Doug started doing Bikram yoga when his daughter Christina started working that the Yoga 360 Surrey studio, but this had almost no influence on him starting yoga. “I would drive by to get my coffee and I thought, ‘that’s something I’d like to try.’ So, I gave it one try,” he continues, “then I tried one more class, then I bought a one year unlimited membership.”
Some people have a hard time believing that this 56 year-old married father of two and grandfather of four, floor-layer and life-long athlete does hot yoga: “A couple have people have said to me ‘I don’t picture you doing yoga.’” Doug is quick to dismiss stereotypes about yoga, “I tell them about the benefits I get from it. The problem with people my age and they’ve been in their routine for years. The doctor tells them they have to work out, so they do it for a couple of weeks, then they stop. They won’t work on it. They can’t change. But I’ve always enjoyed working out, so this is just the next phase – I don’t need to be lifting weights at 56.”
What Doug does need is to build his flexibility and increase mobility to reduce joint pain, and Bikram yoga does this for him. “I’ve been laying carpet for 40 years. I used to go to the chiropractor all the time to get my hip done. Since starting yoga, driving doesn’t bother me; flying to Hawaii didn’t bother me… I’m not going to go to the chiropractor anymore!”
Doug has always worked hard and worked out, so the discipline, physical workout and heat are not new challenges for him: “I’ve worked out ever since I was a teenager, and I work in the heat to stretch the carpet, so that didn’t bother me at all.” (In fact, Doug is one of the few people that describe their first Bikram yoga class as “good”!) What is new is how great he’s feeling: “I’m getting a lot out of the class. I can’t believe how good my hip feels now.”
One of the keys to continuing to feel good, both in and out of the yoga room, is a consistent practice. “I try to go three times per week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday.” Doug doesn’t force himself to go to yoga. “It’s not like torture for me,” he enthuses. “I missed my class on Monday, and I really missed it!” Aside from loving the workout and stretching, he also likes that this is time that he can spend with his daughter, Christina. “I make time because I appreciate the benefits,” he says simply.
When he’s not busy with his own business, he also enjoys playing golf. “I’m an 8 handicap, so I’ve always had a pretty good swing. I find I’m more flexible. It hasn’t improved my score, but I go through the game without any stiffness or problems. I golf 3 times a week and practice a few hours, as well.”
“I hope to start doing Master Core classes after a few more months.” Doug elaborates on his yoga goals, “The core is the secret to work, golf, all sports – everything! If you’ve got a strong core, everything works around that.”
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