Bikram Yoga

I look forward to waking up at 6:45am every Sunday morning.   

Why? Because I know 90 minutes of a challenging, sweaty, (and what some might consider completely insane) workout lies ahead.  Most importantly though, these are usually the only 90 minutes throughout the entire week where I’m completely and utterly focused on making myself better.  Not myself as a community member, an employee, a mother, a (soon-to-be) wife, or an artist.  Myself, meaning…me…physically, mentally, me.

Bikram yoga, also known as hot yoga, was developed by India’s most-renowned physical culturist, Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury in 1946.  He claimed that if Bikram yoga is faithfully practiced, it can cure chronic discomforts such as arthritis and slipped discs.

The intense series involves doing 26 poses in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.  The extreme heat helps keep your muscles warm, thus improving your flexibility.  It also instinctively increases sweating, which rids your body of toxins.  Some immediate known benefits include heightening your levels of concentration, confidence, and patience; reducing stress and blood pressure; and increasing physical stability, and weight loss.

It was during one of these magnificently sweaty Sunday mornings, where I mentally devised The Finer Things.  My idea is to identify and expose those “finer things” (such as Bikram Yoga) in my life and other peoples lives that create pure and simple joy…hoping you reading this will take that information and run with it.

This naturally makes Bikram Yoga the first official “Finer Thing”.

SOME TIPS IF YOU'D LIKE TO TRY BIKRAM YOGA:

• Many places have an introductory special price of around $30.00 for your first month if you are a new student.  Look for this when searching for a studio.  If you live in the Metro-Detroit area, try my studio, www.bikramfh.com

• I would recommend brining your own yoga mat, one large bath towel to cover your mat, and one smaller towel to wipe sweat off your face and body.  It’s usually about $5.00 to rent these things from the studio and if you’re like me, you cringe at the thought of lying on a towel and mat another person previously soaked with sweat.

• Bring at least 2 large bottles of water.  Trust me, you’ll be thankful you brought two. 

• Wear light clothing.  I would stray from wearing pants or heavy t-shirts.  Tank tops, or sports bras and yoga shorts are best. The less clothing you wear, the better you can see which muscles are working during the poses, and less heat will be trapped into your body.

• Try to get there a few minutes early to get a good spot in front of a mirror.  Watching yourself in the mirror is essential to making sure you have the correct form.  It also helps your balance and focus of breath and strength. 

Comments

[Cerra Helms]

Sounds amazing! Def look into it in my area (South West MI). Great insight to a new work out idea! Thank you <3

[clay c]

I need to take yoga

[Rebecca]

Wow, I am SO impressed you get up this early to work out! I tried Bikram when I was living in Seattle, but it was too demanding for me! I like the "old people's yoga" I go to in A2 -- more my speed.... I dfinitely agree my yoga time is a great healer and grounding activity in my life. But I'm inspired by your dedication to Bikram! Maybe I'll try it again! You go girl!!!!!

[Chris Kaufman]

Nice step into the blogging world. I love the color scheme. When do we all get to read our first restaurant review? When I make old people mad on http://www.stuffoldpeoplelove.com they can come here to get some serenity, and their sanity back.

[Cheryl]

I woke up this morning snug in my warm bed trying to focus in the brazeing red numbers on my alarm clock. I couldn't believe I slept in until 7:00 when I usually get up at 4:00 every morning. But ahhhh....it's a glorious Sunday. I snuggled even deeper into my soft comfy covers. Slowly I drifted back into my dreams smiling thinking of you bent backwards, upside down and sideways in a puddle of you toxins. You go girl !!!