pre-bikram rituals
got to practise totally rushed today. i left work a little later than usual, not that late, but i forgot to pack my costume this morning! i realized this at the studio and had to put my shoes back on and race back to work! i keep an extra pair of shorts in my desk for this very reason. luckily, it’s not a far ride and i was back in the studio with plenty of time. cough.
when i first started practising bikram yoga, i would get to the studio 30 minutes early and lie in the room in savasana. as i got used to the poses, and more familiar with my body, i used that time to stretch or work on a pose. you know, “warm up” before my “hot yoga” class.
then i realized there’s no reason to sit in the hot room any longer than you have to—the opening postures are designed to warm up your body for the rest of class. since ardha-kurmasana gives you energy and is like money in the sleep bank, my new pre-bikram ritual would be to do a few sets after a potty break. god, that seems so long ago. honestly, i can’t even remember the last time doing that, but it used to be every day!
nowadays, i have no rituals. sometimes, i can’t wait for class to start and i go in the room early, not usually. most of the time, i walk in the room as class is about to start, crack my toes and i’m ready to go. what do you like to do before you start practise?
lakers fans got a little wild in the streets last night. turning over a cop car is fun and games, but i gotta draw the line at tormenting passerbys. the abc stream was super laggy lame. thumbs up to kcal 9 for always having the best coverage (except for taking a fuel break)! see you tomorrow ~m
Tags: bikram yoga, lakers, media watch
June 15th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Talk about determination and organisation. *clap clap
I’ve never understood people who “warm up” or “practice” a particular posture before class. Yes, everyone’s dream / aim is to eventually get THAT beautiful, perfect posture but I believe that that’s just the ego talking. The main aim is to do as much as your body can [kill yourself!], for that day, and enjoy the benefits that come after! Though I also believe that forcing oneself to do the perfect posture, and not ending up “in it” [forehead to knee during standing head to knee for example] will just cause more frustration and anger as you’ve effectively set an expectation and not an intention.
Pre-Bikram ritual for me is a little water and cracking almost every conceivable joint in my body. Yes, it’s disgusting and sounds gross, but I feel better and less stiff after that. Or maybe it’s just psychological…
June 16th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
i say if you can crack it, enjoy it! each side of my hip usually cracks when i’m bending forward for each side of padangustasana—that could be my favorite part of the pose! it feels like there’s less tension.
outside the studio, i crack my wrists and fingers almost constantly.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Cracking releases pressure, makes you feel good [that aaaaah feeling] after doing said deed.