I went to my first Bikram Yoga class yesterday with my roommate.
When I’d first heard of it I thought “Oh Jesus, that’s hardcore,” but then I wanted to try it just to see how hardcore. To me it seemed like it would be really cleansing but really hard work. I figured I could probably do it, I’ve always thought of myself as a “tough cookie” if you will. Or, you know, maybe it would show me just how fucking UN-hardcore I was. So I tried it out.
Yeah, it was hot, yeah, I sweated, but not as much as some of the other people. This one guy was dispensing fluids like he was the dancing fountain at the Venetian or something. One of the other first timers had to sit out after about 10 minutes cause she was already dehydrated. I made it through the first hour, I think, keeping up with everyone but I soon started getting kind of sick to my stomach. I figured it was either my breakfast saying “Dude, it’s too hot in here. I’m out,” or it was me being dehydrated, so I sat out a couple of poses until I felt less nauseas.
Toward the end though I was getting pretty miserable and started thinking “ihateyouihateyouihateyouihateyouihateyou” to the instructor – who was just sitting on his pad in the front of the room telling us what to do. I couldn’t fucking WAIT until I could open that door and breathe cool air again. It would feel so good. Even in the relaxing poses, like just lying on your back, were pretty miserable. I thought “Everything outside this room will feel so good after we’re done. I can’t wait.”
So finally at the end of the class. I went to the changing room and ripped off my soaking clothes and put on a really thin loose shirt I had brought. It was like heaven. The women’s changing room smelt like vanilla, which made me want cupcakes pretty badly. Anyway while vegging out in the women’s changing room the girls were all talking about how it was about 5 -7 degrees hotter in there than it usually is and how they could barely stand it. My roommate was surprised at how long I held out before I had to take a break.
So today, my legs are a little sore, my neck is a little sore. I think we went through poses way faster than we should have, esp. in that kind of heat, but maybe that’s just how Bikram is, it’s not one of the relaxing yoga styles. And now I’m walking around thinking…hm, maybe I’ll go do that again this week.
I think the heat has gotten to my brain.