Hot, Sweaty And Sprawled Out On The Floor …
GUEST POST BY ANNA GEORGE.
I am going to die.
Or at least, that is what I thought during my first Bikram yoga class. Die, pass out, throw up, have a heart attack. They all seemed like viable options, and I was so ready to welcome anything that would end the torture and suffering.
For those of you that have been living in Greenland for the past few years, Bikram yoga is an intensive 90 minute yoga practice.
“90 minutes?” you say? “No sweat!”
Wrong! Lots of sweat. The key element of Bikram yoga is that it is practiced in a room heated to temperatures of 105 degrees Fahrenheit or 40 degrees Celsius and above, to encourage your muscles to be warm and pliable. And now, due to its ever increasing popularity, you are often practicing in a room crammed full of 20 or more other hot and sweaty bodies, at very close quarters. It gets personal. There are 26 postures that the founder, Bikram Choudhury, developed from Hatha yoga after sustaining a knee injury at 17 and being told he would never walk again. Needless to say, he now walks… and bends, and twists, and stretches. He’s pretty much a human pretzel. Oh and by the way, it only took him 6 months to fully heal his knee through yoga.
The collection of poses takes you through a series of 2 breathing exercises, stretches, back bends, forward bends, sit ups and my personal favourite, savasana or “dead body pose” or as I like to call it “Lie panting on the floor and try not to think about the sweat dripping into your eyes” pose. The poses aim to strengthen all your major muscle groups, work your internal organs, improve blood flow and realign your spine. And trust me, it works!
I fly around the world for a living. I am a flight attendant, air hostess, stewardess, trolley dolly…whatever you want to call me as long as you don’t push the call bell. I am often awake for 24 hours or more at a time and on my feet for most of it. Believe me, after a 15 hour flight from Dubai to San Francisco, my spine (and body and mind) is anything but aligned. I am also a tall lady, 6 feet tall in fact, so I regularly suffer from lower back pain. Or at least…I did.
Flash back a year and you’d probably find me curled up in a ball, heat pack tucked under me, sucking down the Vino’s trying to alleviate the pain in my back and relax my muscles. Oh, and you know those little Voltaren pills? Let’s just say I pretty much kept them in business. I had a pack in every handbag, cupboard and suitcase. Then, I found Bikram.
I was never a sporty kid. I had the flexibility of a bread stick and the strength of a kitten. But, I made a conscious decision for my health to live my life chemical free. I have been practicing Bikram for about 6 months now, as regularly as I can. I seek it out in every city, on every layover, and I can honestly say I can’t remember the last time I popped a pill. I’m off the booze, quit smoking and am leading a healthy, vegan life. Bikram yoga really changed my outlook on a lot of things…mainly how badly I want to look good in a pair of lycra, side tie hot pants and a bandeau. Oh, and you know, the little bonus of inner peace, mental clarity and all that jazz.
Sure, sometimes I hate it, sometimes I feel like throwing my water bottle at the tiny, insultingly fit instructor and running screaming from the room, but I always go back, because afterwards, I always feel fantastic. Taking up Bikram yoga is one of the best things I have done in my life and it has brought me into a new awareness of myself. Everything’s better with Bikram.
Now get out there and “Lock Your Knee!”
Author bio: Anna George is an Australian writer/health nut/flight attendant living in the Middle East. After 11 years working as a model and in the hospitality industry, seeing the effects this had on her wellbeing, and battling an alcohol addiction, she undertook a massive health/life/soul transformation. She now lives a natural, vegan lifestyle, is training to complete a marathon next year, and has aspirations towards a career in Life Coaching. Life is beautiful!
Positive affirmation for the day: I release all beliefs of limit and lack.
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POSTED IN: Bikram Yoga, detox, exercise, yoga
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Agreed – Bikram rocks! But you do have to be very careful not to overstretch in the heat. I also wish the instructors would talk normally instead of the same tired script. They also encourage you to feel pain which I just ignore – as long as you practice wisely and skilfully it’s a wonderful practice!
Hey Karen! So I did a bunch of classes in Spanish in Barcelona and you can even tell they are saying the same thing, with the same timings in another language! Its something they have to learn to pass the training. Its pretty funny. I agree with you, you should always listen to your body. Its always different from one day to the next and its very important not to over do it…you want to be able to go tomorrow!
It may very well work but the nasty bacterial infection I got on my face was not good. It took months to clear it. the overpowering stench of distilled bodily fluids the first time I walked into the room should have been a clue.
