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When I received a voice mail message to call Carmen at the Grapevine studio, I immediately thought, my credit card must have expired. That was the negativity and guilt coming out of my inner self due to not being in class for the past week as I had out of town obligations. I quickly returned her call to discover that I had been selected to be the Student of the Month for February. I didn't know how to react at first, thinking Stacey and Sherri must have exhausted all other candidates. Deep down I was honored and was asked to write a few words about my yoga transformation. 

Therefore, here goes…

The roots of my experience began in late 2009; my doctor told me I had to have surgery. This was a very personal surgery let alone the only time I had ever had to have surgery in my 37 years. Long story short, it went well. Quickly after the healing process, I developed trypanophobia, the fear of medical procedures. During this chapter in life, every little pain I felt became, "Oh, I must need surgery again" and "Oh, I have to get this looked at or that looked at". Finally, I went for yet another appointment that was my last prognosis. The radiologist went over the results stating how there was nothing physically wrong with me. She proceeded to take me aside and kindly asked, "Have you ever tried yoga"? I told her my husband was right and I was just over stressed. She laughed, but I left feeling very embarrassed.  That had me thinking about yoga. I spoke to a friend about my doubts and she told me to try Bikram yoga. I thought okay why not, I would begin the New Year, January of 2010. 

Why not? Well, maybe because of the hot room, the sweat or the three bottles of water I needed to have in the room, or so I thought. I went three or four times a week with my friend looking at her each time like she was obsessed while I was counting my six breaths in and six breaths out throughout the entire 90 minutes.  She would just smile back at me. I never knew in the beginning how distracting I must have been. Every day as we were leaving I would purchase a coconut water (after having my three waters) thinking I will never make it to the next class.

 

It has now been exactly one year since I began Bikram yoga. I have stopped relying on the three waters in the room as well as the coconut water. I try to maintain at least 5 days a week practice. I am now able to focus more clearly and have the ability to balance most things in my life. I have definitely learned to let things "go" and just breathe. 

I am so grateful to have found this passion for Bikram yoga that provides me all of the benefits to remain somewhat calm and much more patient in those circumstances that were once stressful to me. Well, at least my husband and two teenage sons would agree! I am the person in class whose family asks every morning if I am going to yoga that day. If I had one wish, it would have been that my dear friend Heidi told me about this Bikram yoga many years ago.

Thanks to all of the staff at Bikram Yoga Grapevine for help in healing me each day through the mind, body and spirit.

~ Christie