Bikram is all about concentration and focus, but it can be difficult to stay in the zone when your feet start cramping up. Bikram -- also called "hot" -- yoga is fairly intense, so some muscle soreness and cramping is to be expected. By ensuring that you're properly hydrated and checking your posture and technique, you should be able to keep cramping at bay. If not, a quick break and a soothing massage can get you back in the game.
Check your posture and alignment. When your posture is off, it can create excess pressure in the feet. For instance, when you're in Balancing Stick pose, leaning too far forward could put excess pressure on the balls of your feet, when the weight should be evenly spread through the feet instead.
Spread your toes and ensure that when you are in poses that require foot balance, your weight is evenly distributed along all four corners of the feet. Rolling to your instep can also cause cramping along the inside of your foot, so keep your feet flat on the floor and avoid rolling inward. This is especially important during challenging poses, like Standing Head to Knee.
Modify poses that feel too intense on your feet or if your feet begin to cramp. For instance, Awkward pose requires you to balance your full body weight onto the balls of your feet, which can cause pain. Use flat feet in that pose until you gain the strength and balance to distribute the weight more efficiently and can maintain the pose without cramping.
Massage your feet with a yoga strap during seated poses. Cramped muscles can contract and affect your ability to stretch. When in Corpse or Separate Leg Stretching pose, wrap a strap around the balls of your feet and tug upward with your hands to stretch out and massage your cramped feet before going into the second set of poses.
Swap your usual bottle of water for an electrolyte drink. Water is typically fine for moderate exercise under 60 minutes, but since a hot yoga class typically lasts for 90 minutes, you may need to replace the potassium and sodium lost through sweat, as well as the water. A salty sports drink can ward off muscle cramps related to a potassium deficiency, allowing you to finish class in comfort.