But then one day I got a Groupon in my inbox for like, $20 yoga for a full month, unlimited. I looked up reviews and the studio offering the deal seemed pretty solid. This was RIGHT after I had tried running again for a few weeks in 2011 or 2012, and failed miserably. I like snacks, desserts and beers too much to stay inactive for long and I was desperately in need of an ass-kicking.
So I sucked it up and bought the Groupz. Was unaware that bikram meant HOT and I showed up to my first day of class in thick, long pants.
I thought I was dying after the warmup series. I looked at the clock every 15 minutes and got a little panicky. I was SO HOT. It felt like a concentration camp. I rolled up my pants as high as they would go and fought off this seemingly irresistible urge to take my shirt off. UGH.
But I can't explain it. At the end, I felt ... cleansed, in a way. Proud that I made it. Proud that I gave it my best shot, and I just remember sleeping SO well that night. This was back when I used to work early mornings, and I always had a hard time putting myself down by 9p. Problem solved, yo.
I didn't return the following day, but I did go back the day after that -- and soon enough, settled into a nice little every-other-day routine. I learned how to pace myself. And what to wear (hint: next to nothing, everything wicking), and how to hydrate beforehand and spread out my water intake during the class.
Soon enough, I was hooked. For the next two years, I bought the unlimited package and went as often as I could. I attempted a 30-day challenge twice, and although I came up short both times, I still got in a LOT of yoga and it felt really nice.
I told all my friends and got several coworkers in the swing of things. And I looked and felt GREAT, if I'm allowed to say that.
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| Nature bow! Don't judge this too hard -- this was probably a month or so into my yoga career : ) |
Bikram isn't just about what you do inside the studio. I think just staying in the routine makes you healthier overall. You can't eat crap beforehand, and you don't want to afterward. If you're planning on an early class Sunday morning, you can't take Fireball shots the night before. You get into a cycle of chugging water on the regs. Like I mentioned, you sleep like a ROCK. Your muscles feel good, your head feels great ... I can't say enough positive things.
Now that I've moved, I actually need a new studio. So, I'm not getting any of these benefits lately, and that needs to change! (It's just hard because a lot of places only offer early morning and evening classes. When you work at 2p, you need somewhere with a bit more middle ground. Can I get a NOON CLASS up in hurr?)
So, bikram. It's truly one of the things I LOVE.
I'll address some frequently asked questions:
What about overstretching?
Meh, I guess it's possible. Like I've mentioned, I'm not naturally flexible, so this wasn't much of a prob for me. (But that's one of the best things about bikram -- you can totally work at your own personal limit and still get all the bennys). When people ask about overstretching, and all the online articles do mention to beware of it, I just tell people this: When you first start bikram, it's more about survival than anything else: learning to pace yourself, to stay in the room, to stay on your feet during the standing portion. I don't think you're going to overstretch if you listen to your body and take it easy. If something hurts -- and there's a difference between sore and OUCH -- drive slow, homie.
What's the hardest part?
Some days, dragging myself to the studio at all. But really, once you're there, the leg series is pretty challenging if you're doing it to the max. Your thighs have to be super controlled and your feet have to get pretty strong to get up on your toes and chill. Standing bow-pulling pose is pretty hard at first to get into, and then to hold the full minute. (Although, like many of the postures, once you get it, you get it. Somedays I just hit my balance and I'm like, BAM, eat it, bow).
A chart of the 26 postures.
I still struggle with a few. Because of my hamstring and my knee, see part one* my balance isn't great. I'll probably never be able to kick out in standing head to knee. Or in Janushirasana and Paschimottanasana (yes, I had to Google for spelling). My fixed firm isn't all the way down. I still modify on toe stand. I can NEVER get my arms back as far as I'd like on half moons. But still, as frustrating as all of that is, I understand it takes people YEARS to do some of this. And although I've been at it for 2-3 years now (with some breaks, like now), yoga is also about respecting your boundaries and having patience. I'm not going to hurt my leg worse by forcing something before it's ready.
Isn't it gross?
A little bit, yep. But I can't overstate how great you feel at the end. Suddenly it's all worth it. But yeah, you will sweat out of places you didn't know you COULD sweat from, and you will leave the studio looking like you just got thrown in a pool. Bring towels for your car for the drive home. Don't bite your nails until after you've had a shower. Keep a hand-towel nearby during class. You never know when you might need to grab a foot or a leg or something -- I can usually get zero traction because my entire body is so slippery.
Why are there so many breaks? And what's up with the weird breathing at the beginning and at the end?
It's true -- you take a lot of savasana. And I was skeptical of the breathing exercises too, at first. I really don't have all the answers, but I know what works for me. If you're truly relaxing during savasana and then working at your max during the poses, it all just kind of gels. You do the breathing to prepare yourself for the 90 minutes of work, and then exhale out all the crap at the end of the session.
As someone who holds her breath like crazy when she's nervous or stressed or overworked ... the yoga breathing has really helped me calm down.
****
I've never done any other kind of yoga, so I can't compare it. And at this point, I don't want to waste my time on a new type or class unless it's hard. I want to feel dead at the end of the session. I love being red-faced, truly exhausted and on the brink of collapse. Maybe it's from my runner background. But that's what makes it all worth it to me. Yoga has been a way to exercise even with a bum leg. It's been a place of escape over the past few years, which have been pretty hard on me. It's a way to escape my stress, and re-focus on what matters.
I'm not ashamed to modify my postures and I think the practice has made me more thoughtful in my day-to-day, as well.
If you go, keep an open mind. Wear shorts and no cotton. Bring more water than you expected (for afterward, too). Try not to leave the room, if you can. (My last studio wasn't strict, but I do think it helps to stay inside). And enjoy! Breathe. (Through your nose).
I can't recommend it enough. If I can do it, so can anyone. It's really not all about Lululemon and being cute and competitive. And everyone has bad classes every now and again, so don't sweat it.
Give it a month before you make a decision one way or the other. And if you're in Sacramento, try Yoga Loka on Folsom. Kally's weekend class at 4:30p is my fav!
Namaste.
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