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| Daniel and his lovely wife, Linda |
One of our Yoga Challengers, Daniel completed 50 classes in 60 days (38 of them in a row!). He is an inspired artist who combines his talent and life-long exploration of consciousness and self-realization to depict uplifting and profound sacred imagery.
You can experience more of his artwork at www.awakenvisions.com
Daniel’s experience in his own words:
I began practicing yoga in 2001 or 2002 at Bikram San Rafael, before it was remodeled. My wife, Linda, told me how great it was so I tried it and recognized it’s value and potency.
I was about 50 when I started, and had suspected for years that I should start doing yoga to maintain my body and health. After a couple years of sporadic Bikram Yoga I started having lower back problems and was told not to do it anymore…but that did not seem right to my inner knowing. So I decided to start again this year and take it very gradual on the bending-over positions. After a few weeks I could feel my lower back getting stronger and getting better. I attribute it to committing to the long haul and having the patience to take it very cautiously on the bending-over positions.
My doctor looked at my X-Rays and said I had Degenerative Disc Disease and shrugged and said stretching and exercise may help. I was very sore for the first month or so and it’s taken around 3 months to see a gradual but noticeable improvement. After doing 38 days in a row I have been doing 3 days a week steadily and plan to continue that. I may even start doing the in-between days (Tuesdays and Thursdays) Power Yoga to get the strengthening variation. As a bonus, I lost 15 lbs in the first 30 days and now remain at my ideal weight.
An even greater impact of Bikram Yoga, is the benefit of building inner strength and focus – similar to regular
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| “Bridge to Truth” by Daniel B. Holeman |
meditation results after some time. It gradually became easier to remain still inside when life is going nuts outside. It is easier to stay centered and not react (with old programming) to things so much. More present to respond, more confidence, and I feel healthier in general.
For years I had been in and out of my healthy practices of “yoga, mediation, and healthy diet”. It was very self-defeating, to know some things are good for me but not do them (more often than I did them). So when I started the 60-day Challenge (I ended up doing 50 classes in 60 days, with 38 days in a row) I decided to just make them all a permanent part of my lifestyle. And I am still very grateful for the intro special which helped me gather the wherewithal to start it.
I consider my Bikram Yoga practice a life-saver as I had become quite stuck in a rut in my life and it is in the process of turning around…I would not even think of stopping it now. Before, when I had been doing it sporadically, I viewed it as a kind of drudgery and now I look forward to it. I also enjoy the folks that go to yoga, I find it is a very positive environment.