The first two weeks of 2012 I had the unbelievable opportunity to return to Charlottesville, Virginia. One of my favorite places in the U.S., I earned two degrees from The University of Virginia and take every possible opportunity to visit. C'ville also holds a special place in my heart because it's where I found yoga. I took my first yoga class ever at Bikram Yoga Charlottesville (BYC) and was excited to return "home."
Walking through the doors of BYC I felt instantly at home, there is something to be said for familiarity and I was already looking forward to the 90 minute class I was about to take. Studio Owner/Operator/Teacher Lizzie Collier Clark still offers an intro week for new students and any student that has not visited in the past six months (or longer.) This means I was able to practice as much as possible over 7 days for $20. After purchasing my "re-intro week" I got changed and set myself up in the hot room.
Once I got into the studio I saw a few changes since the last time I was there. The room has now been divided up into thirds and lines indicate where the midpoint of your mat should be and also where you should stand making the student experience very uniform. Additionally, the teachers used to walk around during class and now the traditional Bikram podium has been added to the front, center of the room. The teacher takes the podium at the start of class and does not leave it further complying with the strict regulations dictated by Bikram himself.
Overall the class was exactly what any Bikram class would be, Bikram's beginning series never changes. However, two of the things I loved about Bikram Yoga Charlottesville when I first began practicing were
1) the little deviations from the Bikram script the teachers took offer students yogic food for thought on how to live in the moment, be open, not judge, etc.
2) the friendly atmosphere both in and out of class.
Sadly I did not experience either of these elements over the course of my two week visit. The teachers I had those two weeks are great Bikram teachers, I enjoyed the classes and highly recommend any visit to C'ville include a class or classes at Bikram Yoga Charlottesville. However I was a student there when BYC was just starting out and remember fondly the culture I was fortunate enough to be a part of for a little while. Somehow, BYC felt less personal than it used to and after walking out of the classes I took during my re-intro week I felt a little sad because I missed the "home" that I remember. Over the days I was there I went back and adjusted to the changes.
My last day in Charlottesville I took my undergraduate Teaching Assistant a class (her first yoga class ever!). When we walked out of the studio she looked at me and said "That was great, I love it!" Seeing her enthusiasm I realized that the only reason I hadn't fully enjoying my experience was because I set expectations for it based on how it used to be years ago. Not a good idea in yoga, or in life.
I am happy and grateful to have returned and practiced at BYC again, and in this case my yogi lesson was to remember not to live in the past. Being present is more than paying attention and engaging, it's also living in the present as well.
Walking through the doors of BYC I felt instantly at home, there is something to be said for familiarity and I was already looking forward to the 90 minute class I was about to take. Studio Owner/Operator/Teacher Lizzie Collier Clark still offers an intro week for new students and any student that has not visited in the past six months (or longer.) This means I was able to practice as much as possible over 7 days for $20. After purchasing my "re-intro week" I got changed and set myself up in the hot room.
Once I got into the studio I saw a few changes since the last time I was there. The room has now been divided up into thirds and lines indicate where the midpoint of your mat should be and also where you should stand making the student experience very uniform. Additionally, the teachers used to walk around during class and now the traditional Bikram podium has been added to the front, center of the room. The teacher takes the podium at the start of class and does not leave it further complying with the strict regulations dictated by Bikram himself.
Overall the class was exactly what any Bikram class would be, Bikram's beginning series never changes. However, two of the things I loved about Bikram Yoga Charlottesville when I first began practicing were
1) the little deviations from the Bikram script the teachers took offer students yogic food for thought on how to live in the moment, be open, not judge, etc.
2) the friendly atmosphere both in and out of class.
Sadly I did not experience either of these elements over the course of my two week visit. The teachers I had those two weeks are great Bikram teachers, I enjoyed the classes and highly recommend any visit to C'ville include a class or classes at Bikram Yoga Charlottesville. However I was a student there when BYC was just starting out and remember fondly the culture I was fortunate enough to be a part of for a little while. Somehow, BYC felt less personal than it used to and after walking out of the classes I took during my re-intro week I felt a little sad because I missed the "home" that I remember. Over the days I was there I went back and adjusted to the changes.
My last day in Charlottesville I took my undergraduate Teaching Assistant a class (her first yoga class ever!). When we walked out of the studio she looked at me and said "That was great, I love it!" Seeing her enthusiasm I realized that the only reason I hadn't fully enjoying my experience was because I set expectations for it based on how it used to be years ago. Not a good idea in yoga, or in life.
I am happy and grateful to have returned and practiced at BYC again, and in this case my yogi lesson was to remember not to live in the past. Being present is more than paying attention and engaging, it's also living in the present as well.
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