Bikrum Yoga and the Bachelor
There, I said it – my two guilty pleasures.
The Bachelor, now for that one it is probably pretty obvious why I don’t admit to the world that I would never plan something for Monday night when it is on and have watched it religiously for years. Go ahead and judge – I can take it.
The Bikrum Yoga though, that is a little more complex. There have been 3 groups of people I would not bring up my genuine like for my practise to. The first is my respected colleagues and mechanically focused fitness instructors. And I fully admit that being told to “lock my knees” and that “your back will hurt and that is ok”, went against the grain for me too and, yes, I agree that there is potential for injury. But, the more you practise and hear the cuing, the more bio mechanical and anatomical wisdom you understand. From the get go, oh colleagues, in a Bikrum Yoga practise we are cued through proper breathing, a skill that many of our patients have lost. One that creates healthier thoracic and shoulder girdle motion and distraction of the spine. And, as you really understand the cue, “a locked knee”, a lifted knee is what is truly meant, solid but elongated, not collapsed with a bend or hyperextended. Cueing to plant our big toes helps to rebalance quadriceps dominance, access our posterior chain. Many postures strengthen and facilitate a hip hinge, another deficit very common in our culture. And, yes, I even agree that sometimes pain is ok. Many of us have facial adhesions and scar tissue that limit healthy movement patterns. To release these adhesions is a bit uncomfortable (think deep tissue massage, ART, foam rolling) but, that type of pain really is ok and after the small inflammation stage, muscles will be more supple. Many of my “ah ha” moments during The Posture Project have come via a Birkrum Yoga instructor who really got it and was able to communicate his or her wisdom.
The second group of people I hesitate mentioning my Bikrum Yoga practise to is my so loved and respected other yoga teachers. I know their thoughts on Bikrum – the man and the practise. I get that it goes against Yoga to name a practise after yourself and become a high life living millionaire from it. My teachers teach that we need to listen to our bodies and hold poses that resonate with us and go into Child’s Pose when we need a rest. I love this nurturing instruction and so I absolutely understand how it seems wrong to not be able to stretch out with a Downward Facing Dog at our whim, get a drink when we are thirsty, or leave the room if we are too hot. Yep, it is a bit militant, but there is a form of simplicity in the structure. My mind stays focused and present and in my busy, unpredictable life, I appreciate the predictability. Even though no talking seems extreme, I appreciate that I know going into the room it will be silent so I can have that time to “arrive” without distraction. In my mind there is no right or wrong, just different and I feel I get different gifts from each.
The third group of people I need to justify my enjoyment to is the regular person who cannot understand how 90 minutes in such a warm room, doing the same poses over and over again can be fulfilling. It really, really is. Especially on cold, rainy days – the heat takes me away, I close my eyes on my mat and am somewhere tropical. Yes, you do sweat a lot but it feels refreshing and gratifying. The postures check off multiple goals I have for my fitness in one class: strength, flexibility, endurance and meditation. Multitasking at it’s finest. The postures don’t get boring as your experience goes deeper into each pose and subtle changes make each class a new experience. Really it is true, for me anyway.
So there you go, my guilty pleasures admitted. And may I end with Namaste…the good in me sees the good in you and Bikrum Yoga and Chris Harrison.