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Lessons from the Bikram yoga torture chamber

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Sweat. Lots of sweaty strangers' sweat. Sometimes, it reaches a point where the air is so wet that you feel like you're inhaling sweat. And, in this 38°C, crazily humid atmosphere, you do 26 hatha yoga postures and two breathing exercises. Welcome to 90 minutes in the Bikram yoga torture chamber.
 
I love Bikam yoga. I'm so obsessed with it that I'm doing a 31-day challenge at my local studio in Darlinghurst, Sydney, practising once a day for a month. This yoga has many health benefits, including building strength, increasing flexibility, and improving heart and lung capacity. I've found that it's also taught me a lot about life. Here's what I've learnt.


 
1. Preparation will make life easier
For class, you'll need a yoga mat, towel, water, shorts and singlet. It's a good idea to take make-up off beforehand, otherwise it stings your eyes and smears all over your face. If you're wearing short-shorts, be kind to your fellow students and wax away strays. Or, wear tights. Do all this, and the class will be easier. Same as in life. The more you can prep, the easier it is. A few years ago, I started an indie pop-culture magazine called Corker without much planning. It almost killed me! Now, I'm taking time out and relaunching it soon. Just don't prep so much that you never actually do anything. That would be an absolute waste.



2. You are capable of way more than you think you are
Sometimes I get to class looking like this. (Like last Friday night after accidentally drinking wine before class — don't ever do that to yourself! It's just mean.) For whatever reason, I'll feel like I won't be able to get through it, or hold a posture, or breathe properly. It's just fear. I always end up doing fine and feeling euphoric afterwards. Same as in life. Think back on a time when you've surprised yourself and done something you thought you couldn't do. You could actually do it all a long! It was just the fear that was stopping you, so stop listening to your internal criticism.

3. Focus on what makes you happy
There are many things in the yoga room that can make you angry. There's the intense heat, the lack of personal space, a person in front who's blocked your view, the sweating! The key to staying calm in a Bikram yoga class is to focus on the things that will make it a more enjoyable experience: steady breathing, teacher's dialogue, how your body feels, and the occasional sneaky perve on any sexy men in the room. Same as in life. If you're in a job you don't like, thinking about how much you hate it won't help you find a better one. Instead, put your attention on the type of job you'd love to do. Focusing on what makes you happy will change your life dramatically.



4. Work hard, but always find time to relax
This is me after class, attempting to smile, but having no energy to do it. It's the final savasana, also known as "dead body pose". After putting everything you have into the 90-minute class, it's important to stay still, relax, and let your body process what you've done. Same as in life. People who work hard all the time will eventually burn out. Make time to stop and relax. This concept might be harder to grasp, so I suggest heading to the hot room and learning the lesson for yourself! Class photo courtesy of Bikram Yoga Darlinghurst. View all posts