My Bikram journey began a little over two years ago. My brother-in-law, Keith Bardin, encouraged me to try this 90 minute hot yoga class he was doing. It took me a year to go because I didn't see how I could add 90 minutes of "stretching" into my routine of cardio and weight training. I finally took my first class. Before that day, I had thought I was in decent shape. I realized differently as I sat unable to breathe, feeling like my heart was about to jump out of my chest. And we were barely at "partytime"! Despite how challenging it was, by the end of that very first class I was hooked. Here was a way for me to incorporate everything....strengthening, balance training, cardiovascular training and "stretching" all in one 90 minute session. It took less than a week for me to feel the emotional and mental peace so many other students talk about. I even started to feel a sense of peace just walking in the studio door.
After only two weeks of practicing, the low back pain and plantar fascitis (pain in the arch of my foot), I had started with, were both gone. I had been trying for 6 months to treat the plantar fascitis and this yoga healed it in 2 weeks.
In my second month of practicing 5-6 times a week, I learned I was pregnant with our second child. Stacey and the rest of the BYG family gave me great support and encouragement. It was in those next 8 months that I finally understood the key to Bikram yoga is the breathing. I had heard those words many times but now I really got it. I had to learn to breathe properly and improve my focus in order to protect that growing baby inside me. I saw my practice improve and was daily amazed at what my body could do. During this time, I had less nausea when I took class, I was able to resolve any back discomfort (especially with "camel" posture), my weight gain was a healthy 28 pounds, I slept better, and most importantly I learned that my body could do just about anything with proper breathing.
The birth of my first son, Collin (9lbs 10oz), was induced and although epidural medicated it ended stressfully and with pain. I didn't want that again and this yoga gave me the courage to go a different route. About 5 months into my pregnancy, I started studying and practicing a "hypnobaby" method of natural childbirth that teaches you how to enter a state of deep relaxation and create your own natural anesthesia. I was able to understand and achieve that state of deep relaxation because of the breathing I had learned in yoga.
Dylan's birth was a much better experience. Once my water broke, the contractions progressed quickly and I had to focus hard on my breathing and deep relaxation. I remember telling myself just treat the contractions like one posture at a time. I did that, but they seemed to come much more quickly and consistently than I expected and after about 6 hours I was getting tired. I asked for an epidural......but the doctor came back and told me they couldn't do one because my platelets had dropped and it wasn't safe. I had to go right back to my breathing and relaxation. I was so thankful, especially at that point, to have a tool to manage the intensity. The beauty, if you can call it that, in not having the epidural was that I could tell Dylan was not moving down like he needed to. The doctor and I agreed that a c-section was needed. Dylan was born a healthy 9lbs 13oz. Once I woke, the doctor explained to me that Dylan had turned "sunny side up" and had the cord gently around his neck. I mention that because one thing I found interesting was that Dylan never once was in any distress. He was just waiting patiently and peacefully for me to realize he needed a different way out. It was a very positive experience.
The yoga was definitely life-saving after the pregnancy; it helped me survive those sleep deprived months. I remember days when I was feeling very overwhelmed and exhausted; my sister would gently encourage me to make sure I didn't miss my yoga. Often, I would tell her I was just too tired or didn't have time, but she kept reminding me that I would feel better once I went to class. Of course she was right. I wish I could help every new mom get to Bikram yoga; there would be much less postpartum depression.
I stepped up my practice last spring and did my first Bikram challenge. I did it to support my sister, who was attending the Bikram teacher training. In those 60 days, I shed 12 pounds of lingering baby fat and found that I felt better inside than I ever had. Craving that feeling again, I am now well into my second challenge. I remember thinking that adding one or two days a week wouldn't make that much difference but it REALLY DOES! It's not easy, but I just remind myself that I can spend 90 minutes a day now taking care of my body and mind or spend more time later dealing with the consequences of not taking care of them.
I am very passionate about Bikram yoga and believe whole-heartedly that it can help heal people.....physically and emotionally. I think about many of the different physical therapy patients I have had and how they needed this yoga. Often times people want a quick fix. They come in with back pain or shoulder pain or knee pain etc. and expect to be healed with a few treatments or a couple of exercises they can do a few times a week. The body is so much more complex than that and needs balance. Bikram yoga can bring that balance. If you really LISTEN to the instructors and truly "match your body to their words", work hard and "trust the process" you will heal whatever it is you need to heal.
I am grateful that Keith encouraged me to try that first class. It changed my life in so many positive ways. And now my husband, Tom, has begun his own Bikram journey. It is so much fun sharing this experience with him. More than I imagined.
Thank you to Stacey, Sherri, LaDonna, Sami, Jay, Carla, Jorina, Suzann, and Katie for all of your support and encouragement. I learn something new from each of you. And a special thank you to my fellow BYG students. It is such a treat to practice with such friendly, supportive and encouraging people.
One of Bikram's biggest fans,
Jennifer Sofranec
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