I have been overweight most of my life and have done many diets and different types of exercise programs. When I first started Bikram I was coming from a weight-lifting and running background. I had recently quit smoking cigarettes (a 12-year smoker up to 3 packs a day). One day towards the end of 2001, I was finally convinced to try a class. I had been on an Atkins-type diet and had lost about 50 pounds, but I was at a stand still and not losing any more weight. What worried me the most was having other people see me topless.
I think most people will say their first class was spent wondering what the hell they were thinking by coming to this class and I was no different! I probably spent more than half of the class sitting out or on my back. However, I did make it through the entire class and really thought that I could get into this. Shortly thereafter, I traveled overseas for a few weeks. Even though I had only taken class a few times I missed it and really looked forward to getting back and continuing with Bikram Yoga.
I was still going to the gym and doing yoga when I was told to try doing yoga full time and take time off from the gym. That was possibly the best advice I received concerning my weight loss. I started to come to class about 3-5 times a week and started losing weight in all the places where I hadn't lost it before. Not to mention an increase in flexibility and a much better outlook of things. Eventually I bit the bullet and bought the year membership and started coming 6 times a week. That was definitely the turning point for me. I think it's funny, the postures that I really hated at first are now some of my favorites like camel or standing separate leg forehead to knee pose.
At some point, I re-injured an old judo related knee-injury requiring 2 surgeries in a 2 week period. The surgery was complicated by two staff infections within four months. My doctors were very concerned about the slow recovery time and insisted I refrain from any form of exercise. Meanwhile, I was packing on the pounds I had spent so much time getting rid of. Soon after receiving a medical release to return to physical exercise I came right back to Bikram Yoga. It had such an impact on my life I couldn't wait to get back to yoga!
I've been back a few months and I'm still no where close to where my practice had been. I really love it and I'm just happy to be back. There are still things that I can't do yet, but in time I'll be right where I left off. I still think how I used to be able to do this and that, and that I can't do it yet. I just say to myself, "I did it once and I can do it again."
I also want to say thank you to David, Karen, Erin and the rest of the teaching staff for helping me into some of the postures that I have trouble with, you guys are great!
Doug Lieber
