Ashutosh
How did you first discover Bikram yoga?
I like running and was a regular long-distance runner with one full and multiple half-marathons under my belt over a period of about 12 years. I never realized how running affects the body if you do not do the necessary complementary exercises. Deepa helped me discover Bikram Yoga to complement the running activity.
Ashutosh gets up on his toes in Awkward pose.
What have you gained from your yoga practice?
I think I am able to focus better on any activity at hand and it helps me make better choices in life. Being present in the moment is another benefit. On the physical side, I feel Bikram Yoga helps me improve my fitness even more than running did and it’s helping me heal from a meniscus tear in my right knee.
What has been your greatest struggle or accomplishment?
My greatest struggle has been to not worry about being “perfect” in the posture. I think I have a big opportunity in letting the process take care of the results – just like the teachers tell me. In terms of accomplishment, doing 2 consecutive 60-Day Challenges in the year 2016 ranks high.
What advice would you give to new students or those struggling with their practice?
BREATHE!!! It really works. Please be regular in your practice and don’t worry about the physical posture perfection, like I do.
What do you like to do outside of yoga?
I am an outdoor sports-loving person. I do still run 3-4 milers with Blitz, our handsome black Labrador. I am looking forward to possibly getting back to a half-marathon later this year. I love watching sports, especially football and basketball, with Deepa and our son Ameya along with other friends and family.
Deepa
How did you first discover Bikram yoga?
Yoga is something that I had heard about at an early age. A very common idea of yoga is exercise. I did my very first yoga course about 20-22 years back – that was more of a meditation. I felt good, but that was the extent. For me, yoga was intimidating because I am not a very athletic person so bending, stretching, flexibility was not my thing. With this mental block, I stayed away from it.
The discovery of Bikram yoga was because of my husband, Ashutosh. He has been a runner all his life. After running marathons, he was going through knee trouble and severe allergy problems. I kept telling him that he needed to look at yoga and that’s when we came across Bikram Yoga San Jose. Since this was about him, I didn’t think about attending the class myself. But he kept telling me to go for it and that is when where my journey started.
Deepa deep in Camel pose.
What has been your greatest struggle or accomplishment?
Things come into your life at a time when you are ready to accept them and that is what happened to me in the form of 60-Day Challenge. Almost two years into the practice, I was in a comfortable place in my yoga practice. I knew about the challenge and always thought that I wouldn’t be able to do it, but Ashutosh kept encouraging me and I finally decided to go for it in December 2016.
For me the biggest challenge was being in the hot room day after day for 60 days. Without Ashutosh’s support, I don’t think I would have been able to complete the challenge. This was the foundation for my second 60-Day Challenge, which I did on my own. Due to this, I came to know and understand that “I can.”
What have you gained from your yoga practice?
As I am writing this, I realize that I have to think really hard about my struggle which was “I cannot be in the hot room everyday” because today I cannot function if I have not been in the hot room for 90 minutes. This yoga has given me so much that I can’t describe in words. It gave me confidence, balance, peace of mind, a sense of well-being, and the list goes on. Today I can say that it is not an exercise but is this beautiful dance of mind and body.
What advice would you give to new students or those struggling with their practice?
The advice that I follow is to be in the room without expectation and just follow the dialogue and yes “Breathe”. This is such a beautiful experience that each one has to go for it.
What do you like to do outside of yoga?
I love dance and am fulfilling my dream of last 20+ years and learning Indian classical dance form of Kathak. Also I’m a big fan of sports thanks to my husband I started following basketball and football. I like to listen to music and one day would like to learn to sing as well.
Finally I would like to say that Yoga is not just an exercise, but beautiful journey of self-discovery where you are learning about your mind and body and I encourage all to join in.