TOP 10 Habits... That Actually Make Class Harder

As far as yoga goes, Bikram Yoga is a pretty intense practice.  Spending 90 minutes in the yoga "Torture Chamber" as Bikram calls it, is always quite a challenge.  In response to this challenge we sometimes develop habits that we think make the practice easier, but in reality make it more difficult. To help navigate these waters and to help everyone get the most out of this transformative practice, we have identified our:

1. Wiping sweat: This is a big one.  We know that sweat can feel unseemly, but it is our greatest protection from overheating in class. Sweat acts as our body's naturally cooling system. If we wipe off too much sweat, our temperatures spike, resulting in discomfort.
   
   
2. Fanning ourselves: It might feel momentarily nice to fan ourselves a bit. However, the motion of fanning uses up extra energy, creating more heat. We don't want that!
   
   
3. Guzzling water: You might wonder why we add this to the list when we just recently published a hydration article about drinking lots of water. Hydration is so important, but most of our hydration will take place before and after class. If we chug large amounts during class we may notice a very strong sloshing sensation in the gut, and a feeling of nausea that makes backward bends and forward bends really uncomfortable. Drink water if you need it, but keep in mind that a belly full of water might make you feel queasy.
   
   
4. Ice water: Icy drinks are so tempting to take into class. Mentally they seem like exactly what we need. Icy drinks are ok, but room temperature water is better because our bodies absorb it more easily than ice cold water. We will be better hydrated if we drink our water at normal room temperature.
   
   
5. Closing the eyes: If we feel overwhelmed by the practice it might seem nice to close the eyes. However, closing the eyes can lead to a feeling of dizziness, and a loss of energy. Keep those eyes open until final Savasana.
   
   
6. Lying in fetal position instead of Savasana: Any body position other than Savasana is going to lead to a lack of blood flow to certain areas of the body. Remember that every yoga posture works like a tourniquet, cutting off the flow of blood and energy to certain parts of the body. The goal is to get a total irrigation of the circulatory system, but that cannot happen unless our body is completely still in Savasana after each floor posture.
   
   
7. Holding the breath: In our culture we have the habit of holding our breath when we want to accomplish something difficult that requires a lot of concentration. This can carry over into our yoga practice in some of the more cardiovascular standing postures, and also the spine strengthening postures on the floor. There can be a tendency to hold the breathe and try to grunt and muscle our way through the postures. This zaps our energy and make us feel like we cannot hold the postures the whole time. Holding the breath can even create anxiety. Just breath in and out through the nose normally throughout class, and you will feel the difference!
   
   
8. Mentally managing the room: We all do this one sometimes. We tell ourselves that the teacher is talking too much, or that the room is too hot or too cold, or that the guy next to us shouldn't be groaning and flinging his sweat. In other words all the should's and shouldn'ts that buzz through the mind during class! Bikram Yoga can be a great opportunity to practice letting go of control. When we do this as a student, our experience of class is so much more fluid and enjoyable. When we try to mentally care-take the room, it uses up so much energy, that we often feel tired and irritated by the end of the class. As a yoga student, simply enjoy the fact that it is not your responsibility to manage the room! There may always be things going on around you that you like or don't like. As you mature in your practice, put your attention on enjoying this yoga INDEPENDENT of the surrounding conditions. Yes it's possible! Class will be much more enjoyable and this quality will carry over into your daily life!
   
   
   
   
9. Wearing long pants: We might feel like we can get a better grip in certain postures if we wear long pants. This has a couple of downfalls. First of all, we will never develop the proper strength in our hands and arms if we always grip our pants. Secondly, and even more important, our body won't be able to keep itself as cool if we are wearing too much clothing. Our internal temperature stays stable as sweat evaporates from the skin. If there isn't enough skin uncovered the body has a harder time regulating its temp.
   
   
10. Making unnecessary movements: Sometimes we feel we must adjust our mats, towels or clothing to perfection in order to practice our yoga. The exact opposite is true. If we are moving around too much it breaks our concentration, and takes us out of the moment. On top of that, it is the stillness in between postures that maximizes the benefits of all the postures that we practice.

Happy Sweating!

~ Lots of love, Jenny

Jenny Barrett is the senior mentoring teacher and Co-Director of Detroit Bikram in Michigan. Jenny completed her Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in 2000, and has taught over 7,000 Bikram Yoga classes in the past 11 years.