Bikram Bungy Jumping

By P.J. Stuart Thank goodness for Pranayama breathing … or I may not have kept my cool.

Standing on top of the world’s tenth tallest structure – the Macau Tower in Macau, China – I could feel small beads of sweat running down the small of my back, quickly mounting in succession.

My palms were clammy and my heart rate increasing, while I tried to suppress the nausea I felt as I peered over the edge. I was about to surrender myself to a dizzying sensation, as I prepared to plummet down the side of this 1,109 foot building, with a bungy cord attached to my legs.

It’s no big deal if you’re skydiver Felix Baumgartner, who broke the sound barrier this month during his record-setting jump from the edge of space.  Peanuts to him, perhaps. But in my world, this was a much feared item on my “bucket list,” and one I stubbornly pursued despite the naysaying voices in my head telling me to hold back.

In fact, that’s precisely where I can credit my Bikram Yoga practice for pushing me through. Ignoring those pesky voices and continuing to breathe, despite my discomfort.

Forget locking my knees. They shook and trembled, while staff members on the tower clipped me into a harness. I inhaled deeply through the nose … releasing a steady exhale through my mouth. Again and again, as the seconds leading up to my “plunge” ticked by slowly.

Then that familiar feeling came. The one where you need to make the decision – are you gonna do it or not?  Grab your foot for standing head to knee and get in, no hesitation? Step into balancing stick pose quickly or let those ten seconds pass you by? Unfurl yourself into a camel pose or timidly stay seated on your mat?

I guess I could have turned around. But I’d come this far. My heart rate was up, and, though it wasn’t pleasant – I knew I could sustain myself through the anxiety and prevail. All those hours in the torture chamber had prepared me for this.

Three, two, one … and I was flying. Lost my breath for a moment in exchange for a death-defying scream, one I didn’t’ know I had inside of me. And then, once I got used to the unfamiliar feeling – pure joy. Laughter. Giggles, even. A beautiful release, despite the suffering I went through to get there. Sound familiar?

It’s just another reminder – it’s never as bad as we make it out to be in our tricky little minds.

It's Yoga's Fault!

By H.J. Klingman

Yoga stressed me out. Yoga made me bloated. Yoga hurts my hips. Yoga took up too much of my day. Yoga made me feel not good about myself. Yoga did this, yoga did that….. It's yoga's FAULT!! These are the thoughts that raced through my head while practicing in yoga classes over the past few months. Having maintained a very consistent practice for years, I was beginning to actually HEAR myself during the 90 minute class. Once I began hearing myself, I wanted to smack myself in the face. How could my subtle mind really be so negative, and BLAMING yoga for everything I was thinking and feeling? Well, in my shock I began to be quiet. And still. And listen more closely. And what I heard then shocked me even more: “It’s not YOGA’s fault…. YOGA didn’t do anything…. YOU did these things to yourself. You just need something/someone outside of you to blame for these things…..”  WHOA.

Ok, slow down, I thought. This is heavy. When I was first open to receiving this truth I immediately became defensive. “But… but… but…” Then I began to relax, letting go of judgement of this truth… and I began to let it be the truth, and to sit with it. During the next several weeks of yoga classes after this happened, I slowly began to allow myself to see it, both inside of the yoga room and out. I realized that it wasn't only yoga I blamed. I blamed people in my life and things happening around me all throughout the day! I blamed people for the way I felt, for my happiness or lack thereof. I blamed the yoga teacher, the heat, the food I ate, and even the postures for the pain in my body. Reflecting openly and honestly, it was my own ego that made me push into the posture incorrectly further than it was ready to go. The yoga never hurt me, I hurt me.

Then I decided to stop. JUST STOP IT, I thought. Start taking responsibility for the decisions I make, the food I eat, the way I do the posture, the way I react to the teacher, the way I choose to feel or react to my loved ones….

This has been a very difficult lesson to learn, and at times it leaves me feeling like having a downright temper tantrum. It has also empowered me on a new level that I did not know possible. I can now be responsible for the life I want to live, without making everyone and everything else around me the blame. While circumstances will ALWAYS happen, we have a CHOICE how to react to them. For years my teachers told me this, and I finally heard it. I felt it. I continue to try to apply it. It isn’t always easy, being the one that has to accept responsibility for feeling crappy, or hurting myself. Sometimes I want to just blame someone else! But, realizing this has allowed me to free the ones I love from the responsibility of making me happy. If I want to be happy, it’s up to me. If I want to be healthy, it’s up to me…. My dad always had this mantra he would repeat to me, and now I can finally hear it’s importance:

If it is to be, it’s up to me.

I can now say that "it's yoga's fault" that I am more awake, more aware, and more alive than ever. And it's up to me to remember this and continue to strive for the best life I can live.

