Andrea's Story

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I started coming to Bikram yoga when this studio opened early in 2002. A friend of mine in Arizona had told me about Bikram and I was on the lookout for it here. Prior to coming to Bikram I had attended four or five other yoga classes. I had been a runner since college and very active. I had a hard time slowing down for yoga. But, Bikram was different for me. I loved it and became a regular. In the beginning, I would try to come three times a week. I was still running, working out and doing some spinning classes too. I enjoyed finding some stretch and flexibility in my muscles. I found my body weight became naturally balanced when I practiced regularly. I loved that it was the same 26 postures every time and once I knew the flow, my mind could relax.

About a year ago, I became ill. My knees, hips and back (almost all my joints) became inflamed and sore and I felt like I had the flu. For a while I did not come to yoga. I went to seven different doctors without finding an answer as to what was wrong with me and I kept getting sicker. Finally, in July, I was diagnosed with lyme disease. It is a complicated illness. It can be very debilitating and it takes a long time to recover from if you don’t catch it in the first few weeks.

I think it was early in September when I decided to try to come back to Bikram. I would come into class and give myself permission to just lay on the floor if I needed to. I found that the heat, the stretching, the breathing is tremendously therapeutic and I could always do most of the class. I found that after yoga I would be free of my pain for a couple of hours. It is pretty much a miracle for me. Over these past four months, my knees have almost returned to normal. I try to get here four or five days a week. I think I came six days a week for awhile. Now my practice is my therapy. It is my rest, my peace. It is no longer a goal of physical achievement. It is moving my body, mind and spirit as one in a space free from the stressors of the outside world. Coming regularly seems to have changed my experience from one of “suffering” through the effort (as much fun as that was!) to an experience of pure pleasure. I am very grateful for Bikram yoga. I know that it is restoring my health and vitality and preserving my youth as well!

Andrea King
January 19, 2008