Bikram’s Torture Chamber
Story Layout from FREE Magazine Issue 11
“If you feel like you might pass out, that’s normal, especially if you’re new to the practice. Push through it,” instructs Santiago Solis of Bikram Yoga NYC.
It’s my first attempt at any type of yoga. The mirror-lined studio space is set to ideal conditions, 105 degrees Fahrenheit with 40 percent humidity. My 2.6 million sweat glands discharge a perspiration flavored of everything harmful that’s gone into my body in the past decade and my fingers prune from the coat of sweat. Mysterious popping sounds come from joints I never knew existed, but I continue to contort my body in ways that border on cruelty. This is Bikram Yoga, and it feels amazing.
After finishing my first 90-minute class, I could only muster languid movements toward the locker room. As I pass Santiago, he says, “See, this isn’t some cupcake yoga. Come back tomorrow night, there will be a lot of really great energy in the evening class.” At that time, the thought of returning the following day seemed on par with Everest. But I came back a few days later, and after a few classes I was hooked.
For most beginners, the practice’s unvarying sequence of 26 postures (Asanas) can be daunting. The anxiety of such a physical feat is often enough to dissuade people from trying Bikram. “People will find every excuse, when most of the time they are an ideal candidate,” explains Jeremy Fairley, an Arizona based Bikram instructor. A basic principle behind the practice is that you’re never too old, and it’s never too late. This sentiment has been echoed many times by the instructors I’ve spoken with, including Fairley, who says, “ If you have arthritis, try Bikram. Nagging injuries, you’re perfect for Bikram.” In teaching over 300 classes, he has seen a wide range of body types enter the studio. “ It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from; I’ve seen everything from muscle bound athletes to seventy year old women who couldn’t touch their toes.” He continues, “you’re adapting your body to Bikram, so everyone is essentially coming from the same point; learning the postures, exploring their limits, refining their focus.” The only goal when starting is to simply stay in the room for the entire class and push your personal limits. In Bikram, you’re only competing against yourself, but let us hope that’s an intense rivalry.
For those who still worry about being too out of shape to start practicing, consider famed opera singer Measha Brueggergosman, who lost 150 pounds after catching the Bikram bug. The benefits of Bikram read like the average American’s wish list: reduced stress levels, weight loss, rejuvenated body, focused mind, strengthened spine, improved circulation, increased balance and coordination, and much more. The cumulative process - enhanced by the heat’s ability to loosen muscles and joints to allow for deeper stretching - returns the body to a state of balance and strength. Such characteristics are becoming dramatically deficient in a world filled by hours spent in front of the computer or television.
The postures (Asanas) that form the foundation of this cumulative process have been developed and passed down over thousands of years, however, the structural elements of the practice are a twentieth century invention. The creator, Bikram Choudhury, is a Calcutta native and student of renowned guru Bishnu Ghosh. Choudhury brought the practice to the United States in 1974 and established Bikram’s Yoga College of India near Hollywood, California. He seems to be the ideal American guru, complete with charisma, luxury cars, expensive jewelry, and media controversy. In 2002, he filed to copyright “Bikram” much in the same way a musician would copyright a song. As a result, those who wish to teach Bikram must be certified through his Yoga College of India. With tuition set at upwards of $6,000 (not including LA’s cost of living), many argue that the outspoken yogi is capitalizing on something that should be considered public domain. Choudhury has addressed that he doesn’t claim to have invented the Asanas, only to piece them together in a particular manner guided by a specific dialogue. Fairley, who trained at Bikram’s Yoga College of India under, supports his teacher’s desire to restrict use of the name. “In a sense, he is creating a ‘McYoga.’ You get the same hamburger from McDonalds whether you are in New York or LA; in the same sense the title of Bikram should stand for a specific product, his product.”
Bikram studios can now be found in most major US cities. As a result of the copyright, “hot” yoga has also emerged as a spin-off practice. When I spoke with an employee at Bikram NYC, he assured me that every instructor at the studio was certified through Bikram’s Yoga College of India.
Initially, the idea of a yoga practice transformed into a product seemed alarming, especially with the founder’s extravagant demeanor in the media. Discovering the perks of a “McYoga’ has since swayed my opinion. There is some comfort in knowing that, no matter where your travels take you, any studio dubbed Bikram will practice the same 26 postures, set to the same dialogue, in the same torturously hot room.
It took two weeks of practice to complete my first Camel pose (arguably the most difficult pose of the series), but when I did the sensation of personal victory was comparable with any of the successes I had as an athlete in my youth. Through my experience, I would recommend Bikram Yoga to anyone willing. For those like myself, who find visits to the gym to be a chore, Bikram is an idea alternative of physical transformation and mental stimulation.
Recommendation:
For readers in New York City, Bikram Yoga NYC offers a friendly staff and classes to fit any schedule at each of its four convenient Manhattan locations. To learn more go to www.bikramyoganyc.com.
