Thanks to my first experience with Bikram Yoga this afternoon, I now know what it is like to literally be able to swim in your own sweat. I arrived home tonight starving, exhausted and drenched to the bone. Talk about taking yoga to a whole other level.
Before yoga I took everyone’s advice and made sure to eat my afternoon snack around 3:00, giving my body at least 3 hours to digest before Bikram.
I wanted a larger snack to hold me over through the intense yoga and into a later dinner so I went with a Multi Grain Eggo topped with the last of my Cashew Butter and some Orange Vanilla Awesome Almonds.
It was the perfect size at the perfect time. It kept me full through class without giving me a belly ache.
After work I met up with my new friend, Kristen, at Bikram Orlando for the 90 minute 6:00 class. I got the friend of a friend discount and forked over $5.00 for the class. The one thing that has deterred me away from Bikram in the past is the heft price tag per class. If I were to go back the class would cost me $15.00 unless I bought one of the many packages they offer when you buy the classes in bulk for a slight discount.
The first thing I noticed about the studio was the distinct smell, but I guess if you crank the heat up and fill the room to the brim with several sweaty yogis for several hours out of the day, the room is bound to stink.
The class started with some intense breathing exercises then dove into 26 different poses where you repeat each pose two times. I was a newbie and wasn’t sure what pose was next, but luckily I was next to Kristen who was a Bikram expert and did every pose perfectly. I struggled with some flexibility poses, but was able to hold the balance poses without much swaying.
By the end of the class, I had drank a full bottle of water, had drenched my towel and was thankful I had only worn the itty bitty spandex shorts and sports bra. I felt thoroughly stetched, but not sore. Throughout the class I definitely felt my heart race and come back down in perfected intervals.
In the end I liked how the class was as challenging as you pushed it. As a beginner I was able to learn the poses and do them somewhat effectively, but I could see those who were more advance take the pose to a whole higher level that really pushed it. I like how it stretched me in places I didn’t know I could stretch and how I felt like I was pulling my body longer.
I did not like sweating that much, my eyes were burning from the salt. I don’t like the heft price tag. And I don’t like how they do the session every class. I like variety and I think if I did the same thing every day I would be bored.
In the end I would probably go back, but not on a regular basis. 
I was surprised how I wasn’t completey starving as soon as class was over. But as soon as I got in the car and started driving home, I felt the thirst come and the hunger build. BY the time I walked in the door I could have drank a gallon of water and ate the contents of my fridge.
Luckily I had thought ahead the night before and roasted up some Sweet Potatoes, Onion, Brussel Sprouts, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, & Mushrooms.
I layered the Roasted Veggies on top of some Bashtimi Rice then on top of that had Spicy Tomato Sauce and Pinto Beans.
I ate this way too quickly and gave myself a tummy ache, but it was sooo good and I was too hungry not too. I need to learn to breath between bites.
After my tummy ache died down I pulled out Danica’s Mock Tag-A-Longs, Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs, & Pecan Bark for a sweet treat to my day.
THese treat are very dangerous in my fridge.
Speaking of treats, don’t forget to enter my Erin Baker’s Giveaway and win yourself some Breakfast Cookies or Granola!
Baker’s Spotlight…
Pearl from Fresh & Pure is a newbie to the Blogging Bake Sale, but don’t let her novice approach fool you. She has some baking talent up her sleeves that once again as others of the Blog World raving.
Take Sarah for instance from lovIN my Tummy. She received a package of Almond Brittle in her Secret Valentines gift from Pearl and did not but rave on and on about it. I believe the direct quote was ““Oh my heckengolly. This is the best brittle I have ever had. Ever. That is saying a lot coming from a girl who has had homemade peanut brittle every Christmas since she can remember. It was perfect, not too sweet, not sticky at all and nuttier than Gary Busey.”
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