My New 26.2

Yoga brings to mind relaxation, healing, and stretching- healthy mind/healthy body. In 2005, I began to attend my first yoga classes to help heal my original knee injury. At the time, I was unable to run- but slowly and surely I started running a mile or two with no pain. I was no scientist, but there seemed to be a relationship to my new relationship with yoga and my return to running.  

For the past couple of years, I have kept a loose relationship with yoga.  From time to time I would drop in to see our favorite yogi Maggie at the Downtown Y.  On my own, I would bust out a downward dog from time to time to get a little stretch.  I can't say that I have reaped any big rewards from my meager practice.  After all, dropping in once a month to do a triangle pose and then lie in Shavasana probably doesn't do too much for the musculoskeletal system.  

When David Lacek suggested Bikram yoga, I though...why not?  I am flexible, I like yoga, and I am willing to try anything at this point to help my knee.  Why Bikram?  I needed to be convinced- I mean, I am a physical therapist...how do I know this is better than what I am already trying?  David gave testimony about his own knee, the multiple MRIs, the pain, and the doctors telling him to give up all activity.  He had my attention- everything sounded a little too familiar.  Long story short, of course David is clearly fine now as he picks apart triathletes in time trials.    

So we discuss an off-season rehab program, and I march myself over to Bikram Yoga Memphis.  I am not worried about the heat- hell, I live and train in Memphis.  I survived the Chicago Marathon of '07.  Bring it on!  Oh, and the 90 minute class?  I do 90 minutes on an easy day of training.  No big deal.    

The instructor lets me know I will be doing 26 and 2- 26 poses with 2 breathing exercises.  The runner/athlete in my head hears 26.2 and I get giddy!  Sweet!  26.2!  It is a sign!  Great!  I decide to attend class every single day for a week.  I am going to kick start my off-season.  

Ha ha ha ha ah ha ha ha!  

ha ha

There is nothing relaxing about Bikram.  Well, maybe the sleep I get the night after class.  Sure, I may heal my knee, but I am going to have to work for it.  Between the snapping of the fingers and the no water rule until a certain time, I am surely in boot camp, not yoga class.  

I does feel great, though (afterwards, that is).  I am definitely working on weaknesses and tightness.  I have also taken bonking to a whole new level, as I spent my Tuesday morning class sitting down and holding back the nausea.  Can you imagine that?  I have never puked in training or a race- ever, yet here I was getting ready to throw up in yoga!  I thought David was sending me to yoga knee rehab, but he really sent me to "no pain, no gain" camp.  

Obviously I am not enjoying it at all, that is why I am going to class #5 tomorrow.