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Here’s a few admittedly unsolicited comments on my experience with bikram yoga after the first 30 days:
The staff was very nice, and the facility was overall pretty good, but the men’s room/locker room/shower room was way too small and inadequate. If Bikram has millions of dollars, it would be nice to support his studios with improved space.
I had 5 different teachers in 8 classes. In my opinion, the good ones were completely hamstrung by the rigid nature of the class in their ability to provide much of any sort of good instruction or personal attention. The not so good ones, which I took to be less experienced, didn’t even try. The worst merely recited the litany as fast as possible it seemed like, while looking off toward the corner somewhere. The best would get out in the room and try to adjust people, and even occasionally demonstrate a posture. Most in between just stood on the podium, recited the litany, and occasionally called out to someone. Overall, I found the teacher aspect very disappointing. I really do not understand how a beginner is expected to figure out how to do these things by listening to a description – a demonstration would seem to be so simple, but they rarely did that. They don’t schedule the teachers either, so I can’t go to the ones I like and avoid the ones I don’t. That’s a serious drawback. And the repetitive litany thing is already on my nerves – I can’t imagine listening to/doing that for years.
The room is too hot. I think ‘warm yoga’ would be great; but this was just too hot.
However I really liked the extreme sweat. That was a great feeling to be able to just get in there in a pair of shorts and let it all out.
Fixed firm became one of my best postures – I could just about go to sleep there. I also can do eagle really well (though I can’t figure out what it’s for). I totally hate locust pose and thought I’d suffocate with my face smashed in the carpet. I’m not strong enough for a good triangle, but am improving. Savasana didn’t bother me but I did tend to get bored with the repetition toward the end of class. I really want to be able to do a good standing bow; some of the people that could do it well looked beautiful. I also really liked the half tortoise, which seems like a great oblation pose to me.
I feel better mentally and physically than when I started class, so I am certain there are clear benefits.
Bottom line, bikram for me is a great step forward in getting into yoga, but I’m not going to commit to it further right now. I want to look around and try something different, but plan on going back as a walk-in whenever I feel like having an all out sweat event.
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30-day Review
