30 Days Confidence Challenge via Bikram Yoga in Soho: Day 1

To be honest the Day 1 was yesterday, but since the Day 2 isn’t finished just yet… here is my Day 1 and how I’ve survived it.

I am the Celebrity coach who is slightly on S&M side (just joking!), meaning that every single year, usually closer to the New Year, I set myself a new challenge. Last year I’ve learned ski jumping and the year before I’ve start climbing. My belief is that the Confidence is not a permanent state but we do need to constantly feed it. Challenges are my ways of feeding my Confidence.

As too many people around me are now taking yoga classes, which I did for most of my life, Bikram Yoga is something I’ve never tried before. In addition, rather conveniently, my highly overpriced private membership gym has come to the end just 2 days ago.

After some research I’ve decided to join the Bikram Soho Yoga, where they offer the 30 Days Challenge program. I was in a very good mood, especially that I love saunas and how difficult can it possibly be? The only challenging bit for me was to sustain it for 3o days.

I set my alarm to 5am in order to attend the morning class.

5am. The alarm rings. No freaking way. Continued sleeping all the way through, precisely till the time of class supposed to end. Woke up.

Well that was a good workout.

After some work, I had a good laugh that I am not succeeding with my challenge even before trying. Grabbed my bag and kicked myself out of the door to any first class available.

When I came to the Bikram Soho Yoga, I’ve been told to live my ‘glass sleepers’ outside, which has left me in shock state, as my shoes are never something I’d like to keep, let along leave, outside. Then after feeling some forms and paying in full for my challenge, I’ve been told they have huge lockers so I should be fine should I wish to smuggle my ‘glass slippers’ inside in the plastic bag. And off I, rather cheerfully, went to the changing room.

To my horror, the large lockers where the size of my cat’s litter L After contemplating for a while, I’ve told myself I am here for a challenge and not to make myself feel as a spoiled brat. I squeezed my teeth and stuffed my stuff into the locker.

As I arrived too early, I decided to wait outside and browse through some literature, and then I’ve notice that people are entering the class earlier and I have followed them through.

HOT! It took me few minutes to adjust to the temperature, then I had a small laugh inside me how everyone is too perfect and already practicing some poses. I just sat and waited for the teacher to enter.

It began. I was quite impressed that I’ve managed few poses in the beginning till my sweat stopped dripping and went to the full flow. Slowly I’ve noticed I am about to faint. Then my thoughts went to: is it even legal to subject your body to such horrific experiences. Half way through I wanted to leave. It wasn’t fun anymore. The rules are: If you leave the class before it ends, you fail the challenge. Since I’ve suffered half way through already I thought I might as well stay.

After the class ended, I rushed to the showers. Which gave my senses extra shock. I honestly felt as I am inside female prison shower!!! There were 6 of us squashed in ONE shower room?! I quietly cried that I am not in my exclusive gym with my own extra large private everything, and continuing sobbing and feeling pity for myself, I did managed to wash my hair and body. At this stage I wasn’t sure what was more challenging, humiliating bright orange shower room or… the class.

After drying myself and getting back to my senses, I run! out of the studios as fast as I could.

To be continued…

PS: if you are attending those classes as well - please say Hi :-)