Everyone I talk to recently seems to have had their lives changed by yoga.
But as I have zero balancing skills and all the graceful movement of a rhinoceros, I had never attempted it, nor wanted to.
However, last month I interviewed the owners of ‘Yoga in the lanes’, for LatestTV News, about their studio rebranding.
They were kind enough (and persuasive enough) to offer me two free classes of Bikram yoga.
For those of you who don’t know what Bikram yoga is, like I didn’t, it’s basically a yoga class in a very humid heated room.
So I decided to take my exercise companion and one of my favourite people, my sister, with me to try it out.
I turned up wearing long black leggings and a t-shirt with sleeves only to discover that everybody else was basically wearing swimming costumes, hotpants or sports bras… So I stood out a bit.
For a normal person this might have embarrassed me, but I embarrass myself daily anyway and I was fully aware that I was probably going to further embarrass myself during the 90-minute class.
My sister and I used to do Zumba classes together and we would chat and laugh throughout the whole time but in Bikram yoga you aren’t allowed to talk.
It’s a meditation space and silence is integral.
I used every bit of will power inside me not to laugh at the beginning because everybody was so ridiculously bendy and I would just be standing there like a robot thinking ‘there is no way that I can twist my body like that without breaking my spine.’
My sister was actually pretty good at the positions; the only position I mastered was Shavasana the “dead man pose.”
This consisted of lying flat out on my back and staying still… So basically, I mastered sleeping.
The instructor was really friendly and encouraging even though I was clearly a terrible yogi.
What I will say about Bikram yoga though, is that those who do it are truly incredible.
I’m completely in awe of people that frequently do the classes because it was so difficult for me, as someone who struggles in even the mildest heat!
I spoke to these people afterwards and even they admitted that they find it hard but they stick at it for the health benefits.
Their commitment did really impress me; unfortunately I don’t think I will ever be one of those people.
Afterwards I felt good for having completed the class and my skin felt refreshed from the heat.
I think, for me, it was one of those things that I’m glad I did but I wouldn’t necessarily do again because it didn't suit my distaste for feeling too hot.
However, I would encourage others to try it out because it was definitely an experience!
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