“Would you rather suffer for 90 minutes or 90 years?”
For the past eight days, my mum and I have been practicing Bikram (hot) Yoga at a nearby studio. Bikram Yoga is a system of yoga that the multi-moneyed Bengali “bad boy of yoga” founder, Bikram Choudhury, synthesized from traditional yoga techniques and popularized initially in the early 1970s; and specifically in America thanks to former President Nixon (he did one thing right?). The practice lasts approximately 90 minutes, incorporating a series of 26 asanas (postures) and two pranayama (breathing) exercises, and ideally takes place in a room heated to 105°F/40.5°C with a humidity of 40%. Bikram yoga facilitates general wellness via deeper stretching, injury prevention, and stress/tension relief. Bikram yoga is claimed to systematically stimulate and restore health to every muscle, joint, and organ of the body with each movement and breath. According to Choudhury, many people only use up to 50% of their lung capacity, and just like any muscle, the lungs must be stretched in order to (through practice) withstand holding more oxygen in order to improve blood circulation.
Even though it’s only been eight days, I genuinely feel like I am at a whole new level of fitness, balance, and pure happiness (no, seriously) in my life because the mental post-effects have been and continue to be almost instantaneous for me! Through mediation and disciple, it’s fascinating what the mind and body could tolerate and become energized by. The minute I walk out of that sweltering room (appearing as if I had just been showered down; cleansed from the inside out), I feel rejuvenated and completely enlivened. While every practice has been a distinctive experience regarding my tolerance, strength, stability, flexibility, or lack thereof, etc. I finish with an even clearer confirmation in the wise notion that “the body is a temple, the finest machine in the world” (Bikram Choudhury).
Now I’ve just quoted Choudhury but I must add that some individuals seem as though his teachings are straight religion which they live and die by… “Bikram says this, Bikram says that.” Bikram says a lot of things, some of which I couldn’t agree with more, but many of which I don’t understand nor see eye to eye with. The man himself is another story in my mind and for this post, he is beside the point; while giving focus to the beauty of the yoga itself, I can admit thus far that his series, which, might I add, he copyrighted and franchised, is truly as magical as it’s cracked up to be.
Although the instructors don’t do the asanas/exercises themselves with us during the class, some of them whom have led a few of the classes I’ve taken exhibit an inspiring passion and personal commitment to our vitality and the healing of Bikram Yoga. Their enthusiasm and precision have a powerful impact on my vigor and impression of the day’s practice. No wonder they’ve invested thousands of dollars to become “certified Bikram Yoga teachers” by the boss man himself…oh, and because they could run the risk of being sued if they didn’t since that very boss man is an unprecedented-yoga-entrepreneur who is so very on top of his game.
Also, I never realized the true potential of my ability to perspire…so profusely! Even while training Muay Thai in Thailand in 90-degree weather, running for miles, boxing and kicking until my limbs quivered, etc. I didn’t sweat this much. Sure, the fact that 40-plus, clammy, dripping adults are packed into one modestly-sized studio for 90 minutes, which at times feels like 90 years, is a troubling thought. But by flex or by stretch, sweating that much is so unbelievably liberating, especially considering that that’s how our bodies’ amassed toxins are being plainly released! In that respect, we become an intimate-(and I mean it in more senses of the word than I would sometimes prefer) community that is devotedly striving to attain a fresh height of health and happiness…simple. :] :] :]
Namaste.
Chetna
