Absolutely! Sure! Why not? I mean really, you can do anything you put your mind to. Before you try this for yourself, please allow me to give you a few words of advice. This is all from my own personal experience so feel free to take it or leave it as you see fit.

First of all, decide what kind of double you want to do. Do you want to take back-to-back Bikram Yoga classes like taking the 8am class and then staying for the 10am class right after? Or would you rather split up the two classes and give yourself a break by taking the 6am class before work and then coming back to the studio after work for the 6pm class? There’s really no right or wrong way to do a double. Just find the one that works for you, your body and your schedule. The only way you’ll know is if you try both ways. Then see which one you like better.

For me, it depends on how my body is feeling that day. If I had good sleep the night before, have a little something in stomach before the first class and have a little snack to munch on in-between classes, then taking one class right after the other works fine for me. Sometimes I feel like the first class is merely a warm-up and during the second class, I get a crazy surge of energy. It sounds weird and it feels even weirder because mentally you think you’d be exhausted before the second class starts. There was only one time when I thought the second class was going to do me in. That’s because my body was starting to feel a bit under the weather. Instead of listening to my body and giving it the rest it needed, I pushed myself through a second class. I felt horrible by the time we finished the warm-up series and the rest of the class was a blur. Always be sure to tune in and listen to your body to see how it feels.

If this is your first time trying out a double dose of Bikram Yoga in one day, I suggest splitting up the classes. Take the first class in the morning and then take the second class either in the afternoon or later that night. By splitting up the two classes, you give your body plenty of time to recoup. You’ll have a few hours to rehydrate yourself, get some food in your system (don’t eat anything too heavy in-between classes), catch your breath and get your energy back. The only downfall of splitting up the two classes during the day is the double dose of laundry and the extra time commitment – two towels, two mats, two yoga costumes, two sets of a change of clothes, getting to and from the studio twice and taking two showers.

Regardless of how you decide to take your two Bikram Yoga classes in one day, I have four pieces of advice for you, no matter how many classes you plan on taking during any given day:

Drink Water

Bring plenty of water with you and take sips of water during class. The first and only official water break is 30 minutes into class, right after the warm-up series called “Party Time!” After that, you’re on your own for water breaks. Drink in-between postures, whenever you feel thirsty. I like to take additional water breaks right after each of the following postures: Toe Stand, Bow Pose, Rabbit Pose and the final breathing exercise, Blowing in Firm Pose.

Not only is it important to drink water during class, but also it’s equally important to drink water before and after class. Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. Drinking plenty of water the day before class is a great way to prepare your hydration levels. Plus, water is cheap, easy to drink and great for your skin. Stay hydrated my friends.

Add Electrolytes To The Mix

I didn’t start experimenting with electrolyte powders and tablets until I started training for the Rim to Rim Hike in the Grand Canyon last summer. Electrolytes saved my ass on that hike and they can make a huge difference in your Bikram Yoga practice, especially if you plan on taking two classes in one day. Electrolytes quite simply re-mineralize your water. You can either add one to your drinking water before class or add one to your drinking water after class. I prefer taking these before class because they tend to keep my hydration levels in check. There are many different brands, types and flavors of electrolytes out on the market. Try them all until you find the ones you like. I prefer using the Nuun tablets. Out of all the ones I’ve tried, they have the best flavors.

Don’t Eat Right Before Class

Every studio will recommend that you not eat anything three hours prior to taking a Bikram Yoga class. My body doesn’t respond well to that advice. I need to have something light in my system or I’ll get dizzy and nauseous during class. Before class, my body has always responded well with snacking on a banana or something equally as light. I wouldn’t recommend anything heavy, spicy or a full, greasy meal right before class. You will be uncomfortable, trust me.

Get Your Zs

Get plenty of sleep. If you’re tired, hung over from the night before or feel like your body is on the verge of getting sick, try doing Bikram on another day when you’re well rested. Be nice to your body. Give it the rest it needs whenever it needs it.

December 28, 2015

Before you go shopping for your Bikram Yoga costume, think about what you’ll feel comfortable wearing to class. Remember, the room is going to be hot. A traditional Bikram Yoga class is heated up to 105F with 40% humidity. You’ll be in there for an hour and a half so be prepared to sweat a lot. You’ll want to wear minimal clothing that stretches easily and feels comfortable getting sweating and sticky in. For ladies, this generally means shorts, capris or leggings with a sports bra or tank top. For guys, this generally means any type of shorts with a liner. Shirts and tank tops are optional for guys.

