Luanne Lee - Well-Being

Bikram speaks of his Torture Chamber in reference to the very hot room in which the classes are conducted and students practice their yoga. Please allow me to speak of this place from my own personal experience.

A womb of healing, nurture and compassion is what I experienced the first day I attended the studio on Commercial Drive. Other studios I had visited left me with a defeated and commercialized sense. But, from the minute that I walked in and admitted that I was a newbie, Christian∗ compassionately took my registration and with his calm aura ushered me into the change room where I reluctantly removed my sweats and donned the shorts and top.

Reverberating through my head are the crescendos of “I am so uncoordinated, HATE yoga, am out of shape, fat, miserable to look at and be with blah blah blah...”. Joe* taught me to understand this experience as monkey-mind and ego. Joe led me through my first 90 minutes of Bikram’s yoga. I fell out of poses and couldn’t get the breathing right, but stayed in some and found strength and grace that I didn’t know was in my body. That is how it will be for the rest of my life as I continue to practice.

Now, please allow me to share what Bikram’s has given me. Detoxification, breathing depth and ease, supple joints, pain-free back, clear skin, lymph and colon drainage and intestinal health. But most precious is the peace, clarity, grounding and LOVE FOR WHO I AM – at this time. During my past life I completed marathons and Ironmans, but never experienced the same intense physical and spiritual healing as I have since beginning my practice. I think I have said enough for you to understand the profound possibilities that can be realized through this gift.

∗ Employees of the studio are asterisked.