Feeling the heat at Bikram Yoga

TAKING THE PLUNGE: A new series on intriguing and unusual hobbies and pastimes for the summer days, as tried and tested by our reporters. This week, Adrian Cusack takes part in a Bikram Yoga class.

 

A career in local journalism can sometimes take you down unexpected paths.

This fact was underlined recently when your correspondent was gently nudged in the direction of our 'Taking The Plunge’ series.

My task, if I chose to accept it, was to try Bikram Yoga in Monksland, Athlone, and write about the experience.

There was just one problem.

I had absolutely no idea what Bikram Yoga was.

The fact-finding mission began in the newsroom, where colleagues tried to enlighten me. “It’s hot yoga,” explained one. Ominously, another mentioned “40 degrees” and advised me to “bring lots of water”.

My wife, who has taken classes in gentle and beginner’s yoga, later told me I would be “jumping in at the deep end”.

Bikram Yoga is named after its Indian founder, Bikram Choudhury, and involves participants attempting to contort the body into 26 different postures during a 90-minute class. This is carried out in 40-degree heat, which means it’s most definitely a sweaty enterprise.

Bikram Yoga Athlone is operated by Tricia Fleming, who has been teaching it for eleven years after training as an instructor in Los Angeles. Her centre opened at the Monksland Retail Park in 2011.

A bad back injury is what initially drew Tricia to the discipline.

“I had done chiropractic treatment, I’d done everything, but Bikram Yoga is the only thing that gave me a sense of relief from the injury,” she explained. “Doing it just once a week made such a huge difference.”

I met her at the reception area of her facility before the 10am class last Thursday morning. Although I was a complete novice, I had read the 'yoga etiquette’ section of her website (bikramyogaathlone.com) which gave me an idea of what was expected.

For example, participants are advised not to eat one to two hours beforehand and should ensure they are properly hydrated when they come to class. Yoga is done barefoot and comfortable, stretchy clothing is recommended, such as shorts and a vest top for women, and shorts and an optional t-shirt for men.

The other necessities are a yoga mat, two medium or large towels and water, all of which are available for rent or sale at Bikram Yoga Athlone.

I’ll admit I was feeling just a little apprehensive when I arrived for the class last week.

'Flexibility’ and 'agility’ are not words that have ever been associated with me. I’ve had more than a few moments of physical clumsiness and awkwardness over the years.

Tricia helped put me at ease with a brief explanation of what was in store. Advising me to pace myself, she suggested I should focus on trying to start each posture correctly and not worry if I was unable to stretch as far as the more experienced participants.

There was a very healthy turnout for this particular class. I counted fifteen women and four men, including myself. 

The extent of the heat and humidity was immediately apparent upon entering the yoga studio. I was glad I had a large bottle of water at hand.

Every Bikram Yoga class follows the exact same formula. Each one of the 26 postures is performed twice. The first set is designed to open the body and the second aims to bring you deeper into the posture.

Tricia was a very engaging instructor. She clearly explained each posture and offered individual advice and encouragement to the participants, all of whom she seemed to know by name. She was also conscious of injuries being carried by one or two of the participants and advised them on how to get most benefit from the class. 

I won’t describe the 26 postures here (there are descriptions of each one, and its benefits, on the Bikram Yoga Athlone website) but I was surprised by how intense and physically demanding the class proved to be.

Every muscle group was put to the test and, while I was quite a distance behind most of those in the class, I made a game attempt at each posture.

There was a steady sense of momentum throughout, and the need to focus on each new posture meant that, despite the exacting nature of the class, its 90 minutes seemed to pass by quickly. 

The unforgiving heat meant everyone was drenched in sweat from an early stage, so the showers in the on-site changing rooms were more than welcome.

The other three men who took part in the class spoke in glowing terms about the benefits of Bikram Yoga. One started the classes in January and was now attending them six days a week. “You definitely feel your body changing over time,” he said.

A Roscommon town-based personal trainer, Richie Feeney, said he played club football with Tulsk and took up Bikram Yoga to help improve his flexibility and prevent injury.

While the class had been a struggle for me, Richie said I’d be wrong to jump to any conclusions after my first attempt.

“I would definitely encourage you and other people to do four or five classes before making up your mind on whether you’re going to stick with it or not,” he advised.

With the class over, instructor Tricia was available to explain the benefits of Bikram in more detail.

“The main benefits are general well-being, both physically and mentally,” she said. “The big thing that separates Bikram from a lot of 'normal’ yoga classes is that is concentrates on strength as well as flexibility. It gives you that all-over, general fitness.

“But it’s a huge mental challenge as well, to stay in there for 90 minutes. I get a lot of people arriving in with the dirtiest look on their face, but they’ll come out of the class saying 'I’m so glad I made myself come here today!’”

She felt that five classes were needed before somebody would know whether Bikram Yoga was suitable for them or not.

“I say to people, if you don’t like it after five classes, it’s not for you, but try to do those five classes within a two or three week period so that you get the benefits. Most people who do the five classes will stick with it.”

She said the heat was designed to improve the flexibility of the body (“if you take something cold and bend it, it snaps. If you take something warm and malleable, it stretches and doesn’t break”). It also challenges the heart and lungs, while the sweating eliminates toxins.

Those who can find Bikram Yoga beneficial include people with high blood pressure and arthritis.

“Then there’s the obvious physical benefits such as weight loss. If you are really working to the best of your ability, you can use up to 900 to 950 calories in one class,” stated Tricia.

“Mentally, it helps with depression, stress management and emotional issues. When you are in there you can’t think of anything else. You’re literally concentrating 100% on what’s going on around you, what I’m saying, and what you are doing.”

I left Bikram Yoga Athlone feeling somewhat drained but with a newfound respect for those who practise this discipline regularly. It clearly has a lot of benefits, and I wouldn’t rule out return visits at some stage.

As its founder, Bikram Choudhury, once said: “It’s never too late, it’s never too bad, you’re never too old, you’re never too sick to start once again from scratch...”

* Special summer rates are currently being offered at Bikram Yoga Athlone. One month of unlimited Bikram Yoga is available for €110 (normally €145), two months can be booked for €200, or three months for €270 (normally €400). These offers end on August 31. More details, and class times, can be found at: bikramyogaathlone.com