Shorts

I prefer wearing shorts in class because I sweat a lot. The less material I have covering my sweaty skin, the more comfortable I feel during class. One of the downfalls with wearing shorts is that sweaty skin makes it hard to grip onto. Also, you will be bending over and spreading your legs open in certain postures. Avoid giving your yoga neighbors a peep show during class and go with a form-fitting short. I love tie-side boy shorts for this very reason and they’re super flattering on all different body types. If you prefer a looser fit, choose a running short with built-in liners. Guys, longer board shorts or bike shorts are always a good choice.

Cropped Tights

Don’t feel comfortable rocking shorts in class? Go for a pair of cropped tights (or leggings) to give your legs full coverage. One huge benefit to wearing tights is they allow for a sturdier grip over sweaty legs. When choosing a pair of tights, be aware of translucent material. Always opt for a thicker material. Cheaper, thin material may become see-through when you add sweat and bending over to the mix. To prevent an OMG Class Moment, do a wide-legged forward bend in front of the dressing room mirror when trying on a pair of tights. If you can see your underwear when you bend over, you can guarantee you’ll be giving your yoga neighbors a peep show in class once you start sweating in class.

Capris

If you don’t feel comfortable wearing shorts, but get too hot wearing tights, go for a pair of capris. Capris are the happy medium between shorts and tights. You still get the sturdy grip over sweaty legs with a pair of capris, but the material ends just below the knees, giving the legs more breathing room in class than a pair of tights.

Sports Bra

Since there’s little to no impact in any of the Bikram Yoga postures, you wont need a sports bra with a whole lot of support. When choosing a sports bra for Bikram Yoga, it’s all about choosing the coverage you’re comfortable with. My favorite type of sports bra to wear in class is one that fits snug even after I start sweating, fully covers my front side and has sturdy back straps to hold everything in place. I want to avoid exposing myself to anyone during class as much as possible so I prefer a tighter fit and more coverage in the front.

Tank Tops

Don’t feel comfortable with just wearing a sports bra in class? Neither did I for the first month of practicing Bikram Yoga. If you want more coverage on top of your sports bra, choose a tank top as long or as short as you feel comfortable in. Avoid wearing cotton and steer clear of anything baggy. Cotton absorbs sweat, making it feel heavy during class. Loose fitting tank tops can fall forward in downward poses making them super annoying and uncomfortable. Comfort is key when taking a Bikram Yoga class so if you choose to wear a tank top, choose one that’s form-fitting and made of sweat-wicking material.

Shoes

Leave your shoes at the front door. Some studios allow you to wear shoes into the changing room, but they should NEVER be worn inside the yoga studio. Bare feet or socks are only allowed in the practice room.

Whatever you decide on what your Bikram Yoga costume will be, always remember the lighter you dress, the better you’ll feel in class. Choose a costume that’s form fitting and made of sweat-wicking material. Don’t make the same mistake I made when I first started practicing Bikram Yoga by wearing head-to-toe cotton. Cotton is rotten! It will weigh you down and make you feel more uncomfortable than you should be. Nowadays, my yoga costume consists of sweat-wicking, form-fitting boy shorts and a sports bra. Even the headband I use to keep the hair out of my face is made of sweat-wicking material. Trust me, class has gotten quite a bit cooler and more enjoyable since I made the wardrobe adjustment.

October 27, 2015

…getting out of bed in the morning. It’s only because I love taking the first Bikram Yoga class of the day. On the weekdays it’s 6am and on the weekends it’s 8am. There are so many reasons why I love doing Bikram first thing in the morning.

It’s a Great Way to Start the Day

I get the hardest part of my day out of the way. It might sound weird, but stretching every limb and sweating out of every single pore in my body gives me a ton of energy for the rest day.

Less Crowded

The class size is generally much smaller in the mornings, especially at an early hour like 6am. Some studios can be packed in the mornings, but most of the time there’s more then enough room to spread out. Taking class early means I almost always get to set up in my favorite spot of the studio, which is in the top, far left corner. In addition to beating the traffic in the studio, I also beat traffic on the road and never have to worry about not finding a parking spot.

Get Er Done

When I take class first thing in the morning, I don’t have to worry about talking myself out of going to class after work either. I get er done and then I’m on with my day.

Even on the mornings when I’ve had to sit out postures during class because I felt a bit queasy, I was still happy that I pulled myself out of bed and showed up for class. Showing up for class is 90% of the battle with Bikram Yoga. It’s all about finding the routine and class time that works best for your schedule. Mine just happens to at the crack of dawn.

