| At 6'3" with long limbs and a serious lack of flexibility, I | | | | The second day was almost as torturous as the first, |
| never thought I would find myself twisted up in some | | | | but I made it a few minutes farther before I entered |
| awkward yoga pose -- especially not Bikram yoga (as | | | | "schoolgirl mode." |
| if I even knew the difference up until two weeks ago). | | | | The third day was again insanely hard, but I made it all |
| But, there I was, 30 minutes into the class, having gone | | | | the way to the camel pose before crapping out. |
| from thinking, "yoga's for girls," to wanting to cry like a | | | | And, finally, on day four, I made it through the entire 90 |
| little school girl on the inside at that very moment. | | | | minutes, AND successfully completed both full camel |
| I was sweating more than I had ever sweat at any | | | | poses! |
| basketball practice, gasping for air more than I had | | | | I also noticed for the rest of the week that I could |
| ever "gusped" during any weightlifting workout, and felt | | | | stretch just a little bit farther and bend just a little bit |
| like I was literally in hell, given the 100+ degrees and | | | | deeper on each posture, so my flexibility was clearly |
| 60% humidity that is standard for Bikram yoga studios. | | | | improving. |
| If it wasn't for my own massive male ego, and seeing | | | | "I'm melting! I'm melting..." |
| a room full of women who had mastered this "little 90 | | | | The one thing I didn't expect, and should have |
| minute morning routine," I would have fallen to the floor | | | | monitored more closely, is losing over 10 pounds in that |
| and tried to claw my way out of this torture chamber. | | | | one week alone! That's a great endorsement for |
| Nevertheless, I pressed on. Fortunately, at around the | | | | anyone looking to lose weight, but given my |
| 30-minute mark (my near breaking point), we go from | | | | Energizer-bunny metabolism, I'm trying to gain weight |
| standing/balancing poses (the most demanding part of | | | | and muscle, not lose it. |
| class) to the lying/sitting poses (the slightly less | | | | Of course, I wouldn't normally be doing these 90 minute |
| demanding part of class). | | | | workouts 6 times a week, but it was a unique test for |
| Between the two phases, there is also a two-minute | | | | me on my off-week from weightlifting. |
| Savasana, which means "corpse pose" (how | | | | Where Are They Now? |
| appropriate), where you lie on your back with your | | | | I've been doing the classes once a week, on |
| palms facing up like you just fell backwards out of | | | | Saturday's, for the past few weeks, and it's a nice |
| your upstairs window. | | | | way to end a heavy lifting week, stretching and |
| Curse the Theory of Relativity! | | | | relaxing every muscle in my body. |
| Of course, these two minutes seemed like about two | | | | My only gripe is that the classes are so long. Ninety |
| seconds, and the instructor was already ordering us | | | | minutes is a big chunk of time in and of itself, but again |
| into the next position. | | | | with my high metabolic rate, a shorter class would be |
| A few of these were relatively easy (thankfully!), but | | | | ideal. I guess "speed yoga" would go against the whole |
| once we hit the camel pose, it was back to Suckville. | | | | peaceful and mindful aspect of the practice. |
| This one is where you stand up on your knees with | | | | Now that the weather is warming up, I still plan on |
| your feet behind you, put your hands on the back of | | | | doing Bikram every other week or so on cloudy/rainy |
| your hips, and bend your head, neck, and body | | | | days, but when it's nice out, I'll be playing basketball at |
| backwards, while thrusting your hips forward. | | | | the park on Saturday's and Sunday's for my weekend |
| It may sound simple enough, but something about the | | | | cardio. |
| upside-down'ness of it, combined with my | | | | To Bikram or Not To Bikram |
| overwhelming need for oxygen, made me feel like I | | | | Believe it or not, after all the griping and complaining, I |
| was going to throw up and pass out all in one graceful | | | | would absolutely recommend trying it out if there's a |
| motion. | | | | Bikram yoga studio near you. When I first read about it, |
| This was the first one I had to "fake it 'til you make it" | | | | I thought it was just some Hollywood thing, so I was |
| by just barely tilting my head back and not bending my | | | | surprised to find there was a studio less than five |
| body much at all. | | | | minutes from my house in a shopping center that I'm in |
| How Much Longer?! | | | | at least a few times a month. |
| After that, there's only a few more postures left, none | | | | If you're into challenging your body and pushing |
| of which are particularly demanding. Of course, for my | | | | yourself to the limit, Bikram yoga is a great test. They |
| first time, I had no idea of the order or what terrible | | | | tell the first-timers before class that no matter how |
| nightmare pose could be coming next, which only | | | | tired you get, you should never leave the room. Aside |
| made it that much harder and more exhausting. | | | | from disturbing others, going from such an extreme |
| We finished the class with a breathing exercise where | | | | environment to the much cooler, dryer lobby will only |
| you look like you're hyperventilating. You push air out of | | | | further shock your body. |
| your lungs, using your diaphragm, at a rapid pace | | | | Instead, you should just skip a pose or two and lie |
| (about two or three times per second). | | | | down on your mat, which at least a few people do in |
| Imagine the way you breathe on your glasses to fog | | | | every class. But last week, three different people |
| them up and clean them, then do that multiple times in | | | | bolted out of the room throughout the class. It was |
| rapid succession. It was actually surprisingly calming | | | | probably a bit of a domino effect after the first one |
| and a nice way to end the class, although I would have | | | | left, the other two felt less pressure to stay in the |
| just as happily slammed my head through the wall if | | | | room. |
| that was the traditional way of ending the class, | | | | Even if you don't want to jump right into the big |
| anything to make it stop! | | | | leagues of Bikram, you could try out some less |
| Once I limped to my car, dragged up my steps at | | | | demanding "normal" yoga classes. A few of the |
| home, and fell into and out of the shower, I did notice a | | | | moves and poses are very similar, minus the Sahara |
| significant increase in energy, and it felt great to have | | | | desert room of course, but even that is something to |
| completed such a hard workout. | | | | experience on its own. |
| Glutton for Punishment | | | | If there was ever a time for the "check with your |
| Seeing as I signed up for the unlimited one week trial, I | | | | doctor" disclaimer, it would absolutely be right now! This |
| was determined to go every morning since it was my | | | | ain't your Grandma's workout, and I would insist that |
| off week from lifting weights, and I wanted to see | | | | you ensure you are healthy enough to embark on |
| how quickly I could improve. | | | | what will feel like your very last journey. |