Real Men Do Yoga: John Low

Bikram men, are you practicing through the holidays? Here's another entry in the Real Men Do Yoga series to inspire you to hit the hot room this week.

And here's some inspiration to submit your story to the series. If you do, you win a prize! Simply email a few paragraphs about your practice and a photo or two to aliveinthefire at gmail dot com and you will get a tasty treat.

Now is the time to let yourself indulge -- just a little! -- especially after you've earned dessert by practicing for 90 minutes. And if you prefer something a little less sweet, just let me know. We've got a variety of prizes available.

You can choose from incredible Etsy bakers who make tasty and tiny cupcakes, divinity fudge, and gourmet cookies. Or you might want to spice it up with a jar of hot mustard. Homemade salsa and handmade soaps to come!

 

Win any of these tasty snacks simply by submitting your story! Note: not exact pictures.

Today's featured Etsy donations are from Cupcake Tin 2010, a bakery shop where you can buy adorable single cupcakes in a tin and send them to your friends and family as unique gifts. The shop's most popular flavors are chocolate, red velvet with cream cheese frosting, and funfetti (white cake with sprinkles baked in).

Photos via The Cupcake Tin's Facebook page.

Check out Cupcake Tin 2010 on Twitter and Facebook.


As a new customer, you will automatically save 1o to 15% on your order. Check out the awesome selection today and place an order with Nicole for a delicious holiday treat.


Now, introducing John Low, a regular Bikram yogi at Bikram Original Hot Yoga in Malasia. This is his story.

John Low works hard to balance his Bikram practice with home life and time with family.

Years ago, I damaged my left knee after doing squatting exercises at the gym. More recently I curled my leg to pull myself closer to the office desk on my wheeled-chair, and my knee popped.

Now, it hurts like hell now at the point of the common angle of climbing up stairs. This also means I can't play tennis. 

A mutual friend on Twitter read my whining about the pain. She happens to be a qualified trainer, and was just returning from Texas then. "Why not come give Bikram yoga a try?" she asked. Little did I know, the simple question would lead to personal transformation.

My mum used to teach yoga to her friends at home. She had started practicing at home when my older brother bought her a book titled Yoga for Health. Since I was the youngest and had already started high school, my mom had more time and thought to teach it. I think she was proud of how many people had complimented her on how young she looked for her age; she's always attributed it to yoga. Whenever she was teaching upstairs, I'd be downstairs watching either The A-Team, Airwolf or MacGyver, to give you an idea when this was.

Sometimes Mom was practicing, I'd join her. Not for all the poses, only what I thought was challenging for someone my age then. The Bat was one posture I would always try, where one sits on the floor with legs straight and wide open, and chin to the floor, finger grabbing the toes. If I recall, the advanced version would involve proceeding to a complete side-split, with the stomach on the floor and rolling forward and end-up on the stomach with legs behind and flat on the floor.

Years after that while I was growing up, I'd still do that for fun, on the floor while watching TV, or reading the newspapers. I always felt better after a stretch. It also helped balance out the karate and kung-fu classes I used to take. Boarding school bullies who try to challenge me would think twice when I "show off" warming up for the "duel".  To be honest, telling a story about how I had given the karate instructor a bloody nose during sparring also helped.

Since those years, I took up the usual sports like tennis and gym, never at all giving "real" complete yoga classes any thought. I was in all ways, a typical bloke.

So I accepted the invitation to give Bikram class a try this past April. I was not happy with my weight and, truthfully, my image, my puffy face. I could only wear my two largest-sized pants in my wardrobe. I had also just done a medical exam and my cholesterol levels were frightening. 

At the first class, I could do most of the stretch-related poses, but no way till today could I keep my endurance up for all the pose-holding. 


In May, I took a three-week-long work-related trip away from home. Since this was my first time to the United States, I tried a lot of new foods including American-portion-sized fast food. When I returned, I felt even more motivated to practice the yoga.  

I have been trying to go three times a week since then. Most weeks when I couldn't keep this routine, it was due to my daughter's whining. Since I have a full-time job, I could only go to yoga after work, which meant no time for her and family, or our trips to the playground, dinners together, or simply just hanging out. During periods of lull in the office, I have gone for the early morning classes to improvise. I have been lucky with this arrangement this year.

Around July or August during a family dinner, my older sister, whom I don't see regularly, commented that I have lost weight "and look better this way." Her teenage daughters and other nieces, being something of activity-junkies themselves, were asking which studio I attend. I had even brought one of them along once for her to try. And as expected, it is too slow for her. Though she enjoyed it, she is back to her usual bouldering and cheer-leading activities, "for now," she says.

So, I'm still attending Bikram as regularly as I can. I do feel more energetic, and am more noticeably able to keep up with the kids. I am getting back some definition, an image which I wasn't so conscious about at our recent family trip to a water park. I am sure the wife has also had some secret thoughts though she hasn't shared much (!), and I do know she is happy for me too.


These days I can chomp down the nieces-made cheesecakes and rebut the wife when she says I would put on weight. "Don't worry, I now know the formula!" I tell her.

Thanks to Bikram instructor Mei Ng, for encouraging me in the Hot Room and inviting me to submit to Alive in the Fire :)

Namaste,

John 

 

John spends his early mornings and late nights in Bikram's Torture Chamber, getting energized for time with family.

John first posted this story about his Bikram practice here. His blog, Daddee Yah!, is named after his daughter's first words. Contact him on Twitter here. 


Thanks, John, for submitting your story! If you want to submit yours, yogis, you know who to email. A few paragraphs and a few pictures to aliveinthefire at gmail dot com, and you'll win a prize!