Hot yoga causing high blood pressure

Many thanks, Gabrielle, for your reply —

As for symptoms, there’s some light-headedness and some lack of energy…

My feeling is that the attempted hydration before/during/after hot yoga goes to my stomach but doesn’t get to the places that need it quickly enough. I’m thinking that the dehydration may actually reduce the amount of circulating blood and cause my heart to pump faster/harder. My Google searches have shown that others have suffered increased BP from hot yoga and seem to support this theory.

As to the number of times my BP was measured and how/what/where/etc. — that’s much of the problem! There seems to be no reliable way to measure BP! The fancy drug store or grocery BP reading machines rely on algorithms that give me readings all over the place… and the home versions of those machines are even worse. And, even with the old-fashioned bulb and cuff and stethoscope methods, the readings go everywhere. Today, my physician’s nurse gave me readings of 130/90, then 126/82, then 112/70… all within 10 minutes, and with lots of rest in the waiting room before the first. Which reading am I to believe?

My initial scare came when a home-reading monitor read 160/130 after hot yoga. I kept repeating the test, and the numbers were unpredictable. I later checked BP several times at the local drug store, and the numbers were in the high 130’s… much higher than I had seen at the same drug store when tested months previously. I don’t really believe the 160/130, but I believe that the BP was significantly elevated.

My doctor seems to not believe that my BP is elevated — he only believes his own readings, and those only after he tests until the results show a single normal result! My sister and nephews are well-trained nurses and they tell me to STOP NOW !!!

Again, I enjoy the 26-posture series and believe that it would work well with reduced temperature/humidity — experienced practitioners, at least, would generate more than enough heat internally, in my opinion. The heat is unnecessary and a gimmick for new practitioners who want to see fast changes in flexibility… well, that’s rather opinionated…

I’m purchasing your Master Class tonight — I don’t really have any issue with my hot yoga practice, which is considered rather strong, but I expect to find a kernel of wisdom in your Master Class, as I do with most weekend yoga workshops. Well, to be honest, I’m purchasing because I was so super-impressed by your former student Sara Jones, an amazing yoga teacher in Traverse City, Michigan!

Namaste —
John

Already!

Again, I’m very impressed!

Hydration? Lots of water during the day, before the yoga class, and 8 oz. of coconut water just before… and a liter of water (half frozen) and a half liter of coconut water (with half liter of frozen water) during class, and a couple liters of water after class…

Well, the obvious solution is home practice! It’s boring… I’ve never been able to do it consistently… I do yoga mostly because it’s fun! I enjoy it… well, perhaps it’s because I like to be with other people occasionally, and yoga class is perfect for that — you can figure that out… Anyway, the social aspect is important to me, even though it makes yoga practice rather expensive, and perhaps unnecessarily so…

No, yoga at home does not appeal!

Now, what? That’s the obvious question… boring home practice or risky ego-boosting practice with healthy 20’s and 30’s (well, a couple 40’s) kids…

Namaste —
John

Hi Gabrielle —

Yes, that was a bit presumptive of me… saying that I follow your instructions re hydration. I haven’t received your book yet — what I meant was that I had just read your comments in the Forum thread “Heat Stroke Risks?”, which seemed rather on point, and thought I was on track…

My previous comment states my hydration when taking a hot class — lots of water during the day, using sea salt instead of table salt, either expensive electrolytes from Whole Foods or coconut water before and during class, freezing some water in my 2 liter-sized bottles that I use during class, 2 or 3 liters of water after class, at least 5 liters of fluid total during the day, etc. Hydration seems easier with an afternoon or evening class… more difficult with a morning class. I was buying coconut water in liter bottles by the case.

My genes are the northern European type (Swiss/German/etc.) and I grew up in Michigan, with a relatively cool climate. When I’m in a hot class, I’m already dripping sweat during the initial breathing sequence — sweat is pouring out of me during the entire class, much more so than anyone else in the room.

My theory is that my rapid loss of fluid through sweat is not replaced fast enough — that the water and electrolytes that I consume during and after class is still in my stomach and not where it needs to be.

Is there anything else that I can do to reduce my sweating or increase my hydration?

(I haven’t been to my local Charleston, South Carolina Bikram studio in over 2 months. I was on holiday in northern Michigan a couple weeks ago when I enjoyed Sara’s classes, which seemed to be less hot/humid than the classes here.)

Thanks, Gabrielle —
John

Hi Gabrielle —

Yes, recently, I’ve been more concerned with my recovery from the hernia, than my BP. Since I’ve been totally omitting hot yoga, hydration hasn’t been a problem. I’ve been using exercise machines, attending fitness classes, pilates (mat, ball and roller), aqua aerobics, and Zumba classes, (sometimes 2 or 3 classes per day), and I’ve dug out a stump with a mattock (pick axe). I’ve also been to traditional yoga classes and some strenuous Jivamukti yoga (even classes with Bollywood music), but not to hot yoga.

