Sunday, September 26, 2010

Yay, First-Timers! Yay, Teacher Training!

I dragged my first friend to a Bikram yoga class with me. (Well... OK. another dear friend took up yoga after hearing me gas on about it, but she did so completely of her own accord. Totally not my fault. Now she's way into it, but I can't take any credit (or blame!) :-)

Back to the main point. My dear boyfriend got up with me at 5:40 a.m. and came to the 6:30 class. Bless him--he's a gentle, mellow guy. He's in great shape and does a variety of yoga and other exercise, but he's not into intense workouts, so it means a lot to me that he came. He did great. But more on that later! 

I'm curious: what is it like for you when you bring a friend to class? The experience reminded me that yoga always provides opportunities to see our quirky selves up close and personal! The morning of the class, I was wondering if he should even join me. I spend much of my time trying to make things easier in my loved ones' lives, not harder! During the class, my little controlling self came out from time-to-time. I was so worried about how my guy was doing: was he too hot? What if he injured himself? Oh no, the teacher didn't warn him to watch on the first set of Standing head-to-knee! He's gonna hate me afterward!

I tried to set that aside and focus on the practice. The class is designed with beginners in mind, I tried to remember. He would be OK! Funny how the mind will take any opportunity possible to spin out of control.

Of course, he was fine, and he did so well. And the teacher was great, too--very supportive and not dogmatic. He initiated a little round of applause for my guy, and told him that he had to come back when I said so ;-) It was a perfect first class, really.


I don't think my guy will ever be a Bikram convert, but it was nice to have that experience with him. Now, he understands this part of my life more deeply. I'm thankful to have practiced with him, and I'm thankful for the encouraging and kind instructor, as well as the continued opportunity to see and work on my little controll-y self :-) Of course, it was great to hear him express admiration for me for practicing the yoga regularly.

On a completely different note, I'm hoping to visit Teacher Training and take a class with the Boss himself this week! Most importantly, I can't wait to finally meet some of you lovely bloggers!

12 comments:

thedancingj said...

Fun! Glad your guy had a good experience. Bringing people is tricky, but awesome. Even if it doesn't "stick" for them, at least they'll get SOME concept of what you're always going on about! You DEFINITELY need to get your butt down to the tent and take Bikram's class. He's like, right there! And then come again next month when I'm there visiting!

On a completely unrelated note: since WHEN does anyone other than pregnant ladies get to WATCH standing head to knee?!?

Chrissy D. said...

Definitely let me know when you come to the hot tent this week. Would LOVE to meet you! If all else fails, come knock on my hotel room door. That's what Cira did when she came last week. I'll let you know where to find me.

Elisa said...

Good point, J... I meant something like, "Don't kick out on the first try." I know it's in the dialogue too!

And I can't wait to meet you both! I'm so excited to experience Bikram's class AND meeting y'all.

SylviaG. said...

Like J says, bringing friends is tricky, but can be a nice experience for both sides. I try not to "preach" to much about it, I usually say that they have to try themsleves and that they would feel great afterwards. This is what my friend told me about Bikram when I went along to my first class. :) I have only managed to bring a couple of people to class and neither of them stuck with it....

hannahjustbreathe said...

I have brought oh so many people to their first yoga class (both Bikram and Baptiste), and I often swing between loving it (Look! Isn't my studio great?! Isn't this yoga amazing?!) and hating it (Is my friend okay? He/she looks miserable. I wonder if he/she is dying. I wonder if he/she will hate me).

But, it's no matter. We can't make anyone else love the yoga, too. All we can do is bring them along, show support, and then let them have their own experience, right?

I'm impressed your boyfriend got up at 5:40 a.m. with you for some hot yoga! What a trooper.

thedancingj said...

This is gonna be soooo fun. :) :)

And for record, it is NOT in any kind of dialogue, but you can ask me about that when you see me. Hehe.

bikramyogachick said...

I get all "mother henn-y" also. Sigh. I guess we can't help it, we want them to love it as much as we do!
Enjoy your class down at TT and give Heather a hug for us!! :)

Elisa said...

Blergh, J--I am not articulating myself very well, am I?? I meant that there's that line in the dialogue about not kicking out until the standing leg is not bending :-)

I will, thanks, M! :-)

I like the way you put it, Hannah: let them have their own experience. That's all we can do in pretty much any experience!

thedancingj said...

Oh yes, I know what you're trying to say. And nope, there's NO line in the dialogue about not kicking out if the standing leg is bending. SURPRISE!!! Tons of teachers say it... BUT.... Check out what Bikram says when you take his class. Wink wink.

Anonymous said...

Oh you can take full credit!

I think for my first time I was glad I was by myself, just because I wonder if I wasn’t if I could have really let go. The first few times I didn’t even have the energy to fix my hair much less pull up my bottoms if they had fallen off (they didn’t, I’m just saying…). Great for not fidgeting but I think if I’d been with a dear friend I would have been tempted to ‘fidget’. Shoot, there were even a few silent tears I might not have been able to disguise as sweat, to a friend. Anyhow it makes me wonder as I encourage my friends’ interest in Bikram if I should go along or not…I guess I’ll leave it up to them when it’s time they decide they want to go.

cirita said...

Like Hannah, I have brought a lot of people to Bikram class and same feelings, swinging between loving it and hating it. The last person that I brought to my studio had a major accident. She told me afterwords that her blood pressure went down. I just saw her falling down hard in the middle of standing bow pulling pose. She lost total conscience for few seconds. Scary episode !!

Looking forward to your TT post.

Anonymous said...

I got a lot of anxiety the first (and only) time I brought a friend to the class. At one point she looked at me and mouthed "when is this over!!" and I started to feel anxious and bad. However, I tried to just let it go and think - if she can't do something she knows to go into child's pose and take care of herself.

It's tough though, not sure how comfortable I feel taking friends along with me!

Torri