| After your first Bikram class, what was your impression? |
What drives you to continue to practice? What keeps bringing you back? |
| I loved it! I have practiced other forms of yoga and was a dancer so working that hard is something that is really appealing to me. I loved the heat and sweating like mad. I recognized most of the postures from other forms of yoga and liked the concentration on form. |
The fact that my body is different every day. I marvel at how something can be effortless one day and excruciating the next. The self-examination of this yoga blows my mind. I see how I react to stress, when things don't go my way and when I'm struggling. I find that fascinating. I also see how much my ego gets involved when I am having an "on" day. Trying to stay detached from "good" and "bad" is a huge lesson of this yoga. Also, as a west coast transplant the winters are very difficult for me and I look forward to getting in the hot room and sweating when it's 5 degrees outside! |
What are some of the benefits and changes you've seen in yourself?
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What is your favorite posture in the series and why? |
Obviously it is a great workout. That goes without saying. With consistent practice you will see changes in your body. It's the mental aspects that I have learned the most from. Yes, the practice is physically demanding, but I've seen more and more of an ability to observe when I am getting caught up in things and to take a step back, detach and accept. Acceptance has been another amazing gift of this yoga.
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My favorite posture is probably Standing Bow. It takes all the concentration, strength and flexiblity that I can muster. I find that I stay in the moment the most when things are the most challenging.
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| What is your greatest challenge about the yoga? Yourself? |
What advice can you give to a 1st timer after they complete the class? |
| My greatest challenge right now (it's changed a few times since I started practicing) is allowing myself to take it easy on days when I have less energy. In the wintertime my practice becomes more difficult. My body less flexible, mentally I struggle... learning to let myself take it easy is a paralell for how I am in my life outside the yoga room. I always find that whenever I struggle in the yoga room, there is a paralell in my daily life. This yoga is a mirror and it takes courage to examine yourself honestly! |
Drink tons of water after your first class, take a bath or jacuzzi and eat a great meal. Then, enjoy the best sleep of your life!!!
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| Is there anything you would like to add? |
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| Someday I hope to attend the training in L.A. and have my own studio. This yoga is something I hope to practice and learn from for my lifetime! I love the Portsmouth studio, the natural light from the big windows is such a treat! |
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