I used to be a runner. I got serious about it when I quit smoking at age 33, and trained and ran races up to half-marathons. A good running week for me was 35-40 miles, but as time went by, I found it more and more difficult to maintain consistent training levels. About three years ago I more or less conceded that running was going to be relegated to the memory shelf, as my body just wasn't its old shoe-tough self, and had begun to complain.
When I came to Bikram yoga eight months ago, I didn't expect to like it. In fact, I didn't actually believe I'd even finish my first class, so the fact that I made it through and actually enjoyed parts was wonderfully surprising! Though I felt energized after class, I anticipated I would awaken the next day with screaming muscles and aching joints, but I was pleased to find I was wrong! This is the only conditioning activity I have ever experienced that didn't zap me in the early going, but instead provided new and exciting challenges each time I entered the room.
The gifts of this yoga reach far beyond the physical, and I am constantly recharged by new benefits as I continue my practice. One major plus is the fact that I simply enjoy being in class: even my "worst" classes provide a challenging, elevating, stimulating experience wherein I learn through the "pain". I have yet to come away from a class with any serious or lasting discomfort. And I have been delighted to find steady energy throughout the day and deep sleep at night. I am generally more relaxed, and hold less residual tension in my body. When I do encounter some momentarily strenuous activity in daily life, whether it be physical, mental, or emotional, I find it is less likely to throw me off balance. With running, I seemed to have my head in the future; with yoga, I seldom find myself looking past the moment. The process of executing the poses and focusing on the narration is quite simply engrossing, and my mind doesn't seem to escape to the finish line or the cool air waiting outside. This is, of course, a lesson I take with me outside the classroom as well.
