Middle Way YOGA

This morning Amy, the owner of the yoga studio, taught the class. All the teachers are wonderful; class structure and teacher dialogue never change, but each bring their own style and personality to their teaching. Amy’s voice is soothing and calm as she walks around the class watching us, correcting our postures, encouraging us to keep going. She intersperses her instruction with yoga tidbits: Information about Mr. Bikram (he is in his 80’s, living in L.A. and still teaching with all the energy of a teenager), studio events (such as the 60 day challenge and Sunday meditation), her own yoga path and how painful some of the postures were for her when she first started practicing. She is trim and fit in her skimpy Bikram yoga costume and beautiful to watch as she demonstrates the postures for us. I am sure I am not the only envious one in the class.

After our first day of class Jan laughingly announced, “I’m the oldest and fattest one here!” Let me assure you, Jan, that you are not. It is true that most of the classes are comprised of young women, the majority in their 20’s and 30’s, but they are young women of all shapes and sizes, and no matter what that happens to be, they are almost all dressed in that same skimpy yoga outfit. Think of doing yoga in a bikini. These women are body proud. And they should be. It makes me acutely aware of how unrealistic the body images we see in the magazines and movies are. We’ve been to eight different classes and I’ve not seen one body that looks like our pop-culture female body type ideal, but I have seen lots of beautiful bodies.

It wasn’t until the second or third day that I realized there were older women in the classes. The thing is, I hadn’t gotten close enough to tell they were older. I had watched them in class flexing, bending and sweating in their fit bodies, assuming they were young because they were bendable and strong looking. But then, speaking to them after class, up close, studying their faces, I noticed the laugh lines around the eyes. And now I’m going to tell you another amazing benefit of Bikram yoga: It keeps you young. These women are the proof. How many times have you mistaken a 50-something year old woman in a bikini for a 20- or 30-something? Every session of Bikram yoga lubricates, oxygenates and circulates all the things in your body that need it. And all that sweating? You are ridding your body of toxins, literally cleansing your body from the inside out. I never have body odor after class; all the stinky stuff has been sweat out. Ask Jan. Ask my family. I never feel the need to take a shower afterwards, I already feel clean. And my skin has never been softer, because everyday for the last eight days I have been super-hydrating it.

There are at least a couple men in every class and I’m pretty sure the age range varies widely, as does the body type and level of fitness. Yesterday on the mat next to me was a retired gentleman. He has been doing Bikram yoga for a month now and has a lot of work ahead of him if he wants to regain flexibility and strength, but hey—Bravo!

Here’s some advice for anyone interested in trying out this type of yoga: Don’t wait until you’re retired. Give your body the gift of Bikram now and by the time you’re retired you will be the envy and the sweetheart of all the plaid pant retirees at the golf course.

Namaste.

Correction: Bikram will be 65 next week, today being the last day of January. Happy Birthday, Bikram!