So my butt's getting a lot better, but I still can't run, unfortunately. I had been diligently elipticalling, with the aid of the great memoir, Heaven's Coast by Mark Doty, and swimming regularly. But last week I bought a Groupon for Bikram Yoga in Squirrel Hill, $29 for a month of unlimited yoga. So I've been taking advantage and trying to go every day. I have to be honest. I don't really like Bikram Yoga, as far as the yoga itself goes. The poses aren't challenging physically the way power yoga is, which is what I'm used to. There's little in the way of spiritual guidance, words of wisdom, or good ole Buddhist vibes. The poses are also the same every time, without the inspiration of the yoga instructor's day. But I'm getting used to it, and the more I do it, the more I come to terms with what it is, which is very cleansing and relaxing. Which, yeah, okay, I need that in my life. I do.
What I do like is that everyone there is friendly and make it a point to know everyone's name (a marketing strategy I know, but a nice touch nonetheless). The breathing exercises and heat come together for a nice combination that does something wacky to my brain where for the 90+ minutes that I'm in the class, I'm only thinking about exactly what I'm doing. And it's not even that I'm trying to clear my head as I usually do, there's just nothing to do but breathe through the nose and sweat and wonder how long it's been since I've last had water.
In addition to clearing my head, it's been working well to curb my addictions to ice cream and coffee. Do I really want these changes? Coffee is difficult to drink since it's so dehydrating and oddly thick (at least the way I like it). I had some today, and it made me a little crazy and I could feel my heart beating faster.
Another weird twist is that I've been trying to knock these classes out in the morning. So far, 9:30 is a good slot for me. Ideally, I'd get there for the 6 a.m. class so I still have the morning to get the work done that I need to (I've picked up two freelance jobs, yikes). That's the goal, but you know what's hard? Getting up that early in the morning, and then making it all the way out the door. What's even harder is riding a bike up a big-ass hill only to sit, stand, and lie down in weird poses in a 105 degree room. Yeah, okay, I know. I have a car. And yeah I drive it to yoga sometimes. But riding a bike on a beautiful crisp summer morning, well, there's not anything in the world quite as beautiful.
Also, I want to make a note that someone had asked me about yoga poses that are easy on the wrists. I will say that Bikram does some knee stretches that, during the pose, hurt a bit through they are increasing blood flow which actually helps restore the already damaged joint. Other than that, it seems perfectly fine on the joints, especially the wrists.
I've always wanted to try yoga. It really seems more therapeutic than hours/week on the elliptical. And I hear it may help some back/shoulder issues. Who knows.
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It is definitely theraputic. I was talking to E. last night about its importance as far as emotional/psychological health is concerned. Bikram, specifically, was designed to target problems associated with the typical American lifestyle: over-eating, stress, over-working ourselves, and either sitting too long or being on our feet too long. It's good to sweat out the toxins and sort of wring out the body like a wash cloth, since we absorb the stress of the world so fully into our muscles, bones and joints. Plus, I think it's important to have a designated time every day or as often as one's schedule allows to just focus on oneself, on being in the moment and relaxing. The elliptical, especially if you go to the gym, is also helpful in that regard, claiming some time for yourself that can't be eaten up by family, friends, pets, work. And burning energy and doing something physical is always a stress reliever, at least for me, but I've found that at the end of a yoga class, I always leave smiling and clear-headed and calm. Whenever I do a gym workout, it's important for me personally to take a couple easy laps in the pool afterwards to calm down, and then sit in the sauna for a few minutes. Otherwise, I can be too revved up.
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