Day 2 or 'If you can't stand the heat, just stay in the kitchen'
It is said to be an accomplishment to stay in the room during a 90 minute class of Bikram Yoga at 105 + degrees. That alone should have sent me running to the hills. But being the hardheaded contrary type I said 'sign me up!' I am just stubborn enough for a challenge of this nature. Their marketing people had someone very much like me in their crosshairs when the were doing their target market analysis.
The ideal in my head was something like this: Glistening skin and deep breathing with the soothing voice of an instructor guiding me through the postures while I feel more revitalized and refreshed with each move...
The reality feels like I am are trying to breathe, not gasp, while being on the business end of a hairdryer. And at the end I feel more like half baked cookie dough on a hot baking pan rather than an enlightened being with a strong body.
When faced with a challenge of any sort my typical M.O. is to read. Research. Dig in. And this is what I discovered; The temperature is a multi benefit. Most obviously, increased flexibility. I put that together when my nose magically touched my knee today whilst trying to be a 'Japanese Ham Sandwich'. As I write I think that maybe I should be concerned that I am even attempting to become like a
Japanese Ham Sandwich!
But a surprising tidbit of information is that the 105* temperature raises the body temperature
inducing a mock fever effect. This increases the white blood cell count aiding the body in fighting various maladies. It basically works to reverse the effects of stress on the body over time.
So really, just staying in the room really is a beneficial accomplishment. I'll remember that the next time I feel that I am breathing in a hair dryer.
