The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › Member’s Meeting Place › Member Chit Chat › Advanced series changing my practice for the worse?
The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › Member’s Meeting Place › Member Chit Chat › Advanced series changing my practice for the worse?
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I’ve been doing Bikram for a little over a year now, 2-3 days a week in the beginning, 4-6 days a week for the past few months. I’m very conscious of what I eat, I take supplements and whatnot, so I don’t feel this is intake or electrolyte related.
In the beginning, like most, I would sit out a few postures, but as my practice improved after a few months I had little difficulty getting through an entire class doing every posture and was happy to go back for more.
The last six weeks or so, I am finding myself overwhelmed by the heat, especially on the floor. I can get through the standing series, although I often have to take a knee now after the first set of triangle.
When I get to the floor, I’m dead weight for the spine strengthening series. I can manage to do the first set of each posture, but I get such an overwhelming rush of heat after each pose and can’t get my breathing under control. I have to lie still through the second set to catch my breath and let the heat dissipate. Usually, I feel better by fixed firm.
I know I can do the series in its entirety, I’ve even managed a flawless class as recently as two weeks ago and one near flawless class this week. But four out of five classes… something is wrong.
Only one thing has changed, two months ago, I was invited to advanced class, which I’ve been taking twice per week in addition to 3-4 regular classes. I’ve really enjoyed the advanced class and I am improving in all of my postures (even the parts of the spine strengthening series that I can manage to do). Is it possible that the advanced series is somehow the cause?
The first few times this happened, I just reminded myself that this is a lifelong practice and I shouldn’t judge myself on one class, but now its getting harder and harder to believe. No one is judging me over it but me, the teachers haven’t mentioned it, but I’m still feeling ashamed and frankly a little emotional over this.
I have only seen one studio that offered an “advanced class”. What is different? I asked my instructors about it and they said that there are advanced postures, but “Bikram Yoga” is only the one designed series and there is not another class that is taught.
That happened to me a few weeks ago and I instantly knew why. It was the the first(and only time since)that I had ice in my water. I walked to class (3.5 miles) and had a neighbor bring my bag, so I froze some water the day before so it would melt by the time I got there and I wouldn’t have to carry it on my walk. When I picked it up to drink some it was really cold and I knew it was going to be a bad idea to drink it. It floored me. I could barely hold my head up while sitting down. I don’t know how much you drink or how your water is, but that might help. I see people that always have water like that, but it killed me. I also try to only drink enough to keep my mouth wet, it helps me from guzzling
Fascinating question, I would be very interested to hear Gabrielle’s take on it.
But here is mine from a slightly different angle. Three things that stood out in your post are feeling overheated, feeling breathless and the inability to get through the postures/needing to take a break even though you usually manage the entire series without difficulty.
I’ve noticed in summer the increased levels of humidity really affect my practice: my breathing and I also get boiling hot and exhausted – the combination of which literally ‘floors’ me. Last year I was ‘diagnosed’ with an iron deficiency – strenuous excercise and excessive sweating deplete our reserves of all sorts of minerals, including electrolytes. And having started the advanced series… well there might well be a link. You are doing a LOT of yoga 🙂
I like to keep things simple (tend avoid too many potions and supplements) so I started taking iron supplements since I don’t eat meat which has really made a huge difference and I also eat at least 2 large bananas during the day. Something else I’ve discovered this year (we’re having an unusually hot summer:-)) is water with lemon juice and a pinch of sea salt dissolved in it. I drink 2 large glasses, the first about 2 hours and the second half an hour before class. Not only is it refreshing it really felt like it gave me that extra little boost to conquer the heat/onslaught of humidity which seems to so affect my breathing and energy levels.
Try it, otherwise I hope you find relief very soon!
Thanks Coryogi, I didn’t get a chance to reply yesterday, but our icemaker has been broken for weeks now.
