A few years ago, my boyfriend and I met a woman who happened to own some Bikram yoga studios. I had been teaching yoga for about five years at that point but had never tried Bikram, so I jumped at the chance to join her class and see what all the fuss was about.
Of course, this was all long before the recent Bikram yoga scandal, and this is what I knew about the practice:
- It was hot.
- It involved the same 26 poses every time.
- People either loved it or hated it.
After two classes, I fell into the latter category. This is why.
It Felt Militant
I took two classes with two different instructors, and both times I got the sense that I might get punished if I didn’t do exactly what the teacher told me to do. Indeed, my boyfriend, who is not as flexible as certain other people in the room, got singled out repeatedly by the first teacher for not doing something exactly like she described and demonstrated it.
It wasn’t because he was being subordinate. It was because he couldn’t physically do it.
By the end of the class, he was furious. I wasn’t happy, either. As a yoga teacher, I go out of my way to make sure students are doing what works in their own bodies, adapting the poses as necessary. That first teacher especially didn’t give us room to adapt.
Luckily, my boyfriend is a chiropractor with lots of experience with exercise, and he knows enough not to force his body into positions it’s not ready for, but I know from experience as a teacher that many new students will do whatever they can to keep up with the rest of the class, even when you give them express permission to take it easy. I hope she has since learned to make room for the learning curve.
I Knew What Was Coming
During the first class, everything was new and exciting. Despite the issues described above, I enjoyed it as a new experience, even enough to go back a second time.
However, during that second class, I was thinking, “Oh, man, we haven’t even done balancing stick yet. There is so much time left in here and I am HOT.”
I know myself well enough to know I don’t take very well to doing the same exact workout or yoga class over and over again. I like variety and I don’t really want to know what’s coming next.
The Heat Was Misery
The heat was actually interesting the first time. It felt good for about six seconds (as it was very much winter outside), but as soon as we started moving, I was sweating like I’ve never sweat before–and I sweat a lot. It was a different kind of sweat, though, almost a clean sweat, if that makes any sense.
The first time, I went through the whole class without stopping. The second time, as soon as we got to the first savasana (about half-way through the class), I decided to take a little extra time before I continued with the rest of the class. I was lying there, my clothes soaked through in a way I didn’t imagine was possible without jumping into a pool, feeling like I couldn’t breathe, dreaming of milkshakes.
I have no desire to return to a Bikram class. But I will say this:
I felt very flexible.
That heat really loosens things up, and it was lovely to fold so deeply into those poses.
Afterward, I felt fatigued in the best of ways.
You know that feeling, after a really good session at the gym: a feeling of accomplishment.
It was great to try something new.
Truly, I enjoyed that first class, aside from the snotty, sergeant-y teacher. It was just by the second one that I knew it wasn’t a sustainable practice for me.
If you’re brand new to yoga or to fitness in general, I wouldn’t recommend starting with Bikram yoga. If you’re in shape and somewhat experienced with yoga, give it a try so you know what it’s all about, and decide for yourself if you ever want to return or not.
Have you ever tried Bikram yoga?
I won’t say you’re not going to sweat through this towel. You will sweat through everything. But! It will help you keep from slipping, which is something you’re going to want in any hot yoga class.