4. Don’t Fidget
This comes over time, but the natural tendency is to keep making small movements to distract ourselves. The idea is to cultivate stillness on the mat. The end of the practice is always a resting pose lying on your back. One instructor told me that the hardest thing for him was to be still during the restorative poses. I agree. But this is also where the relaxation of the mind begins. Yoga is intended to allow deeper meditation.
Next: The Best Way Not to Die, Part 2
I started doing hot yoga a couple months ago. I went because I felt stressed and thought it might help, but as with all things I wanted the most extreme version of it. It turned out to be an incredible stretch and I walk out of classes feeling high as a kite. But I have to say that walking in there alone as a young man into a relatively small class with about 10-12 women of differing ages, the feeling that I was not welcome was palpable. They did not want me there and I was invading “their” space. A… Read more »
Loved your observations….would have liked to read more….story of my own conflicted love/hate relationship/addiction with hot yoga…Hot Yoga High: Endorphin Buzz or Ancient Rite…
http://bodydivineyoga.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/burning-through-maya-my-hot-yoga-addiction/
Some people do love it. Although it is definitely not for me, I know people who absolutely enjoy it. I am glad you stuck through it and I think your tips are great. Water water water is the key to survive the class.
I tried Bikram yoga for the first time in January. I’ve been doing yoga for years and had always wanted to try it. But I HATED the class I took. I want to hear what you’re saying about trying it three times, but even aside from my limited discretionary-spending budget, I was so turned off by my first time that I really don’t see the appeal of trying it again. I don’t know if the studio and instructor (who I found VERY unpleasant – almost like a yoga drill instructor) are to blame, or if I would encounter the same… Read more »
KKZ, my first hot/Bikram yoga experience was much like yours…overly heated room, drill sergeant-like instructor, people being pushed to do the extreme version of every pose (seriously, inflexible older inactive people being told that they HAD to lock their knees in some positions when it was clear that it was beyond their present abilities), stressful environment, etc. and I almost said “nope, not for me.” However, my sister is a dedicated Bikram goer and urged me to try different studios until I found one where the vibe felt good, and thankfully, I took her advice. The place I go to… Read more »
I’ve done Yin yoga twice and I love it! Much more my style. I talked to the instructor about my Bikram experience and she told me how there’s a difference between “hot yoga” and “Bikram.” Bikram itself is a very military-style, intense and strict kind of yoga, hence my drill-sergeant instructor. But at the same studio that offers Yin, they also have regular Hot classes, which I tried for the first time this past July. I can’t say it was instant love, but I definitely didn’t hate it as much as I hated the Bikram experience. I’m not so in… Read more »
Bikram is awesome for someone like me who is completely ADD because I’m too busy sweating and listening to rock and roll to get bored. The meditation aspect of yoga escapes me. My Bikram instructor isn’t into an that “third eye” business, either, so it’s all good.
I started doing Bikram about a month ago, after having done other styles (ashtanga, vinyasa, etc.) for 6 or 7 years. I thought I was a pretty good yogi, but my first Bikram class exposed a lot of flaws in my practice. Because you stay in each pose for so long, you have to confront any deficiencies in your form, and the mirror in front of you gives you ample motivation to do the poses correctly. I’m only a month in, but I’m already impressed by the health benefits. Like Tom, I sleep more soundly. I’m calmer, even when dealing… Read more »
Started last year. Nearly died. Found my breath and now am trying to stretch out a body that won’t bend. Small victories only, for me. It’s a great way to relax and stay flexible – for someone who sits with a computer all day, this is key to growing old. I get terribly frustrated by my inability to limber up (hamstrings, lower back, hips) but I feel better, and know it’s a good thing for me.
My big issue was overcoming being in a room full of sweaty, half naked people who might accidentally touch me.
I feel like the Tin Man when I do yoga. Is there such a thing as WD40 for human joints? Heat definitely helps. But I still find Hot Yoga to be incredibly challenging.