3 Lessons From Bikram Yoga — AKA Hot Yoga

I am a huge fan of Bikram Yoga, probably because it’s been one of the most mind-bending, body-bending, breath changing things I’ve done with myself.

The studio where I currently practice is the Takoma Park Bikram Yoga studio, owned by Stephen Pleasant (isn’t that a great name?)

It’s done in a yoga studio that’s been heated to over 100 degrees F, which allows the muscles to deeply relax for increased flexibility. The humidity is high, which encourages profuse sweating, releasing all kinds of toxins.

One of the most delicious aspects of the whole affair is gazing in the mirror, deeply into my own eyes, for 90 minutes, as I move mindfully through all 26 postures (sometimes my body says it’s not doing all 26 postures, but that’s happening less and less these days, thank goodness). Each posture is repeated twice.

Bikram Yoga is a 90 minute moving meditation.

Needless to say, by the time it’s all said and done, I’ve had an intense workout. And I’ve sweated tons of toxins out of my body.

In my love for this deep and intense yoga practice, I offer here briefly 3 lessons I’ve learned from Hot Yoga:

Lesson #1: This is Yoga Practice–Not Yoga Perfect

My yoga instructor (Adam, he’s one of my faves) said this one day in hot yoga class and it struck me as profoundly true. How many times have I tried to achieve perfection rather than enjoying the process of what I was doing? Did I ever reach this mythical perfection? NO. It’s an impossibility and a set-up for failure. It’s the negative ego’s tricky little way of keeping me chasing my tail and getting nowhere. I’m giving up my strive for perfection, and as a recovering perfectionist, this ain’t easy, but it’s well worth it. Instead, I am enjoying the process and practice of yoga, and of life, and striving for excellence.

Excellence comes with practice.

Lesson #2: Relax and Breathe

Lying in the relaxation pose in between intense postures is the sweet spot for me in Hot Yoga. It’s that brief respite between poses when I get to relax and breathe. It’s an opportunity to completely unwind and let go. A great lesson for life.

Lesson # 3: Listen to my body

The body is an amazing, intricate system comprised of multiple systems. It does one thing one day and something completely different the next. In yoga, it’s all okay. The body can do whatever it wants to do, with no judgment, criticism or trying to push it to do something it doesn’t want to do that day. Listening to the body is a key life skill.

I’ve got lots more to say about this amazing and transforming practice…stay tuned for future posts about it.

Until then, be healthy, wealthy and wise,

Val Love

Tags: breathe, meditation, transformation