I also broke the first rule of fight club… just kidding… Google Tony Sanchez 84 Asanas to see what advanced class is. Someone can probably correct me, but my understanding is that we’re doing the series that Bikram was taught by Bishnu Ghosh. The ‘beginner’ class is the streamlined version that Bikram created for us Westerners. There is a lot of overlap, but the ‘beginner’ class doesn’t have the advanced postures because Bikram didn’t feel they were necessary for basic health. They just look cool if you can do them or like a struggling bug if you’re like me.Cyberry, I think you may be on to it…
Humidity has been high in the room lately, the ceiling fans were on a little higher than normal today and I had my first complete class again. Thinking back on the last time, it was on a day just after it rained. I’ll bet the humidity got sucked out of the air.
The doors stay open for a good bit of advanced class and it isn’t crowded, so the humidity is lower. Maybe if I get to class earlier I can acclimate myself.Also thank you for suggesting iron supplements. My red meat intake has been declining steadily over the past year, it could have taken a while for my iron to get low. I too love the bananas and they are way cheaper than coconut water. I drink a banana/fruit juice/whey smoothie every morning and within 30 minutes after class. I take a liquid multi daily, but after checking the label it looks like there hasn’t been any iron coming my way at all.
I also agree about higher humidity contributing to a more “challenging” session in the hot room. Our summer is exceptionally humid, and I find that I do acclimatise to it (and even enjoy the challenge). We are in the middle of winter which is generally a lot dryer, however it was really humid on Monday night – I was totally lacking strength and lift in the floor series, my breathing was more difficult to regulate, I thought my heart was going to jump out of chest and my face looked like a beetroot! I think I was still recovering last night, because my practice felt a lot heavier (if that makes any sense!)…
I find it motivating that I can still get totally floored by this yoga. Sometimes your strong, energetic practice can get turned on its head – accepting this and not reacting is part of the experience.
Hi Y’all
A fascinating read! Thanks!
PJ: I also believe it’s something that could be addressed by looking at your intake of food, supplements and so on.
Cory: For me too, I simply cannot have cold water because it can make me sick. Generally and except in rare circumstances, even in the height of summer I still want to drink ambient temperature water. You may not believe this but I actually take warm lemon and ginger tea (a teabag) in my drink bottle into yoga with me. I really don’t drink in class much at all if at all, but after class it’s ready for me to guzzle down should I wish. And I never feel worse for wear.
Cyberry: Thanks for the Iron suggestion. Is your supplement chelated? That makes them easier on the digestion (no constipation). Green leafies like Kale are a great idea too. Check out this smoothie recipe from Shona which I have to try very soon. It can be found here at this interesting conversation about Protein and Building Strength:
My fave recipe at the moment is one green apple, the juice of half a lemon, teaspoon of cinnamon, the inside of one vanilla pod, one firmly packed cup of kale, 2/3 cup of water and 6-10 ice cubes… blend it up… yum… great after a late class.
And PJ, don’t worry at all. We can discuss anyone, and any type or style of (hot) yoga here. I actually recommended the exact same video to someone else just yesterday so that they could do the Advanced Series at home. It doesn’t matter what it’s called and who popularized it, Yoga is Yoga and it belongs to EVERYONE.
The beginners’ series is attainable by just about anybody and any body. The advanced series would never be as popular or as attended because the poses are simply not as easy for the average body. 20+ poses are easier to remember than 80+ poses. There are tons of reasons. Probably the most important one is that it feels great and we love to do it (and talk about it!).
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂PS 😆 As I type this, Shona’s post just came in! Thanks Shona for the recipe!
Oh yes it is! It also says: ‘met extra vitaminen en mineralen voor een goede opname mild voor de darmen’! 🙂
Also contains B and C and other minerals and elements which help absorption. Good of you to point that out, though.
I took some ‘gentle iron’ supplements the last couple of days and I did great again today. It wasn’t a cool/dry class either, some poor girl left to throw up… I think I will try adding kale to my smoothies, even the gentle iron isn’t that gentle and I’d rather have a natural source anyway.
So… I felt well enough after class to do my first double! Beginning, then advanced. It was a bullheaded move given how erratic my practice has been, but I really feel like half the reason Bikram is so amazing for me is that it pushes me to confront my fears and get out of my comfort zone.
I felt just fine (famished, but fine) and felt (and heard) some old fascia breaking up in my shoulder. I am well hooked on this practice. Thanks again for being there to give advice.
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