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Have you ever heard the saying, “Don’t fix what’s not broken”?
It’s one of Bikram’s most famous lines, and I’ve heard him say it countless times during my years practicing and teaching hot yoga. He’s particularly adamant about this when it comes to his 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises, known as the 26 & 2 sequence. At first, it might seem like a simple phrase, but there’s so much depth behind it—especially when applied to yoga and life.
I still remember one of my early days in Bikram's class. The room was scorching, 105 degrees, and I was drenched in sweat by the second pose. As I moved through the sequence, there were moments where I thought,
Maybe this could be adjusted. Maybe we could change this or that. But as I continued to practice, I started realizing the brilliance of it—just as it was. Every posture flowed into the next with precision, purpose, and harmony. That’s when it hit me: Bikram had created a system that wasn’t broken, and it didn’t need fixing. The heat, the sequence, the repetition—all of it served a higher purpose.
“The heat, the postures, the sequence—it’s all been meticulously designed to heal and strengthen the body and mind. Why change what’s already perfect?”
What I’ve come to understand is that consistency is powerful.
We live in a world where we’re constantly encouraged to chase the “new”—new diets, new workouts, new trends. But the simplicity and reliability of the 26 & 2 practice is where its magic lies. Just like the structure of the poses in Bikram, some things in life are already perfect as they are. There's no need to overcomplicate them. It’s about trusting the process, just like you do when you step onto that mat day after day, whether it’s your first class or your hundredth.
In 2004, I created Sumits Yoga—a fusion of different styles, including Bikram's. It was my way of bringing something new and exciting to the yoga world, and it resonated with many students. But over the last two years, I started noticing something troubling. Many uncertified teachers began offering a version of Bikram Yoga that felt diluted, disconnected from the roots and precision that Bikram’s original 26 & 2 sequence offered. It bothered me because I knew how powerful the original practice was when done the way it was intended.
So, I made a decision: I brought the original 26 & 2 sequence back to Sumits Yoga studios. At first, it felt like coming full circle—back to the roots of what made Bikram so transformative for me. Now, I have more awareness, wisdom, and a deeper passion for Bikram’s method than ever before. I see it as a perfect offering alongside the other practices we offer. The clarity, the discipline, and the healing benefits of Bikram Yoga are undeniable, and it’s a gift I want to continue sharing in its purest form.
But here’s where it gets even more profound. In a world of endless vinyasa flows, Downward Dogs, and constant movement, Bikram Yoga stands as a reminder of the beauty of simplicity—of stillness.
Bikram’s 26 postures are therapeutic by design. There’s no need for complex transitions or quick changes. Instead, the pauses between each pose, the deliberate stillness, create space for something incredibly important in today’s world: mindfulness.
The absence of Downward Dog or fast-paced flows is not a lack—it’s a gift. In the stillness of Hatha Yoga, in the moments where we pause and breathe between postures, we find something that’s often missing in the Western approach to life: stillness. The chaos of our daily routines, the constant noise of technology and busyness, all melt away in that hot room. The teacher’s dialogue becomes a meditation. And in those moments of stillness, we are invited to be fully present.
Seeing yourself in the mirror, in that heated room, is more than just alignment correction. It’s an act of self-love. You’re not just looking at your body—you’re witnessing your own journey, your own growth. You’re holding space for yourself in a way that modern life rarely allows. There’s a reason Bikram insisted on mirrors in the studio; it’s about learning to face ourselves, to appreciate our bodies and minds, to stop and be with what is—without the need to fix or change anything.
In those moments, the practice becomes a metaphor for life. Just as we learn to pause and breathe between postures, we’re reminded of the need to pause and breathe in our daily lives. To find stillness in the chaos. To simplify where we can. And to understand that not everything needs fixing.
Bikram’s method offers a therapeutic approach that is so desperately needed today. The slow, deliberate practice allows us to reset not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. The body becomes lighter, the mind clearer, and in that process, we find balance.
As I reintroduced Bikram's 26 & 2 into Sumits Yoga studios, I did so with a newfound appreciation for how this practice complements the world we live in. In a culture that glorifies speed and multitasking, Bikram Yoga reminds us to slow down. To focus. To trust in the simplicity of what works.
So, the next time you’re on your mat, sweating it out in the heat, remember this: You don’t need to fix what’s not broken. Embrace the stillness. Embrace the pauses. And know that in those moments of quiet, you’re finding something that many of us are seeking—balance, peace, and healing.
Personally, this lesson came full circle when I opened my first yoga studio. I thought about making changes or tweaking the format, but every time I came back to Bikram’s original words, “Don’t fix what’s not broken.” The more I embraced that simplicity, the more grounded I became—not just as a teacher, but as a person.
Sometimes we’re tempted to fix things simply because we think change is necessary for progress. But as I’ve learned, progress often comes from embracing the things that already work, staying consistent, and not getting distracted by the need for constant adjustment.
There’s a certain liberation in realizing that not everything requires fixing. Sometimes, all you need to do is stick with what works, give it your energy, and trust that the system—whether it’s the yoga practice, a habit, or even a relationship—will continue to evolve naturally and beautifully.
So the next time you’re in class, feeling the heat, working through those same 26 postures, and thinking you need something different, remember Bikram’s wisdom. Embrace what works. Don’t fix what’s not broken.
And just like in life, sometimes the most profound growth comes from mastering the basics, over and over again.
Love
Sumit
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