Introduction: Yoga and Me

Re: Introduction: Yoga and Me

After reading your post I believe Bikram Yoga would be perfect for you!  You will work hard and kill yourself for 90 minutes every time.  Bikram has a new book that came out this year that will give you the philosophy and the practice.  Goto www.bikramyoga.com for a class near you.  Good luck!  Keep in touch.

Re: Introduction: Yoga and Me

I shall keep in touch.

Thank you for assisting me in my understanding.

EDIT:  Though I have just discovered there are no classes in my locale.  I guess I shall see if the book falls into my hands and take it from there. 

Hope you are well.

Dave.

Re: Introduction: Yoga and Me

Dave,

The theory behind yoga is as far and deep as its multi-thousand year history.  What you have noticed (about the yuppie mindset) is often very much how Easterners view the Western fixation with yoga.  They see so much of its purpose and depth simply obliviously passed by in Wester yoga cafe's… er… I mean… studios.

Although there is an entire emotional, mental, and spiritual depth to my experience with Bikram yoga, your post suggest to me that you're wondering about the physical. 

Here is one one very tiny part of the physical philosopy behind a yoga experience:

There are so many places in our bodies that seldom get conentrated oxygen.  Even with people who run marathons, work out regularly, and do other forms of aerobic exercise, there are places in the body where the blood flow is still somewhat sluggish compared to other parts of the body, where the blood flow readily.

When you hold a yoga position, you stop the blood flow the a particular area of the body – your highly oxygenated blood builds up and builds up, and then you go into a state of utter relaxation (they call it Savasana.)  The blood rushes, unhindered, to the organs and muscles of that isolated part of the body, like a dam breaking, bringing a new set of nutrients and oxygen, and carrying away toxins and waste – cleansing each specific area of the body.  You get to give each part of your body (ncluding yoru brain) that gift, throughout the 90 minute session.

When you add to that, the heat of the Bikram experience (the studio is about 104 degrees) it creates a bloodflow, regeneration, and rejuvination unlike anything I have experienced anywhere else.

And that's just the beginning.  I'm sure you already know about the flexibility, balance, centering, clarity, opening, strengthening, etc.

I have had the same experience as you about some other namby pamby, wanna-be, yoga types.  But Bikram isn't one of those.  He's from the heartland of yoga, and it teaches it the way it has been taught for so many centuries we can't even fathom its evolution.

I suppose it's possible to do yoga on your own, with a book or video.  The experience of being in a room with 40 people who are “doing their work” and “focused on health” and giving all they've got to create powerful growth for their bodies, is absolutely an astounding experience for me.  I'm not sure what it is about a group of people all in the same place for the same purpose… but it creates something that I don't experience when I'm practicing alone.

If you don't have a Bikram studio  in your area, I still urge you to find a yoga, and give it a serious try.  If it's wimpy, then you picked the wrong one.  Bikram will kick your butt, and you'll wonder how you made it through the first couple of days.  Eventually, your body and mind get used to it, and it becomes one of the most exhilirating and energizing experiences that exists.  But although I've heard people say they've found other yogas that give them a good workout, nothing I've every experienced even comes close to the workout my body gets in the Bikram studio.

I've invited several of my “hard core work-out” friends to Bikram.  Each one skeptical (as was I when my wife talked me into attending my first session.)  Each of them came away from the first day utterly slammed (as did I after my first session.)  Only one of my friends still attends (and is currenly in Hawaii training to become a Bikram instructor.)  The rest walked away after 10 days, amazed, feeling great, having wonderful things to say about yoga in general (and Bikram specifically) but looking for something a bit easier – like the gym.

So statement to you is, “it will do what you're looking for for our body.” (and so much more that you can't even imagine yet, until you begin experiencing it.)

And my questions for you, is… “can you take the heat?”  And if you can, do you want what it can do for you body, enough to get past the sadly westernized bastardization of whatever types of yoga are available in your area… or go on a 3 day adventure to find a Bikram studio?

<big smile>

Paul

Re: Introduction: Yoga and Me

Dave:

Bikram Chowdhry, creator of the bikram series, has an interesting background you might want to check out.  He was an olympic body builder (in India) but suffered a horrendous accident when he accidentally dropped I don't know how many zillions of pounds of weights on his legs.  It crushed at least one of his knees and doctors told him he'd never walk again and if, by a miracle, he did manage to get mobile, it would be with surgery and with not very pretty results.  Long story short, he worked with another yoga master and put the 26 bikram postures together for his own healing.  Each posture gets you warmed up and ready for the next and there are at least two or three points in the series when the cardio is ramped up so high, you'll probably feel like you're having a stroke.  Every posture is for a reason…it's a very thoughtful series and it's not rife with new age platitudes so sarcasm is welcome.  In fact, Bikram, himself, is one of the most sarcastic, funny gurus I've ever heard of…very refreshing. 

Though I've worked out all of my life and done just about everything possible to stay in shape, this yoga has given me an even leaner, sculpted look than before and I'm loving it.  The mental benefits (focus, calmness, determination, relaxation) are also huge but they creep up on you as you're struggling with the postures at first.  I avoided yoga for years because it seemed too boring, too slow, too “weak” but I was completely wrong when it came to the bikram series.  It kicks my butt every time I'm in the room and I love it. 

Kathryn