I am quite overweight and doing hot yoga

Hi Donna,

My only suggestion is practice regularly, trust the process and celebrate every sign of progress. One of the greatest things I love about this practice is just what you mentioned, everyone focused on their own efforts and not judging mine.

For me the struggle right now is to stay focused on all the positive changes that are happening and not obsess about the scales not moving so fast anymore. The attached picture shows some of the physical results after one year (last November). I was squeezing into those pants and almost ready to go up to the next size. The day I could again buy off the rack at normal stores instead of the “Big & Tall” shop was fantastic.

Take Care,
Lee

Hello everyone!!!

What beautiful posts. My heart feels happy to read them all.

It is so gratifying to finally find a place where the exercise is spiritually satisfying, and where you learn self-acceptance on such a DEEP level. I don’t think I would be putting words in anyone’s mouth when I say that sometimes it is hard to breathe through the intensity as you look in your own eyes in the mirror – not looking away but observing, accepting and loving.

With it we find a greater capacity to love and to be with ourselves and therefore find that capacity in all our relating outside of the studio with everyone we encounter. Although we have to commit to taking somewhere between 2 and 3 hours a day to get to and do the yoga, paradoxically we find we have so much more time and space and energy to give to our loved ones and the people we work and play with. Mmmmm. This stuff is magic.

Congratulations Donna on your wonderful achievements. Enjoy your journey as the shape just melts away and your love grows. Lee and Hannah have offered very inspiring words which profoundly resonated with me too. I challenge you now, to get rid of those scales all together (or send them to a friend for the next 6 months) and keep checking in to you and how you feel, and not the external signs of those numbers.

I too am really looking forward to reading much more of your journey

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Donna,

What an amazing observation – goodness, I wish I’d been able to move so fast in my own practice observations … nice work!

Congratulations too for persevering – that speaks volumes for what you will achieve – lesser mortals may have had the experience in the other studio and used it as an excuse to quit. Not you – you’re well and truly on the yoga path!

I wanted to add my opinion here (as Gabrielle is likely to be diplomatic – I’m not known for holding back on my opinion hehe) … frankly it IS your practice and I’m delighted to hear your regular studio encouraging this. The only thing that should be discouraged is students adopting “their own versions” of poses without coaching or prior consultation with a teacher – other than that – it’s your body, your mind … more to the point you are the customer.

For sure there are those hot yoga studios that have instructors who frankly should get therapy themselves – I personally have no time for them and have shunned studios and instructors who teach that way (I’ve been a corporate educator for years and do not suffer poor facilitation or pseudo-psychology).

Before anyone jumps in and tries to push the “oh but that’s what you need to learn from your yoga, how not to let that bother you” barrow … I say .. “Would you accept the same philosophy if undergoing neurosurgery? Is it OK to accept lesser quality because there is ‘something for me to learn from it’? …”

Yoga always was about the journey and always will be – it’s a PRACTICE not a “perfect”, as is life.

So Donna, good for you … as for us here, I would be delighted to hear more about your observations as you continue “your practice” …

Thanks for the update – I’m sure it will inspire many other visitors!

Cheers,

Robert

Congratulations Donna on finding Bikram!!!

I’ve been attending Bikram classes for only 6 months, so I’m a newbie also. I can’t begin to tell you how much better I feel since starting this journey. I also needed to lose weight (still do %-P about 20lbs), and I did lose 20lbs during the first 3 months. I have stopped looking at the scale since I know I’m still losing, but the scale isn’t agreeing. Every week something else is too big to wear! It’s a great feeling.

Even though I started Bikram to lose weight, I gained many other benefits. I no longer have ankle pain (accident injury), no indigestion, no longer need sleeping aids, plus my family says I’m much calmer. This is definitely something I will continue with. It’s a lifestyle change.

My husband started Bikram when he saw how much I enjoyed it. He was a big runner and into weight training, yet he was always complaining about back, neck and knee problems. Since starting Bikram, he has stopped the running and weight training altogether. He has never felt better, stronger and no longer has back/neck/knee issues. He’s even starting to get flexible 😆 When he first started he couldn’t reach his feet in the floor bow pose either. Now, 3 months later, he can reach his feet with no problem.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say Donna, is don’t give up! Go at your own pace and own your space. An understanding teacher will not make you do something you’re not ready for. As long as your not “making up” your own poses, there should be some modifications to help you along the way.

Have fun with the journey.

Barb

@coachdonna: I admire your attitude actually – I didn’t see anything “better’, only more resolve one day than the next, which is normal (hey – we’re “creatures of emotion” right?).

You have your attitude right already – you’re doing this because you want to do something for yourself and that will get you back time and time again until one day you’ll realize you can’t live the life you really want without your regular dose of Bikram / Hot Yoga of choice!

Well that’s what happened to me – and I’ve had several very long breaks from it ie 8-12+ months and it is amazing on returning just wondering why on earth I didn’t get back sooner, because the “living life” feeling is too good to pass up.

@barb: Well said and thanks for lending your support too …”these too shall pass” is a philosophy Gabrielle & I embrace too.

PS. Funny story – I once had a well-known super-model standing right behind me in class. (Her first class). Of course being a proud male … I did my very best poses that day. Had to laugh at myself 🙂 It *was* distracting though …

Cheers!

