Middle Way YOGA

I weighed myself this morning; it turns out I lost seven pounds during my hot yoga challenge. But I only mention it because I want to point out that the weight loss is the most superficial part of this whole experience. I know I have only begun to scratch the surface of Bikram yoga and that if I keep practicing, the benefits will be life changing and long lasting. That seems like a weighty statement that promises a lot, but I fully believe it. In as few as 10 days my body is stronger and cleaner and my mental disposition uplifted.

I first came to yoga because of a lower back injury. When I began practicing I had already been in physical therapy for a few years, doing core strengthening exercises and whatever else the therapist and chiropractor recommended. In spite of that, I still suffered from sciatica and other low back pain on a daily basis. Somehow I thought that yoga could improve my strength and flexibility and that it would be a good thing. My PT and chiropractor were not overly enthusiastic about my plan, but I went ahead with it anyway. Within months I noticed that I was able to find relief from sciatica through yoga. Often I would go to class in pain and come out pain free. And the irony of it all—many of the exercises I had been doing for physical therapy were bastardized forms of yoga postures! I have tried to get my chiropractor and physical therapist to attend yoga, just to see what the basis for their therapy is, but they steadfastly refuse. They are too busy golfing or weight lifting when they aren’t attending professional seminars.

Today I did my usual morning routine; core strengthening exercises and a few yoga postures. This routine has been on hold the last 10 days, and I was sure I would come back to it worse for the lack of it. I was wrong; I am stronger in both my core exercises and my usual yoga routine. I’ve been doing those damn exercises for six years! And always feeling that while my core was stronger, my back was as weak as ever. In just 10 days I have improved the overall strength of my body, making my usual exercise routine a piece of cake. This tells me that I have not been challenging myself, that I have been exercising on cruise control, thinking all the while my physical condition could not get better. But it can and it has. I neglected to mention that many times I would have to stop my physical therapy exercises because of repetitive stress injuries. The usual advice would be to stop doing  the particular exercise for two weeks; if my condition improved, then I was to give up the exercise altogether. Repetitive stress injuries are never an issue with yoga, and it is this realization that has turned me off to weight lifting, an activity I used to enjoy. Never again will I do another push up. I’ll just stick with chaturanga and trikonasana.

By now I’m beginning to sound like an advertisement for Bikram yoga. I don’t mean to, I’m just being honest about my own hot yoga experience. Yoga has already been a life-changer for me. All during Zach’s illness I continued to practice, even in the hospital during his treatments I would take my mat for the weekend stay, knowing I would need a stress reliever, a body conditioner. Then Cindy whole-heartedly welcomed Zach to yoga class and I learned from her that I could welcome my son too, that class wasn’t just a refuge for me but a way to pass along the practice to my family. Now my husband is practicing yoga too, finding it relieves his stress and stretches his body in ways his regular workout routine doesn’t. Through yoga, he and I are reconnecting and strengthening our marriage by exploring partner postures together. I’m so happy that we enjoy this together! Zach doesn’t think it unusual to find us seated, facing each other, hands in mudra, candles lit. I’m glad he can be a witness to this and hope that one day he will be moved to practice it himself. And I am moving deeper into my practices by adding meditation whenever I can.

It is the end of the 10 day challenge, but the beginning of many possibilities as I renew my practice and my dedication to my practice, and return to my “old life” with new energy and motivation.

Namaste.