The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › Injuries, Restrictions, Ailments, Pose Modifications › Hips › Flabby legs
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Hello,
This is all very new to me, I started Bikram Yoga this week.
I am 51, never worked out before as I thought that I was always active. I have had problems with my back for years and finally had an x-ray, I have a vertebra slightly out and the muscle’s have grown around the bone and it is stuck together like glue. I tried Physio and it only made it worse. So I live with it and the pain has become a way of life.My muscle’s in my legs are so non-existent and flabby they make me depressed. So I finally decided to do something about it, I mean if i feel like a 70 yr old now how will I feel when I am 70!
Can anyone tell me if I work out 3 times a week for ever will I see an improvement in my legs and back by next spring/summer?
The works outs I have had this week was hard, my face looked like a lobster and I think I sweated in places I did not know existed! But all in all I am not sore.
Hi there,
Starting Bikram is a huge step in the right direction. I’ll bet that you see improvement in your leg strength an d muscle definition immediately. I have read some articles stating that we do not HAVE to lose muscle as we get older. If we keep up a good level of activity we should be able to maintain. The same articles say that we can regain a good portion of our youthful muscle levels even if we start working at it in our 40’s, 50’s or beyond!The key is to stick with exercise and to make it a regular part of your life. If you do it long enough, missing it seems the same as forgetting to eat or brush your teeth.
Good Luck!
Hello New2This
I loved the fact that a person called YogaLifer answered your Newbie post (with great worthwhile comments too).
To answer your question specifically:
I believe YogaLifer has done that in essence. I would like to add the following:
In my experience it seems that generally (ie not in every case but as a general experience which may pertain to you) the older the student is and the older they embark on instituting changes the rate of change can be slower.
For example, a 20 year old who comes to do 3 classes per week, may experience faster overall body shape change than the 40 year old, who experiences faster change than the 60 year old. GENERALLY.
And regardless of age the more you go per week the faster the change occurs.
Also changes to your physical being WILL occur. Regardless of rate of change, these changes may not be visible to YOUR eyes as they happen, but tend to hit you in the face one day. What I mean by this is that you could be going 5 times per week for 5 weeks and not notice any shape change until end of week 3. And all of a sudden you CAN’T BELIEVE how toned you have suddenly become.
So New2This here are my recommendations: If your schedule permits it, give yourself a wonderful gift of fast-tracking your benefits by going AS MANY TIMES PER WEEK AS YOU CAN for a couple of months. Then settle down to your 3 times per week.
This has many benefits. My husband Robert has a wonderful analogy: just like storing the butter in the fridge, the more often you bring it out to use, the softer it becomes to use and the less waiting around for it to warm up. You mention you have some spinal problems which would so welcome some tender loving hot-yoga-care. Less time between classes in the beginning will really loosen your problem areas up. And the more you do it the more you will create the changes you want and the young feeling body you deserve. Plus it will have the effect of building that wonderful strength in your body again and giving you visible toning. You will enjoy your transformation.
You should feel so encouraged by the fact you are not sore. Your heat acclimatization process is a 14 day REAL physiological process. With patience you will feel much more at ease in the heat very soon. FYI: even the most regular yogis sometimes emerge looking lobster-red occasionally.
Yes absolutely, and especially with an intensive start, you will see a massive difference by next summer with 3 classes per week. And more importantly, before long you will be living pain-free. Aaaaaah. No more putting up with pain. That has GOT to be the best reason to go.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Thank you so much for that wonderful explanation, I actually read it twice and again to my husband as it as given so much inspiration!
I went again today and it was a bad work out, my instructor explained I will have days like that, she did comment on how she see’s me as having patience and if I dont manage a move I try again!
I again thank you for your kind thoughts!
Thank you Yogalifer, your explanation was well said!
I want to improve my life and wish I had started long ago, but I least I am trying now!
Thank youE!
So today marked my 5th workout in 7 days! The first two went perfect (well I did all the moves to some degree) well on sunday I decided to go to an am class, normally I go to PM classes. Well I did drink my morning coffee and drank only water and had a small bite to eat.
Well it was the worst work out I have experiecned, I could not balance, I could not hold my leg as it just went sliding out of my and hand. To top it all off, I started crying half way through the class and prayed no one saw me!!!!
I was so dishearted that I thought “get right back” so I did, same thing I could not seem to do anything right but this time I did not cry! Some times I get a feeling of being scared, almost like a phobia, my breathing became hard and I didnt know what to do. A lady who has seen me there a few times had to ask if i was ok.
On the last part of the class, you know where you hold your leg and kick and push your top half forward, for about 30 secs I found myself almost in a trance as I was so focused but it was only this morning I realised that it took place????
I am taking a day off today and will go again tomorrow, I am in between jobs right now and would like to go to the a.m. class but I am scared I will have a bad workout and should stick to the p.m. classes????
One thing I should mention is, I noticed one huge thing that I can now do that I have not been able to do for about 15 yrs!!! I always have to sit on the shower floor to shave my legs as the pain in the lower back is so hard, but yesterday I actually stood straight and brought my leg, knee bent but had no problem shaving!!!!!!!! :bug: I was so shocked I called my hubby to show him!!!! :coolsmile: He was impressed and walked away shaking his head at me :red:
Hey there New2This
I am guessing you are feeling a little frustrated. Just in the same way that your body has to physiologically acclimatize, your mind is getting used to some new repatterning as well.
Your experience is very common. Just know and trust that you will soon feel more confident with your own abilities. You will not care anymore what anyone thinks of you inside the studio. You will no longer worry (much if at all) if you fall over, lose your balance or not have the best class. You will simply notice your feelings and move on. I can already sense that your breath is opening up for you and that can in itself be quite scary.
You are right on ‘schedule’. There is nothing else to do but simply surrender to the process. Not care one way of the other what you or anyone else thinks…
And just … be
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂 -
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