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There was a Bikram Yoga studio on my way home from the train, when I lived in San Francisco. I would pass it every night, and swear I wouldn't peer through the windows because it is rude, to spy on people when they are vulnerable, in their workout clothes and sweaty and going ow ow ow, or wondering how their ass looks. Because that's something that's hard not to do, when you're in an exercise class. Or so I've heard.
I'd peer through the glass every single night. Sometimes, just a glance, and I'd see uplifted arms and gleaming skin and looks of concentration and determination and once, outright agony. Sometimes, I'd stop, and I'd get very close to the window and watch, because I was fascinated. I had never done yoga (never had, actually, until I moved to Utah, and if that's not counter-intuitive, I don't know what is), but I thought I might want to, or could do it, that it would be good for my body and my beautiful spirit and my crazy head, right? That's how yoga goes. It fixes you from the inside out. Every night, an invitation to try yoga, this place a block and a half from my house. Not that expensive, hours when I could go. And the promise of millions of calories burned, magical, curative, restorative properties, all the exclusive territory of hot-room yoga and no other kind--it melts the toxins, it loosens your muscles, it makes you rubbery, and you'll burn 1,000 calories in the space of an hour. Bikram Yoga was a miracle exercise! That I was terrified to try. It was yoga, for one thing, and yoga intimidated me. I am not a particularly bendy girl. I am not a graceful person, in any shape or size. I am not the most fit person you'll ever see, I do not deal well in the summer with the heat, I dislike group exercise because someone might be staring at my butt, I dislike group exercise because someone might laugh at me for doing everything wrong, I dislike group exercise because I don't want to look at other people's butts and watch everyone do everything right and so much better than I ever could. I dislike group exercise. But I kept peering through the window anyway, and swearing that I would just try it, because. Because it's convenient? Or trendy? Or it might kill me? I don't know why. Maybe I really did believe it was a miracle exercise. I can sometimes be secretly, stubbornly gullible, in my heart of hearts. So I move to Utah, try yoga for the first time (whee!) and love it. But the classes are at frustrating hours--I keep missing the early ones because I stay at E's place without my workout clothes, and I keep forgetting to make the afternoon ones, and there are only two classes a week, anyway, and what the hell is that? Irritating, is what it is. But what's this? There is a Bikram studio, in town! With classes every day, several times a day? Well, okay, if you insist. Especially since it's not on a street corner, with big plate-glass windows that allow passers-by to rudely gape. It terrifies me anyway, even without spectators. But I'm going to try it, and probably I won't die! Probably. 6 CommentsLeave a comment |
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Anne, you can always position yourself right at the front of the class. That's what I'd do. That way, everyone has to look at my ass and all I have to look at is myself in the mirror (it helped me adjust my poses).
Plus, you have no idea who's struggling with what when you aren't looking at them. I know that I struggle with stubborn inflexibility, despite years of practice. And yet some woman once came up to me after class and said, "I'm so glad I picked a spot next to you. I was totally lost and clumsy and had no idea what was going on, so I just watched you. It was really helpful."
My advice is just the opposite, which is to go to the back. My anxiety that everyone would look at my butt would distract me, even though deep down I know this anxiety is silly.
One thing about hot yoga: it's HOT. I have only done it 3 times, and I loved it (actually I really should get back there), but all three times I had to stop and lay down for a few minutes due to diziness and nausea. It passes, and I never actually threw up or had to leave the class, but it was unsettling.
But it's worth the pain because you leave the class feeling like a million dollars. And the poses are not difficult and they are the same poses in the same order every time you go!
Bring 2 BIG water bottles, you will need it.
Don't be freaked out by the crazy breathing at the beginning. Have fun!!!!
You know, I've been tempted by Bikram yoga for a while.
I do regular yoga (badly, but I love it), and I'm actually quite bendy. But I'm so afraid that I'll pass out with the hotness and the sweating that I've never been willing to check out Bikram. So here's my question: Can fat girls do Bikram?
(by the way, why is it so difficult to post a comment here? I swear, almost every time I try to post something it says that I've entered the captcha characters wrong. Now, I'm a bit of an idiot with things like that, so it wouldn't surprise me if I got it wrong, oh, 50% of the time. But every time? Seriously.)
I was really worried about passing out the first time I tried Bikram, but I ended up loving it.
It made me feel wonderful, and I liked that the movements were slow enough for me to keep up with. I am usually not a fan of the heat, but this time it left me really feeling refreshed afterwards.
Here's my humorous little post about it a few months back, if you're interested:
http://bellasboldbrilliantblog.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/bikram-yoga-was-hot/
First of all, fatgirlonadate-you're not alone. I get the stupid letters wrong all the time too. Sometimes I've written a novella of a comment and then I can't post it, because I can't get the damned letters right...
Secondly, fat girls can do hot yoga. I do it regularly. It is quite hot (duh) so bring a towel and lots of water. Really though, everyone is sweating like mad, so its not like some classes where the skinny girls look like they just stepped out of a hair salon while I look like a drowned rat due to sweat. There is some equality in everyone sweating lots. I've only had one episode of a bit of lightheadedness, but that was likely due to dehydration (too much booze the night before an early class, no time to rehydrate with water beforehand). That said, I've seen thinner folks lay down in child's pose occassionally too, so presumably the intense heat has gotten to them too for some reason.
I say to all who are thinking about it-give it a go. I found it more enjoyable than regular yoga, I was more bendy due to the heat relaxing tight muscles, and it feels crazy good when you leave the room, enter normal, room temp, and feel refreshed.
Hey Anne -
Haven't read your blog or commented in ages...I've been busy having a baby! Just stopped to check in on you today, and I MUST comment on this entry!
I have done yoga my whole life, and hot yoga religiously for 2 years (except while I was pregnant). I have literally been in hundreds of classes during that time, and I:
- have NEVER seen anyone pass out
- have never seen anyone throw up
- have never seen anyone laugh at another student
- have never seen a teacher point out anything embarassing about a student
I HAVE however:
- lost 35 pounds (in conjunction with running)
- felt fabulous after EVERY class
- experienced the "life-changing" effects of a regular yoga practice
- missed it TERRIBLY during my pregnancy and cannot wait to get back to it
The amazing thing to me about it is this: if you go regularly, the incredibly short time in which you will start to get good at it. You will feel the improvements in each small movement...the way you hold your back straight, the closer your hands come to the floor in a forward bend. You may start only being able to touch your knees, and three weeks later, your entire palm is BEHIND your ankles with your entire front completely compressed on your legs. I'm not kidding...you will do things you never thought possible.
And remember this: even if you have to lie down for your ENTIRE first class because of the heat, you are still receiving benefits just by being there. It generally takes about 6 classes to acclimate to the humidity and the temperature, so don't worry about needing to lie down. If you take that pressure off yourself ahead of time, you will enjoy it much more.
Finally - after ALL you have been through physically with your surgery and everything else over the past few years - what do you think could really happen in the course of a 60-90 minute YOGA class that could be WORSE than things over which you have already triumphed brilliantly??
Go get it, girl.