Return to Bikram

Originally uploaded by TheC2life

I attended my first class of Bikram Yoga in seven months tonight.

For those that don't know one type of Yoga from the next, Bikram Yoga is an intense form of Hatha Yoga which is practiced in a heated room, almost sauna like. The heat not only warms the body and muscles but also adds to the intensity of the class by placing you outside your comfort zone while you are taken through at least 20 different poses over 90 minutes.

I still remember back to the first class Bikram I ever did, almost a year ago to the day, I swear it almost killed me. This time round I knew what to expect and I'm quite happy with how I went, managing to complete all but a few of the poses and keeping my breathing well under control.

The last 15-20 minutes are brutal. The heat is almost unbearable but you try not to think about it. Keep it out of your mind and it is almost unnoticeable. Let it get to you and you will just wish for the class to end.

In between each of the floor series of poses you get a brief rest, known as Savasna. This is when you just lay in complete stillness for 30 seconds bringing your breath under control. I try to think of how many poses are left before the class is over and I can escape to the cool air outside the studio. That's all part of the challenge though, staying to the end and completing the class.

The hamstring stretches are the penultimate pose, followed by back twists and a final breathing exercise, then a final Savasna. I made to the end and I'm one of the first ones out the door.

**Warning - Locker room scenes follow **

After a class is always a strange feeling. The men's changing rooms are silent, it's like no one has any energy to talk, I know I don't. I have a cold shower to cool off and try and return my body's temperature to something more normal. The cold water is so refreshing , it cools and revitalises the body.

Afterwards I'm still totally drained, but I know it's all worth it in the end.

If you haven't done it yet, give Bikram Yoga a try.

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Training last week;

Tuesday - Swim 1200 m

Wednesday - Walk/ Run 17 minutes

Thursday - Bikram Yoga, thats the last one of these classes for a while. I will have a look around for something to replace this workout. I definitely got some benefit from these Bikram Yoga classes being some added strength and flexibility but the extreme heat that you must also deal with in the 90 minute class makes for an exhausting workout. After seven classes it's now time to try some other form of yoga based training. May be aPilates class?

Friday - Blank.

Saturday - Walk/ run 20 minutes. Walking one minute out of every five. With every two runs I'm adding a minute to the run portion each run, thus the next run will be four sets of walking one minute and running five.

The runs are pretty slow and I'm just trying to focus on a couple of form and technique key thoughts. Main ones being maintaining a correct landing position for my feet (so the point straight forward). A have tended to be a bit pigeon toed in the past which has been a contributor to my injuries.

Some Chi Running focuses I'm also thinking about being light on my feet, trying to keep my lower legs relaxed and lifting the foot rather than toeing off too prominently.

I'm still experiencing some general shin soreness but not while running. The physio seems happy with the progress and was not too concerned about the ongoing shin pain. As long as I maintain the slow build up and stretching and so long as the shin doesn't start to interfere with my running then I should be okay.

Physio also suggested some gel heel cups to put in my shoe to add some more cushioning to help with the heel bruised heel. This seems to be working also.

Finally all the best to fellow Kiwi blogger Kate who ran the Auckland Marathon this morning.

Have a good week.




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Bikram Yoga - One Tough Workout

I finally took that Yoga class I've been talking about for months. I attended a Bikram Yoga class this week and I have to say it rates pretty high on the scale of toughest workouts I've done.

The first thing that strikes you as you enter the studio is the oppressive heat which is set a 38 degree C /100 F (something Chad in Arizona may be use to be not this boy). Ninety minutes in this heat alone was going to be a challenge.

The room is silent. It is almost as if we are preparing ourselves to go into battle, with ourselves.

The Body Balance classes I had been attending at Les Mills may have been a nice introduction to Yoga but from the moment the Bikram Yoga class got underway I knew I was in for a different experience. For a start there was no pop music and the instructor meant business, perched on his stool, barking out instructions faster than an instructor at a army basic training session.

We started with some really deep breathing before launching into the whole range of stretches and poses. I was able to competently do most of the poses though clearly I still have a lot of room for improvement judging by the flexibility some of the students displayed.

I had no watch so had no idea of the time but by about the one hour mark I was almost totally spent. Every part of me is saturated with sweat and I am breathing harder than I ever have after a hill or speed session on the roads. I am almost finished my powerade.

We hit the floor. Surely this must mean we are nearing the end? We may be lying down now but the stretches are not getting any easier. I almost feel like I'm about to pass out. I get a cramp in my lower back at one point. I just lie there and skip one of the stetches while I try and regain my breath and some composure.

After a few more poses we are left lying on the floor as the instructor makes an abrupt exit after wishing us a good night. It's over.

Though I'm absolutely exhausted I am one of the first to rise and exit the room, trying to escape the heat and find some water to replace the copious fluids I have just lost.

Afterwards, the instructor complements me on my effort and seemed a little surprised that it was my first class. A few guys congratulate me on completing my first class and encourage me to return. I must admit, at that stage I'm not so sure I want to put myself through that pain ever again. As with most things, the memory of the pain passes with time and I will make this a weekly addition to my training for the next three months, at least while I'm not running heavily.

I was reading during the week an article on cross training for runners and while yoga is a recommended activity the article mentioned that rest days from running should involve a relatively low intensity workout. I can't imagine mixing one of these Bikram Yoga classes into a busy, mid - high mileage training schedule as it hardly counts as a rest. I wonder are the other forms of Yoga any less intensive and would these be better for a runner to incorporate into their training routine than Bikram?

Any other Yoga attendees have any thoughts on this?



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