Hello and welcome to Hot Off The Mat, my new blog about Bikram Yoga.  I have practiced regularly since February 2010 and it has changed everything.  I have more energy, a leaner and meaner physique and greater mental clarity.  If for some reason, I have not been to class in a while, my children often remind me to go — even they can see the difference in my attitude.

I began practicing almost by accident.  I had recently left my job and was looking to get back into shape, but was unwilling to walk too far to get to a workout place.  There was a Bikram Yoga place 3 blocks away (I live in NYC) so I thought I would give it a try.  I walked in just to take a look and was overwhelmed by the smell of sweat and dripping bodies.  As a germaphobe, I thought there was no way this was for me, but somehow I ended up back there the next day for a trial week.  My first class was a challenge to say the least, but my teacher took such good care of me and the other students were so encouraging, that despite my sore and aching body, I decided to come back.  And as they say, the rest is history.

Fellow yogis, how did you start practicing?