Bikram Yoga Postfinitum

Reflection on Bikram yoga... 1 year on.

Opinions will always divided about Bikram yoga. Google the founder, Bikram Choudhury, and you'll get all manner of debate.  I think of Bikram as yoga marmite; love it or hate it, everyone has an opinion. I'm not even sure if I can decide. Before trying it I was sceptic. Can yoga can be copyrighted, and franchised? Do I really think spending 90 minutes stretching in a sauna in itty bitty underwear-esque clothing is a good idea? Even as a self confessed yoga tart (I've pretty much sampled it all, all over the world), I was dubious.

But... I try not to judge, and when the Fleet Bikram Yoga centre opened practically on my doorstep, I trotted over with my yoga mat (oh, the attraction of a proper yoga studio out here was alluring enough).

How did it go? I'm still not sure if I can decide. In 3 or 4 months of going (more or less) 2 times a week I lost 10 pounds. I tried not to care about that, but the truth is that I'm human; you can't help being chuffed at side effects like that. Through intense effort, sweat and extreme heat I sculpted my body to the leanest it's been in about 10 years. I reached new levels of flexibility, and the small issue of poor breathing resulting in dizzy spells brought a new (necessary) awareness to my breath. All good.

So what's the problem? Well, basically it's too darn hot. After a Christmas of going hither and thither, my attendence waned. In fact by the time I was back in Fleet, and finally managed to drag my bloated post-christmas bottom over to the studio, 6 weeks had passed since my last class of 2010. It was hell. They'd installed new heating that brought the oven to a new high. Furthermore I was ODing. Expecting my body to be where it was 6 weeks ago and instead finding I was gasping and flapping around like a dying fish on shore. I spent most of the class on my back, and on finishing decided I felt like I had regressed back to my first class. Not flexibility-wise, but adaption to the climate of the classes. Was I prepared to build my immunity to the heat back up to it's previous levels?

The answer, I confess, was no. That was my last class.

Looking back 1 year later I have mixed feelings. When it was good it was magic; I was a yoga sweat machine twisting myself into new shapes. But when it was bad it was a hell's kitchen of sweat and breathlessness. I think in summary it is too hard core for me. I prefer to sink slowly and mindfully into postures. I love the individual flavour, teacher contribution and variety of a more traditional class, rather than the repetative, scripted bikram style. And I really am rubbish with intense heat.

But this is a personal opinion, and everyone has their own opinions. You can buy a £30 introductory pass that gets you 30 days of unlimited yoga. What a bargin! I recommend getting it and trying it; go to as many classes as you can in those 30 days. Then make your own decision... and let me know what you thought!

Interesting reading:
> Fleet Bikram Webpage
> Guardian: Bend it like Bikram