The Universe presents us with a number of teachers throughout our lifetime. Each teacher who comes along is meant to teach us a valuable lesson, whether it be positive or negative. There are a wide variety of teachers. Sometimes they’re people. Sometimes they’re situations. Sometimes they can even be your own personal yoga practice. My Bikram Yoga practice has been an important teacher for me over the last few months and has taught me a number of valuable lessons.

Lesson #1: Slow Down

I don’t know how many times I’ve been running late for something and no matter how fast I try to get there, the Universe forces me to slow down. I get stopped at every red light. There’s more traffic than usual. People are driving under the posted speed limit. I can’t find a parking space. By the time I get to wherever I’m going, I’m stressed out and completely frazzled. I hate it even more when that final destination is a yoga class. Isn’t showing up for a yoga class in this state of mind counterintuitive?

Maybe it’s all part of the master plan. No matter what state of mind I show up for a yoga class in, I know that once I get unpacked and settled in, I have the next 90 minutes all to myself. I get to shut out the outside world and just be with myself, on my mat. This is my time to recharge. I don’t have to do anything else other than the next posture and breathe. By the time I’m finished with class, I find myself walking slower, thinking clearer, smiling at complete strangers and am always so much happier. My yoga practice forces me to slow it down and I’ve learned to really enjoy the pace.

Lesson #2: I Get Answers

Yoga helps me make good decisions. It could be anything from deciding which step I need to take next on a project to what I want to eat for my next meal. If I have a decision I need to make, all I have to do is tap into the situation mentally during class and I’ll have my answer by the final breathing exercise at the end of class.

Lesson #3: Yoga Can Heal

I used to have constant pain in my right knee. I’m pretty sure it was from years of wakeboarding and snowboarding because the sharp pain would always flare up after a long day of riding. I never went to see a doctor about the pain because I was afraid they’d tell me I’d need surgery. The pain was so uncomfortable, I couldn’t even sit with my legs crossed. Then there were the constant headaches. Headaches were so common, I couldn’t go anywhere without a bottle of Advil.

Once I started showing up for yoga on a regular basis, something really amazing happened. The pain in my knee went away and the headaches stopped. I don’t understand the science behind Bikram Yoga, but I do know that I no longer feel pain in my knees. I can sit crossed legged comfortably for long periods of time. As for the headaches, as long as I drink plenty of water throughout the day, get a good night’s sleep and keep my stress levels in check by maintaining my regular yoga practice, the headaches stay away. I’m a firm believer that yoga can heal.

Lesson #4: Accomplishing A Goal Feels Good

I recently challenged myself to take one Bikram Yoga class everyday for 30 days in a row. I not only achieved my goal, but I made it through 45 days of non-stop yoga. Not only did my body physically feel good, but my mind felt amazing. I forgot how good it feels to set a goal and then crush it. I’m already planning my next challenge for the New Year.

Lesson #5: Being Positive Is Powerful

I’ve been in the midst of dealing with a very difficult situation over the last couple of months. In the past when I’ve had to deal with a tough situation, I would waste a lot of time feeling sorry for myself and be negative. This time around, I decided to dive back into my yoga practice. Instead of hitting the snooze button in the morning and tell myself how sad I am, I choose to get out of bed and head into class. I show up for class everyday, no matter what my internal dialogue has to say. What keeps me going to class? Honestly, it’s the amazing feeling that comes over me as soon as I walk into the studio. The first step is getting there. Then the next step is completing the class. By 7:30am, I gift myself 90 minutes of concentration, hard work, and sweat along with an incredible a sense of accomplishment. How could I not feel good about myself?

This positive feeling stays with me long after class and throughout my day. This same positive feeling has also played an important role in helping me keep my head on straight during one of the most difficult times in my life. Without it, I don’t think I’d have the power to face what I’ve been going through. My yoga practice makes me stronger both physically and mentally. That’s powerful stuff.

Get to class, show up on your yoga mat and see what your practice will teach you.

December 21, 2015

I decided to take my first Bikram Yoga class over five years ago because a friend of mine had told me what a crazy good workout it was and that I’d probably lose a lot of weight, fast, Naturally, I was curious and wanted to check out a class for myself. I had no idea what to expect other than I would probably sweat a lot. I walked into the studio for my first class wearing head to toe cotton – shorts, tank top and a sports bra underneath. Even though the heat was blistering, it would still take me a good two weeks before I’d get the courage to lose the tank top and just rock the sports bra and shorts in class. Class got quite a bit cooler after I made the wardrobe adjustment.

By the end of my first month of taking classes, I was hooked. It didn’t seem to matter how crappy my day had been before I walked into the studio. I always left the studio after class happier and with noticeable pep in my step. On my way home from class, I’d already be thinking about going to my next class.

