The Unexpected Side Effects of Bikram Yoga: How I’m Aging Younger Than Time

I’m 56 years old.

And for the first time in my life, that number feels largely irrelevant.

Not because I’m trying to turn back the clock—but because my body, my mind, and my internal data are telling a different story.

Based on recent comprehensive health testing, my biological age measures at 45.6—more than a decade younger than my chronological age. That result wasn’t accidental, genetic luck, or a temporary peak.

It was built slowly, intentionally, and consistently over time.

And one practice has played a foundational role in that process: Bikram Yoga.

This isn’t a story about anti-aging. It’s a story about longevity with capacity—about staying capable, generous, and deeply alive as the years add up.

“I genuinely love getting older”

What I don’t accept is the idea that aging must come with inevitable decline—less energy, less clarity, less strength, less trust in your own body.

As a former athlete and lifelong mover, I believe improvement is always available.

After a 90-minute Bikram Yoga class, my wearable data showed sustained cardiovascular output through slow, controlled movement, 84% cardiovascular demand with only 16%muscular strain, significant time spent in heart rate Zones 3–5, nearly 90 minutes of continuous, purposeful work, and an average heart rate of 152 bpm.

This wasn't a frantic effort. It wasn’t impact-driven. And it wasn’t passive recovery.

It was aerobic efficiency—the kind of conditioning that supports longevity rather than undermining it.

We usually hear the phrase “side effects” and brace ourselves. But what if the side effects looked like a lower biological age, improved cardiovascular and metabolic health, better digestion, clearer thinking, emotional regulation, and sustainable energy?

Bikram Yoga is slow by design. Controlled movement and regulated breathing increase oxygen availability throughout the body. Oxygen supports muscles, the brain, the gut, and cellular health.

Good bacteria thrive in oxygen-rich environments. Good bacteria create energy. And energy is the foundation of longevity.

My relationship with Bikram Yoga deepened after my sister passed away. Her death brought me back to my mat during a season when grief felt heavy and words fell short.

Through consistent practice, I learned how to stay present—even when it was uncomfortable.

One instruction changed everything:

“Look at yourself in the mirror.”

In the entire Bikram series, there is only one posture where you’re told to look down.

Everywhere else, you stay present.

Presence—physically, mentally, and emotionally—is what allows us to live in alignment with our values, give more without depletion, and continue becoming our greatest selves.

Decline is optional.

Consistency matters.

Oxygen matters.

Presence matters.

I’m not aging younger because I’m fighting time. I’m aging because I’m working with my physiology.