Anyone have experience to share? Just came back from my first session.

I have to say, I did NOT know what I had coming my way. I was hot, nauseous, tired, and had a headache. The instructor wouldn't let me quit, so it felt like  I was dying! 90 minutes of feeling like you're dying.. oh man, oh man!

The craziest thing is I think I might come back again; people told me that they too felt the same way their first time.


-- Modified on 6/2/2008 7:24:11 PM

I might have to look into Bikram.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maV2InOTsOc&feature=email

i thought about taking classes, but hesitated since i didn't like the idea of practicing yoga in a humid, 40°C room.

i've taken non-bikram yoga classes, and loved them! especially the relaxation/cooling off in the last few minutes.

i imagine it's hard to cool off in a bikram yoga class, eh?

I have took Bikram Yoga for about 1 year. I can tell you that your body will be so toned, your face clear, your strength, posture, balance will improve so much!

Instructor said its the cheapest best facial you will ever have...lol.

I was going to go to California and take the classes to open a studio back home in Puerto Rico.

I still might do it if I can find time to go again while visiting NYC for the summer. The only drawback for me its that its 90 minute class and I answer the agency phone lines myself. So it gets kinda hard to do things that are long in time.

Yes, the first week is brutal but hang in there and you will notice the diffrence. Its the best!

I hope this helps : )

I don't think I can stand hot (bikram) yoga... I wanted to die today.

I think I'm brave enough to give it 2 more tries, but if I feel sick to the point where I can't walk out of the room, I won't be back.

I might have to try doing regular yoga... hopefully it's not nearly as strenuous.

-- Modified on 6/2/2008 9:14:43 PM

I have considered yoga, partly due to a bad back, and party because I'm told there are advantages to being one of few men in a class that is composed mostly of yoga women.  Very flexible in body and attitude, if you know what I mean.

Regular yoga has never made me sweat like that.

The first three classes I KNEW I was going to die in there...
Drink lots of water and stay away from alcohol.

You'll find that you begin to adjust to the increased metabolic rate, and your attention will shift from your impending death to just how precisely you can align your hips... The discipline and focus will take over and before you know it, you'll LOVE the sweat and the heat.

Did you catch this one?

-- Modified on 6/3/2008 11:40:34 AM

the sadistic teacher won't let you quit. It's horrible. I ran for the hills and went for ice cream. I had to cool myself down.

I like normal yoga, but can't stomach bikram yoga. I get overheated in those temperatures...

Katie

I don't know if I could tolerate 90minutes of exercise in a hot box.

I had a hard enough time walking outside at 9am.

Katie... as bad as it may sound, I'm glad you couldn't take hot yoga either. It's not just me then.

I guess I'll have to try out normal Yoga. I overheat myself, and I was also tempted for ice cream.

-- Modified on 6/3/2008 2:49:49 PM

Bikram is an excellent way to develop flexibility and strength.

Please update us if you decide to continue.

but by the time I was finished with the session... it was closed.

and Nicole K: another problem I have is flat feet. It's hard to balance myself on one foot for more than 5 seconds. It starts hurting. Thanks for the encouragement, I think I might give it a few more tries... but if it doesn't get better, then I'm going to join the Katie club, which means getting myself ice cream.

Oh, and another thing: it smells like feet in there.

-- Modified on 6/3/2008 5:12:36 PM

While I am not certified as a Bikram instuctor, I do know much about this world.  If this practice does not agree with your body after the second or third try, don't push it.  As another participant mentioned, if you try to leave, the instructor will essentially command you to stay and see it through.  I had to actually raise my voice to my instructor once to just let me out the door.  Not for me.  

Honor your body and your own needs.

~~Namaste~~