Even though I practiced at a popular studio in San Francisco during the peak, after work class times, it never really fazed me on how crowded the classes were. Having someone’s feet in my face during class was inevitable, especially because I refused to move from my favorite spot in the corner, in the back row. The crowding or wet carpet beneath me never bothered me though because somehow I managed to get into a blissful, yoga state of mind shortly after the first round of the breathing exercise.

In college, I took a basic yoga class for one semester to fulfill my PE requirement. I even purchased a Yoga For Dummies DVD featuring a 20-minute Sun Salutation series I’d do on my own from time to time, in the comfort of my own home. The yoga bug didn’t bite me until I started taking Bikram in February of 2010. I haven’t been able to practice consistently over the last five years due to chaotic work/school schedules, limited financial resources and the unavailability of having a studio nearby to practice at, but whenever I do have the chance to practice Bikram consistently, life seems to be so much better. I feel a whole lot happier and healthier.

So what is it about Bikram Yoga that keeps me wanting to come back every day? Being a stress reliever is one reason. I find the more often I go to class, the less stress I have in my life and the stress I do have in my life becomes way more manageable. Another reason that keeps me wanting to come back to class each day is how quickly I can see my body change from the first day I walked into the studio. With a regular practice, I sleep better, my flexibility improves, I sit straighter at my desk during the day, my muscle tones up nicely all over my body and yes, I’ve managed to lose some lbs as well.

All of these physical changes certainly help me feel more confident in my own body, but the real changes take place inside my body. There’s something about a regular practice that helps me align my mind with my heart and gut. By coming to class everyday and gifting myself a full 90 minutes of interrupted “me time”, I’ve learned how to listen to my intuition. If I start class with something on my mind, I always seem to have a solid answer or plan in place by the end of class. Bikram Yoga has made me smarter because it allows me to make really good decisions about anything in my life. People pay good money and spend years in therapy for that sort of thing. Why not save the time and money and just go to Bikram?

When it comes to Bikram Yoga, or any type of yoga for that matter, always remember it’s the practice room, not the perfect room. Your body is going to be different every day in every class. Some days will be really challenging and other days might be a breeze. One thing you can always count on is leaving with a different body than the one you walked into the studio with.

December 27, 2015

Tis the season to be jolly or maybe a little extra crazy. This “OMG Class Moment!” happened on my way to yoga class the other night. I was in my car, waiting to make a left hand turn from a side street onto a much busier street. It was about 5:30pm, at the height of after work commuter traffic. The side street I was making a left hand turn from was on a hill. In order for me to see if cars were coming from either direction on the busier street, I had to inch out slowly, causing me to be in the crosswalk and slightly in the bike lane. There was no other way for me to safely see if the traffic was coming from either side.

I had been waiting quite some time for the traffic to clear on both sides so I could make my left hand turn. There was no middle turning lane to pull into. Traffic seemed to be especially heavy on this particular evening. During one of my glances to my right, I saw a female pedestrian walking towards my car along the busier street. As she got closer to my car, she started walking faster and directly for me. I waited for her to either walk behind my car or in front of it before I tried making the left hand turn. Instead of doing either, she stomped right up to my passenger side window, cussed at me for being in her way, flipped me the bird and pounded on my window with both of her fists. WTF? Then she walked around to the front of my car, slammed both her palms on the hood of my car. I laid on my horn, flipped the bird right back to her and told her not to touch my car. I figured that was a better reaction then gunning the gas pedal and running her crazy ass over.

I was in shock. I felt violated. How dare she beat on my car, thinking she could get away with it? That’s when I decided to roll down my window, look her in the eye and yell, “F—k you Lady! Merry Christmas!” I have to admit, there were so many better things I could have said in that moment, but for some reason I decided to wish her a Merry Christmas. Seriously? She looked at me and was slightly taken aback. I don’t think she expected me to say that either. She probably had a “WTF?” running through her head as well. The awkward moment quickly passed and the crazy lady was back to yelling at me again about how I needed to move my F–king car out of the crosswalk and bike lane. She then turned around and continued stomping her crazy ass self down the street.

My blood was boiling by the time I got to my yoga studio. Instead of being able to forget about the horrible run-in I had with the crazy lady on my way to class, I dwelled on it. I kept thinking about how I could have handled the situation better. I also couldn’t help but feel ashamed for stooping to the crazy lady’s level by flipping her the bird and yelling back at her. Not only did I have a hard time focusing on holding the postures during class, class seemed more uncomfortably hot than usual AND I had some lady’s feet in my face during the entire floor balancing series. Not exactly the zoned out, blissful, after work yoga class I had been hoping for.