I mention in the introduction to my blog that I'm trying to rejuvenate myself by immersing myself in creativity. Well, I've also decided to stretch myself, quite literally it seems, by practising bikram yoga. For those of you not in the know, Bikram yoga is practised in a heated room to ease muscles and joints and encourage detoxification through sweating. This form of yoga was developed by Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury. The class lasts for 90 minutes during which you perform 26 hatha yoga postures and 2 breathing exercises.
So, that's the science behind it, the reality is you feel sick after about 15 minutes and wonder how you're going to be able to carry on. Then suddenly there's less than 20 minutes to go and you're a red, sweaty mess but you feel amazing. Well that's what happened the first week. I've been four times since, the worst being the latest on Tuesday night when I think I was just exhausted and probably still dehydrated from the other classes.
I've been going to a studio in Balham - http://hotbikramyoga.co.uk/balham.html
and also trying out a studio in North London - http://www.bikramyoga.co.uk/studio_north.html
I have to say they were a lot more friendly in the Balham studio but then it's a lot newer so maybe they're just trying to impress.
To summarise, the jury is still out. I think I was hoping it would lead to fast weight loss (I seem to have put weight on) and a sense of clarity and calmness to take over my body. I just feel knackered. But maybe I need to give it more than 4 sessions (and to stop drinking wine).
I hope you've found this post vaguely interesting and it might encourage you to try Bikram yoga because as negative as I may have been I have loved it and can't wait to go again. I think I just need to get the balance right between a few gym sessions and a couple of yoga sessions a week. Not four sessions in six days!
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