November 28, 2005 Monday
Bikram Yoga with Pye Trinidad
I was invited by Mimsy to join a Bikram yoga class in Dasmarinas Village. It was free for first-timers. Pye Trinidad was the certified Bikram method instructor, who acquired her certificate in Los Angeles.
Even while practising my yoga in Toronto, I had been planning to join a Bikram session. Somehow, that never happened. I wasn't going to pass this one up.
What is Bikram?
Bikram yoga is similar to other yoga but it has its unique sequence of asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing). Bikram also fosters flexibility, strength and balance. What also makes it unique is the heat factor. Bikram classes are conducted in heated rooms. Imagine doing yoga in a sauna. The heat is a good thing and a challenging thing. Heat allows you to stretch some more because the body warms up more. This makes the practice less injurious (not that yoga is injurious). However, heat also demands more energy so it takes a higher level of fitness to finish the session. You'll sweat...and sweat and then sweat some more. By the time I was done, my towel and shorts were completely soaked in sweat.
Copyright Issue
An interesting note about Bikram Yoga is that the founder copyrighted the practice. While copyrighting is standard business, it was never so with yoga. This move stirred controversy within the yoga community. Others cried 'foul' and regarded the move as 'unyogic'. The founder claims it's fair game in a capitalistic system of free enterprise. He makes no apology about the size of his assets either. He is simply living the great American dream.
The Session
It was a small classs of about 8, mostly females, in a heated room. Everyone was approachable and friendly. We were 3 first-timers. I'm glad we came early to warm up to the people as well.
Pye took us methodically to the series of poses, making posture corrections accordingly. The session, including the corpse pose took nearly 2 hours. If not for being in someone else's house, I would have extended the pose to a deep sleep. I came away from the session like waking up to a new day...calm, relaxed and centered. It's quite an experience.
Thank you, Pye.
--- TheLoneRider
Comments?
Millie Samson
(4 Nov 2007) Thanks to your blog, I started Bikram Yoga classes with Pye. I enjoyed it immensely! I opted to go to Pye because the size of the class is smaller and I don't have to brave the Makati central business district or QC traffic. Plus free parking inside Dasma! Sagada is on my itenerary next year! I will surely drop by to say "Hi" and try Chef Aklay's buffet!
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