I literally came to Bikram Yoga out of desperation. With a long history of left shoulder pain, I had traveled the path of traditional doctor, dutifully attended physical therapy, and endured cortisone injections twice in a vain attempt to alleviate the pain. I was reduced to sleeping each night on a heating pad or ice, only able to sleep on my back. Consuming large amounts of pain medication, I was on the brink of surgery as on option of last resort.
At that point, the pain had spread from my neck down to my waist, from my spine down to my left forearm, and my left hand was going numb throughout the day. As a nurse/personal trainer, I know how frustrating it can be to receive a vague description of pain from a patient, so I decided I would go to yoga long enough to stretch the tight muscles and become a better historian for the doctor.
After a few days of Bikram yoga, however, my pain disappeared! Having lived in state of constant tension for so long, I was literally shocked with how extraordinary it felt to be pain-free. The challenge comes when my muscles attempt to return to a state of high tension, but as long as I commit to my practice regularly, I do not need pain medication or massages.
Additionally, before Bikram, having slacked off on diet and exercise, my cholesterol had crept up to 216 in August. Though I began yoga with the intention to alleviate shoulder pain, I put it to the test when the instructor said that certain poses would clean out the arteries. I did not change my diet, and did not add any other exercise, and after only two months, was pleased to find my cholesterol had dropped to 205! The truth is plain: I can't afford not to keep coming to Bikram yoga, and it just keeps getting better, physically and otherwise.
