Steve Anderson

One of my intentions for this website is to connect with people throughout the world who practice Bikram and are doing the 30DC. My interview with Steve marks the first of what I hope to be MANY connections with folks outside of my hometown New York. Steve practices at the fabulous Bikram Yoga Pittsburg.

Hey! I'd like to know how you joined our community.

I have been practicing yoga for a few years now and I read about Bikram yoga online. No one brought me to Bikram yoga.  After learning about the 30-Day Challenge, I decided to sign up to give it a try and test myself.

That's actually how I found it too. I'm thankful for google everyday. Tell me what happened on your first class.


My first class was a very intense experience and a little overwhelming, but the instructor told me the goal on the first day was just to remain in the room, which I did.  Getting used to the temperature wasn't the worst part.  I got very frustrated by getting too sweaty to hold onto my feet a few times, but I am going to work through it.

The goal for every class is to stay in the room. I experienc days, even after years of practice, when that in itself is the biggest and most challenging goal. I can understand your frustration, and I totally admire your will to not let it get you down. What made you return?

I came back because I really did enjoy the physical benefits of the class and I am anxious to complete the challenge.  I'm very excited to see how I feel at the end of 30 days. 

Like an absolute rockstar. Hee hee. Are there any injuries you're working with?

I do not have any injuries to deal with, thankfully.

That's a blessed thing. Ha, I just remembered something Bikram often says. He boasts that his class tightens our 'screw-lose brains'. Not to say that you have a screw-lose brain, but just in terms of injuries or ailments that are not necessarily visible that the practice still takes care of. It's multi-purpose, like Dr. Bronners! What do you like about this practice?

I like the practice's concentration on areas that normally don't get as much attention through other methods of yoga.  I found the internal heat building to be exhilarating and the sweating felt great.  I dislike the restrictiveness of the asana sequences and I miss certain asanas that I am used to doing every day. However, I am willing to follow the necessary methods to complete the challenge in a satisfactory manner.

That's a cool approach to have. There's something so magical with inspired and freeflowing sequences, but the great thing about this 26-posture class is that the very repetitiveness and restrictiveness of it becomes imprinted in your body, so that not only do you improve over time, but also allows you to relax into meditation and not think too much about what comes next. What is it exactly about the 30DC that you dig?

I want to do the 30-Day Challenge to give me something to work hard at and to strive for personal physical and mental improvement.  I've been feeling unhappy about a lot of things recently and my yoga practice is a great
companion every day.  Bikram's 30-Day Challenge not only gives me an activity to keep me occupied and to gain physical strength and flexibility, but also gives me a new perspective on yoga that I would have not otherwise tried to understand.  Whether I like it or not is irrelevant, but opening the mind and body to a new experience is the ultimate deciding factor.

You are going to feel so fabulous, really truly. Can I tell you something? Before I practiced Bikram, I suffered from depression, every winter, like clockwork. The transformation has been incredible. Not only am I able to build physical strength, but maintain that joy that I create in the warmer weather... I think those screws in my brain definetly got tightened! What are your intentions for this challenge?

My intention for the challenge is to work hard every day, respect my instructors and classmates, and feel good about myself and what I have accomplished at the end of every session.

I love it! Your intentions make me want to go in and practice right this second! What about postures--which rock your boat and which ones would you rather cross off the list?

My favorite posture is Trikonasana because I can see the results right in front of me in a confortable yet challenging position that I love to perform. It also reminds me of my other yoga practice and keeps me grounded.  The Final Spinal Twist at the end of the seated series is great as well.  I love twisting postures and this one gives me a great opportunity to loosen up before the final Savasana.  My least favorite would most likely be standing head-to-knee or Tree pose because sometimes I'm too sweaty and my feet slip out of my hands and I get frustrated a lot.  I'm working hard to try and press my big toes into the towel to give myself a stronger foundation.  I enjoy the seated postures much more than the standing ones.

Next time you do tree, in addition to stablishing a foundation with your locked knee and equally-distributed weight around your foot, try tightening your core muscles and STRETCHING your spine to the ceiling. So excited for you! Keep me posted on your journey!

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