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Back to Bikram

I realize I pretty much renounced Bikram in a previous post, but I’d like to revisit some of my words. Because while I still have some major philosophical quibbles with the guy and don’t plan to ever attend his teacher training, I’m finding it impossible to separate his yoga from my own.

I thought I’d hit on a clever cop-out, calling his style of yoga by the generic term of “hot hatha yoga.” But I was wrong. Not only is “hot hatha yoga” too general of a description–I’ve learned there are plenty of studios who heat their rooms and use a sequence different from Bikram’s–but the man deserves credit for what he created.

So even though I still prefer to avoid officially licensed and endorsed Bikram studios, I recognize that the hot yoga I want to practice is the sequence he developed. I don’t like that he claims to have proprietary ownership over a style, and I don’t like that he charges unreasonable franchise fees. But I sure do like his yoga.

Since I’ve been focusing a lot more on vinyasa lately, I’ve come to really appreciate the rare hours I’m in the hot room. After hours and hours of teaching my body new tricks, it’s a welcome relief to return to something familiar. Something I can count on for focus and release.

Not that vinyasa doesn’t allow for focus and release–it most certainly does, and in a variety of ways I’m just beginning to discover. But moving slowly in a heated room; being given the time to sink into each posture and adjust for every nuance; having to cope with the intensity of my environment…these things do a body (mind and soul) good.

So even if I don’t always understand the choices he makes, I’m grateful to Bikram for practicing his yoga and for wanting it to be popular. I admire his confidence and accomplishments, and my own teaching will inherently reflect what I continue to learn from his classes. Different as we may be, the light within me definitely honors the light within him.

One Response to Back to Bikram

  1. chrissynd March 1, 2011 at 2:08 am #

    I know I’ve said it once already, but thank you for being so honest. I really admire your honesty, and your willingness to share your process of learning and growth as a person, I’m glad I have someone to appreciate and look up to for being exactly who they are.
    <3

Love > fear