My experience with Bikram Yoga began in July of 2004. I had taken numerous yoga classes before, and as much as I enjoyed the idea and the stretch, I somehow felt the instructor was getting more benefit out of the class than the students. A friend told me about Bikram Yoga so I went to the studio to sign up with the knowledge of being in a hot room performing the same poses twice. When the instructor asked me on my first visit, if I had ever taken yoga classes before I said…Oh sure! Here I am at Bikram Yoga with my "vast" knowledge. Trying not to be intimidated, I quietly stepped into the yoga room where Ros ( a Bikram student) immediately recognizes the "clueless first time" look on my face and invited me to join her on the back row. I quickly realized my first goal would be not to pass out in front of all these people. I survived…
Each class after that I as amazed how my body was changing in flexibility, strength, and balance. Each class as Sherri and Stacey talked us through the poses, I began to hear a new clue as to where by body was supposed to be. For the next 4-5 months I was very content on the back row until Sherri asked me to move up a row (right out of my comfort zone). Guess what? I could do the poses in the middle row too. Now I was beginning to open up, to give and receive more energy from the others in class.
Then on a Saturday morning I was asked to move to the front row to accommodate a full class. Holy Cow….I was much too close to myself in the mirror with nowhere else to look but into my own eyes. That was my giant step. Bikram Yoga taught me how to look into my own eyes, to look inside and at myself to find strength, focus, balance, determination and acceptance. It has shown me how to open myself up to challenges challenge and step beyond my comfort zone.
I may look sweaty and disheveled when I walk out of the yoga room but I feel better than ever.