I enjoy the sauna at the Wellness Center, and I’ve been using the sauna there several times each week… almost every day. I sweat as much as I did in the hot yoga classes, but I seem to hydrate okay with only water. The sauna is about 175F, and I enjoy 30 minutes in, with a 10 minute slow cool-down before another 15 minutes in. My body seems to handle that heat well, even without electrolytes. My BP was measured at 112/70 about a month ago (with cuff and stethoscope) when I donated blood at the Red Cross.

Yes, Gabrielle, I’m still concerned with the same BP questions about hot yoga. Soon, I plan to monitor my BP more closely and try a class at the local Bikram studio. I’ll stress my age/BP concerns (talking to the instructor before class), and I’ll try to take in a thermometer/hygrometer… but, of course, the temperature and humidity measured at the floor won’t be what I’ll be experiencing. I believe that my sauna prep may be helpful. Yes, Sara’s class in Traverse City, Michigan was not nearly as hot and humid as the local Bikram studio.

A related topic is clothing… yes, I’ve followed some threads. The people who insist on the highest temperatures and humidity are often the ones who spend $$$ on the skimpiest, wicking-fabric hot yoga costumes, perhaps so they won’t experience the heat as much!!! IMHO If they dressed as newbies or in sweatsuits or similar jogging type costumes, they could get the same benefits with less heat… and people like me would be much happier with the reduced heat? just a thought…

I still believe that the hot yoga caused my high BP scare. I want to get a clear BP baseline first, and then give the hot yoga another try… and I’ll give you a report when I do… maybe I’ll try going topless to see if it helps…

John

Hi Gabrielle —

Bikram, again!!! Yes, after a little more than 6 months without hot yoga, I finally went to a Bikram class this afternoon… and it went rather well…

As before, I’m frustrated by the variability of today’s BP readings — 139/65 (after breakfast), then 126/61, 117/70, 122/76, and 104/64 (after a Zumba class)… all today on the same automatic machine at the local pharmacy… then, after Bikram, 127/60 and 125/56… then, after a big dinner, 131/58, 95/70 (error?) and 107/63… all with pulse rates ranging from 63 to 78 (after dinner).

Obviously, I need a better way of measuring BP. The physical doctor’s office is not convenient… and the Red Cross reads my BP only every 56 days, when I donate blood.

You may say that the readings are just fine, even with today’s Bikram class, but my BP readings were nearly all under 110/x a year or two ago… and I’d like to get them back down. I’m thinking that I over-indulged the sauna (45 minutes/day) at the Wellness Center (without electrolytes) and that I need to give that a rest to see how my BP changes.

I felt good during today’s class and performed about as well as before — good balance, strength, flexibility and stamina — except for my knees… they were still sore/inflamed from the Zumba classes and my toe stand and fixed-firm pose suffered some.

I believe that my excessive sweating is unhealthy — I’m dripping sweat halfway through half-moon pose and pouring sweat through the rest of the class — considering that I’m nearly 68. Next time, I’ll try some wicking briefs/shorts and go topless, to see if that helps… but, I’m not optimistic. I had hoped that my daily 45 minutes in the sauna would have helped prepare me more…

So, I’ll wait at least a couple more days and give it another try. I’d like to go to hot yoga twice a week, mixed in with other yoga/pilates classes, but I’m afraid that the local Bikram studio is a little too hot for me!

Any more suggestions? Thanks —

John

Hi Gabrielle —

Yes, I’ve come around to your thinking… that my focus on BP readings was excessive and unnecessary. But, when your age is nearly (now) 68, it’s easy to get scared.

Now, I check my BP only occasionally, and only when I feel lightheaded or otherwise different than normal. I don’t hesitate to go to a Bikram class unless I feel weak or am experiencing dizziness after bending over, etc. On those occasions, I’ll skip yoga altogether or go to a vinyasa style class instead of Bikram. And, I don’t do Bikram two days in a row, to give my body more time to rest.

I’ve only checked my BP once in the past month, and the reading of 116/73 and pulse of 71bpm (without taking time to rest) seemed to confirm that my frequent BP readings were unnecessary.

Again, thanks Gabrielle, for your attention, concern and advice!

John

Has it been that long? Almost 2 years since I last posted an update?
I’ve overcome my concern about my blood pressure.

I just finished a 60-day challenge, where my target was (only) at least 3 days/week. I completed more than 30 practices (including several doubles) even though I missed almost 2 weeks with the flu. I never (maybe once?) checked my blood pressure because I didn’t feel at risk.

Yesterday, a day when I did not practice yoga, I stopped by my local pharmacy for a blood pressure check, just out of curiosity. The readings were 107/63 with a pulse of 66, and I could have rested before the test to improve the results! Not bad for an old guy who will turn 70 in 2 months.

I can’t really explain the progress. I’m careful to hydrate during class, usually with half coconut water, but I believe that it’s more a matter of my body adapting to the practice and heat/humidity (my studio is often excessive) over time.

Cheers!
John