. Compresses the pancreas, kidneys, thyroid, parathyroid and thymus glands. Helps cure rheumatism and lumbago in the lower spine, as well as scoliosis. Ravindranath K / The National

Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Janushirasana (Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee Pose): Helps to maintain good blood-sugar balance. Massages the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, spleen, intestines, gonads, urinary bladder and kidneys. Marriage between the pineal and thyroid glands, improving the metabolism. Helps hyper acidity, diabetes, constipation, dyspepsia and haemorrhoids. Helps with colds, sinus problems, migraines and the entire immune system. Benefits the muscular, skeletal, endocrine, digestive and reproductive systems. Opens hips and lower spine, strengthens the abdomen. Improves blood circulation, improves memory, helps manic depression. Stretches, tones and decongests the spinal column and nervous system. Ravindranath K / The National

Lauren and Peter doing Tadasana (Tree Pose): Creates hip and knee mobility. Excellent for posture and balance. Releases abdominal tension while improving core strength. Aids in rheumatism and circulatory disorders. Helps prevent hernia and neuralgic pain. Ravindranath K / The National

Padangustasana (Toe Stand): Creates balance in body and mind. Strengthens stomach muscles. Helps to cure gout, rheumatism and arthritis in the knees, ankles and feet. Strengthens weak joints. Helps to cure haemorrhoid problems. Helps to cure neuropathy or diabetic neuropathy. Improves mental concentration. Ravindranath K / The National

Savasana (Corpse Pose): Returns the body to its normal circulatory state. Helps reduce hypertension, nervousness, anxiety and irritability. Improves high blood pressure, manic depression and insomnia Ravindranath K / The National

Pavana Muktasana (Wind Removing Pose): Prevents flatulence, relieves lower back pain, angina pain, constipation, emphysema and anorexia. Abdominal pressure on ascending, descending and transverse colon. Regulates hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Cures most chronic abdominal discomforts (including IBS). Flushes out bacteria from the body, boosting the immune system, preventing and easing the symptoms of colds, flu, etc. Stretches tight hips and improves alignment in the hips and spine. Stimulates the liver, spleen, small and large intestines. Good for the prostate gland, the urinary bladder, genitourinary tract and reproductive organs. Clears coronary arteries. Good for arteries and veins of the arms and legs. Ravindranath K / The National

Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose): Increases spinal strength and flexibility. Helps prevent lower backache. Cures lumbago, rheumatism, slipped discs, kyphosis, scoliosis and arthritis of the spine. Improves the functioning of the liver, spleen and adrenals. Stretches the thyroid, flushes the kidneys, regulates blood pressure and diabetes. Fights vertigo, dizziness and loss of appetite. Improves poor posture and digestion. Decongests the nervous system. Helps to relieve headaches and migraines. Relieves menstrual problems and flushes reproductive organs. Ravindranath K / The National

Salabhasana (Locust Pose): Cures gout, slipped discs, sciatica and tennis elbow. Excellent for firming buttocks and hips. Improves carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow and arthritis in the upper body. Cures back pain and spinal problems such as gout, slipped discs, scoliosis, kyphosis, lumbral spondylosis and sciatica. Recharges the nervous system, clears cholesterol in veins and fights varicose veins. Regulates the blood pressure, strengthens the immune system and revitalises the thyroid. Helps with depression. Ravindranath K / The National

Poorna Salabhasana (Full Locust Pose): Compresses and stretches the thymus and thyroid glands, helping with emotional release and fighting depression. Improves and prevents conditions of arthritis in the spine. Strengthens the circulatory system; opens the chest. Massages internal organs. Creates core strength, stretches and compresses the middle back. Helpful for phlebitis thrombosis, varicose veins and helps to alleviate back pain. Prevents and cures slipped discs and herniated discs. Ravindranath K / The National

Dhanurasana (Bow Pose): Works entire spine – strengthens and improves flexibility of the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine. Straightens rounded spines, helping kypho-scoliosis, relieving back pain and scoliosis. Improves spinal nerves by increasing circulation to the spine. Holds vertebrae in position. Improves functioning of small and large intestines, improving digestion. Improves the liver, kidneys and spleen. Opens the rib cage, improves cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, increases lung capacity and fighting bronchitis. Stretches shoulders, elbows and wrists, improves hand strength. Ravindranath K / The National

