Hot Yoga, Cool Mind

                   

 Ten years ago I started my hot yoga journey at a local Bikram studio.

I heard that the room is heated to 105 degrees to allow the muscles to heat up which would allow one to go deeper into the asana’s (poses) without hurting oneself.

 Instead of being resistance to such an idea, I felt my body, mind and spirit eagerly wanting to get started. For many years, since I was a teenager I was plagued by chronic back and neck pain. I was in and out of the chiropractor constantly but never seemed to get anything but temporary relief.

 I have also suffered from anxiety and depression since my teenage years as well. No doubt there was a connection between the suffering in my body and the suffering in my mind.

So, off to the Bikram studio I went. Little did I know how it would change my whole life.

 The first classes of hot yoga were frighteningly torturous as my body and mind battled the external heat and the internal resistance. The heat released toxins not only in my body but also in my mind, heart and spirit. Each asana took me deeper into my physical self as well as my awareness of what lies beneath the surface of the ego.  My physical body was being challenged to release old injuries and stuck energies. My mental body was being challenged to move beyond a resistance to discomfort as well as the addiction to distractions of all kinds. My emotional body was being challenged to let go of fear, grief and other toxic, buried emotions that surfaced as I moved through the practice.

This was much more than a workout to get in shape physically. It was an exercise of finding balance on every level of my being.

 I found myself sleeping better, feeling more energy, having less pain in my body and finding moments of stillness in my mind that allowed for deeper meditation.

As I continued to practice hot yoga my chronic pain literally vanished. My anxiety and depression levels were reduced dramatically and my spirit felt much more at peace.

Whether on or off the matt I began to live the true life of a yogi. I became more mindful of the noise in my head and sought to practice being in the moment more. I became more flexible not only in my body, but my mind as well. I became more peaceful, more accepting and less distracted by the continuous noise and chaos around me.  Going deeper into my yoga practice also gave me the gift of going deeper into my very being.

 There have been many days when the mere idea of that hot room was beyond undesirable. There were many days when I had to drag myself there. I would walk in announcing I felt like a slug.  I was always met by a smiling and caring teacher welcoming me to the studio.  Maybe I wasn’t happy at that moment, but I always felt happy when I left.

My yoga studio has always been my church, my sanctuary and my community where I have felt safe and supported. There is something sacred and communal about dripping sweat on each other. It helps me to love my neighbor more.  There is something about practicing in front of giant mirrors that helps me to let go of attachments to how I look.

My practice has never been an event of athletic prowess. I was never athletic and have found yoga to be more about balancing myself internally rather than externally.

I still fall out of poses but don’t beat myself up as much as I used to. I have learned self-love and patience. I still struggle with asana’s that require physical strength and balance, but I know it is not about being a Star. It is about being the best me I can be.

 As I continue to practice hot yoga whether Bikram style or Vinyasa style, I continue to learn new things about my body, mind and spirit. I continue to work at not being attached to my ego, which tells me, I should be farther along in my practice or that my yogi neighbor is better or fit than me. I continue to quiet my mind so that I can receive what is being offered to me in my practice that day.

 The breath is directly connected to the body, the mind and the spirit. Anxiety causes the breath to stop, become shallow or to hyperventilate. Suffering in the body, mind or spirit interferes with the breath.  Our breath is Spirit moving through us. When it is blocked, Spirit cannot flow through us. The breath is the key to life, as we know. It is the key to yoga as well.

Breathing deeply into a pose allows the body to move beyond restriction and blockages. It allows the mind and emotions to become still and quiet. When a point of resistance is reached due to pain in the body or fear in the mind, we hold our breath. In the practice of yoga breathing allows one to transcend that resistance and to move through the pain. In the practice of living life, the breath allows one to transcend the resistance and move through painful or fearful moments.

 In yoga we are taught that we are our own teacher. That is also true in life. No matter how much others have to offer in wisdom and experience, there is no greater teacher than the one you see in the mirror. There is no greater gift than the one you give yourself when you reach beyond self imposed limitations and allow yourself to take care of yourself in body, mind and spirit. There is no light brighter than the light that comes from your very own soul. This is what yoga has taught me and continues to teach me.

 In that way I am a star. In that way, so are you.

Cherie Lassiter