Ever done Bikram Yoga?
My friend Elizabeth introduced me to this yoga in January and I was a quick addict. Problem was, I was in the midst of my full body overhaul and was already going to the gym 3 days a week, then going to Bikram 3 days a week. Something had to give.
Lo and behold my body is failing me and now the gym is on freeze and I await the results of an MRI. The instructors at our Bikram studio asked Elizabeth where I had been, she told them about my back ailments and they were adamant that I return ASAP. Of the many claims made by the Bikram community, healing is top of the list.
Plow through the Bikram website, read the testimonials, talk to an instructor and you will be amazed to hear the claims. Today I am going back. I haven't exercised in two weeks, I am in rather constant discomfort, if not pain, and feel like a huge load.
When I was actively doing Bikram I was also actively not blogging. I wanted to blog about it, crafted many posts and witty comments in my head. It's a unique place, philosophy, experience. It's hot yoga, yes, but very different form mainstream hot yoga or any other yoga for that matter. The room is hotter for one, there is no namaste. A Bikram class is the exact same 26 postures in the exact same order each and every time - there are loads of reasons why. Everything (down to the floor covering) has specific purpose. The instructors talk, correct and coach constantly, it keeps your mind from wandering, keeps you on task.
I always found it so funny that their outwardly spoken words were eerily responsive to the voice in my head. While in some spinal searing back bend I would be whining to myself "I don't know if I should be doing this, this really hurts my back" then, if like magic, the instructor would say aloud to the class "Your back is supposed to hurt like hell" - "oh, Ok good", I could reply to myself, "I must be doing it right".
Their cued responses to my internal whining also lead me to some funny thoughts:
As holding the spread leg bent over, touch your head to floor thing I would be wondering to myself If I could actually drown from the sweat pouring into my nose? The instructors never mentioned that one, but would remind us that if we took a break to mop sweat then the posture had not begun, sweat wiping time wasters.
Can it heal me, as their testimonials claim? I don't know. What I do know is that I am going to sweat my way into certain dehydration today (Pedialyte awaits me at home) and that will surely feel nothing but good.
Bikram is the only yoga Ive ever really done. I did it back when I lived in jp many yeas ago when yoga was only a mere $10/class. I really really hope it works for you. I've heard near miraculous stories. Sorry that its acting up again.
Posted by: Caitlin k | 05/24/2011 at 05:12 AM