Bikram Yoga North

Glen_Bailey

Sweat your way to Success 20th February 2008

4 found this helpful

It’s not often (well at least in my circle of friends) that you get to stand around topless (guys only, and it’s optional by the way) in a heated room wearing gym shorts, looking at yourself in the mirror for 90 minutes and sweating like you’ve never sweated before.

If that hasn’t scared you off (it nearly scared me off when my partner explained it to me half way through her month long yoga challenge – and I mean every day for a month) then it’s well worth a try.

I first heard about this type of yoga back in New Zealand where I was taken along to try it out. I’d done several types of yoga before so wasn’t really apprehensive about this style. Maybe slightly concerned when I was told I’d need to drink about one and a half large bottles of water before I got to the class, and probably the same again during the class – and that I’d probably want to do it topless. I was ok with the water, I’m a big water drinker from way back, and as far as the topless aspect went, I said I’d wear a vest and see how it went.

Well, the vest lasted around 10minutes before it was drenched in sweat so off it went, never to be seen again.

I was pleased to find several Bikram Yoga studios around London, especially Bikram North, two tube stops away. Perfect for those 6:30am classes they held before Christmas.

There are a variety of teachers at Bikram North, all of whom have there own teaching styles and comments as they move through the 26 postures (each repeated twice – the 1st generally 1 minute and the 2nd generally 30 seconds). Friday night is a favourite of mine, although I hardly ever make it. It’s done in the dark with tea-lights around the mirrors – a truly meditative experience. Oh, and there’s really good Chai Masala tea on offer afterwards.

I find that no two visits to a Bikram Yoga class are the same. Sometimes you’ll find it hard and have to lay down for some of the postures (and you’re not made to feel guilty) and other times you’ll rock through the whole class doing every posture. You are just encouraged to do what you feel is right for your body on the day - and that will change day to day.

What I find different about Bikram Yoga is that it’s not just physical exercise which works you inside and out, but it is a challenge mentally to yourself. The first challenge, which the teachers set to new students, is to just stay in the room for the entire 90 minutes, regardless of if you’re participating or lying down watching. Another challenge the teachers set is to not think about upcoming postures, just accept them and do them the best you can. This can help to hear when your mind starts to wander when you know a challenging posture is coming up.

But the challenge I find the hardest, and I know I’m not alone here, is to just stay absolutely still between the floor series postures, otherwise known as the dead posture. You are told to lie back down after a position and relax your entire body, every single muscle, look at one spot on the ceiling and stay still. It’s not as easy as you think. The distractions mount up for example the sweat dripping (sometimes pouring) into your eyes, the person next to you moving, someone somewhere groaning, or just the simple fact that sometimes it’s just really hard to stay still. But, when you get it, it’s great! Even more, when the whole class gets it, it’s fantastic! The energy created by everyone staying still is amazing.

If you’re new to it, drink lots of water before and after the class, don’t eat 2 hours before (trust me you won’t want to, some of the postures push on your stomach), take two towels (one for the yoga mat which will probably end up soaking wet, the other for the shower) and be prepared to be sore the next day. Good news is that the more you go the easier it is! Sounds odd but it’s true.

And for those newbies of you out there, when I started at Bikram North, they had a really good deal on where you pay £10 for 10 days of classes. Great introduction!

Oh, and it really does wonders for your body! You can see it in the mirrors!

Happy yogaring!

sokratis

Heat it Up! 7th March 2007

6 found this helpful

What do you get when you combine the joys of starting up a company, releasing a new version of your product, closing your first big round of funding and on top of that have a nice dollop of personal problems of a romantic nature? Well, I'll tell you. You get about 20+ cigarettes a day (or a pack of tobacco, it depends), about 4-5 coffees, a couple of G&Ts or Vodkas & Tonic, a lot of junk food and not a lot of good sleep. And what is the results of that superb combination? A bad back, a permanent cough and a generally a feeling of being about 10 years older.
Here's the formula for the math lovers among you.
Sum (STRTUP +FNDG+BRKNHRT+PRDCT_RLS) = Sum (20*CGRT+4*CF+2*V_GT+JF) - (8 – SLP_DPRVTN) =>Wellbeing <= 0
Wow, that's clever that is. Anyway, now that I've set the scene I'll tell you what I did about all the above. OK, did cut down on the smoking and the bad food, but the most amazing experience has been going back to doing Bikram Yoga. Never really used to do it for a pro-longed period of time, but this time I hope I stick to it – for a full month at least.
For those of you who haven't heard of Bikram, don't confuse it with normal Yoga. Although I haven't done any other kind I can guarantee you this is a completely different experience. A couple of things that make the difference: a) the room is heated up to 38-39 degrees Celsius, b)there's hardly any sitting around and meditating. You go through a series of 26 sets that stretch things that you did not know could stretch. Your heart is racing for most of the session which lasts 90 minutes. It is hardcore, but the atmosphere is very relaxed and most people do sit down and take a small break is they feel like it. It gets much easier after the first 2-3 times. You sweat like you've never sweated before, but in the end you do feel great, having sweated and exhaled your way to a nice feeling of contentment. Especially after a few sessions when you don't feel completely drained in the end.
There are a few colleges in London. If you go to the one in the North, so try the session with Michelle on Wednesday at 7pm or Friday same time. She is a taskmaster but knows her stuff better than anyone else. You will not regret it, I promise you.
Information about locations and class schedules on www.BikramYoga.co.uk or call
Bikram City: 0207 336 6330
Bikram North: 0207 692 6900
Bikram West: 0208 960 9644