Prompt: A a student new to observing yoga, even if you are experienced at practice, begin your journals by observing the physical environment, the community of people who attend classes and frequent your practice space, and your impressions feelings and observations about what you are doing while "doing yoga".

Journal entry: Today we did a Bikram yoga practice in class. Having never experienced or even heard of Bikram prior to last Tuesday, I wasn't sure what to expect. I figured it wouldn't be too far off from the heated power yoga I was familiar with. We created a space for yoga in the classroom by pushing all the tables away and opening the windows to allow hot air into the room. Our instructor, Diane, was unlike the yoga instructors I was used to. She was older than I'd expected and didn't exude the same kind of bubbly, airy demeanor that the instructors at my studio at home did. She moved us through Bikram's 26 postures in sets of two, placing emphasis on the benefits of each pose, as well as the importance of how we were coming in and out of them. I had never heard of a yoga practice that boasted benefits for every bit of the body, right down to blood and tendons, but that's exactly what Bikram did. As I looked through the class, I noticed a lot of struggling and discomfort in certain poses, which I also noticed in myself. Many of the poses made me feel as if my joints were going to fall out, and instead of feeling like I was healed, I came out feeling achy and lightheaded. All in all, I don't believe Bikram would be a practice I would try again, but it was a very interesting experience.