30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 11

Today, I am thankful for Bikram Yoga.

I started doing Bikram yoga a month after my brother's heart attack. Heart disease unfortunately runs in our family and I knew I needed to do something for myself, both on a preventative level for my physical health and on a more mental level as a way of dealing with stress. Bikram was the perfect outlet for me to do something I found myself naturally good at but also challenging at the same time. I was good at the flexibility and balance part-- the challenging aspect involved the ability to meditate and focus on one thing (myself) for 90 minutes. Over the last couple of years, I've learned so much about myself and my ability to focus and let out all of the negative energy that builds up on a daily basis.

I did a 30-day challenge in 2009 at the Bikram Yoga Institute in Scottsdale where I practiced 30 days straight. It was the most exhausting thing I've ever done, but one of the best accomplishments. I would get up at 3:45 in the morning, leave my house by 4:15 for the 5am class. Done at 6:30, I would shower at the studio and get to work by 8. I've never felt so great after those 30 days.

I encourage every single person to try it at least twice. The heat may bother you the first time and since you aren't familiar with the routine it seems like it lasts forever. But after the second time, you may become hooked like I did.