Bikram`s Torture Chamber

2003 - 2007

When my friend Lorne Rubenstein was over for dinner on a frigid February Friday night in 2003  and starting talking about Hot Yoga he had my attention.

Lorne was going to attend his first class the next morning. He had been invited by his friend Bobby Sniderman, son of Sam, the record man.

And Lorne in turn invited me. Here's what he knew. It was a 90 minute yoga class with the temperature turned up to 105 degrees. The class consisted of a series of yoga poses aimed at enhancing flexibility. Good preparation for golf, an activity Lorne and I shared. The hot room warmed up the muscles so they could stretch more safely. That was the magic ingredient. Especially for the elderly. We were in our mid fifties.

I had tried yoga before. I went to a few classes but found it boring and painful. Regular heat. Regular stretching. Regular pain.

The idea of trying hot yoga appealed to me. Not just because it was cold outside. Not just because I wanted more flexibility for my golf swing. But also because I like to check things off my bucket list. For example skydiving,  a shark dive and Kathmandu on a dollar a day were in my rear view mirror.

Lorne and I planned to meet at 9:45 the next morning at the yoga studio.  He had been warned to arrive early for the 10 o'clock class.  We were to bring a yoga mat, a towel and lots of refreshing water. We were going to sweat while wearing just a bathing suit during the class.

I had no idea what to expect. I was actually scared. More than my usual anxiety about new situations.

I knew this first class was going to be like my first school dance in grade 6. One of those times where you watched what others were doing so as not to look out of place..

After paying 20 bucks for the class and changing into my bathing suit and a tee shirt I walked into the studio.  It was cavernous room and there were about 40 people already in place, on their backs,  on the floor, on towels covering their yoga mats. One wall was all mirror making for a disorienting blast of sight and silence.  Lorne and I found some empty space near the back, we hoped, and assumed the pose. There was no trick to lying on your back getting used to 105 degrees of moist heat.

After a few minutes a teacher came in and set up camp at the front with her back to the mirror. All the students almost as one turned to face her and assumed a cross legged or kneeling position.

Tara explained what was going to happen. The explanation was detailed because there are always lots of newbies in the room. “We were at a Bikram Yoga Class.  Invented in India to replicate a yoga practice as if in India, temperature wise. 26 poses all lasting 1 to 2 minutes with short rests in between and a halftime break. Don't leave the room unless you really really have to. We're trying to have a serene experience so stick with the program as best you can. If you can't do a pose try your best or sit it out quietly. And if you get over tired or overheated sit for a few minutes to get your energy back. Don't drink too much. You might get sick. I hope you've been hydrating already. Nuff said. Let's get started. “

Then we began at Tara’s direction. The poses were averagely difficult for me to do. Some were standing with some challenges around balance. Others were on the floor requiring strength to get the full benefit. All included some significant stretching which was the painful part depending on how hard you tried and how frozen your muscles were.

And the heat worked to sap your energy as each pose was being done. And happily it also warmed the muscles making the stretching easier.

As a rookie I found some of the poses almost easy. Although I’m sure my form was not good. Some were impossible. Especially when there was a combination of strength, balance and stretch.

Tara helpfully walked around the room sometimes gently pushing and pulling arms and legs into alignment to something closely resembling the pose. She also whispered some hints about how to do a moderate version of the pose. She had sympathy for those of us who were new and not flexible.

As each pose was completed there was a short rest period. As we moved thru the poses the rest periods seemed shorter and shorter.  Probably not. I just needed more time. After 45 minutes there was an extended rest on our backs. A quiet repose which did some to recharge my batteries but not enough.

I lasted about 70 minutes of the my first 90 minute session. That means I spent the last 20 minutes on my back suffering some sort of heat exhaustion.

It was tough. I felt great to have to have gone. A different kind of accomplishment. And my battery was pretty much recharged an hour after class.  

I started going two to three times a week and got to be one of the regulars. It was like I had joined a tribe who practiced a weird form of self torture together.

I did improve my skills and my stamina over time but I never became an expert, lithe and agile yogi.

Once or twice I even did a double, meaning I completed two classes back to back.

I continued for about four years during which time I did more than 750 classes. I lost the stamina I needed as I aged and my left knee needing replacement was a little too tender to do the challenging poses.

It's now been more than 10 years since my last class. I look back on Bikram's Torture Chamber as a tiring and tremendous time of my life.