It was quite a surprise and an honor to be selected as Student of the Month! This recognition brings to mind my now oddly Pavlovian response to the term "Change!" with its pleasurable feeling being conditioned by a return to normal breathing or the release from a posture that years ago seemed impossible to attain. "Change!" is also the promise of increased health, well-being, and a strangely peaceful state of relaxation that follows a Bikram Yoga session. That great philosopher in the Western Tradition, Yogi Berra, ascertained truth when he said, "Yoga is 90% mental, and the other half is physical." (Was is Yoga or was it baseball to which he was referring - no matter.)
My first Bikram Yoga class was very surprising. I knew the room was heated but I envisioned a little stretching, a slow comfortable pace, and perhaps some incense and Eastern culture. What I found was a serious workout! When the class was over, I was beat! My lungs were burning and my ribs were sore from having purposely thrown myself to the floor, repeatedly, for ninety minutes! Prior to Yoga, purposely placing my head in the proximity of my knees was a sign of - well, a bad thing. My prior athletic training had absolutely prohibited locked knees and looking at the ceiling in a back-bend while standing on my feet was an indication of something gone wrong! Yet, like so many, I returned. Why? I retuned because of the promise of "Change!"
Disregarding the discomfort of my first class, I returned for more. I was compelled by the welcoming enthusiasm and professionalism of the Teachers. I was amazed by their talent at remembering the name of every person in the class. I was also fascinated and impressed by the people in the front row: they were all capable of gorgeous, cat-like flexibility, strength, and balance. Their abilities were, and still are, astonishing. I entertained no hope of successfully joining them in their accomplishments. For many months, more than a year, I was content with participating in two perhaps three sessions per week while focusing on more traditional cardio and resistance training. Nonetheless, I wanted something more. I wanted more "Change!"
I decided to commit to Bikram Yoga as my primary form of exercise earlier this year. I wanted to see if more frequent sessions would make a difference. They have! I committed myself to more sessions per week and found that I was actually making progress! My progress is not my own, however. "Change!" is due to effort but also to the devoted encouragement of the well-trained Teachers! At the precise moment, the gentle push to go further, to attempt something more, is why this Yoga is not a "do-it-yourself" endeavor.
I still love sports that include an opponent, a score or a best time to beat. Happily, because of Bikram Yoga, I enjoy these activities, and life, with more gratification and with more "Change!"
- Len Suazo
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