Good vibrations at Bikram on 11/11/11

One minute of silence at 11:00am on November 11, 2011
Lest We Forget

Apparently practicing yoga on 11/11/11 is particularly empowering as it is a date which offers particularly good vibrations. The number 11 is supposedly a power number and in numerology represents intuition, artistic genius and balance. It is also a prime number and has some special mathematical properties since when multiplied by itself it can result in a palindrome (11x11 = 121; 111111x111111 = 12345654321). People scattered across the globe are excited to be married or give birth on this date.

This may all sound very hippy to you, but at the same time.. why not just go along with it? What's wrong with opening your mind to an alternative way of thinking and giving something new a try. Isn't that what the practice of yoga is all about?

If practicality is more your thing then don't forget that November 11th is also a particularly important date in history. Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the armistice which ended World War I (1914-1918). Australians observe a minute of silence at 11:00am in memory of those who died or suffered in armed conflict. I know a number of Australians who also use the quiet time to reflect on how grateful they are to live in such a beautiful country. Try not to wait until next November 11th to reflect and be thankful for all that you have. Lest we forget how fortunate we are.

So I woke up bright and early with, or possibly even before, the sun. Rolled through the morning motions as quick as a flash and jumped in my car to arrive at Bikram Yoga Joondalup in time for the 5:45am class. My lovely colleague joined me in the class led by Karen, an inspirational woman who radiates positive energy wherever she goes.

I have heard people joke about the 'Bikram torture chamber' and I must say practicing for 90 minutes in a sauna-like environment is definitely a challenge. However I thoroughly enjoyed the holistic workout and felt the benefits of the practice on both my body and mind throughout the rest of the day.

Read my post from 28th September 2011 to learn more about the hot, sweaty fun you can get up to at Bikram Yoga Joondalup or just check below for a few quick facts...

• DETAILS: Friday morning, 5:45-7:15am. Unit 7/200 Winton Rd, Joondalup.
• COST: $18.00 per casual class.
• TEACHER: Karen
• BRING: You'll definitely want to take a large (mat-sized) sweat towel and a large bottle of water.
• WEAR: As little as possible! You'll soon realise that body shape and size doesn't matter - everyone in every size strips down to minimal clothing in this super hot environment. Tight shorts, hot pants and suitable loose but supportive tanks are available at lululemon athletica Perth City. My personal favorites are the Let It Loose Tank and a pair of Reverse Groove Shorts. 
• BEST BITS: Your muscles warm up extremely quickly in the hot yoga studio and you use muscles you weren't even sure you possessed. Constantly moving for 1.5 hours really gets the blood flowing, builds your stamina and regulates your breathing. Don't forget to rehydrate!!!
• BIKRAM YOGA JOONDALUP WEBSITE: www.bikramyogajoondalup.com.au

Ginny's Finding Fitness Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Hot, hot, HOT at Bikram Yoga Joondalup

If you're hunting for a way to seriously sweat it all out I definitely suggest giving Bikram yoga a try.

I visited Bikram Yoga Joondalup at 9:30am this morning looking for an energizing kick start to my day. I definitely got what I came for. The class is lead in a heated room so the minute you step inside you feel like you're entering a sauna. I've tried hot pilates while I was living in Toronto, but the practice of bikram yoga is quite new to me. I believe the classes always follow the same 26 postures so it took a little while to adjust to teachers instructions and I spent quite a bit of time scanning my eyes around the room trying to follow what was going on. There seemed to be a lot of rules and directions given out, but I suppose they need to make sure everyone is doing the postures correctly to avoid injuries.

I think the major benefits for me actually became evident later in the day. Throughout the practice I felt a little overwhelmed by the complicated poses and suffocating heat. Especially when we were directed NOT to wipe any sweat away from our face! However a few hours later, after showering of course, I felt refreshed, rejuvenated and invigorated. Which means the practice worked wonders I suppose!

BIKRAM YOGA is a holistic workout in a heated room. You are led through a series of 26 postures as well as breathing exercises which begin and end the 90 minute class. The intention is to build stamina and strength, improve posture, develop muscle tone and strengthen your immune system. The heat encourages sweating which eliminates toxins from your body and the meditative aspect of the practice improves your breathing, aids evening sleep and helps to reduce stress. A full body and mind workout.

Check below for more info...

• DETAILS: Wednesday morning, 9:30-11:00am. Unit 7/200 Winton Rd, Joondalup.
• COST: $18.00 per casual class (however they currently have a special introductory offer which costs $20 for 10 consecutive days. Seriously good value if you have time to pack in a lot of classes.)
• TEACHER: Lisa
• BRING: You'll definitely want to take a large (mat-sized) sweat towel and a water bottle or 2 for this one!
• BEST BITS: It's quite an incredible feeling to remain in a hot yoga room for 1.5 hours constantly moving. Following the practice you leave the room feeling light as air and, after a much-needed shower, you'll spend the rest of the day feeling fresh with a healthy glow.
• BIKRAM YOGA JOONDALUP WEBSITE: www.bikramyogajoondalup.com.au

Ginny's Finding Fitness Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★