How did you get the bacterial infection on your face? That is just gross! I’m glad that you got it cleared up but it sounds like it was a long road to healing. How long did you go before you got the infection?
went about 10 times. loved it but the smell always worried me. this was at Bikram East West Studio in Auckland, NZ. The infection was around my jaw and above one eye. I think I touched the floor then touched my face. It was very aggressive and took many months to heal. there was no where else I could have got it. I would not risk it again – those studios are like one big petri dish.
Hey Summer! Thats sucks. I have actually been to that studio in my travels and luckily didn’t have a problem. All I can say is I always take my own matt and super awesome yogitoes towel and “keep to myself.” Its unfortunate that things like this happen but I guess you could suffer the same thing from the gym. Glad everything is better now though! Stick with your yoga, don’t let that deter you.
Hi Anna,
I have been playing a tug of war in my head just this week about whether to continue yoga. I too also work in hospiatlity, suffer back aches and although did a beginner’s yoga class and loved it, now I don’t seem to find the time! You have inspired me to give it a another go, because the benefits are wonderful!! Thank you!
Also at a perfect time came your post Jess, yesterday I followed a link from Kathryn Bugwig’s site that allows me to do yoga with her from home! Win!!!
Thanks again to you both xox
Hey Jas! The back aches are the worst! Standing on your feet all day…yuck. But trust me, prevention is better than a cure so stick with it girl! If its important you’ll find a way, if its not you’ll find an excuse! And what can be more important than your health. You are so welcome!
I LOVED this post, so beautifully written.
I wish we had bikram here, I live in a small country town, so you usually allow a buffer for a trend to actually hit the town…
I have wanted to try it and you have totally motivated me when I head to the city again.
xx
Thank you Monika!! You’re comment made me uber happy!
I’ve never tried Bikram Yoga but now I’m inspired to! Anna, like you I’ve struggled with issues with alcohol (having too much at a time, going through periods of my life where I was simply drinking way too much) and I currently live a vegan lifestyle. I recently enrolled in IIN and am working to become a health coach and will be certified by June of next year. I have a longer story on how I got to this point, but basically I want to empower women to improve their self-perception by taking better care of themselves by eating healthier and loving every minute of it. Good luck to you and thank you for sharing.
And thank you Jessica for posting this! I love your site and your story, and I look forward to hearing from you every night!
-Nancy
Nancy I LOVE what you’re going for. We women definitely need to do some work on our self perception. So many incredible, amazing women out there who feel stuck or depressed or unworthy just because of the way they look and feel. A little advice and a gentle nudge in the right direction can change peoples lives. You go girl. And good luck dealing with the drinking dramas. My best advice is when you’re tempted, just remember whats more important to you. You’re health and waking up feeling fresh, ready to take on the world…or a drink. Hmmmmm. I still have a blast when I go out with my friends, plus I get to replay them all the juicy details the next day!! Hehe.
Love it, great post, I have been put off yoga classes for this reason and only practise at home. Must persist with classes.
Persist! Persist!
Great post and bio! Congratulations! Although I practice Ashtanga and teach Vinyasa flow, I appreciate the benefits of Bikram. Thankfully there are enough yoga styles to fit everyone’s needs.
Thanks for sharing Anna. I’m so amazed by your bio! So glad that you have made positive changes in your life and are enjoying every second of it! Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Thank you everyone for your love and support. It makes me SO FREAKING HAPPY knowing that others can relate and that my story can inspire. My faith in the human spirit is unwavering and I believe that we can design and live any life we want. All it takes is one step…or pose! If I could call a group hug right now, I would!
Massive MASSIVE thanks to Jess for posting my piece. If you see her, hug her for me.
Have an amazing day.
Anna ,
Do you have an email address you can be contacted at? I have some questions about your transformation and would like to know how you did it. Thanks!!
I loved the post. I am a vinyasa instructor but I also take Bikram and I believe in both and really any yoga anyone can do that suits them can be a huge benefit. Bikram is not for the timid, but believe that if you are timid this style of yoga will help to change that. It is the type of yoga that made me realize I was ONLY thinking about what my body was doing and my mind was completely captured by it!!! Love it.
Fab article Anna – and you look all glowy and gorgeous to prove that it’s working for you (on top of what you’ve already said!) as well!
I’m yet to try Bikram, but your post just may have convinced me x
As a person who has practiced Bikram for years, This article took me back to my first few classes when I felt the same thing. Now I can’t imagine life without it. Thanks for such an amazing blog. I will continue to follow it and be inspired by the new information you provide. Keep up the great work.