Yo! Yo! Yoga! Jen here....
For years I have been hearing about Bikram Yoga and all the crazy good benefits. "Crazy" because you are in intense heat (I believe the website said the room is between 98-104 degrees and 40% humidity) and "good" because well, you are stretching for 90 minutes straight. Everyone needs this. Seriously, who stretches besides when you are bending down to tie your shoe?
After doing this class, I realize that Yoga is like a whole other universe. The people even seem different. "Yogis", as I like to call them, are all calm and serene. Almost freaky. When Liz and I walked into the class, everyone was just laying on their backs, eyes closed ...you could hear a pin drop. My first instinct was to laugh. I don't know if it was the quiet that was making me uncomfortable and that rebel in me that likes to make noise at the most inappropriate times. We found a couple spots in the corner and laid our mats out. Liz and I continued to exchange weird looks to each other as we were scared to talk. Then the teacher came in, Dr. King Rollins, and informed us that the room should be heating up as he turned a couple more space heaters on. I could see the fear in Liz's eyes as he said that....and then she whispered "you mean it's not already hot!?" and I replied "no! I am freezing! bahaha"
Me doing a yoga pose, trying not to let the sweat drip in my eyes. (notice one of the heaters RIGHT behind me..)
The class starts and surprisingly the 90 minutes goes fast. There was no music just the instruction from Dr. King on what pose to do next. I was sweating like a hooker in church, not surprisingly, but only felt like I was going to pass out a couple times. I did take note pretty early on not to get up to fast or I felt super dizzy and a couple times could see some pretty stars. I definitely took notice on how much you use your core to do the poses and keep great posture and balance as you try to hold them. I could feel as the class went on, I got sweatier and the classroom got hotter that my stretches were deeper. We did some crunches and more core strengthening towards the end of class along with some breathing exercises. This also made me want to laugh. Am I child? or is this the way the first time is for everybody? We sat indian style, open mouth and take deep forceful breaths out of our mouth. Then he would instruct us to go faster or slower with our breaths. I couldn't help but think that there HAS to be porn out there about Bikram Yoga the way this room sounded! Then we laid on our back and said "Ommmm" a few times...I don't know why but this also gave me the giggles.
These are the things I know for sure about Bikram Yoga.
1. Men can wear boxer briefs or tiny speedos and that is acceptable.
...like this guy...
2. If you talk or laugh in class, I feel that is messing with the vibe of the class. Don't do it
3. You should not eat a big meal before class because it might come up, but bring a 5 course meal with you in the car because afterwards, you WILL be starving.
this seems like a great investment.
4. My goal is to be one of those hot Yogis and do weird poses at house parties for great entertainment, like I am sure Madonna does!
5. This class isn't a fad or a trend. I think it's on to something because I felt amazing after class! I could feel the next day how much back was a little sore and how much I worked muscles I didn't know I had. I felt like I had a clear mind, limber body and even my skin looked glowy!
Can't wait to do it again next week!
Namaste!,
Jen
*********************************
Sooooo, I thought I was going to absolutely hate Bikram Yoga. There are three things about nature that I do not like at all: wind, extreme heat, and humidity. Oh, and sweating! Bikram has 2 out of those 3 things along with sweating, naturally.
I've tried yoga before at the YMCA in Colorado a couple years ago and I was bored. It was too slow and I didn't think I had the patience for it yet. I have the patience of a 3 year old. I tried again with my mom last year. She does Dahn Yoga (http://www.dahnyoga.com/) and swears by it. But again, it was too slow. Although, it has done wonders for her!
Anyway, Jen wanted to do the 90-minute class. I was thinking the 60-minute class. I didn't even think I was going to make it to 60 minutes, let alone 90. But I guess the 90-minute class is the real way to do it or something, so fine! We walk in the class, it's hot and humid but I'm thinking it's bearable. There were people already in there laying down, soaking up the hottness I guess.
Dr. King walks in and tells us it's not hot enough. WHAT?! Threw a scared look at Jen and my confidence in getting through the class was shot.
The time does go by really fast though. 90 minutes was gone in no time. We both made it through the class, alive! I sweat so much that there was brown hair dye in some of my sweat droplettes. haha! Can't remember the last time I sweat like THAT! There was one point where we are between poses, I look over to my right a little at one of the guys who was wearing the little shorts, like Jen mentioned above, which leave nothing to the imagination. Well my eye just so happened to catch a bead of sweat that took a beautiful swan dive off of the guys, umm, diving board, if you will. Man, if there is an Olympics for that there would have been 10s all around. hahahaha! Hey! I don't search for these things, I just happen to catch them. Call it 'overly observant'.
Anyway, We didn't get any pictures the first time because we were too afraid of disturbing someone or someone getting mad because it is pretty peaceful.
The second time we were determined to at least get one picture of both of us.
I know now that I need to work on the rotation of my shoulders. This isn't a straight line as it should be.
Jen was sneaky and got a picture of my ass! haha! Thanks, Jen! Not bad though eh!?
I would totally do Bikram on a regular basis. When I can afford it, I'll definitely be signing up for a monthly membership.
Namaste!
~liz
No comments:
Post a Comment