Show Up and Stay in the Room

A woman came up to me after her second Bikram Yoga class this afternoon and asked ‘How did you do nine classes in ten days?’

This was my reply:

I never put any expectations on myself. If all I do is show up and stay in the room for ninety minutes I’m still getting the benefits of acclimatizing to the heat, soaking up the energy from other people and meditating. I allow myself the choice to lie in Savasana the whole time. Of course, I never do, because once I get going I don’t stop, but knowing I don’t have to do anything more than lie on the floor gets me out of the house and in the door.

I’ve also learned to ignore the teacher shouting ‘more, more, more’ or ‘push, push, push’. I concentrate on setting up the pose correctly by following every command and then stay still once I get there. A bit like ‘marking’ when you’re learning a dance. It the beginning form is more important than flexibility or strength. Taking it easy means you won’t be shattered.

100% is an illusion…. 100% or even 90% is impossible to maintain. You will become exhausted. Mentally if not physically and terrified of practising the yoga you love because it is draining you not replenishing you.

But even if you could practice at that intensity—even if you were so strong, you would never become exhausted—it would be undesirable. You can’t make adjustments at your edge. You can’t listen to your body. ~ Tony Sanchez

Today’s class with Lauren was great. I did every pose and only faded a bit at the end. My first for today was almost doing a toe stand. I got all the way down but kept my hands on the floor because I couldn’t balance yet. It’s exciting to do something you thought you couldn’t.

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Today was the last day of my ten day pass. I signed up for another 30 days of unlimited classes. Yee ha!

Tagged as: fitness, yoga