I am on a mission and determined to pay attention to the universe and what it is trying to say to me – to really learn to read the signs – sit up and take notice – to listen.
So when for the second time in 9 months, yet another friend of mine said ‘there is a special offer on at Hot Bikram Yoga in Fulham for 10 lessons for £10, do you want to come with me’ I said yes this time.
As well, working with me on Weight Loss will mean that the commitment required is a holistic one, incorporating Matrix Energetics, The Yuen Method, Hypnotherapy, healthy eating, as well as effective and purposeful exercise that encourages the most weight loss. When working with you, I will know what you are capable of because I will have been there and tried and succeeded at it myself. So there will be no excuses. I will listen to Bikram Choudhury, the originator of the Bikram Method, when he says you are “never too old, never too late, never too sick, never to bad to start from scratch and begin again”.
Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury is the founder of the worldwide Yoga College of India™. Born in Calcutta in 1946, Bikram began Yoga at the age of four, and at the age of thirteen, he won the National India Yoga Championship. He was undefeated for the following three years and retired as the undisputed All-India National Yoga Champion.
However, at seventeen, an injury to his knee during a weight-lifting accident brought the prediction from leading European doctors that he would never walk again. Six months later, with the help of his yoga teacher Bisnu Ghosh his knee had totally recovered.
He went on to develop his own style of Hot Bikram Yoga, consisting of a unique series of 26 postures. The class lasts for 90 minutes, and is performed in a heated studio at a temperature of approx 105 degrees fahrenheit, which warms your body, allowing you greater stretch in a safe environment.
So this morning, I turned up bright and early for my 10:00am class with my 2 towels, and a giant bottle of water, and some trepidation.
Of course I had heard that the Bikram room is hot – however it was still quite a shock to my body as I walked in and the heat hit me. Just moments before, walking across Parsons Green to Heathmans Road, I had noticed a distinctly autumnal chill in the air – now all of a sudden it felt like I had opened the door and walked into the Caribbean!
As I lay on the mat using my earliness to adapt to the heat, the room was filling up quickly – and as we started I don’t think we could have comfortably made any room for anyone else – Hot Bikram Yoga is very popular.
I had learnt my yoga at the Sivananda Yoga Centre in Putney, so was familiar with most of the postures, however the class is structured for all abilities. I was looking around for any total beginners but everyone seemed to be keeping up with the excellent teacher who had time for each one of us, whatever stage we were at.
Here are some of the Benefits of Bikram Yoga : -
- Provides total body workout
- Aids weight loss
- Helps sport (and other) injuries
- Improves posture
- Eases back pain
- Increases flexibility and strength
- Reduces stiffening of joints
- Boosts energy levels
- Detoxes and cleanses
- Relieves tension
- Relaxes the body and mind
Suggestions for first timers include : -
- Avoid the front row!
- Don’t try too hard to begin with – take it easy
- Lie, or sit down when and if you need to
- Feeling a bit dizzy, nauseous or out of breath is normal to begin with and will subside as you get used to Bikram Yoga
- Drink plenty of water prior to, during and after the class
To find out more about Bikram as a type of Yoga visit the main Bikram website where you can also find the testimonials.
Personally as I quickly got used to the heat, I found it much easier to perform the postures. At the end of the class I could actually wring out my yoga shorts and top – you really sweat and it felt good.
My muscles have been feeling tight lately with my daily running, yet they now seem more stretched, more flexible. My skin looks good too, however, what I have enjoyed most of all after the class has been a feeling of wonderful calm and tranquility, and metal clarity.
I did feel a little nauseous and used the suggestion from a nutritionist on the main Bikram site, to add some potassium & salt to my diet – the potassium was easy to take with a meal after the class, and a lovely Dead Sea Salts bath with a couple of drops of lavender essential oil was a treat for both body and mind.
As you should not eat up to 3 hours before a class, I am now packing a banana to munch on, on my way home. That way I get a snack and my dose of potassium.
I intend to make full use of my £10/10-class deal – to take up your offer of this deal or for more info about Hot Bikram Yoga Fulham email olga@hotbikramyoga.co.uk – or to find a class in your own area visit Bikram Class Finder
