I recently had a cold for five days. However humdrum that may seem, it is man-bites-dog news. For two and a half years, I have been practicing five or six days a week, and not a single germ has colonized me. In the bad old days, I suffered four colds a year, one in each season.

Sometimes something tickles in my nose or throat for half a day, but I go to the studio and next day, good-bye tickle. The studio is, of course, fever temperature, and the purpose of fever is to kill germs, so it’s no big stretch to assume the heat is my all-conquering hero.

But for all that, I woke up on a recent Sunday feeling as if someone had scoured my throat with steel wool during the night. A different pain throbbed in my eardrums. I could barely stand, and slept the day away.

The next day, faith forced me to class for a dose of heat. I don’t remember that class, tho I know I asked the teacher to excuse me after the standing series. I know I must have lived my life over the next two days; if not, my children would have notified me of neglect, but I have no memory of those days either.

On Thursday, I felt a bit stronger and went for a second dose of practice. I politely informed the teacher that I was trying to get over a cold and not feeling very strong and might leave after the standing series. But a true Bikram acolyte, the teacher replied, “Don’t give yourself an out.”

Here’s the twist: I had one of my strongest classes, germ and all. A friend said it must be like practicing a difficult piece on the piano, then resting for a few days, then playing it again and finding the difficulty gone.

And just so, the very next morning, my body proved itself the victorious warrior in the battle of the bug.

Namaste,
Yoga Lily