03/09/2026
More is sometimes more!!
Less Is Not Always More: Why the 90-Minute Base Class Is Superior to the 60-Minute Base Class
In recent years, there has been a strong push towards shorter classes. Our increasingly busy lives make us think we need them. For 15 years, I taught nothing but 90-minute Bikram classes—there was no alternative.
About 10 years ago, I began introducing different class formats and lengths: 60, 75, and 90 minutes. Each class serves a different purpose and offers its own benefits.
Today, though, I want to talk about the Base90 class.
The Base90 is influenced by the traditional Bikram sequence and incorporates the double-set format. The genius of the double set is that the first set gives you the opportunity to open the body, while the second allows you to explore greater depth. There is no need to rush or force anything, making it a much kinder and safer way to progress.
I often describe the Base60 as a “tide-you-over” class, whereas the Base90 is where you really start to see and feel the difference. In the 60-minute version, only the warm-up postures are performed as double sets, and not all of the Base90 postures are included.
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is assuming they should start with a Base60 and work their way up to a Base90. My advice is the opposite: if the class time fits into your schedule, choose the 90-minute class from the start. You’ll naturally take more breaks when you need them, and the additional repetition in the standing series helps you understand the postures much more quickly.
The benefits aren’t just physical.
A 90-minute class gives you something increasingly rare: uninterrupted time for yourself. It’s self-care, headspace and a chance to step away from the pressures, demands and endless to-do lists of everyday life.
In a world that constantly asks us to do more in less time, sometimes more really is more.
See you on the mat!!
