Amanda James Daily

Welcome to North Carolina

Blisters from bass guitar made the plane ride unbearable but by the time I landed in North Carolina, I’d forgotten what it was like to have a finger not throbbing.  Plus, I had a whole new audience to share the news with, so I was excited that I had something to show for my hard work.

After the holiday festivities ended, including Moravian Love Feasts, a Happy Birthday Jesus Party, and several non-Jesus parties with friends from highschool, I needed a new way to spend my time besides relaxing on different couches in my house and spending too much money running unnecessary errands.

That’s when I starting researching WWOOF.org late one night. I wanted to find something fun and difficult to do that would make me feel exhausted by the end of the day, so I’d know I’d done all I could do in a day.  Plus, I’d been sitting in front of a computer for what felt like the past year, since I spent the summer interning and writing, instead of working outside, so organic farming seemed perfect.  I had saved up all the means to travel to Costa Rica to do it, but skepticism from e-mail responses with farm owners there had plunged the energy out of my pursuit…

The temperature is 105 degrees Fahrenheit.  Twenty people (mostly adults) stand with their knees wrapped around each other, and their hands before them in prayer position.  Focused faces stare at sweaty reflections in the mirrored wall. 

Is this some new-age form of a torture chamber? To some, maybe.

But to the followers of Bikram yoga, which involves 26 poses and 2 breathing exercises, it’s the best way to improve your health and your life.  Just attend one class and you’ll be able to quickly observe the smiles and bright spirits of the people who practice regularly to see that their encouraging attitudes are, in themselves, a testimony of why they keep coming back.

Follow the link to find out where you can start sweating and stop worrying!

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