Although I may not have looked it, when I discovered Bikram yoga and the BYD studio a little over a year ago, I was a mess physically. Running and lifting weights on alternate days, I would substitute the monotony of the stationary bike on days my knees ached too much for the usual 5 mile run. After 30-45 minutes of peddling (and going nowhere), I'd try my best to break that machine, covering it in sweat by the time I was through. A workout for me meant punishing my body - beating it into submission. I was convinced I was in great shape.
As time progressed, my knees got worse, often times making it difficult to walk up steps. The pain finally landed me in the orthopedist's office, where I was told, quite plainly, "You are less flexible than my grandmother." All that running, peddling and lifting weights may have given me strength, but flexibility had been sacrificed in the process. My orthopedist also made it abundantly clear that from that point forward, stretching was to be my primary activity.
And that brings me to my first Bikram class. After all, yoga is all about stretching, right? Improving flexibility? Getting centered? I attacked my first class with the same punishing zeal nearly broke that stationary bike.
I bent my body backwards, kicked without a firm standing leg, and searched in vain for a foot to appear over my head in the mirror. And just as I thought it couldn't possibly get any harder, along came triangle, and then me, flat on my back. This is yoga?! This is intense! I literally mopped myself up off the floor at the end of class. I was whooped, but it felt good. I started coming 3 times a week, eventually increasing my frequency to 4, then 5, sometimes 6 days a week. Unlike other forms of exercise, Bikram combines stretching with strength with cardio, all in a no-impact package. It massages internal organs, re-aligns the spine, keeps sweat glands, skin, and joints healthy, and works every muscle in the body. On the days I don't practice, my body craves the workout, and on the days I do practice, I'm rewarded in so many ways. Since the class is always comprised of the same 26 poses, each class affords me the opportunity to make small improvements in my practice. Seeing your body change is powerful, and those small accomplishments keep me coming back for more. This yoga also creates more energy than it takes away - leaving me with a post-class euphoria I've never experienced with any other form of exercise. And, perhaps most importantly, it improves my ability to focus, be present, and remain calm - even in overwhelming conditions.
I can truly say that I'm a much different person than I was a year ago.
Physically, I'm stronger, leaner, and more flexible, but I'm also stronger on the inside. I have more self control, determination, concentration and patience. It shows in my work, my hobbies and my relationships. Several friends have commented that I seem to have a general peace about me that wasn't there before. And several of those friends have started practicing because they saw what it did for me!
I could go on and on about how great Bikram yoga is, but that's really just half the story. The yoga wouldn't be nearly as effective without such a special place to build a practice, and such special people to learn from.
Bikram Yoga Dallas is a strong community of students and teachers whose lives' have been changed by this yoga. It's a fun and vibrant place to be.
Thanks so much to Karen and David for helping me create the possibility of Bikram yoga in my life. And thanks to Jack, Lauren, Christina, Kelly, Erica and Tama for making each class something special. I'm truly humbled to be chosen as student of the month and I'm happy to add mine to so many powerful stories.
As Raj said last month, I know my journey with Bikram yoga has only just begun.
Joe Cole
