Today I completed my first 100th class of Bikram Yoga in The Hot Room Long Beach. The journey for me began on Sept. 18, 2016 with 2 week introduction of unlimited classes for only $29. I started with 15 consecutive days, then 7 days consecutive in December and 13 days consecutively in January 2017. I want to thank the owner Rebekah and staff of excellent instructors Francisco, Jana, Jennifer, Kristin, Melba, and Nicole that have lead me for 4 months that includes a recent double on January 5, 2017 and averaging 25 classes per month which has comes to under $5 per class for me. There guidance has been very therapeutic in both mind and body. The Hot Room in Long Beach and their instructors have made a BIG impact in my life and though I have started this journey at a later stage in my life (57 years of age) I have improved in my practice and I very appreciative to all of them and the very nice yogis who practice in the Hot Room in Long Beach..
As I breath out 2018 and with the completion of 500 Bikram Yoga class at The Hot Room Long Beach last week, I am so very grateful for this practice that helps me keep me in balance physically, mentally and even spiritual.
This yoga practice has helped me keep me going in the things I have to do, as well as, helped me stay active as I age into a new decade of the sixties in the year 2019.
I would have never known that breathing and stillness together would provide so many benefits if I did not get a reply after I contacted the Founder and original owner Rebekah of the studio by email after a weekend jog in my neighborhood almost 2 1/2 years ago.
I was so very fortunate when Rebekah who later sold the studio to one of her Excellent Certified Bikram Yoga Instructor Nicole kept the studio alive for all of us to practice and she truly understands that our bodies are different every single day.
My yoga practice in The Hot Room Long Beach is consistent (ranging from 3-5 days per week) with options to take classes in the morning, evenings and weekends and never have to be concern who is the Instructor, they are all Excellent. With these options I can continue to maintain a job and participate in other activities that I enjoy as going for bike rides, a jog, a hike, working out at the gym, Church and Social Clubs.. All these things I do better with the practice including being a husband, father and son.
There remains many more challenges that I must tackle in the practice as the new year approaches. I will be travelling away to a place there is no Bikram Yoga Studios the first week of January for 3 weeks. This will be the longest period I will be away from the studio and practicing. I feel somewhat concern that I may lose a lot of the hard work put into the practice.
I will have to be practicing Bikram on my own without the Instructors and the energy of so many yogis that I enjoy seeing, sharing their energies and without the heat and humidity which is also the part of the practice. Up to now, the most I have been away from the studio has been 4 days and my plans is bring my mat and to practice one set of the sequence of poses on my own during my trip.
Also, when I return I have some big changes on the job at work and this will tax my time but with this practice I know it will help me get through it. Also, there is the 30 day Challenge always offer twice a year at the studio that I have yet to do. And still need to try Hot Pilates now offered at the studio.
As I enter my senior years by continuing to practice Bikram Yoga at The Hot Room Long Beach I see things with a realm of possibility that I can face the challenges and improve not only my poses, my practice, my health, my mind, my spirit, my life and yes become a better version of me in 2019.
Bikram Choudhury Quote: “Never too old, never too bad, never too late, never too sick to start from scratch once again.”
