After deciding to embark on on my ‘108 מורת יוגה Classes’ journey, the first Google search came back with the Bikram yoga studio in the town where I live. Although all yoga obviously derives from hatha and the principles to practice are the same, the styles and variations to the application of practice are completely different.
I was delighted to see that the once Bikram yoga studio had expanded it’s practices to incorporate ‘Urban Yoga’ which includes a whole range of other styles. The differentiation being either ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ yoga. I don’t think I would ever have thought about any yoga practice being cold. Although hot definitely describes Bikram (I could think of other words actually) any yoga is meant to be practiced in a fairly warm room and certainly never a cold one.
I decided this would give me a path upon which to start towards my goal of attending 108 Yoga Classes. I signed up for a 30 day trial and eagerly booked myself in for a ’26/2 Hot Yoga’. I already knew that the basis of Bikram (apart from practising in intense heat!) is made up of 26 postures. I assumed this meant (and I was right, now wishing I was wrong) practising them twice.
I arrived early for my first evening class so that I could find out where everything was before starting. The owner of the studio was around and took me on quick tour and told me a little bit more about Bikram. We talked about Ashtanga and the differences to expect in the Bikram practice. She felt the postures wouldn’t be challenging to me, but the heat would. As we stepped across a doorway towards one of the hot rooms I was immediately met with a blanket of moist heat. That was through a closed door and I already felt like my clothes were sticking to me.
My mad curly hair, still down at this point, started to feel much like a blanket encased around my head. The owner stood chatting happily, drinking hot tea I might add, while I began wondering how I was going to make it through the practice if I felt this uncomfortable standing outside the door! She assured me the teacher would take good care of me and not to push myself in the postures too much; resting if I felt dizzy.
I hadn’t taken the instructions I’d been given earlier in the day lightly. I made sure I had eaten a little more than usual and had already consumed almost 2 litres of water. I wasn’t entirely sure how much I was going to sweat out but decided that would do it. I’d also taken heed of the advice to wear as little as possible, opting for yoga shorts and a bra top. I scooped my unruly hair on top of my head in a tight bun and set back off down the stairs armed with another bottle of water, my yoga mat, cotton mat to soak up the sweat and an extra towel.
As I walked through the door I wasn’t too surprised at the heat that hit me. 42 degrees to be exact. Being really hot always makes me feel uncomfortable (don’t ask why I decided on Bikram) but maybe that’s part of it, stepping out of your comfort zone? I mean here I was, venturing out of my yoga solitude and joining a class, not only in a different style of yoga than I am used to but one that boils your blood and stings your eyeballs! Nice.
The owner had said that it was much hotter at the back of the room, but that regular students went to the front, so to pick the middle row. I do well with middle ground – I picked a spot the far side of the room, set up my mat and lay down. I underestimated the heat. At first I thought it was OK, but after a few minutes as the sweat started to trickle down my face and my lips became dry, I wondered how the hell you were meant to actually move.
A voice appeared through a microphone, interrupting my thoughts and the teacher took centre stage at the front podium armed with head mike. Not the kind of practice I am used to I have to say. She was middle aged, but then I guess at 43 perhaps I am almost middle aged too. OK, so she was a little older than me maybe and in good shape.
We started with breathing which was virtually impossible. Every time I inhaled, I felt like my nose was burning and I couldn’t catch my breath because every part of my body felt too hot. Breathing out was a series of fast in and out breaths while I tried to regulate my breathing. I stuck with it and got through what seemed like two rounds of endless last breath exercises.
I knew the postures, but there were subtle differences in the way you hold your arms, move from one posture to the next and how you stand. In Ashtanga you always move to the foot of your mat and your hands are in prayer or mudra. Bikram isn’t like that and what was most bizarre is that when you carried out some of the standing postures you didn’t use the mat, but stepped over it, so your feet were straddled and planted either side on the itchy carpet tiles.
Side note here, I couldn’t figure out why there would be carpet tiles instead of the usual wood or sprung floor in most yoga studios. Sometimes it takes a while for the penny to drop. If the floor was wood you would slip! However, it still didn’t make sense why you have a yoga mat if you aren’t going to use it, especially in the standing postures. The carpet tiles were prickly on my feet, which was unpleasant, although not as unpleasant as the heat.
