These people need Yoga
On any given day at Bikram Yoga Detroit, there is probably a professional athlete in the room. They tend to stand out.
Recently, two football players—not sure if they were Lions or Wolverines, but I heard they were high-level players—came to a class I attended. They arrived together, put their mats down, and chatted in a way which suggested they weren’t accustomed to a yoga class. If I had to guess, they were probably thinking something like: Really, how hard can this be? There’s a bunch of housewives in here, a pregnant woman, some overweight people, elderly people, and a few hardbodies.
Meanwhile, I knew what was in store for them. Despite the teacher’s instruction to focus on our own practice, it was hard not to observe them on occasion, especially when they would speak softly and laugh with each other.
The teacher walked in and said, “Good morning. Please step to the front of your mat.” The footballers could do that. The first couple of postures weren’t a big deal either, although one of them had trouble locking his arms close to his head. Not surprisingly, his big muscles got in the way. Then we moved into more difficult standing and stretching work. Everyone in the room became more challenged, as is the norm in a Bikram class.
These two young, professional athletes had no endurance issues. The extreme heat didn’t seem to bother them and I don’t remember them drinking much water. The challenges lay elsewhere. They found their edge quickly. Even though these super-athletes must have found it startling to be unable to tackle (pun intended) many postures or keep up with their less-fit peers, they maintained their focus and sense of humor.
If they couldn't complete a posture or hold it for 90 seconds, they would laugh, then try again. I was pleased that the teacher didn't call them out for communicating with each other, which is typically taboo in the yoga room. Reason being, the lessons they learned and the attitude with which they practiced, are lessons for all of us.
As a student, I often fall into the trap of getting discouraged when I can’t fully express the pose. Since I’ve been a Bikram practitioner for over two years, I have a full understanding of the sequence of movements. Yet I still find myself judging my practice in a way that’s not constructive. It was so refreshing to see these two extremely fit men attempt these difficult postures and stay positive amidst the effort. They maintained great respect for the detailed instruction and didn’t let their egos get in the way.
And their mindset influenced everyone’s that day. We fed off their positive energy, and they in turn looked to us for direction. I would even go so far as to say that we regulars felt pretty good about ourselves. Yoga is a great equalizer, as it can be practiced with the same vigor, concentration, and benefit for housewives and professional athletes alike. In the most general sense, we all showed up, practiced, did the best we could, and left victorious.
This is what I love most about group practice. Everyone comes to the table (or mat) with their own genes, and physical history of injury and recovery. In the end, we are able to move forward collectively in our health.
This particular practice was a great reminder about attitude in class. Even for an experienced practitioner, the best yoga is tough. The practice changes daily depending on how your treated your body in the last 24 hours. One way to deal with the obstacles you face every time is by being a little self-deprecating. A mixture of humor and focus allow you to recover from a botched attempt and prevent spiraling into negativity. Trouble comes if you get discouraged or competitive. These are needless detriments to a healthy practice and drain you of energy. This is true of any practice, sport or otherwise, and is one of the valuable lessons you want to utilize off the mat.
