The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › General Hot Yoga Discussion › The Heat › Help! I love this practice, but…
The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › General Hot Yoga Discussion › The Heat › Help! I love this practice, but…
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Dear Gabrielle,
I have been doing Bikram Hot Yoga for nearly seven months. The first six months were amazing. It completely transformed me physically, mentally and spiritually, and I couldn’t wait to get to class. However, where I once had one ‘bad’ class (dizziness, weakness, nausea) in five or six, that ratio has now reversed. For the last month I have been experiencing all these symptoms, plus mild vertigo, in most of my classes. I come away regularly feeling defeated and dreading the next class.
Can you tell me why this might have happened so suddenly and with such ferocity? as far as I can tell, the temperature/humidity is about the same. I am doing everything the same (eating, hydrating, ect.). I have wondered if I need to see a doctor!?
Thanks in advance,
Mary Beth
Hi Mary Beth
You’re not having fun at the moment! 🙁 Honestly, it would be wise to see a doctor and also see below for a couple of ideas that also may resonate. If you go to a doc, you would be able to find out if there’s anything you can rule out or just to establish a health baseline.
You mention your hydration is good. How are your stress levels? How about your electrolyte intake? Is there anything different that you can perhaps think of?
I imagine you may have looked up symptoms of heat exhaustion. If you haven’t that could be good to check in with.
The only other thing I can think of with the limited information so far is that maybe, just maybe you could do with a week off or a yoga-free holiday!
Taking a week or 2 off you need to realise that your mind could sabotage you going back to yoga. So be aware of that from the outset and plan your return. You therefore would be able to find out if a rest and renewal has you feeling better in the room.
Let me know how you go and what you decide
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Gabrielle,
Thank you for your response. I have read the posts about heat exhaustion, and I think there is something there. What I don’t understand is why it has happened so suddenly. I did forget to mention that it seems my ‘good’ classes are in the morning, and the worst are at the end of the workday. But again, this was not the case a month ago. As for anything being different, I have been very vigilant about diet and hydration from the beginning, and lately, when I began having problems, I started drinking Emergen-C about an hour before the class. That didn’t seem to make a difference.
I also should have mentioned that I am 49, and have been peri-menopausal for about a year and a half. I sweat more than anyone in the room, and I’m fine with that. In fact, I LOVE the heat (I live in Alabama)! But I can’t handle the continuing weakness, dizziness, and nausea.
This is a busy and stressful time of year for me (I’m a teacher), so I’m not able to go my usual 4-5 times a week for the next few weeks. But as of the 27th, I will be able to go every day in the morning. That might make a difference.
I have scheduled an appointment with my primary care doctor for next week. I’ll discuss it with her and see what she thinks.
Thanks again for this forum.
Hi Mary Beth
Hoping all is well. You must be looking forward to the 27th when you can start going every day again. Your stress levels by the way could be on of the reasons you’re experiencing the issues. Would that seem it could be a contributing factor?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂My end-of-year stress level could definately be one factor, and to be honest, trying so hard to fit in my 4-5 classes a week wasn’t helping. So for the last two weeks, I took your advice and had a yoga-free holiday during the week and only took classes on the weekend. I also moved further back in the room to discourage myself from pushing myself so hard. These strategies seemed to help. Out of the last three classes, I only experienced minor dizziness and nausea toward the very end of one class.
I didn’t make it to my doctor appointment, but rescheduled for next week. Regardless, I am feeling more positive about it. I’ll post again if there are any more updates.
Namaste.
I went to the doctor the week after my last post and discovered I had a sinus infection (I thought it was just allergies). My doctor put me on an antibotic for 10 days, and it cleared up. But while I was on the antibiotic, I continued to experience dizziness and nausea, though to a lesser degree. During that time, I also did some internal work on my anxiety about the heat, and also reframed my response to the symptoms. Rather than feeling ‘betrayed’ by my body, I decided to view the weakness, dizziness, and nausea as my body’s way of alterting me that I need to back off. I have started saying “thank you” when I experience any symptoms, and I stop, breathe deeply, and lie down if necessary. Since the 10th I have been able to manage my symptoms and anxiety, and in some classes, I have been able to actually do ALL sets of ALL the poses (a first for me).
Thank you again for making this forum available.
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