Flashback Friday: My experience with Bikram Yoga
I’ve been reading TONS about Bikram yoga on other people’s blogs, like Ashley’s, Anais, and P.O.M. It was even mentioned over on Glamour’s Vitamin G the other day. It seems like everyone but me is doing it.
Well, I did try it once.
It did not go well.
A good friend of mine from high school lives in Kelowna and she was raving about Bikram yoga last year, I wanted to try it, but there was no studios anywhere close to where I lived. When I moved to Kamloops in September I decided to try it.
My first weekend alone in Kamloops I woke up at about 9:00 AM on a Sunday morning. I’d spent the whole day before lying around, reading my book and napping. I didn’t know anybody here yet, my parents had gone back home and Eric hadn’t moved down yet. I was bored and I felt gross because I hadn’t done anything active for awhile. Spur of the moment, I decided I was going to do Bikram at 10:00. I threw on shorts and a T-shirt, grabbed a towel and my yoga mat and was out the door before I was even fully awake.
First annoying thing; the guy at the front desk told me that my giant Aquafina water bottle wasn’t very good water and that I should buy Dasani next time. Umm, OK. Little did he know that the Aquafina bottle had been filled from my kitchen tap before running out the door. That little tidbit probably would have horrified him. Ha.
I knew it would be hot in there, but it was SO much hotter than I’d expected. The 20+ bodies that were in the room did not help. It was sweltering. At this point I remembered I had not ate that morning. Great. I’m a big breakfast eater, I need food almost immediately after waking up or I feel sick.
“It’s OK,” I thought. “It’s only an hour, you can get through this.”
Wrong. It’s 90 minutes. I did not know that when I started the class.
Is it just me, or are Bikram poses NOT like actual yoga at all? This was eight months ago, but I don’t remember there being any downward dog or warrior poses. It was all weird-ass poses that involved me making some loud, strange noise when I breathed out. Awkward.
I managed to get through the whole 90 minutes without leaving the room, barely. I was dripping sweat, my face was bright red, my hair was stringy, I was not a pretty sight. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t even do half the poses! I spent the majority of the class on my knees praying for it to end.
I did not have an enjoyable experience. It was too hot, I felt nauseous from not eating breakfast and the insane heat, and the instructor kept clapping her hands and saying, “new girl in the blue do this” and pointing me out. The whole thing felt very awkward.
Now, after reading about everyone else doing it, I really want to try it again! I think I should go more than once this time around though. I remember my first experience with spinning was not good either and now I LOVE it.
Maybe I’ll be able to do this by the end of the summer? No, no.. Probably not.
Do you do Bikram yoga or have you ever tried it? What was your first experience like? Should I try again?
Yoga photo found here.
For me it’s the exact opposite – if I eat before…it won’t be pretty! I get super nauseous quite easily…
Also, yes, I do think it’s much different than regular yoga. Ironically enough, I think I’d be quite intimidated to go to a regular yoga class
If you find a yoga studio that’s really good, I’m sure you’ll love it
The poses are always the same:
http://mainasukhumvit.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/postures.JPG
I have never tried it but I admit I’m intrigued as I hear good things about it. I may try it one of these days, but it would have to be a basic course so that I don’t get intimidated and run out the door!
Girl you shuold DEFINITELY try it again! Maybe at a different studio? I love my studio so much the teachers are amazing. I think its good to eat about 3 to 4 hours before the class. I ate once an hour before and it didn’t feel good. The poses are all yoga poses but the reason why there’s no downward dog or anythign liek that is because these are in a specific sequence. Downward dog isn’t good in that kind of heat becuase the blood rushes to your head and when its over 100 degrees it will make you feel really dizzy and nto good at all. Having the same poses every class really helps me focus on where my body is improving, and where I feel tight, and you can really pin point things better this way. I hope you like it if you try it again! If you focus on breathing slowly and only through your nose it should help with it being so hot. When I do that it helps me forget i’m in a sauna and doesn’t make me overheat. Make sure to drink LOTS of water the day before and the day of the calss! now that i’ve written a story book for you to read, i hope i’ve helped some!
I’ve never even seen bikram offered here in south carolina. I do want to try it, because I like regular yoga so much. but i stick to the 30 minute shows that come on FitTV for now.
I laughed out loud at the ‘new girl in bluedo this’ part!!! That is so something that would happen to me. I’ve only tried regular yoga… I am sure there are Bikram studios in my city, but I think for now, I will still w/ regular!!!
I have never tried Bikram yoga, but it seems to be a bit of a fad now. I might try it if I get a chance, but otherwise I am happy with my running and my regular yoga.
(PS: it’s compliment a blogger day over on One Happy Panda and you have a compliment waiting
)
~Amanda
PS again: That picture is, um, pretty special (*immature giggling*)
Amber, not everyone does well in a hot yoga class. I love the sequence of Bikram’s classes, but my pitta dosha can’t handle the heat. Also, there are as many types of yoga as there are yogis, so look around and try as many classes and teachers as you can. As for the poses, they are ‘actual’ poses! Bikram’s theory (patented, of course, which raised a big kerfuffle in the yoga community, because how can you patent something that’s been around for 5000 years?) is that his specific sequence of poses works all the muscles and massages all of the organs. Also, to be a certified Bikram instructor, you have to teach just as he does…down to the way you describe the pose and everything (I’ve got a friend who’s certified). That can get annoying class after class. But maybe that’s just me.
H =)
Bikram yoga always has sounded terrible to me, and your experience is just how I would have imagined it! But if you are willing, give it another go. Just eat first, I think
I have only done yoga a couple times, actually in my college PE class. It was HARD. I am not very strong or flexible, so that’s probably why. Still, I would do regular yoga before the Bikram. though that picture is pretty motivating, haha, jk.
I really struggled w/ my first experience in a yoga class-I LOVED pilates right away but felt differently w/ yoga…I’d be willing to give it another shot? My marathon is on May 31! Am I starting w/ enough time to train? I’m seriously clueless. Do you eat your breakfasts b/f you run or are you running in the evening??? Were you able to run even close to 10 mi when you started? I am totally bombarding you w/ q’s!
I love hearing peoples’ stories about Bikram yoga! I bought a two week pass last summer and went probably four times during that time. I was prepared for it to be bad, but the smell of sweat/carpet/stagnant air and the people wearing speedos and the nazi yoga instructor (oh and the feeling of nauseousness) wasn’t quite my cup of tea. I prefer more relaxing yoga. I think bikram is probably great for cleansing the body, but the all over experience just wasn’t my cup o tea.
To be honest? I’m scared of Bikram yoga and have never tried it.
I like regular yoga and try to go at least once a week or so, even though the type offered at my gym isn’t that great (I’ll take the free classes over paying at a different studio any day!)
But I think the heat etc would be too intense for me…
It seems like everyone loves bikram. I have never tried it (or spinning), but I’m desperate to find a work out that I actually enjoy. Maybe I’ll give it a shot?
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