Bikram Yoga instructor Reggie Meneses

“Move first, think later. It’s very liberating. Avoid paralysis by analysis.”

So what does it mean?

As triathletes, we tend to over analyze the simple decisions we need to make. For example, we debate in our minds questions such as:

• Do I sign up for this race because my friend PR’s on this course?
• Should I ride an extra 10 minutes even though I’m finished the ride but my training schedule says I need to ride 10 minutes more?
• Should I eat X because I heard that a pro eats X?

It’s relatively easy to get stuck in our heads and unable to make a decision. We become paralyzed in thought as we debate all the possible outcomes and permutations. We spend excessive amounts of time thinking and take no action.

No action. Nothing changes. We’re stuck.

As Reggie says, “Move first; think later.”

In others words, don’t over analyze your decisions - just take action. It may not be the best possible action, but it is action. Done. Move on.

Live life richly and boldly!

David

—-

David B. Glover
Experiential Writer, Elite Athlete, Coach and Race Director
Author of Full Time and Sub-Nine
Personal Web: www.davidglover.net
Business Web: www.enduranceworks.net

©2008 David B. Glover

Yesterday, I sweated out 23 pounds of sweat in 3 x 1.5 hour Bikram Yoga classes. I feel awesome today!

In my continuing search for a new challenge, I decided to try three Bikram Yoga classes in one day. If you’re not familiar with Bikram Yoga - also called hot yoga - it’s a series of 26 postures that are performed in a specific sequence in a very hot and humid room. I wrote about the benefits of Birkam for athletes in an earlier blog post.

The challenge for me in doing multiple Bikram classes in one day is not surviving the heat but rather replacing fluids and electrolytes lost by sweating during class. I’m a heavy sweater. During a single class, I will completely soak a full-sized beach towel and leave puddles in the carpet around my mat.

Three classes in one day was an experiment by me on me. Could I take in enough fluids and electrolytes to successfully and safely complete all classes?

In order to to determine sweat volume lost each class, I weighed myself immediately before and after every class. I also wrote down what I drank before, during and after class.

Here is what happened during each class:

Class 1: 9:30AM

• Beginning weight before class: 175 lbs
• Fluid consumed during class: 5 lbs
• Ending weight after class: 170 lbs
• Sweat volume lost during class: 10 lbs

Comments: I brought 3 large water bottles into class with me - 1 of Cytomax and 2 with Emergen-C. I drank all three during class. Normally, I take only 2 bottles in with me. I was still 5 pounds lighter after class even after drinking 5 pounds of fluids during class.
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The end of December marks my two year anniversary of attending the Reston Bikram Yoga studio.

As a professional triathlete, I spend anywhere between 15-25 hours each week during the summer swimming, biking and running in order to prepare for my triathlon races. Even in the winter, the supposed “off season,” I am running 40-60 miles a week in preparation for a spring marathon. Consequently, I am constantly stressing my body physically. I do not have the time, the energy or even the motivation to do something “extra” just for the sake of doing it.

Classes are 90 minutes long and are conducted in a room heated to about 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity. I will sweat out 9 pounds of water in a class. When you count travel time along with the need to arrive a few minutes early and stay a few minutes late, each class becomes a minimum 2 hour time commitment. On top of my swimming, biking and running, I make the time to take 2 to 4 yoga classes each week - a 4 to 8 hour time commitment.

Photo: A Reston Bikram Yoga class

So why do I still do Bikram Yoga?
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