Do I Smell Like Bikram Yoga?

It was a typical weekday morning and my 9-year-old son and I were killing time before he needed to catch the school bus. He was on the floor playing with a toy, and I was checking my email. But then he came in for a hug – a nice juicy squeeze. He is still a big hugger, for which I am very grateful. As we snuggled, he said, “Mom, you always have the same smell.”

“Must be morning breath,” I thought to myself, “or body odor,” since I was still in my pajamas, had not showered or even thought about brushing my teeth yet. Or, worse yet, maybe it was the lingering stink of my Bikram Yoga classes? I know my yoga clothes always carry a hint of the smell even after several washings. Maybe I do too! With trepidation, I asked him what the smell was.

Continue reading →

My Mini Bikram Yoga Challenge

March 15, 2016March 14, 2016 Hot Off The Mat Class Experiences, Self Improvement Bikram, Bikram Yoga, Hot Yoga, Yoga

I have never done a 30-day challenge. My schedule is too crazy, with two young kids, meetings and writing for my advocacy work, weekend commitments and lots of travel. Or that is what I tell myself. I typically practice 4 or 5 times a week, which works well for me. Why rock the boat?

But last week I had a unique opportunity – no travel, no big weekend plans, and not an excuse left in the book. So I did a mini-challenge. I hadn’t started off with that in mind. I just went to class as I normally did each morning during the workweek and when the weekend rolled around, I just kept going. “Let’s see what happens,” I thought.

Continue reading →

Why Is Weekend Bikram Yoga So Hot?

February 23, 2016February 22, 2016 Hot Off The Mat Class Experiences, Self Improvement Bikram, Bikram Yoga, Hot Yoga, Yoga

I usually practice on weekday mornings. The classes are full, but not to the brim. The students are regulars, but the skill levels vary. Some people are old, some students are young, but most are somewhere in the middle, like me. The teachers are challenging, but caring, the rooms are hot, but not too hot, and it is all good.

Recently, I have started to practice on the weekends too. My husband has finally succumbed to my Bikram Yoga fever, and since he can only practice on the weekends, I have been going along for moral support. But class has been extremely challenging — because of the heat. So challenging, that we leave class spent, and exhausted, and this can last through the rest of the weekend. Clearly not the goal we were seeking.

Continue reading →

Birthday Yoga Is Fun!

February 9, 2016February 4, 2016 Hot Off The Mat Class Experiences, Yoga and Life Bikram, Bikram Yoga, Hot Yoga, Yoga

I love practicing yoga on my birthday! I always seem to have an extra special class, like the yoga itself is a birthday gift. This year my husband came to class with me, making it an even more festive event. It was the hottest class I had taken in a long time and while I loved the class, it took me several days to recover from it! I think I let myself get too dehydrated. Maybe getting older isn’t so great after all. Sigh.

Continue reading →

Can You Do A Bikram Yoga Class in 60 Minutes?

February 2, 2016January 28, 2016 Hot Off The Mat Class Experiences Bikram, Bikram Yoga, Hot Yoga, Yoga

My Bikram Yoga studio started offering classes of different lengths recently. Some are 60 minutes, some are 75 minutes, and most are offered in the early mornings or at lunchtime, when time is tightest. I hadn’t taken one, preferring my typical 90 minute class each day. But this morning my schedule was crazy and an upcoming conference call left me little time for class. I decided it was time to try a 60 minute class.