Love & Bikram

By Erin Wall My favorite movie as a teenager was “Love & Basketball” mainly because I played basketball and so did my boyfriend at the time. So naturally when I fell in love with Bikram Yoga, I expected my husband would be a yogi too! Not so much…

 One of the hardest parts of Bikram Yoga for me is getting my husband to take class on a regular basis and by regular, I mean once every two or three months. He “hates” it and I can’t blame him all that much because I hate it some days too. What keeps me coming back day in and day out even when I hate it because I know how good it is for me. This is why I want it so bad for him - I don’t want to be 80 years old and rockin’ life while he is complaining about back pain- nor do I want to live a day without him. When I was at teacher training, he came to visit a few times and at one point he told me he would do a 30 day challenge with me when I got home. Well, when I first got back from teacher training, I was on a yoga high; it was all I wanted to do, it was all I wanted to talk about, think about, etc. I figured he would hop on my bandwagon and do his challenge then. There always seemed to be some sort of excuse as to why he couldn’t do the challenge; “I’m going to be out of town a lot this month”, “The holidays are too busy”, “How am I supposed to find time to take two hours out of my day every day” etc.  These are the same excuses we have all used at one point or another. It’s easier to make the excuses then it is to make the commitment to coming every day. It’s hot, it’s hard, and it’s brutally honest. But as most of you know the 90 minutes of struggle, pain, and sacrifice is so worth it. After pushing the yoga on him for a while, I finally gave it a rest and came to terms with it that he just isn’t ready for Bikram Yoga in his life. I even had Bikram sign a book for him that said “Do More Yoga” and gave it to him for Christmas. I’m sure you can guess where that book ended up, no not in the trash… just on the book shelf collecting a lot of dust.  I know at some point it will be a part of his weekly, maybe even daily life. I mean he does still owe me a 30 day challenge.

If your significant other just refuses to do yoga with you or thinks you have completely lost your mind, don’t get upset or take it personal, just do your yoga. One of my favorite quotes is, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.” I figure at some point, the yoga glow will catch on and they will want to have it as well.

Giulia's Journey

A friend invited me to attend a Bikram Yoga class to try to help me deal with my anxiety during a particularly stressful time in my life. My workouts at the gym just weren't doing it for me anymore so I thought I would give it a shot. Little did I know what was in store for me. At first, I was very skeptical about the yoga and could not believe that keeping the room so hot and humid would benefit me. I wanted to leave the room when the heat became unbearable and would get angry at myself and the teachers. I could not believe that people signed up for this! I questioned the way the teachers taught class and was almost defiant in certain situations. I even refused to buy proper yoga attire thinking that I would only do this yoga for a few months.

Over the past 2 years, with the help of the instructors at Bikram Yoga PV, I slowly began to learn the true meaning of yoga. They have taught me so much about myself and the yoga. It is a mental workout just as much as it is a physical workout. I am so thankful for their words of wisdom and commitment to teaching Bikram Yoga. I learn something new with each class that I take.

Bikram Yoga has changed my life for the better. It has given me a sense of peace and calm that no other workout has ever been able to do for me. I have more patience than I have ever had and I feel more relaxed. Those that are close to me have commented on what a positive difference they have noticed in me since I have been doing yoga. Bikram Yoga has provided me with coping skills that allow me to tackle the stress of everyday life with a sense of ease and confidence. If I can handle that hot room, I can handle anything that comes my way. I am a happier and calmer person.

Bikram Yoga helps me to maintain balance in my life - both mentally and physically. It is the medication I take for anxiety and stress and it is also my preferred workout to keep physically fit. My advice to new students would be that Bikram Yoga is the best medication for what ails you! Most people end up sick or in the hospital because of what they do to themselves and not for themselves. Do something great for yourself and your health; practice Bikram Yoga on a regular basis. Relax, don't fight it, don't give up and breathe!!

Get the "Yoga Glow"

By Dr. Paul Jerard Yoga provides many physical and mental benefits. One of the most overlooked benefits of Yoga is healthy and beautiful skin. Most people do not decide to practice Yoga for skin benefits. However, you need only to look at mature Yoga practitioners to see the amazing effect that Yoga has on the skin.

While it takes regular Yoga practice and a healthy diet, many people experience a remarkable improvement in their facial complexion and overall healthy appearance of their skin. Yoga increases blood flow and removes toxins from the body. This increased blood flow develops a youthful appearance and reduces the toxins that are released through the skin. The toxins are damaging to the skin, often creating a dry skin surface, with a dull appearance. In addition, the increased blood flow provides essential nutrients to the skin and also aides in collagen production. Collagen is essentially the elastic in the skin. As people age, collagen production diminishes and supple skin disappears.

Yoga develops a healthy mind, body, and soul. This practice relieves tension and stress. Tension and stress are two significant factors in the aging process. If you compare two people of the same age, similar jobs, and similar environmental factors, you will clearly see a stunning difference between the person who practices Yoga and the person who does not engage in physical activity. The person, who practices Yoga, will look significantly younger, which results in a much healthier appearance.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. If the body is ill, the skin reflects this. You rarely see an ill person with radiant skin. If the inside of the body is healthy, then the skin will reflect that health. Many people are beginning to recognize Yoga as one of the best natural anti-aging tools. The health benefits of Yoga, for improving one’s skin, are drawing many people to the practice. In this youth driven culture, Yoga is becoming the most popular method for staying healthy and looking younger.

Conclusion

To achieve the “Yoga glow,” requires a regular practice of at least two times per week. Of course, avoiding excessive sun exposure, alcohol, and smoking plays a role in developing healthy skin and maintaining a youthful appearance. A regular Yoga practice, with a balanced diet and consumption of good quality drinking water, will help one achieve the best possible appearance. This formula will gradually translate into a healthy and radiant appearance. The benefits of Yoga for skin are a bonus for those who have incorporated Yoga into their daily lives.

All of the techniques learned in a typical Yoga class will help practitioners achieve radiant skin. Pranayama techniques increase oxygen flow throughout the body. Asana techniques strengthen, stretch, and tone the body below the surface of skin, but they also relieve tension and stress. Relaxation and meditation enhance mental health, while keeping emotional health in control. Finally, the Yogic lifestyle of moderation helps practitioners to form good dietary and exercise habits.

© Copyright 2011 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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