The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › Injuries, Restrictions, Ailments, Pose Modifications › Illnesses/Ailments › Does low blood pressure eventually normalise through bikram practise?
The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › Injuries, Restrictions, Ailments, Pose Modifications › Illnesses/Ailments › Does low blood pressure eventually normalise through bikram practise?
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I have been really enjoying my bikram yoga and have been taking class about 4 times a week for about six weeks. I found my first couple of classes almost unbearable as I have low blood pressure but am now loving it!
I am, however, still feeling dizzy during the standing series and sometimes can only do one set of the more strenuous like triangle or head to knee. My teacher has told me that my blood pressure will eventually normalise but I’m wondering how long this will take?
I did see an improvement when I experimented with diet and took an energy supplement to drink before class but the effects didn’t seem long lasting, and I am back to feeling dizzy again.
Hope you can help,
Briar
Hi Briar
I would love to know what is considered to be low BP! Are you willing to share your figures?
As someone who is also considered to have low BP I have found that the way I cope is to make sure I keep my breath smooth, long and deliberate – at all times in the pose and especially when I am moving OUT of poses.
I used to feel dizzy coming out of Standing Separate Leg Intense Stretch and Sep Leg Head to Knee.
To fix it: Finish the pose on your exhale, release your hands and then before you come up take one long inhale and exhale before starting your exit.
With Triangle etc it is possible that you went out of the realm of ‘challenging pose’ and into struggle! This is often reflected in your breath. Back off the effort and just breathe fluidly again.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Gabrielle,
Thanks for your response. I have to say I’m not sure what my figures are! I do know I’ve had since I was little!
I have been trying to concentrate on my breathing and today did a class where the teacher really did too. It did feel better but will try to breath more smoothly tomorrow. Sometimes I feel dizzy if I breathe too deeply – could I be breathing deeply but too quickly? I also think if I panic at any point it might aggravate it? Is this true?
Thanks again,
Briar 🙂
Hi Briar
Yes, smooth is good! There are times when a very deep breath makes one dizzy. Just lighten it off and you’ll be fine.
The reason I ask about your BP level is that so many medicos/patients etc think that low BP is not good. And they unnecessarily label someone with a healthy level of BP as having low BP. I would really suggest you go and get it checked at some stage in the future. Eg, my BP used to be 90ish/60. That’s on the low range of NORMAL, not low. Those adjustments that I gave you make the difference (well, for me anyway!).
Find out soon (they have machines at the chemist/pharmacy that you can simply try) or get it measured at your next checkup.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂I will get it checked then! It certainly isn’t enough to put me off so I will see how I get on.
Does that mean that bikram has helped with your BP?
Hi, Gab and Briar:
I monitor my BP perhaps twice a year and here are some of the readings: 108/56, 104/60/, 112/64, 92/56, 106/48. So, Gab, this is on the low range of normal, right?
yes…. very healthy bp bonmar 🙂
Beautiful! Bonnie your BP values are impressive.
Briar, I would say that exercising with hot yoga creates immense cardiovascular health through pump efficiency and so many other criteria. In that way it has helped with my BP. I would like it to remain ‘low’. I am sure that the efficiency and better operation would prevent it from getting it so low that one shows signs of problems. Just as I believe the yoga helps normalize my systems for me, I believe that your body wants to operate at its optimum.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂I am new to Bikram and have also had some low BP effects such as checkerboard and tunnel vision. I have checked out several sources and have altered my breathing which has helped me tremendously. I now have learned to do the following: focus continually on my breathing pattern so that I don’t begin to hold my breath during a pose. I also exhale when coming out of poses that cause low BP symptoms and that has really helped.
The other thing I have learned is that since I am new at this I am just beginning to learn about my body’s reactions to the intensity of Bikram, and I sometimes push myself to hard and end up struggling with breath, nausea, dizziness. I believe that will happen less and less as I become more attuned to my body’s signals.
So far my Sciatica and Arthritis symptoms have been greatly alleviated and I have lost five pounds in my first 2 weeks (4 times/week)I wish you joy and peace !
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