Houston, please welcome the man behind the magic, Bikram Choudhury!

October 17th, 2010
Rice University's Stude Concert Hall
in Alice Pratt Brown Hall
1pm - 4pm

 

As I sit here recounting my path to and through Bikram Yoga, I can hear the voice of Graham, one of my first teachers.  During the first savasana of class he would say, "Heels together, toes apart, arms in close, palms face up - open your hands and receive all of the wonderful benefits that the Universe has in store for you."  I would lie there (working to keep my arms in close to my sides) and I would think about my life.  I would consider everything from what was going wrong to what was going right.  Nothing was off limits.  I would think about what I truly wanted out of life, which over time, evolved into what I truly wanted out of my Practice.  Bikram Yoga has changed my life, as everyone said that it would.  However, this experience has been far more transformative than I ever would have imagined.  What has changed?  I would say my mind, body and Spirit.

I am able to face challenges with a clearer, calmer mind.  I embrace life's lessons, even the tough ones, with an understanding that it is a part of my growth process.  Plus, if I can face the heat for 90 minutes, something that in the beginning I had said that I could never do - I am stronger than I thought. Sure, I slip up sometimes and fall prey to road rage, but why sweat the small stuff, right?  Pun intended.  I go into the heated room, detoxify and leave it all on the mat...along with quite a bit of sweat.  My mind is clearer.  I am able to focus better, especially when the pressures of life become too great.  Bikram has given me tools.

My body has become stronger.  I am able to do more in class than when I first started the Practice. From occasionally kicking out during Standing Head to Knee to finally "Pushing my hips beyond their flexibility", I see and feel the changes in my body.  There are the postures that prove more difficult than others, but the voices of my new teachers have joined the chorus of my previous ones, "Go to your edge", "Pain heals the pain" or, my personal favorite, "Hold off on the water till the next posture."  I think, "WHOA, do you see me dying over here?"  But, if I just breathe, I realize that I am stronger than I thought, and able to face challenges both inside and outside of the Studio.

The most noticeable change has been that of my Spirit. Sure, it's always been there, and for the most part it's pretty cool, if I do say so myself.  Now however, I am more aware of it.  I feel more grounded.  I leave work, and I look forward to going to the Yoga.  I'm eager to get there...until the wall of heat hits me as I walk into the room.  Then the questions start, "WHY, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD did I come here, again!?"  90 minutes later I have my answer. 

Bikram Yoga has helped me to create a better me - the me that deserves the best that life has to offer.  The most amazing part is that I practice in a place where everyone is supportive. The teachers, staff, and practitioners here at PBY are wonderfully generous, and I am truly blessed because of it.

 

I am a 40 year old male. I was diagnosed with a cardiac condition known as "Bradycardia" on September 17th 1999, and had a pacemaker installed to correct this condition. I began practicing Bikram with Lynn and Jeff at Funky Door Yoga in San Francisco in September, 2000. I could barely finish the class for the first month, but I noticed an improvement within about two months after I began.

 

Three weeks ago I returned to my cardiologist at Stanford and was informed that my atria (upper chambers of the heart) were no longer being paced by the pacemaker. Can you believe it? I'm also off all medication that I used to rely on for hyper-tension. I hope my progress continues.

 

I had consulted many cardiologists regarding my condition. Most agreed that I would be "pacemaker dependent" for the rest of my life. They told me that while my heart was strong, the electrical system that regulates the impulses to beat in my brain had ceased to function. Until I began Bikram, I felt tired and depressed, emotionally drained at the thought that my heart would be controlled by some machine for the rest of my life. I gave up running (I was a marathoner for ten years when I lived in New York) and started to rely on anti-depressants. Bikram Yoga gave me the courage to get stronger, to get off the medication and begin running again.

 

topdraw94111@yahoo.com

 

courtesy:  http://www.bikramyoga.com/BikramYoga/heart_disease_2.php

Celtic Wheel

Did you know that Halloween actually meant something before the tricks or treats and costumes?

Samhain: A harvest festival with ancient roots in Celtic polytheism held on October 31 - November 1.  The term is Old Irish, but means simply, "summer's end".  This festival was celebrated from Celtic to late medieval times.

The most important thing about the Bikram sit-up and really any of the Bikram postures is to make sure that everyone in the class does them simultaneously.  That means listening, not turning on your auto-pilot.  If you wait for the teacher's instructions you will have accomplished two things.  You can turn your mind off and be lead, which will allow you to meditate on yourself; and you will increase the synergistic energy of the room by acting as One unit.  So here are the details.  Legs should be together, firm.  Toes and heels are together, toes flexed back towards your face.  Arms overhead, elbows locked, thumbs are interlocked.  Eyes are open.  Inhale and in one movement, using core strength only, while keeping your legs on the ground, lift your upper body from the hips in one sweeping motion to your toes - like an arc.  Do not stop in the middle and then reach for your toes.  Keep your biceps touching your ears.   This will eliminate the possibility that you are throwing your arms forward before your upper body to use the inertial weight of your upper body to get you off the floor.  This is what builds radical, life-changing core strength.  As you reach your toes make sure that your body is as flat on your legs as possible - stomach on thighs, chest on knees and eventually forehead touching the toes.  You want to keep your toes arched back towards your face.  Make sure your chin is tucked into your chest to stretch your back as much as possible.  Think Padahastasana!  Grab your toes; pull your elbows down to the floor and "double jerk".  The double jerk is kind of an elusive concept.  What it means is to pull back on your toes and stretch down so that the backs of your legs are as elongated as possible, your forehead is as close to your toes (depending on your body structure and flexibility) as possible.  Your elbows should touch the floor and also the sides of your legs ultimately.  So make sure your arms are in close to your body.  When you reach your toes you need to double exhale.  This will purge the toxins that can build up in your lungs and blood from carbon dioxide.  You will get a rush of fresh oxygen.  Remember, if you have a back issue, listen to your back.  Be honest about what you can give to this posture.   We do this posture 12 times during a class!  It is easy to get lazy when doing them because we surmise that we have so many chances to do it well.  It is a common mistake.  We have 12 because we need 12.  All 12 count.  Use this opportunity to stretch, create energy, detoxify and strengthen.  Love your sit-ups and they will help you get through the second part of your class!

Thank you to my wonderful Staff who kept the ship sailing on schedule and without mishap while I was away.   I am so grateful for and to each of you.

Many Blessings,

Taz