I really enjoy playing sports. I always have for as long as I can remember. Even today I still play softball, tennis and football once in a while and run on the treadmill five times a week. One of the things I regret as a youngster was I never stretched. Never! If I was playing a sport I would show up 2 minutes before we were about to start and would jump on the field or court. That was a mistake – in fact a huge mistake since my body isn’t flexible at all and in pain a day or two after playing a sport.
Recently I have been hearing from a number of people how much they enjoy Yoga. My wife loves it and has been talking about a special kind of Yoga called Bikram. Bikram yoga was founded by Bikram Choudhury and is commonly also known as "hot yoga." It’s easy to understand why – it’s supposed to be practiced in a 105 degree room with 50 percent humidity! Oh by the way I left out one of the most important pieces of information: The class is typically 90 minutes and the instructor doesn’t let you leave the room!
I have never taken a Bikram Yoga class but have started to think about trying it once… just once. I am not sure I can do any of the poses but I am willing to try. There is a good chance I will pass out and throw up. I have heard from so many people it can make your mind and body stronger and very flexible.
Have you tried it?
- What was it like?
- Did you enjoy it?
- Am I making a mistake thinking I can survive being in a locked room for 90 minutes in 105 degree heat?
I look forward to your comments.
Brett Collard says:
I must say that this posting is pretty ironic as I was contemplating whether or not I could get the strength to go this afternoon. My roommate has been doing bikram on and off for about two years and he finally convinced me to go two weeks ago. I must say that I am glad he talked me into it. I have gone about eight times over the last two weeks and I have seen tremendous results.
I will not sugarcoat my message. The workout and heat are harder than many off season football workouts. After my first workout my under armor type shirt was soaking wet to the point where I had to ring it out in the shower afterwards. The soreness I felt over those next 24 hours was something I will remember for the rest of my life. Everyone says that if you do not return to a class within 24 hours it is unlikely that you will ever come back. I made it back to the class the next day with a very limited range of motion. Every class since has gotten a little easier and I feel 100% better than I did two weeks ago.
I loved the workout and it was a great way to get back into exercising on a daily basis.
Willie Martin says:
Hello Merrill!
You know my story. Ten months ago today I was almost fifty pounds heavier and having a ‘come-to-Jesus’ with life. I made a few changes to my diet. I discovered Green Tea and gave up on desserts for a good while. I also got back to running up to 3 miles a day…along the way a friend of mine dared me to try ‘Hot Yoga’.
The instructor in question was a gal named Suzie Curtis. She has numerous classes in the Addison vicinity and has been a proponent of yoga for many many years here locally.
At 43, I have begun to question my mortality and my ego. I have taken a handful of these classes. They are without a doubt one of the hardest things I have ever partaken. Tougher than quitting the smokes and the booze! Once the ninety minutes have elapsed I am left with a level of peace that I can never quite put to words.
I will tell you that you lose alot of water weight, your flexibility will improve tenfold, and your mental approach to life gets a reboot. Hot yoga will put you through the motions.
Don’t feel weird about standing out in a crowd. Leave your ego at the front door, and just follow the instructor as you get schooled in the ‘Up Dog, Down Dog, Warrior Stance, and salute to the sun’!
Best of luck to those who partake. I highly recommend it.
I will pass this link on to my yoga friends for their input.
Peace!
Melissa Lawrence says:
There are several popular forms of yoga, Bikram and Ashtanga being the harshest of them all. If you want exercise, these two forms are good options, however they can be difficult for your joints to handle. If you want to increase your flexibility and calm your mind/destress, I would suggest Vinyasa (or “flow”) yoga. It’s a great workout and not so harsh on your body.
Jacki Spear says:
Hi Merrill,
I have been taking Bikram Yoga for several years now and I do love it, but I have also been involved in gymnastics and have always stretched. For me, the hardest part to conquer was the heat. Even after more than a year, I found myself getting dizzy and having to sit out poses. I finally found the secret…come hydrated. If you drink several cups of coffee a day and not enough water…this will work against you. drink a lot of water the day of class and bring ice water to the class.
At my facility they offer the second class for free. I believe the reason is that the first class will scare you. You need to try it twice. The second time is much better because you know what to expect. The first half of class you will do the standing poses and the second half you do poses while on the floor. that helps to break it up. Remember 2 things – first, it is not a competition. just being in the room is an accomplishment. so do what you can and be proud. Second, you have nothing to lose by trying it and plenty to gain. Good Luck!
