Confessions of a 30 year-old: My Love for Bikram Yoga

I've been doing Bikram Yoga for 1 year and 5 months already. I am proud to have completed the 30-day Bikram Yoga challenge, 3 months into my practice. And since last July 2010, I try to, as much as I can, practice Bikram Yoga at least thrice a week.

My penchant for Bikram Yoga has not always been like this. I remember that the only reason why I practiced Bikram Yoga was because all my siblings did it. For a time, it was a constant topic of conversation over dinner. And being the inggetera to my siblings that I am, I vowed to try it too.

During my first session, I sat through the class for about 30-40% of the time. The room temperature of around 95-100 degrees, and the execution of posture after posture, made me feel dizzy and nauseous. I even felt my fingers go numb at one point. However, as I finished the class, I felt rejuvenated for some reason. I went back the next day and practiced. And the rest was, as they say history.

This is cliché, but little things in and about Bikram Yoga makes me really happy. From the quietness of the room before the practice starts, to all the sweat, to the feeling of longing for water in the 90-minute class, to the familiarity of the 26 postures, to all the stretches and compressions, to the determination in finding your center and balance, to the little comments from the teachers directed at you to push you further and deeper in your practice.

Last January even, I was one of the lucky ones to see, listen and attend Bikram Choudhury's seminar when he visited Manila. It was bliss for me as I listened to Bikram Yoga's creator talk about his craft, his methods and philosophy. I even had my Bikram Yoga Manila planner autographed! Hehe.

Dandayamana-Dhanurasana (Standing Bow Pose) in Seoul

I also remember that in the course of my 30-day challenge last September 2010, my first (and favorite!) Bikram teacher, Lorie, approached me after one Saturday morning class and invited me to join the Bikram Yoga Competition set every November. I was floored! It was only my 3rd month of practice and I've barely completed my 30-day challenge yet. I politely declined. In the next sessions that I saw Lorie, she continued to ask and persuade me to join the competition. She said I will be trained by the teachers, by her, to see how I can play with my strengths and improve my weaknesses in the postures. I wanted to join so much! But I was scared that I didn't have experience yet to give justice to being a Bikram Yoga competitor. So I politely declined again.

But now that I think I've had more experience, I feel more confident to join the competition already. I was waiting for Lorie to invite me to join this year. However, when she wasn't, I mustered enough courage to approach her and ask her about the competition:

Me: Lorie, I was just wondering about the Bikram Competition this year......?

Lorie: Oh, there will be NO competition this year! People have been so busy, they weren't able to organize anything.

I thought, "What?? But I've psyched myself for this.." But instead, I told Lorie that if given the chance I would like to join the competition next year. I was so happy when she said, "Finally!"

Dandayamana-Janushirasana (Standing Head to Knee), half-way version in Sydney

So because I will not be able to scratch that item off my list since there is NO competition to join in, i have decided to do the next best thing.. to practice Bikam Yoga in other countries! =)

So with that new goal in mind, I set out to countries I can go to at the moment to practice. And last November, I've had the priviledge to do Bikram Yoga in Seoul, South Korea and Sydney, Australia.

In Seoul, even though the Bikram class was the same.. all with the 26 postures, 2 breathing exercises in a hot room (95 degrees), it was still very different for me.. only because the teacher's spiels were in Korean! I swear I couldn't understand anything! I just followed what I knew based from my own practice here in Manila, and looked at the other ladies in the room to make sure that I was still "one" with the group.

myself and Cristy, the instructor and owner of Bikram Yoga Seoul

In Sydney, my experience was similar to home's. The difference is that the rooms were bigger and more people were attending classes as compared to here.

myself and Kristine, one of the instructors in Bikram Yoga Sydney

The teachers I spoke to in both yoga classes were very helpful and accommodating. And as much as how much I'm asking about practices in their countries, they were very much interested in Manila's classes too.

It is still my goal to join the Bikram Yoga Competition. But like this year, even if it doesn't happen, my love for Bikram Yoga will remain. I will still practice as much as I can, I will strengthen the yoga disciplines in me, and I will continue to lock my knees.. lock my knees.. lock my knees.