30 Day Challenge

As some of you know, I’ve become a fan of Bikram Yoga, a 90 minute Hatha yoga class done in a room kept at a sweltering 104 F. I’ve been going regularly since November and have seen some remarkable changes in strength and flexibility. But it ain’t easy. Bikram Choudbury, the man who “invented” hot yoga, calls the studios “torture chambers,” and first-timers quickly understand why. (2023 UPDATE: Bikram is a loon plus an awful human being. Most studios have dumped his name and now it’s just HOT YOGA. I’ve moved somewhat off-grid since this post, and now do yoga alone, under normal, life-sustaining conditions.)

So why would I put myself through this?

Writing is a sedentary occupation and immobility has its risks, especially with age. I’ve already been told by a physiotherapist that I’ve got the beginnings of a “dowager’s hump” (and how sexy is that?) and I got tired of constantly having a sore neck/shoulder/back/fill-in-the-blank. I needed to do something to improve my fitness.

I’ve enjoyed various kinds of yoga over the years. I loved Kundalini yoga, but when Claire, my favourite instructor, left, it wasn’t the same. Plus, after I totalled my van leaving the gym parking lot, which kind of negated the relaxation, I couldn’t work up the enthusiasm to return. Power yoga was a good workout, but a little weird, too much chanting for my taste.  Iyengar yoga was great, challenging and fun. Until I did a head stand. I was so proud! I actually did it!

Of course, the next day, I couldn’t move my neck. Note to self: head stands aren’t good for the hump.

The first time I tried Bikram, I thought I’d pass out. So hot. So much sweat! Surely I’d be crippled with stiffness the next day. But to my shock, I wasn’t the least bit sore. So I went back and have been going more or less regularly since then.

And now I’m ready to try a 30-Day Challenge. 30 classes in 30 days. One 90 minute class every day for a month. Wish me luck.

At the same time, I’m challenging myself to work on my current manuscript every day for 30 days. I’ve been suffering pretty severe writer’s block (more on this in a future post) but I’m ready to gently get back to work again.

It’s Day 1. Time to get writing. Yoga at 3:30. Stay tuned.