When I find something I like, I want to share it with my friends. A few years back a new pizza place opened in our town. The pizza was the best I had in a long time (in South Jersey). I told everyone I knew to check out the pizza. They apparently did as when I went in the owner refused to take my money and thanked me for talking up his product. Unfortunately for the owner, his pizza maker, who brought with him is own recipe for sauce and the best anchovies left. Taking his sauce recipe with him. The pizza went downhill fast. Of course, I had to let everyone know this too.
Well, this post is not about pizza but Bikram Yoga. I started doing yoga nine years ago. For six years I would do two to four Ashtanga classes a week. Then one day I tried Bikram Yoga. Its ideally done in a mirrored studio on a carpet (with a mat) and the room temperature should be 105 degress and 47 % humidity. I remember the first time I did it I said to myself “I could never do that more then once a week” but soon enough I found myself going to two classes a week then three classes a week then four….
Almost three years after doing my first Bikram class, I now do five to seven classes a week. I rise at four thirty every morning, some days more reluctantly then others but I do get up. By five O’clock Iam out the door, get to the studio (about 14 minutes away) and crank up the heat . In the studio there are two ventless gas heaters and four electric heaters. At 5:30 I am at the top of my mat for the hour and a half session in front of me.
Now why do I do this? The answer gets more apparent and clear to me every time I leave the studio. I feel great! Its not just stretching, its a lot more. Its a cardio workout, it strengthens the mind and power to concentrate, it puts me in touch with every muscle group in my body and its incredibly challenging if you let it. It keeps me going back for more.
Physically I am have built up great core strength. I am more flexible then I was when I was a teenager ( I avoided stretching back then because it hurt) and I feel the aging process has slowed down considerably. Its obvious to me when I look around at other people over fifty, they seem to be aging quicker then I and I really feel that I am in reverse. Its a great feeling.
But absolutely none of this has come without determination and hard work. During the three years of Bikram I have seen hundreds of people come to class and never return (its not for everyone) or I have seen people come for months or longer then leave and not come back. I realize that sometimes life gets in the way, but what is life if yo cant live it to its fullest? I dont mind getting old. I just dont want to feel old.
Check it out. I highly recommend it! Have a great day today!
