beauxx

Hello fellow yoga practitioners. Thought I would add the male pesrspective regarding the topic of doing the 30 day challenge. I ended up doing 33 days, having gone to 3 classes in a row before deciding on doing the challenge which inadvertently ended on March 30 08 which was the same day I joined the local Bikram studio 2 years previous!–kind of meaningful considering how I felt about the Bikram experience after my first class!

I had been going 3 days a week steadily, sometimes 4–rarely 5 and to bump it up to everyday for the challenge was a quantum leap for me in terms of time commitment, whether I could do it, the fact that I had to do it after committing!-our names were on a board in the foyer/peer pressure and working through knee pain, toe pain, a sweat rash–general feelings of weirdness,mild nausea, some insomnia and at times feeling bored(?) with the same workout. Those taking teacher training go 6 days with at least one day off per week. I too was raised with the school of thought that the body needs time off to recharge from strenous exercise.During the first 15 classes I comforted myself at times saying I could do a double if I had to take a day off–I did not though but will at some point.I also experienced moments of eureka like thoughts/feelings regarding how much power the mind has over us and achieved increased contol in this regard–that I can do this and or the need to surrender/let go to the practice/living, the sense of flowing with the class–like it is one continuous focus/movement from start to finish- from the breathing through the postures and savasana and to have increased confidence that the body is capable of much more than the mind allows it.

I also got to get to know the other challengers better and develop a bond. After the challenge my days felt empty somewhat, I took 2 days off and started up again, back to 3-4 times per week. Overall I sense I am smoother, more efficient, greater strenth and focus in my practice following the 33 days.I do not see myself going 6 days per week and also sense that Bikram is a bit of an addiction–the physical afterglow and all. I will mix in another activity–cross train so to speak to create balance.

Hope this is not too long winded–I enjoyed reading Hannahjustbreathe’s 30 day blog–which I found supportive during my challenge. There are many other facets of the challenge I have not touched on–another time.

Lastly, I am very grateful to have Bikram Yoga in my life and could not imagine living without it–also grateful that I am able to participate and not disabled or other condition preventing me from practicing. Amen.

Namaste

BL