Introduction: my pursuit

Hi everyone! This is the blank slate on which I will document my longest, most determined yoga pursuit to date: 101 days of Bikram yoga. This challenge runs from January 1-April 11, and the blogging homepage is here

If you aren’t familiar with Bikram yoga, here’s the super-quick summary: it’s a 90-minute series of 26 postures, practiced in a room intentionally heated to 105 degrees. It’s both physically and mentally demanding, but you almost always leave class feeling lighter and happier. A long-term practice improves your physical stamina and really allows you to connect with your body. As Bikram says, it’s a moving meditation: through developing physical self-awareness, you develop emotional consciousness as well.

As for how I discovered Bikram yoga? Frustrated by a running injury that refused to heal, I first stepped into a Bikram studio on a whim in January 2008 and did 26 classes in the first 30 days. Since then, it has been quite a journey, with highs and lows: there was a long period when I practiced everyday, with enthusiasm and joy. Recently, however, I have just come off of a 9-month hiatus where I barely practiced at all; I am currently slowly easing back into a regular practice. This 101-day challenge is my attempt to rekindle passion with my yoga practice, trying to breathe with patience and acceptance at every stage of this journey.

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