The Road to 500

514 classes (15 advanced) in 500 days.


I shouldn’t even be here. By all accounts I should have been gone a long time ago, broken, dead, jail, you name it. Anywhere but here, and I certainly shouldn’t have recently completed 500 Bikram classes in 484 days. But I am here and I did my 500th class a few weeks ago despite a million reasons why it was impossible.

Long before I ever walked into the Green Valley studio for the first time my journey in this life could have come to an abrupt end. Falling off a cliff, capsizing in a boat, suffering severe burns on my arm, nearly being shot and having guns pointed at my head – all before turning 18. Yet I did survive.

Years later my body starting slowly falling apart, resulting in two dire situations that came to a head slightly before I started Bikram. The first was a situation with my adrenal glands whereby they had almost shut down completely. This led to all kinds of physical problems and a severe lack of energy. The second problem was my back, which had become more and more painful. When I walked into my very first class it was painful to even sit down and I couldn’t do much of anything with the postures. After these problems came up a friend of mine who had been trying to get me to come to Bikram practically dragged me into the studio. I’ve never looked back.

I give you this background not to sound impressive, after all there are people with way more impressive stories about how Bikram saved their life. Rather I’m describing the above to give you a better understanding of why I dedicate so much time to this yoga. I’m grateful every day that I even have the opportunity to come to class, to work on my postures, to improve myself. I don’t take it for granted for one second. I’m not going back to being in pain and having a hard time just getting through the day. I appreciate the fact that I can even do the postures. In the beginning I could barely do anything and in a little more than a year I ended up competing!

There is no turning back for me, and while I’m proud of my 500th class, it’s only the first few steps of this journey.

Greg

Funny from Vancouver

473 classes (12 advanced) in 458 days.

I had to post this. Full credit to Bikram Yoga Vancouver, www.bikramyogavancouver.com.

"We still know, according to Cosmopolitan and Men's Health magazines, that one of the best places to meet your soul mate is where you work out. Single? Then let's review some of the benefits of dating one of your fellow Bikram Yogis:

1. If they can handle a Bikram Yoga class, you know they can handle any adversity. Strong spine, strong character.
2. They can help you locate the nearest healthy hot spots.
3. They are a very cheap date!
4. They perform well with minimal clothing.
5. They know how to work under hard conditions.
6. You only have to clap twice to turn them on.
7. They have excellent flexibility and stamina.
8. They like it really, really, really hot. (They don't mind a little sweat.)
9. They will bend over backwards for you.
10. Just when you think it's over and you're about to light the cigarette (ick! stop that!), s/he says "second set!"

We thought it would only be fair to include both sides of the coin. So you might want to stray elsewhere after reading some of these:

10 Reasons Not to Date a Bikram Yogi!

1. They get aggro if they can't see themselves in the mirror.
2. They do yoga all the time, even on vacation.
3. You will always be second to their water bottle.
4. Every problem you have they will assume can be fixed by yoga.
5. They’ll never lose another game of twister.
6. They like to take themselves to the edge. Homebodies beware.
7. They need to go to bed early.
8. They will always put Bikram's words before yours!
9. Their idea of a romantic dinner is half a Japanese ham sandwich.
10. They constantly mumble beneath their breath "kill yourself!"

Namaste,

Bikram Yoga Vancouver"

The Endless Soreness

360 classes in 353 days.

It never ceases to amaze me how the body can and will continue to open up as you practice this yoga. I reached a bit of a stable point a month or two ago, where I was consistent in my postures and I felt very little soreness during or after class. I was starting to wonder when things were going to change again.

Sure enough, things started to change about a week ago. I've been spending more time after class working with teachers on postures in preparation for competing in October, and I can definitely feel it. The most noticeable thing is my right knee and other parts of my right leg. It's sore, very sore, but not painful. I've been through this enough times to know it's just more stuff opening up, not an injury or anything like that. But it's amazing how DEEP you can go in your body. It's like a bottomless pit!

One more thing, I'm doing my first advanced class on Sunday. I'm excited and scared, hope I'm alive to write a blog post about it:)

Greg