For the Love of Sweat

Physical challenges excite me.  Limits are there to be tested, and within our own bodies is a great place to begin.  Yes, I work out.  Some might say I work out a lot.  But all that aside, nothing has been quite like what I’ve discovered in the last two weeks at Bikram Portland.

It started on a Friday night, much like any other Friday night… at a bar.  My favorite bar.  There I was at my favorite bar, with two of my favorite girlfriends, when I met a guy.

This was no ordinary guy.  For one thing, he was not trying to get into my pants.  By the end of the night it was clear, he was trying to get me into hot yoga!

“I want you to do this,” he said.  “It will change your life.”

Granted, the conversation would have never happened, if he weren’t so darn cute in the first place, but (as far as he was concerned) it wasn’t about chemistry.  We went for a nice 7-mile run along the Waterfront a couple days later, and a couple days after that, we were on our way to Bikram.

The smells of feet and human perspiration were inescapable.  We left our shoes and socks in little cubbies in the lobby, signed in at the front desk and headed for the changing rooms.  Apparently, no one steals in yogi culture, because although there were lockers available, no one uses them.  Instead, another wall of cubbies is the place where people leave their stuff.  I followed suit.

Apparently, no one wears much in the way of clothes either.  Unaware that I was about to sweat more than I’ve ever sweat in my entire life, I decided to go with the flow of nearly-nude traffic around me…  I left my shirt in my bag.  (Turns out, I’d need it later because I only brought one towel, which, by the end of class, was completely soaked.)

If you’ve ever done yoga, you’d be familiar with the postures.  There are 26 total, in Bikram.  It begins with a breathing exercise, then the rest of our standing postures, and – my favorite – the balancing postures.  After that, we move to the floor.

Before we get going, the instructor always asks, “Who here is in their first five classes?”  That was me.  She assured me that taking breaks was okay, that dizziness, perhaps even nausea, is normal, and that my primary goal is staying in the room for the entire 90 minutes.  Sure, not a problem.  No sweat!

Within a few minutes though, I was covered in shimmering sweat droplets.  Soon they were streaming down my face, arms, legs and back.  About halfway through the class, I found myself wondering, “Am I going to pass out?  I think I’m going to pass out!  Please don’t pass out…”

There was a distinct, full-body, tingling sensation.  At least twice, I lowered myself onto my knees in a fetal position, just trying to stay conscious.  A few sips of water now and then were essential.

Somehow, I survived.  After class, several of us made our way outside, which was a dizzying challenge in and of itself.  Coming out of corpse pose (lying flat on your back) is downright dangerous if you stand up too fast.  Vision fading for a few moments, I managed not to trip on the bodies still laying between me and the exit.

We sat for a few minutes outdoors, and even though it was freezing, we were steaming hot.  It was exhilarating.

Then it was time to shower and move on.  My friend and I met up in the lobby after we were fresh and clean, completely relaxed.  My body felt like it had been heated and wrung out so that nothing was left inside.  My mind was at ease.  My throat was clear of all the garbage that had been collecting there.  Even my voice sounded different.  I realized, this is what it’s all about…

Going on empty, we needed to refuel.  We went out for a bite to eat, then said our goodbyes.

Twice more, I took the class that week, before I even saw my friend again.  By the time he came back with me, I was able to hang in there, actually participating the entire time.  With steady improvements, I’m now able to do just about every posture, except for one.  I cannot express how wonderful it feels…

If you’re interested – no matter what level of fitness you are at – Bikram is a fantastic way to put yourself to the test.  There’s an entire range of ability within the room, on any given day.  You won’t ever be alone.  But you aren’t there to compare yourself to others anyway!  This is about you, making the most of your time, cleansing your body of toxins, relaxing your mind, strengthening your muscles and increasing your flexibility.

Check it out!  Bikram Portland  has a great deal for people new to the clinic: $39 bucks for a month of unlimited classes.  Sign up soon, and I may even see you there.

Namaste.

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