AUSTIN — Shawn Clynch, KVUE sports anchor and reporter, is no stranger to intense workouts.
And for the past several months, he's become fully involved in Bikram Yoga, or hot yoga. He goes to the Pure Yoga studio in North Austin.
"A lot of people are turned off by it because it’s 106-degrees with high humidity and the classes last 90 minutes long, so 'Why would you do that to yourself'?" Clynch said.
Here's why, in Clynch's words:
Bikram Yoga provides clarity
"I feel motivated the morning after I do a Bikram Yoga session. I have a clear mind. I have all these tasks -- whether it be personal or professional -- and amazingly I get them done. Before, I felt pressure, I felt like “I’m never going to get this done.” But Bikram Yoga has helped me narrow in and focus more."
Flexibility
"I’m 44-years-old, I’m not going to lie. When you age, your flexibility decreases. Your joint health decreases. Right now with all the flexibility I have, I feel like I’m in my 20s again."
Breathing and meditation makes me a better person
"This is kind of deep, but I know what it means now. I feel more connected and present in the moment. With the breathing and meditation, I feel more focused and dialed in. I find myself throughout the day not day-dreaming, not wondering what I’m going to do the next week, or worried about things I have no control over. Breathing and meditation has helped me become a better person and more productive."
It releases toxins
"A lot of people have argued this and there are articles out there that say the sweating and the heat from Bikram Yoga really doesn’t matter. It detoxes your body. There are so many toxins in your body that you’re not even aware of and I wasn’t even aware of before doing all my research before entering the world of Bikram Yoga. Any form of yoga is medicine."
The "Zen" factor
"The most calming I’ve ever felt is after that 90-minute workout. I feel exhausted but I feel rejuvenated -- full of energy. I now know what Phil Jackson, the former coach of The Bulls, (meant by) ‘using the Zen.’ Augie Garrido ‘used Zen’ on his Texas baseball players. I know what it is – stronger mind, deeper thinking, and being more open to learning."
"Those are the five long reasons I love Bikram Yoga."