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bikram yoga
May 2009 
Bikram class Five!
Posted on Aug 15th, 2008
by 
kicksave
kicksave
FIVE
Bikram class 5
I've noticed that the right front corner seems to attract the most limber practitioners.
limber
Today there was a tall, well long woman in that spot today. Come to think of it the other classes that space has been occupied by long women. I had gotten there early so I sat for about 20 minutes getting acclimated and unwinding. This woman did the most amazing upward bow! then added the variation where the leg goes straight up. I watched her do some pushups earlier, and I thought after class I'll mention the 100 pushup challenge, well then she went to the wall, and did inverted pushups.
handstand
I figured she didn't need any pushup challenge. At least in the 100 range.
Another new instructor, four classes four different instructors. Instructor #3 was on the mat next to me today and didn't seem particularly advanced. This instructor, while talking about how difficult the poses can sometimes be, and how it's hot and all, said I've taken a few classes. So three and four both intimated that they hadn't practiced much or long,
newteacher
and I've noticed that there is a certain repetition to the instructions throughout class. So I wonder if I memorized the lines, could I instruct? Dawn any thoughts on that? From the way you described your training it sounded intensive, much the opposite of what I'm sensing from the last two instructors.
I've noticed my balance poses have gotten better. I can do, at least the basic pose without getting all wobbly and having to catch my balance. It would be great to move into the more advanced part of the pose, maybe next week :)
AND NOW MY FAVORITE SUBJECT, sweat! I noticed a dark spot around the center of my space today, where the tidal surge of sweat overwhelmed the ninth ward of my towel and darkened the carpet.
flooding
Just out of curiosity I wrung my towel out in the sink afterwards...next class, I am going to bring a measuring bowl with me, and see just how much comes out of my towel. It was impressive!
As long as we, ok me, is on bodily fluids, let me talk about urine. Being a runner, I know that the color of your urine is an indication of your hydration level. The clearer the better. Now I have had some long training runs prior to a marathon where I have had urine the color of coke-a-cola.
darkurine
If it had lumps in it I wouldn't have been surprised. This past week, it hasn't been that bad, but it's been a very dark yellow. Somewhere near a black & tan beer.
blackandtan
No, that's too dark, more like a J W Dundee Honey Brown ale.
honeybrown
To combat that I have been drinking a lot of water, and yet I can't seem to keep up.
I also figure that the cramping I've been getting in my feet
cramp
has to do with my hydration level and perhaps a potassium deficiency. So I've been working on those two.
Access: Public
great blog! perhaps a sigg water bottle to go with you everywhere is just the thing to help with hydration. mine gets filled with coconut water often, my favorite natural sports drink :)
Mine too now, they have Zico at the studio…the stuff is awesome.
I'm so enjoying this blog, and I don't even practice Bikram. I love how you're just putting it all out there for contemplation in this unselfconscious way.
And btw, Shirl- my sigg has its first dent! I'm so proud.
Oh great Janet, now I'm worried about what I've already written and any future blogs…
bikram yoga teacher training — a subject that I could go on and on and on and on about.
in order to become a certified birkam yoga teacher I had to spend 9 weeks doing two 90 minute classes per day, 5 days per week and attending posture clinics, anatomy classes and long, rambling lectures by Bikram about yoga philosophy, the superiority of the way things are done in india among other random things.
and on the point of repetition – all Bikram yoga teachers have to memorize, verbatim, Bikram's dialogue. yes – that's word for word. we all have to perform the dialogue of each and every posture, in front of other, more experienced teachers, and receive critique on our delivery of said dialogue in order to successfully complete and graduate from the teacher training and receive Bikram's stamp of approval.
on the point of corrections – each studio probably has it's own philosophy on this. at the studio where I practice, the owners have a meeting with all the current teachers once a month to discuss postures and corrections and dialogue and studio issues, etc. the owners went to one of Bikram's earlier teacher trainings and have been practicing and teaching for 13+ years, daily.
on the point of nearest studio being a 45 minute drive – yikes!! I don't know that I would go that far out of my way to do Bikram yoga specifically. I think any form of yoga can have tremendous benefits – what you put in is what you get out. I love my Bikram practice, but when I'm not near a Bikram studio, I do vinyasa flow, ashtanga, kundalini, meditation, etc—– I'm the kind of girl who resists the idea that their is one right way and only one right way to do something. That was one of my greater resistances to Bikram when I was at training – he liked to say how his way was the BEST and blah blah blah way. Bikram has a lot to offer the world, humility is not one of his stronger points however.
I love all kinds of yoga. I love all kinds of wisdom traditions and meditation and self reflection.
Do BREATHE whatever you decide to do. and if you are going to continue your bikram practice it is absolutely essential that you STAY HYDRATED. I'm not an expert on the best way to do that, but I can tell you that I took electrolyte supplements and drank upwards of 6 or 7 liters of water everyday while at teacher training + several cups of green/mint tea daily. and yes – potassium! I crave avocados when practicing regularly. and I listen to my cravings.
I'm so thankful for your blog. It really keeps me on my toes. I've said more about yoga here than I've said in months. but words are not where it's at, really, is it? the proof is in the practice.
so far, since my renewed commitment beginning august 3rd, I've done 12 classes. 6 the first week, 5 the second week and now one so far this week and on track for 5 more. I'm starting to look and feel like my old self again – in a good way. :-)
just wondering whether the Bikram continues….