Today is the first class of Bikram Yoga Teacher Training. Imagine Bikram Choudhury stepping into the yoga studio; it’s your first time to see him up close and in his yoga attire, there are 300 other yogis all trying not to go ga-ga over the man, and you have to complete the 90-minute series without losing your peace or your lunch!
Just thinking about it gives me jitters. What are those jitters? I used to think a little pre-game nerves was good for me, until I almost drown in my first triathalon! No kidding, the gun went off and my heart began racing way ahead of me. I didn’t even make it 50yds before my arms turned to stone. I had to turn over on my back for at least another 50yds just to keep swimming. I was pretty much devestated. I had swam everyday at 6am for months, run in sleet and snow, biked in rain and mud. What the heck was happening to me!? Adrenaline! There’s nothing to do when the adrenaline has been released but ride it out or, in my case, float it out. I can imagine that the sheer excitement of beginning the epic journey that is Bikram TT could push people from jitters to adrenaline overload. I suggest a few private Pranayama breathing before the first practice. At least there’s no gun in the Bikram TT!
