Hot yoga lifesaver
Hot yoga enthusiast Aleisha Turner is now a Guinness World Record holder.
The Hamilton woman has achieved her goal of attending 50 Bikram Yoga classes in 30 days. The previous world record was 45.
Now after months of corresponding with Guinness, she’s been sent the certificate to prove her efforts.
Bikram Yoga is practised in a room heated to 40 degrees Celsius and 40 per cent humidity.
From March 2-31 2017, Turner spent more than 90 hours practising the discipline at Hot Yoga House, London St.
It’s been a long process for Turner, who first requested a chance to break the record in 2015.
‘‘It took them about a year to get back to me,’’ she said.
When the month of hard work was over, months of correspondence followed.
‘‘I didn’t know how much evidence they needed or what qualified as evidence.
‘‘ I had to video every single class, have different witnesses and everything I did needed to be signed by someone here.
‘‘It’s such a process, but it was a once-in-a-life-time opportunity,’’ she said.
The record was just icing on the cake for Turner, who first turned to yoga after a broken back left her unable to take part in the extreme sports she loved.
And in May, 2016, Turner was in a ‘‘constant state of anxiety’’ following an abusive relationship and a disparaging work environment.
She was diagnosed with trichotillomania, a hair-pulling disorder.
‘‘I took myself to the crisis centre to try and get help.
‘‘They talked to me for hours, and this went on until September.
‘‘By September, things had gotten so bad.
‘‘I’d shaved my hair off, I’d done a Britney,’’ she said.
‘‘I only just got referred to a psychologist in August last year.’’
Turner believes there needs to be more done for people with mental health issues. She credits yoga as being a key player in her recovery.
‘‘By the time most people go to get help, they’re at rock-bottom already. They don’t have another six months up their sleeves.
‘‘I couldn’t leave my house for anything else. Yoga was literally my saviour.’’
The record will act as a reminder of the barriers she’s overcome, and the challenges she’s faced, she said.