I've posted about
tips for people looking to try out a Bikram yoga class for the first time... And I feel like it is time to post them again, as it seems that more and more new people are trying it out each time I go to class.
In yesterday's, I saw a newbie have a really tough class. REALLY tough. I wanted to go up to her and tell her,
"Hey! I've been there too! I've practiced for over four years now, and I still get sick and have problems with poses. Just take it easy!" But, you can't really talk in a Bikram yoga class. And I am not the teacher, so I didn't think it was my place to try to console her. The teacher was doing a good job at that already. It did get me thinking, though, that people need to be more realistic about what to expect when they go to a Bikram class...
I have seen many new people do the following in recent weeks:
- Wear long pants and tee shirts to class.
- Not bring any water into class.
- TALK during class. (This one really annoys me.)
- Try to leave class in the middle. (What was the point in coming then?)
- Comment to the teacher that it's "really hot." (Um... "Duh.")
- Someone gulping water and pouring all over their boobs, while breathing loudly. (To be fair, I didn't see this one. Someone else did and told me about it afterwards.)
These may not seem like huge infractions, but they really are. And that's because it interferes with the energy of the class. When you are in a classroom, any classroom, you are there to learn. You are there to focus on what you are taking from the teaching. And if you are exerting energy in an inefficient way, you are actually taking away from the energy everyone else is using too. Energy that we are trying to use efficiently. So, in an effort to help people who are looking to take their first Bikram yoga class, below are some recommendations I have made for you.
Bikram Yoga Tips for Beginners:1. Arrive early to your first few classes. The first time you go, you will have paper work to fill out. The next few times after, you want to get there about 15 minutes before class starts (
at least) to acclimate to the heat in the room. Be careful though, it easy to doze off if you lay down on your back.
2. Where as little clothing as possible, but still be appropriate. A lot of girls tend to wear long yoga pants. I did that for over two years. I should have switched to shorts a lot sooner. I recommend yoga shorts for girls, and a yoga tank top or sports bra. Guys seem to be a little shy in their first few classes and don't want to take off their shirts. Big mistake. A loose t-shirt gets in the way. And to be quite honest, even if you are the hottest guy we've ever seen, chances are, the other people around you probably won't be checking you out during class. You get so focused on your practice that you don't often see the details on another person.
3. Remember to drink water; but only between postures. My sister (Red) and I had a similar experience in our first classes. We both felt so nauseated that we were afraid to drink water. We thought if we did, we would puke. But you NEED to sip water during the class. But SIP it. Don't CHUG it. And remember to drink only between postures, as it is less distracting to other people around you.
4. If you feel like you are going to pass out, sit down on your knees. I've been so tired lately, I have had to sit down during a few poses myself yesterday. We almost had a girl faint in class a few Fridays back. The teacher gave her some coconut water. She was back in action a few minutes later. (
Coconut water helps!)
5. Don't talk during class. Seriously, this one annoys me greatly. New people, especially if they come with friends the first time, tend to want to talk. But don't do it. You will get evil stares for breaking the silence of the meditation.
6. Don't leave the classroom. You bet your ass it's hot in there. And you better believe the first class you will want to leave. But don't do it. Not even to pee. Also, don't tell the teacher that's it too hot/cold in the room, and that they need to do something about it. Your job is to just practice. You are not in control. You have to adapt.
7. Accept that even if you have done a different kind of yoga for years, Bikram yoga will still kick your ass the first time. Seriously. I have seen people come to class and be all
"Well, I do Baptiste yoga. So this class won't be so hard." Guess what? Yes it will. Bikram rooms are bit hotter than Baptiste rooms. AND you hold the poses for much longer. Bikram is a
"hard-core" but
"beginner-friendly" yoga. So don't come into class on your high horse. Your fall will be that much greater.
8. Don't eat three hours (at least) before class. Sometimes, I don't eat for for or five hours before class. If you have a heavy meal that you don't digest before class, you will regret it when you bend forward and feel like you're going to puke. And I have heard tales (
recent ones) of people puking in class.
9. REST after final breathing. There are so many people I see (
both new and experienced) that hop up after class as soon as the final breathing exercise is done. This is bad. You need to plan for time to rest on your back after class. Getting up too quickly just to get out of the hot room (
or catch your train) means you're not taking advantage of all the hard work you just spent 90 minutes doing. Your body needs to rest. For at least two minutes. I prefer five minutes myself.
10. Don't be ashamed to cry. Bikram yoga can be very emotional. All that backwards bending opens up the
heart chakra. Some people see "green stars" the first few times they do camel pose. That means their heart chakra is beginning to open. I tell them,
"That's awesome! Good for you! You are making progress!" But some people cry when they open that heart chakra. I cried a little one time during locust pose. I don't why I cried, but it was just so emotional for me.
11. Come back to practice again soon. My first class was Monday, October 11, 2004. I came back the very next day for a second class. And for the past four, almost five, years I am glad to see my interest in practicing Bikram has stuck. (
Shit, I've stuck with Bikram longer than I stuck with most jobs. I average a year and a half to exactly two years with most jobs I have had.) If you come back the next day for your second class, maybe it will be the same for you?
