Namaste

My friend Kay started doing yoga in Bikram yoga in Makati. She went to the same place my friends and I used to go. I miss yoga. I can still remember the first time we went to their studio. My friends and I decided to register and to check out the facilities. There was a class going on and I was shocked to see the floor of the room glistening with water. At first I thought it was just spilled water from a drinking bottle but when I looked closer, it wasn't water... it was sweat! The sweat was coming from all the participants in the class. I was impressed! I've done yoga before but i have NEVER sweat like that before. I've also tried going to the gym but never have I sweat like those people did. On our first day, I was excited and nervous at the same time. I know I shouldn't be nervous because I've done yoga before. It's a good thing part of their policy is for the the instructor to give a brief orientation about Bikram yoga. I was able to relax then.

The "orientation" was brief...mostly I remember it was a little about the precautions when doing the different poses and of course the teaching of the proper breathing. Breathing is key to practicing yoga. It is one of the most important factors that one should practice to get the full effect of yoga besides correctly doing the positions. What's better in Bikram yoga is that the room is heated (temp reaching a max of 38 C). This is what I like most about this yoga because I don't sweat that much so doing yoga while the room has a heater is a big green light for me. At first, I felt uncomfortable because the heat in the room was a bit smothering and I was really having a hard time breathing but once settled (we were there 10 minutes before the class started) I didn't mind the heat. We even chose to be near the heater so we could have the full effect. A suggestion, if you're trying it out, come early so you can adjust your body to the heat because they turn off the heater after every class and turns it on a couple of minutes before another class starts. That way, the heat would gradually "creep" on you and your body would be able to adjust. :-)

It is unfortunate that I've stopped doing yoga from the time I returned from our U.S. vacation (which was a year ago). I miss it. I even saw a Bikram yoga class in NY. If only I had the time and money to try it there I would've gone. I wanted to see what's different. :-) So anyway, I do hope I could go back and what's better is that I'll be joining my friend Kay. I better check my budget and schedule then. Might at least do it once or twice before school starts this April.

If you guys are interested, visit them here. For those who are from the north, they also have a studion in QC in Tomas Morato.