After your first Bikram class, what was your impression?

Wow! This is a real workout for the body mind, emotions and soul...the challenge is to have discipline to begin with end in mind and believe that the practice will develop over time so as to become easier to deepen the poses. Do not try to push beyond an appropriate pace at the
beginning.

What drives you to continue to practice? What keeps bringing you back?

Bikram yoga has changed my life to more integrate physical and mental strength to overcome physical limitations and mental stress in ways that have allowed me to focus myself with confidence even in the face of severe difficulties of the moment.

What are some of the benefits and changes you've seen in yourself?

My situation with the Bikram Yoga Nashua studio initially was to face my physical issue where I had significant medical surgery on my right shoulder. My doctor told me it would take more than half a year to fully recover and that I could forget about my favorite sports acitivities such as golf and swimming for the year. However when he saw me after 2-3 months of disciplined attention to doing the yoga exercises, he was astonished that I had almost fully recoverd my range of motion, strength and was without pain.

The result also was astonishing in terms of overall body tone and agility. Not only was I able to return to my favorite sports activities, but I was able to perform them at a higher level. In addition I went through a serious mental challenge in an engagement relationship with my girl friend. I can verify that the yoga activities helped me through a very stressful situation and helped me to balance my emotional well being.

What is your favorite posture in the series and why?

I like the the final floor series of exercises including the camel as my body is very warmed up by then and my emotional feeling is very elevated toward a feeling of energetic pulses.

What is your greatest challenge about the yoga? Yourself?

The challenge for me is to insure that consistency of practice and to maintain practice between 3-6 times per week. Because I travel a lot for business and in a long distance relationship, I try to find a balance to insure that I keep up my practice on a regular basis.

What advice can you give to a 1st timer after they complete the class?

Relax and only attempt to do the exercises at your own pace and within your own space of mind. Know that the overtime and with regular practice that the exercise will integrate so that you can more deeply reach your exercise potential. The benefits are just freom attempting to do the exercise as best you can and there is no less benefit for you even if you cannot complete the exercise as in the same ways as others... do what you can not what you think you must do to compete with others. This yoga is not about competition with others altho it can be a competition to challenge yourself to move towards your potential, but you must know that you grow to your potential as you persevere in the program over time.