Supta Vajrasana (Fixed Firm Pose): Stretches and strengthens the psoas muscles. Stretches knee and ankle joints, relieves lower back pain. Slims thighs, firms abdomen and calves. Helps cure sciatica, gout, rheumatism and varicose veins, improving clots, phlebitis and thrombophlebitis. Prevents and heals herniations of spinal discs. Improves flexibility of the lower spine. Improves the autoimmune system, nervous system and metabolism. Helpful for muscular dystrophy patients. Ravindranath K / The National

Ardha Kumasana (Half-Tortoise Pose): Provides maximum relaxation, helping with stress, anaemia, anxiety and sleep disorders. Cures indigestion, constipation, IBS and flatulence. Increases blood flow to the brain, bringing mental clarity and good memory. Boosts the endocrine system, regulating hormones and prolonging the effects of MS and Parkinsons disease. Helps cure diabetes, massages internal organs, lungs, heart and coronary arteries. Stretches the spine, helps to prevent herniations. Good against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, anorexia, emphysema and asthma. Ravindranath K / The National

Ustrasana (Camel Pose): Opens the chest, strengthens the muscles of the back and shoulders. Produces maximum compression of the spine, relieving back aches, herniated discs, helping kypho-scoliotic deformities. Regulates hormones, cervical spondylosis, bronchial spasms and high blood pressure. Brings fresh blood to the kidneys, eliminates toxins from the body, improves memory and mental clarity. Cures vertigo and dizziness. Is good for osteoporosis, diabetes, constipation and fermentive dyspepsia. Posture opens your body to encourage the release of trapped emotions. Stimulates the central nervous system, parathyroid and thyroid glands. Improves flexibility of the neck and spine. Trims the waistline by stretching the abdomen and fat cell storage. Ravindranath K / The National

Sasangasana (Rabbit Pose): Helps maintain mobility and elasticity of the spine and back muscles. Nurtures the nervous system and regulates hormones. Brings blood to the brain, regulates the thalamus and hypothalamus. Stretches the entire spine from top to bottom, also improves neck and shoulder flexibility. Keeps the chest cavity flexible, improving bone density and balance. Helps cure depression, diabetes, colds, sinus problems, throat diseases, headaches and insomnia. Stimulates all glands and organs, fighting emphysema, stimulating the larynx, improving digestion, circulation and memory. Ravindranath K / The National

Janushiransa with Paschimotthanasana (Head to Knee with Stretching Pose): Increases flexibility of the shoulder muscles, hamstrings, hip joints and the lumbar spine. Stretches sciatic nerve, helps with allergies and arthritis. Increases circulation to the kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, lymphatic system, thyroid, thymus and intestines. Works on conditions of chronic obesity and eating disorders by balancing the metabolic rate and balancing blood-sugar levels. Excellent posture for cancer prevention, bacterial and viral infections. Relieves constipation and chronic diarrhoea. Helps to cure IBS. Ravindranath K / The National

Ardha Matsyendrasana (Spine Twisting Pose): The only posture that twists the spine from top to bottom at the same time. Helps prevent slipped discs, scoliosis, arthritis, lumbago, kyphosis, myalgia, cervical spondylosis and rheumatism. Increases circulation and nutrition to the spinal nerves, veins and tissues. Relieves back pain, lethargy, releases tension, helps cure vertigo and dizziness. Maintains youth by improving flexibility of the spine and by relaxing the central nervous and autonomic nervous systems. Massages kidneys, liver, gallbladder, spleen and pancreas. Fights diabetes and improves digestion. Ravindranath K / The National

Kapalbhati Breathing (Breath of Fire): Improves oxygenation to the body. Rids the body of toxins, strengthens the nervous system. Massages and increases circulation to the abdominal organs and muscles. Energises and revitalises the body, strengthens the abdomen. Helps bring mental clarity and alertness, improves digestion. Good for emphysema and other respiratory ailments. Regulates high blood pressure and cures anaemia. Ravindranath K / The National

Tasha Hawkins and Peter Meiring are the new owners of Hot House Health and Fitness Club at Al Zeina, Al Raha Beach area, Abu Dhabi’s first independent Bikram yoga studio. Along with Lauren Lopez, they demonstrate the poses that students perform during a 90-minute Bikram yoga class, which is conducted at an average heat of 42 degrees Celsius, with explanations of why each pose is believed to be so good for you. Not pictured: Bikram Sit Up.