And THAT'S Why You Don't Wear Jewelry In Bikram.

There is a golden rule when you practice Bikram. Well, there are many. But one rule that studios post on their websites is:

Don't wear jewelry in class.

You're sweating. You're pulling, compressing and stretching body parts. Sometimes your hands are under your feet. Sometimes your chin is shoved into the top of your chest. You don't want jewelry getting sweat on and possibly damaged while in class.

Rings... Watches... Necklaces... Dangling earrings... And especially bracelets, which were the cause of a commotion this evening.

It was brutal class tonight. Just brutal. The heat was still going strong from the 4pm class. And since that was a full class, there was plenty of "juicy" energy in the room when we entered for the 6pm class. I was in a full sweat before class even began, just form sitting on my mat and towel.

"Think of the excellent exfoliation you are getting," I told myself.

After a few minutes of sitting in the room, I was able to slide my engagement ring off my finger, and place it at the top of my mat. My wedding band is thin enough that it doesn't cause me any kind of limitation in the poses. But the engagement ring has to come off the finger. It would be cutting into my skin in no time.

So I guess what I am trying to point out is that I get how precious jewelry is. I don't wear much of it. But what I do have is precious to me. And my engagement ring is probably the most precious item I own. Even more precious to me than my wedding band. Because The Husband picked out the engagement stone and setting all by himself. Whereas I picked out my band. So I, of course, will not leave my ring in my bag in the locker room.

I bring it with me into class, and I slip it off and place it at the top of my mat. It sits there like a beacon through class... And so I never forget it at the end of class. Before khalpalbhatti breathing even begins, my ring goes back on my finger.

So, if you don't feel safe leaving your jewelry in the locker room, bring it into class with you. But leave it at the top of your mat, where you will not forget it and it will not be a distraction to anyone else.

What you do NOT want to do is wear your beautiful - probably sentimental - bracelets while practicing hot, sweaty Bikram yoga... And have one of them break while you begin the floor series.

As soon as we got through the first few postures on the floor, we all heard it...

"Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!"

The beautiful pearl beads from a bracelet (one of many) another girl was wearing broke, and were now bouncing against the dark stained hardwood floor. It was a good thing we weren't in the standing series anymore.

The teacher was very gentle and scooped up the scattered beads from the various spots they had come to rest at on the floor. And she didn't scold the girl who was wearing them. That was nice. Had this been any other studio, I can imagine she would have been pretty well scolded.

But, well, this is Canada. And people are really nice here. Even in the Bikram yoga studios.

I hope the girl was able to recover every bead. I will feel awful if she didn't. This wasn't my first class with her. I have noticed her wearing the stacks and stacks of bracelets in other classes. I know I will see her in another class soon. I hope she at least takes them off an piles them at the top of her mat.

But this is a GREAT example of why we don't wear jewelry in class.