The Yoga Studio
It’s a common joke; how ego driven yoga is in America; the focus on abs, ass, and accessories. I still think a regular yoga practice is a good thing. I’m not sure my regular practice belongs in a studio anymore.
I drop in on a Bikram yoga class every once in awhile. I used to do it regularly. It’s hard to find the time. The irregularity of my practice makes each class a fresh battle with the heat.
There’re lots of things I don’t like about Bikram yoga. And more than one thing I love about it. Bottom-line: there is absolutely no place to hide in that room.
I tried to take it easy. Be kind to myself. Set my intention at the start. My sinuses are killing me. I had to sit out a lot of poses because I was dizzy.
One of my favorite poses is the standing bow pulling pose. I was once in a class where some ballerinas pulled it off perfectly. Otherwise, no one in the room has ever done it exactly right. In one class, a regular student started to straighten her leg out. It was inspiring and genuine.
I usually do the first set just holding my foot and keeping my arm straight. My circulation is bad, my arm goes numb. I get a lot from my first set, even if it doesn’t look like much from the outside. In between sets, I pump my fist, release the numbness on one side, and get ready for a better second set, which is when I get into my bend.
Last class, a couple behind me went deep in their first set; knees wobbling, backs stiff. The teacher should have corrected their postures and focused their attention on arching their spines. In savasana, the teacher did take time to mention she managed to pull off a complete stretching pose by touching her head to her feet, getting props from Bikram at teacher training. I think I actually said the word “ego” aloud at that point, thinking about the wobbling spines I saw in her classroom moments earlier. She was looking at herself in the mirror while she talked.
After my second set of standing bow pulling pose, I sat down. Dizzy, just trying to be kind to myself. I took four people down with me. I’m not their teacher and, conscious or not, they were following me. Such is the effect of confidence, or a lack of it.
That’s a lesson we all have to learn. To focus on own our energy; the real teacher. No one else can see what you need. No one can tell how far you can go.
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February 26th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
http://www.youtube.com/user/heroetu#p/f/20/VZuba7qn968
February 26th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
A yoga teacher who looks at herself in the mirror while bragging about a pose? Yuk! Even if, during the course of the hour, she had paid full attention to each student and had corrected the two you mentioned to prevent injuries I still think her actions at the end speak volumes. Your “ego” comment was perfect.
Now. Me? I need to get back into my home practice. I can’t believe how much I want to do it and how each day I find excuses to not start. This is becoming an opportunity for self-evaluation, I guess, but I’m about ready to find both a good yoga class and a psychologist!
February 27th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Great video. I’m glad I waited until today to watch it. Good timing for today.
July 31st, 2010 at 7:00 am
I will always be thankful to Bikram yoga for getting me started on Hatha Yoga. I have not done it regularly for a few years now. There are aspects of Bikram yoga I don’t resonate with. I don’t like the heat, I don’t like what I know about the man Bikram, I don’t like what seems like scripted instructions, and I don’t like the focus on physicality. And so I had devised a home practice. But there are advantages to a studio–there is a group energy, and a good teacher can be helpful. A home practice with occasional classes in various traditions might be a good recipe.
Maybe it’s time to get back to yoga. Thanks for the inspiration.
July 31st, 2010 at 7:10 am
I will always be thankful to Bikram yoga for getting me started on Hatha Yoga. I have not done it regularly for a few years now. There are aspects of Bikram yoga I don’t resonate with. I don’t like the heat, I don’t like what I know about the man Bikram, I don’t like what seems like scripted instructions, the absence of shoulder and head stands, and I don’t like the focus on physicality. And so I had devised a home practice. But there are advantages to a studio–there is a group energy, and a good teacher can be helpful. A home practice with occasional classes in various traditions might be a good recipe.
Maybe it’s time to get back to yoga. Thanks for the inspiration.
July 31st, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Hi K,
Its time for me to get back to yoga too! I don’t know why it is so hard to get a home practice going.
I don’t like lots about Bikram yoga but it got me started on hatha and opened my eyes to a lot of practices that are still helpful to me now. And I have compassion for the conflicts that inspired Bikram to become the man he is today. He came to the US at an odd time and, I think, had a lot of spirituality and idealism drained from him in the process. He does show people what they can do to heal themselves and offer a business model where that experience can be somewhat scalable. And, hopefully, he can create some yogis who are inspired enough to start their own home practice