| Bikram Yoga is hot yoga. Immediately, this conjures | | | | But, what I've found to be the hardest part of a class, |
| images of the Sahara or Death Valley in people's | | | | harder than any pose, dealing with the heat, being |
| minds. All the movies and cartoons that ever depicted | | | | thirsty...the hardest part is dealing with the smell. |
| desert scenes where a withering person is dragging | | | | Professional yogis I'm sure can meditate and |
| himself across miles of sand, licking the edges of an | | | | concentrate so deeply that the smell is a non-issue, but |
| empty water bottle, and squinting while the sun beats | | | | for me, it's not that simple. Every so often (or often in |
| down at him come flashing into your mind. This is | | | | my case), you'll end up near someone with less than |
| perfectly normal. Rest assured it's not that bad, but | | | | perfect hygiene. I often catch my first whiff during half |
| yes... it will be hot! | | | | moon when everyone swings their arms up over their |
| You can always tell the newbies. They come with | | | | heads. At this point it's too late to relocate your mat. |
| gallon bottles of water and are usually slightly over | | | | You don't always necessarily know the source of this |
| dressed. Think baggy t-shirt as opposed to stretchy | | | | smell, but that doesn't matter. What matters is how |
| tank top. Everyone goes in feeling fresh and ready for | | | | you're going to deal with it for the next hour and a half. |
| a fun-filled 90 minute class. You'll always have the | | | | I have no real answer. I have an aunt with no sense of |
| hard-core group. These are the people who have | | | | smell who I'd like to trade places with at those times, |
| been doing yoga for ages. Not only are they really | | | | but that's not really an option. As I was wishing that |
| good at the postures, they are good at meditating and | | | | today, I thought about what it'd be like to really have no |
| breathing. And they will always have their favorite spot | | | | sense of smell. I'd be thrilled in these yoga classes, but |
| in the room. | | | | imagine all the smells I'd miss smelling. Would I really |
| Occasionally, you'll get the people who aren't serious | | | | want to trade all that? Roses, cookies baking, fresh |
| about yoga at all. They're taking Bikram Yoga because | | | | cut grass, even gasoline. That would be like not falling |
| they've heard how cool it is. Yes, I just really wanted to | | | | in love so as not to get a broken heart. So I guess you |
| use that oxymoron. Anyway, they usually come in | | | | have to take the bad with the good. And I know I |
| groups and can't do anything without grinning at their | | | | shouldn't be pondering all of this philosophical stuff |
| friends in the mirror. It's unlikely they'll come back, but | | | | during savasana because I'm supposed to be in a |
| they'll talk about their "crazy hot yoga experience" for | | | | relaxed state, only thinking about breathing. Though |
| years to come. | | | | thinking about breathing just brings me back to |
| It's easy to hate every single posture you do during | | | | breathing in "the smell." |
| that 90 minutes. The trick is to find something good | | | | A mitigator, I find that's is a little helpful is doing yoga |
| about each one. I know you're thinking, "how on earth | | | | with a friend. You'll still have to bear the fumes for the |
| am I supposed to do that?" I wondered the same thing. | | | | duration, but afterwards you'll be able to vent, offer |
| But you can do it, even if you find just one tiny thing | | | | your guesses as to who the source was and vow |
| you like about the posture. For example, there is a | | | | never to sit in the corner of the room again. But trust |
| pose in the warm-up where you bend down and cup | | | | me, it has nothing to do with being in the corner. You'll |
| your heels with all five fingers. You let your head drop, | | | | feel suffocated wherever you sit. |
| and lock your knees with your stomach on your thighs. | | | | In the end, if you really do love the benefits, love |
| I'm not a huge fan of this pose, but when I hang my | | | | releasing the toxins from your body, and love burning |
| head, I can smell the lotion on my legs. I like my lotion, | | | | 1000 calories a class (depends on weight, but that's for |
| so I'll enjoy THAT when I'm in my posture. As the | | | | a 5'4'' person weighing 150 lbs.), you'll love Bikram yoga. |
| postures become easier, you won't have to squeeze | | | | You'll love how you feel after, and you'll love going |
| out trivial reasons to like the posture. You will simply | | | | despite any obstacles in your way. As they say when |
| understand the benefits and that you're doing | | | | you're balancing in Standing Bow, "the harder you kick |
| something good for your body will make you happy. | | | | you will balance forever." The harder you try to |
| But initially, your body is most likely not going to be | | | | overcome the obstacles, the better you'll get forever. |
| happy. Well, that's your mind talking. | | | | |