Bo Mullan says:
M – the first time I did Bikram I had to go home and go to bed, and slept for three hours. I kept it up twice a week for about a year and the results were incredible. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Bikram is not offered in my current gym, but lots of other yoga classes are, including a toned down hot yoga. I do every yoga class I can based on my schedule and am not particular on which type of yoga or who teaces it. I now go about 3 times per week. My goal is better flexibility to avoid avoid injuries, in addition to finding calm via deep breathing. Bikram is more of a major workout, and I am looking for yes health, but more calm and peace (this is my answer to divorce hell). Yoga is a fantastic habit for the mind and body – no joke. My point is Bikram is great, but at one end of the scale. You might want to start slow, and at least check out other options like Anusara, Ashtanga, Baptise, Hatha, Inyengar, Tapas, Vinyasa and Yin, just to name a few. 🙂
Ed Sugar says:
Try Hiawatha yoga. It stresses more on slow stretching, meditation and relaxation.
Fee Sepahi says:
Hello Merrill,
I have been participating in Amrit Yoga developed by Yogi Amrit Desai (Gurudev), Amrit Yoga is the evolution of Kripalu Yoga, Meditation in Motion. I started about 6 months ago, and I got started as I was having thoughts of my fitness and the difficulty in raising the heart rate to an acceptable norm to get rid of the ever evolving bulge, in my midriff. I heard from my cousin that at first she and then her husband were participating in “hot Yoga” and I sought out a normal class to begin and found my way to my chiropractor’s office where a class of Amrit Yoga was being held, once a week! The instructor Robi is one of the most phenomenal coaches, I’ve been in the presence of. She has the uncanny ability to bring inner peace, strength and agility all into harmony, within the 90 minutes and she’ll coach me/us when alignment is off or I’m about to keel over. At the end of each session my mind is at rest, my body is rejuvenated into a very healthy state and I feel great. At times I find myself at work taking a stance, to alleviate the stress from sitting too long or I focus on breathing as I’ve been taught and it brings me right back to feeling great about my body and mental well being, in that moment.
I’m proud to say I’m the only man amongst my group and they do not laugh hysterically when I take my positions, though at time I wish they would! I’ve learned to let go of the way I look and I can now focus on how I feel. I know I will never look or take the posses in the photo’s you’ve displayed above, but alas that’s not what it’s about for me.
It really is a peaceful way of being and I found it also vastly improved many aspects of my golf game, cycling and I’m certain skiing (as soon as we have some snow), both physical and mentally.
I encourge you to forge on and let me know if I can be of any support.
jai bhagwan (I Honor the Light Within You)
Joan Burns says:
O.K., Merrill. Here’s the free advice from a “moderation in everything” person (and worth every penny).
Try a gentler form of yoga (hatha yoga, perhaps) for a 3 – 6 month period first. Breathing, stretching, relaxation are the keys to the benefits of yoga. They enable greater flexibility. You can’t be flexible when you’re tense. A gentle form of yoga will introduce the basics. Then you can jump into the pit.
I have never attemped Bikram yoga because I cannot tolerate the heat, although I’m sure it greatly enhances flexibility. Still, I think an ease-into-it approach will make the Bikram both less traumatic and more rewarding.
Merrill Dubrow says:
Great advice from everyone. I was all set to try it this weekend but now I need to rethink that – maybe I should start slow as opposed to jumping into it with both feet.
Stay tuned – this adventure sounds like it will be fun.
Merrill
Jason Ulichnie says:
I’ve tried yoga, and I have new-found respect for it. I was a collegiate football player, and thought I knew pain. That was until I tried yoga. While trying to execute a ‘downward dog’ maneuver, I threw out my lower back. The pain was immediate. I was rendered completely useless. In fact, I have been seeing a chiropractor ever since.
Yoga. It’s the new football.
Speaking of football, let me take this chance to thank Merrill and MARC for hosting me in their luxury suite at Texas Stadium when the Rams visited a few weeks back. It was a very good time, Merrill. Thanks so much for your hospitality!
Merrill Dubrow says:
Jason,
Thanks for your comments and for scaring me – sounds like lot’s of pain!
Glad you could join us in the box – hope to see you soon.
Merrill
kath says:
Merrill,
If you’re set to do it this weekend – then do it!
Bikram is just as much for beginners as it is for the more advanced yoga student.
Just do it!!!!!
kath
Merrill Dubrow says:
Kath,
Thanks for the encouragement! Who knows I may just love it.
Merrill
Jessi Boyd says:
I practice Hatha Yoga whenever I have the time and money for it. I love it, it relieves stress and helps me sleep better. I would recommend it for anyone.
That being said I did try “hot yoga” before finding my current studio. The description that I would apply is “oven like”. The experience made 110+ degree days in August in Texas seem pleasant, almost spring-like. I remember sweating so much that I slid off my own mat. No thanks, I’ll stick to yoga in a nice air-conditioned studio.
Jane Rosen says:
At 8:05 on Tuesday night when the earthquake hit very close by in San Jose, I was in a yoga class. Everyone remained calm and just commented that it was interesting to feel the floor roll while in the particular position we were holding. No one even left the class until it was over at 8:30.