WHITE ROCK – It seemed like such a good idea, months earlier, when I agreed to try a Bikram yoga class to write about what it would be like as a complete newbie.
Once I was at the White Rock studio on Johnston Road minutes before the class, however, I was having second thoughts and not just because I was wearing clothes I already knew would be much too heavy and warm (my proper workout clothes sadly no longer fit, but that’s another story).
The 90-minute class is held in a room heated to 104 F to encourage detoxification through sweating. Lots of sweating.
In fact, the very first pose – a deep breathing exercise – made me feel light-headed and yet energized as I broke out into a sweat that only increased as we went along.
As instructor Elaine Wang explained, each of the 26 poses in the series are done twice. She made sure to note who was new to Bikram and I was happy not to be the only person trying it for a first time. Even though I have done other forms of yoga, at times very consistently, Bikram is very much its own entity.
"There is no easy class," Wang said, words that I kept replaying in mind during the poses I found particularly tough.
After the initial breathing exercise, there were some side and back bends, then Awkward Pose and, yes, the name says it all. The motion is like sitting in a chair, without the chair.
Eagle Pose I found a bit tricky as I couldn’t get my arms properly twisted around, which struck me as amusing because I used to be able to do this one.
For Standing Head to Knee, I was feeling really hot and a bit uncomfortable so I just did the modification and kept my breaks as short as possible. My worst fear of needing to lie on the mat gasping for breath never materialized, but at about this time I did decide to take off my glasses because they kept sliding off anyway. At about this time, I also congratulated myself on having the presence of mind to have eaten a very light breakfast.
Standing Bow Pulling Pose, I think, is one of the coolest looking poses – one that I believed I had no hope of getting into when I had looked through the studio’s website beforehand. But I was determined to at least try and surprised myself at being able to manage it on the second round.
When it’s time for Triangle Pose, I’m thrilled – finally, something I know and can do reasonably well. My burst of pride is short-lived though because next up is Toe Stand Pose and I’m back to enviously watching others whose bodies do what they ask.
There are inspiring words printed on the wall at the front of the class, but no clock anywhere that I could see – and yes, I was checking. I also wished I had kept count of the poses so I’d know where we were in the series. I suppose that’s exactly why there’s no clock.
At points I found myself very focused on the twinge in my back where I had a slipped disc years earlier. Oddly, it isn’t hurting so much as just making itself known. The rest of the time I feel remarkably great.
Until Salabhasana or Locust Pose, that is. I remember thinking: Kill me now. Really. I swear my elbows are going to snap if I keep lying on them like this.
The class ends with Blowing in Firm, another breathing exercise. It helps to build your abdominals, I’m told, and I believe it.
After class, I make my way very slowly to the cool-down room because I’m weak and wobbly. I feel like I’ve had the most intense workout of my life – and that includes weight lifting, running a marathon and rowing.
Wang greeted each student and answered questions. I was touched she kept checking on me – I later learned I had was is called "yoga brain," where you feel spacey after class.
I was surprised when she told me I had done really well, that many people do in fact end up lying on their mat for part of the class because the deep breathing and detoxification can be quite intense.
That was really inspiring, but I had already decided I want to take up Bikram regularly based on the fact I got such an intense workout, minus any pain or injury.
- This story appears in the March 22 issue of the South Surrey/White Rock Source.
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