Today's yoga class was my toughest one in the four weeks I have been going. My heart gave me a run for my money today and no matter how hard I was focusing on my breathing, I found myself either on my knees or laid out flat on my mat for many of the standing poses. At one point I felt an actual chest pain and decided right then and there this was not a day to push myself. Each time I got up and got into the pose, I just held it there and didn't try to push further. This seemed to help, although I could still feel my heart on the verge of launching itself into panic mode. Then the instructor opened the windows wider and more frequently than normal. Next she opened the door all the way (which she never does – we're lucky if she opens it a crack for two minutes at all), so I knew it wasn't just me or my heart. As soon as I felt the humidity drop in the room, I was renewed, and able to move easily into the floor poses. After class, talking with the teacher, she agreed it was the humidity and said at one point it was 60% in there. Optimum is 40%. Again, I felt validated that I had no more problems after she addressed the humidity, and felt victorious that I didn't panic and leave the room as I had done in my beginning days. (Those memories always linger in the back of my mind.)
Reflecting on this after class, I began to think of next summer – uh oh – how am I going to do this during a hot humid summer? The word goal sprung into my mind. I'd work all winter building up my heart muscle to be able to tackle next summer's humidity. I realized my heart is the muscle I need to pay the most attention to. I can do 40 min of interval cardio at the gym, bringing my heart to 162 for two minutes, then down to 130 for two minutes, and the top heartrate for my age is 163, so I'm good, right? Wrong -apparently I plateaued at that and have been sitting there for years, not really strengthening my heart.
The cardio in Bikram yoga is far more rigorous than any workout you could devise, so I guess I'm in the right place. The funny thing though? I thot about the doctor, but quickly put that thought out of my head. I have an annual physical with a cardiogram annually, and all is fine. I am in the place that cures whatever ails me and right now, it's the screws loose in my head, as Bikram says, that need the attention.
And so, as another day goes by, both heart and mind exercised thoroughly, I bring you a gift. Today, I have written from the beach on a warm late October day….join me and enjoy…….
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