Lynchburg Living

Body

By Camille Smith

When it comes to yoga, Lynchburg likes it hot; 105 degrees Fahrenheit with 40 percent humidity, to be more specific. The new Bikram yoga studio on Jefferson Street in downtown Lynchburg has whetted the appetites of yogis in the area with hatha-style, 90-minute classes that run throughout the day.

So, what keeps these faithful followers coming back to not just sweat, but drip while they contort their slippery bodies into 26 uncomfortable postures? While those who have not tried the class may not see the appeal, those who have boast of its healing and energizing benefits.

Sisters and owners, Sarah Curl and Gretchen Doherty, have both practiced Bikram yoga for many years and stand behind the benefits they have seen, both personally and in those who have taken their class.

“This is a very, very special healing exercise that has changed people’s lives and they love it,” Curl said. “Results depend on what your body needs; that is one of the nice things about the class.”

Numerous goals have brought people of all ages to the Bikram yoga studio’s doors since it opened in December 2010, and many of those goals have been met. Customer testimonials are overwhelming and seemingly endless; back pain, neck pain and swollen knees, all gone. From some who need to lose weight, to others who need to gain it, Dougherty and Curl have seen them all reaching their own finish lines and sticking around after.

The word is spreading fast around Lynchburg and surrounding areas, affirming the Bikram studio saying, “Build a studio and they will come.” A 5:30 a.m. class has even been added to the current schedule of 9:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. classes to accommodate the growth.

“This yoga sells itself because people experience all of these really amazing health benefits that maybe they hadn’t in the triathlons they have trained for or the aerobic classes they had been taking for 20 years,” Dougherty said.

Of course, yoga is not just for the advanced athlete and Bikram is no exception. A beginner can step into classes without having to feel apprehensive. Like any exercise, initially Bikram can be tough and exhaustive, but the results begin almost immediately.

“When people come into class as a beginner, the immediate benefit is an overall sense of feeling better,” Curl said. “After you have taken your first few classes, you wake up and you are like, ‘Oh, something is different. I feel good.’ It is almost indescribable at first.”

This was the experience of Don Pendelton, who began Bikram after he tore his Achilles tendon. After surgery and six months of physical therapy, Pendelton was functioning on crutches but ready for a different approach. Though he was no stranger to other types of yoga, Bikram was a new venture and it was the healing benefits that attracted him.

“I was a yoga practitioner for awhile, but not as consistent as I am with Bikram,” Pendelton said. “Because it is more of a challenge, it requires rising to the challenge and that has been very beneficial for me.”

After four months of practicing Bikram, Pendelton has seen progress in the healing of his leg and in his overall physical fitness.

“The thing I appreciate about the Bikram yoga experience is that it is so comprehensive and it works every posture, every part of your body, inside and out,” Pendleton said. “My first challenge was restoring flexibility and after that, what came naturally was the long-term challenge of strength. The balancing of the postures really provides the challenge to help those muscles get stronger.”

Pendelton believes the breathing lessons he learned from practicing Bikram have helped him in addition to the physical benefits. The control learned through the focus that is placed on breathing has helped him handle other stressful situations.

“You are effectively putting yourself in a stressful situation when you are putting yourself into the heat at Bikram and doing that kind of physical exercise,” Pendleton said. “It is really through your breathing that you control your response to that stress and by learning that response, you can apply that to other situations outside of the yoga studio.”

These well-rounded benefits are not unlike many of the testimonials that are coming from other Bikram yoga practitioners. While many of the success stories include building up strength after an injury or overcoming everyday aches and pains, there are those who practice Bikram for the sense of accomplishment.

Katie Vaden began practicing Bikram when the studio first opened, after her daughter talked her into giving it a shot. While the heat was not quite as unbearable in the chilly temperatures of winter, the class proved to be a new challenge for Vaden.

“I was terrible that first week. I mean, I was really not good at all,” Vaden said. “I stayed with it and it has changed my life. It is the kind of yoga that you can work with.”

Vaden is thankful she pushed through those first exhaustive weeks and feels she is constantly progressing. Bikram has helped her overcome pain in her feet through balancing strength, as well as neck pain. These victories throughout her journey were just what she needed to say “yes” to the Bikram yoga 30-day challenge.

“I think it was Gretchen who came to me and asked if she should go ahead and put me down for the 30-day challenge,” Vaden said. “I just went for it and even went to two classes a day sometimes if I couldn’t make a day. I was able to finish and I was amazed. I think I surprised everyone in my family, but I did it.”

Attending Bikram for 30 consecutive days is a challenge for even the most advanced practitioners, and many are jumping on board to reach the goal.

“The 30-day challenge will give you a burst of energy. The class is considered a gas station for your body so you will see a huge increase in your energy levels,” Dougherty said. “You’ll probably lose a significant amount of weight because you are really working your body. The results are so beneficial across the board.”

Bikram yoga has changed the bodies and the lives of its practitioners in Lynchburg in the short time it has been open. The heat may be uncomfortable for some and the stretching can be even slightly painful for others at first, but as the saying goes, “no pain, no gain.”

“When you leave after a class, you feel amazing,” Dougherty said. “It can be uncomfortable, but once you push through that 90 minutes, you have worked hard and challenged yourself. Would you rather feel uncomfortable for 90 minutes, or for 90 years?”