Yesterday I took my fifth Bikram yoga class. I purchased a 5 session deal from one of the million deal sites I subscribe too so now thats over I am considering my options. I think I am going to try out a different studio which is on my way home from work and then maybe try out another studio closer to our new house. We will see. Either way, I want to keep going. Even though I was scared to death of it before I went, I really really (yes two really’s) like it and want to get better at it.
Since I am now past my fifth session and am pretty much an expert in all things BIkram I thought I would share some general observations about Bikram and also what I like and don’t like about it. Nothing’s perfect right? Except my blog of course.
The classes I have gone too have all been after work at 4:30 in the afternoon. SO I have to bring everything with me in the morning. This is what my car looks like on mornings that I go. And also why I have to make two, sometimes three trips out to the car to get everything in there. Unless I am feeling really saucy and try to do it all in one. We have stairs from the house to our garage, so that is usually NEVER a good outcome.
- Bags 1 and 2 are all yoga stuff. Clothes, change into clothes (can’t stand driving home in all the sweaty-ness, towels, water bottles, flippy flops, headband, etc…
- Bag 3 is my every day purse
- Bag 4 is my lunch bag b/c most days I take my lunch to work
- Bag 5 is my laptop bag. Its from Jamaica and it is the best laptop bag I have ever had. I dread the day I have to toss it.
THEN there is the liquid. Granted this is most mornings and not just “going to workout after work” mornings.
- Protein shake to drink on my commute
- coffee so I don’t fall asleep on my commute
- water in case I run into something on fire on my commute. Ok not really but I couldn’t think of anything to match the other two. Deal.
I have had four different instructors (one I had twice) and I definitely prefer some over others. Its strange b/c they all do basically the same thing. Walk around and talk non-stop about the pose and what you are supposed to do, but there are subtle differences that I respond to or don’t’ respond to. Some are more helpful than others. Some are more “yoga-y” than others talkin’ about eagle eye and kombucha and stuff.
The heat seems to vary. Some days it seems way hotter than others. I’m not really sure why that is, or if is all mental based on how I am feeling that day. You wouldn’t think you can really tell a difference between 105 and 103, but I guess you can!
You need to bring a water bottle with as much ice as possible b/c by the time class is over it will all be melted but will still be nice and cold and wonderfully refreshing.
Having a towel made for yoga is way better than just using a regular towel. I ordered one online and had it for my class yesterday and it was TONS better than using a regular bathroom towel to cover my mat. The yoga towel covers the whole mat for one thing and it soaks up the sweat better and feels better to lay, kneel and stand on. Plus you look all official and fancy if you have a towel that is specifically for yoga.
If you feel like you are going to throw up, just chill out in savasana (corpse pose or dead body pose) for a while. No one cares. I am sure they would care if you puked during class, so just take it easy for a min and then get back into it.
So many poses you have to grab your feet or ankles etc…My hands always slip b/c I am so sweaty. I’m not sure how everyone else keeps such a good grip and doesn’t slip and slide all over the place. It is one of the great mysteries of Bikram.
I am pretty sure I will never be able to do these poses. But I am determined to keep trying.
- #5 you have to lock your knee on the standing leg. YOWZA that is hard.
- #19 I have the slipping problem on this one. Can never get a good enough grip without my hands slipping off my ankels
- #20 I can’t even sit that way much less lay backwards
- #22 I’ve tried this a couple of times and I feel like I am suffocating
These are my favorite poses
- #6 for some reason my elbows hurt a lot during this pose, but I love the balancing aspect of it.
- #7, 8 and 9- I’m not really sure what it is about these three, but I really like them all. They really get your heart pumping.
- #13- YES
- #21- hard to do without flopping onto the ground. You really have to engage your core (wow, that sounded fancy)
Some people sweat like you would NOT believe. I have never been a huge sweater so while my face drips like nobody’s business, my arms and legs don’t get “drippy”. Some people have the sweat dripping off every part of their body like they are in the shower. Its very interesting to observe the differences. Not creepy, interesting.
One of the things I dislike the most is how my upper lip sweats so much that when I bend down, all that sweat goes right up my nose and makes me feel like I am drowning. It also happens when I lay down. Also my eyes get sooooooo sweaty. You are supposed to keep your eyes open the WHOLE class but its hard to do when they are stinging and blurry. Another great mystery that I don’t really know how other people deal with.
My absolute favorite part of class is leaving. HA! I know that sounds silly, but after being in that hot room for 90 min, that first step outside and that cool air hitting you is just an AMAZING feeling and I look forward to it pretty much during the whole class.
It is WORK to stay awake on the way home. After we eat dinner and chill a bit, I can’t even keep my eyes open. This was me last night.
Paul was like, “dude, you need to go to bed.” I went upstairs and don’t even remember falling asleep. Doesn’t Chloe look like she is afraid for her life?
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I have been googling ‘Bikram grip slipping’ for ages and this was the only page that even seems to mention it! Did you ever find a solution? Can’t even do first part of pose 5 because of slipping!!!
ha! I know, I seriously don’t understand how this is not an issue for more people. Or maybe it is, but they have it figured out and don’t want to share?
The only thing I have figured out so far is that the more you do and the more limber you get, the slipping becomes LESS of a problem because you are able to grip your fingers together more tightly. The only other solution that I have found that sort of works is to wear longer pants so you grip the pants as opposed to the sweaty skin. Other than that, I’m still pretty stumped!! #5 man…that one is so hard. I wonder if I will ever be able to do it.
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I just laughed out loud when I saw #13 circled. That would absolutely be my favorite pose, as well.
This post was a laugh riot! I’d be so scared to go to yoga class too. I hate things like this on the first try. I think you will be able to do those poses, especially the flamingo looking one and you are a yoga expert for sure! I’m calling you to teach me!
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