Robert

(Donna – loving your updates and insights …)

Gabrielle,

It’s funny how you describe Robert becoming interested in Bikram. That’s exactly how my husband started. He saw how great I was feeling and looking that he decided to come with me, and the rest is history here also ;-P .

My husband used to lift weights 3x a week and run 3 miles a day about 4x a week. He constantly complained about how tight his hamstrings and shoulders were, plus his back bothered him. He has a history of a herniated disc along with sciatica. He was actually put on total bed rest for a month about 20yrs ago for his disc. The sciatica caused him to lose control of his left foot (it would slap the floor when he walked) for about 6 months. Because of this he was always very diligent about his physical health and very careful about keeping himself in shape.

Bikram has done more for him in 4 months than all the running and lifting for all those years. He has never been more flexible and hardly ever complains of back or shoulder pain. He doesn’t miss the weights or running AT ALL!!

Just another Bikram success story!

Barb

Hello everyone,

I too am overweight. I weigh 200 lbs on a 5’5″ frame. I have done about 20 classes and am dedicated to hot yoga 4-EVER! I have lost 7 pounds but it’s the most dramatic 7 pounds I have ever seen. I tend to build muscle quickly which is why I think I am seeing inches melting instead of pounds. I have never seen my body transform so quickly. My first class was awesome and I loved every minute of it. I was exhausted but peaceful. I practice 3 times a week but am taking a break for about a week. I am having back pain between my shoulder blades deep inside. It’s getting better each day and I plan to begin practice this coming Sunday or Tuesday.

I began eating better a year ago and cut out processed sugar, most dairy, low meat intake and anything with lots of additives. I added soy, natural and organic foods, water, tea and juices. I have a coffee indulgence with my hubby on Sundays. I eat whatever I want, when I want but eat consiously and heathfully most of the time. I am a chocolate lover too and always have a bar of 70% cacao on hand. I lost 11 pounds doing this (a pound a month) and then I found hot yoga. It was the 3rd piece to my self improvement triangle. I had nutrition and the right mindset but had never found my ideal exercise. After that first class I knew I had found it. Ahhhh…or should I say Ohmmmmm.

I have made friends with a lady who just finished a 30 day challenge and she was doing a double that day. It is not for me right now but I celebrated her success and know someday I may get there. The weight thing has been a life long journey but with hot yoga, eating well, these message boards and learning how to love my body…I know all is good.

Talk to you soon!

I’ll add my story.

I’ve been overweight my entire life. Literally from the time I was 12 or 13. I progressively got heavier as I grew up. I have a hormonal disorder that severely alters my blood sugar regulation and though it’s never turned to Diabetes (thank God) I was fast headed there. I had 2 kids (did Bikram through both pregnancies) and that really really packed the weight on. About two and a half years ago, after the birth of my second son, I got really serious about Bikram. I found a studio and went for it. I didn’t lose any weight for a year or longer. Then I had an ankle surgery that knocked me out for months. I got heavier and more depressed. Last Nov 1 I went back to yoga after a summer lost in depression and started a 60 Day Challenge. It changed my life forever. I didn’t, however, lose any weight until around April of this year. My biggest hurdle was my eating. I’m an emotional eater and I have major food addictions. April 4 of this year I made a MAJOR life change and diet change. In the past two plus months I have lost over 50 lbs and have seen my practice grow by leaps and bounds. I can only thank God for the willpower it has taken me to stay true to my path. This is the largest change I have EVER made in my life and ever seen in my body. My journey has now led me to pursue Teacher Training. This has been a lifelong dream of mine, to teach yoga, especially Bikram Yoga. To have it in my hands means more to me than I can ever express. I think Bikram Yoga is a healing system, and it’s amazing at changing our lives. But I truly believe that this “great healer” only works when we surrender to the process and get the rest of our lives in order. I had to learn the hard way that Bikram Yoga, while amazing, was not the “fix all” I wanted it to be. I had to work hard to control my eating and take responsibility for my diet choices. I see now what a huge difference these things make in our bodies. I encourage everyone to do Bikram Yoga. You’re never too BIG, too small, too sick, too inflexible, too anything to do this yoga. To let it heal you and to be born again. But you have to get on the mat and wake up. Bikram himself says, “I don’t sell cheesecake.” He’s right.

Namaste

Wow! I love this thread

Thank you all for your inspirational stories. We all follow our own paths yet find similarities in those of others. Very motivating.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

I think I know somewhat how you feel. When I started it was literally painful to lay on my belly. I would lay on it during the poses but then had to roll slightly to one side between them just to breathe. Just recently I noticed that I’ve started occasionally sleeping flat on my stomach and it feels really good.

I don’t know if there is any “should” for how your body will slim down with Bikram yoga. In fact most of my preconceptions and expectations have proven wrong, so now I just try to be observant, recognize and accept the changes as they happen. I’d even go a bit beyond accepting and say celebrate the changes. After all this hot yoga IS hard work and there’s nothing wrong feeling good about the results. I suspect every body is different and will respond somewhat differently. The one thing I am sure of is that it will respond.

Take Care,
Lee

Wow. It’s really good to hear all these stories from so many who are going through similar mental and physical challenges.

I haven’t been overweight for very much of my life at all, actually. I’ve been an athlete and nationally ranked swimmer in several events for most of my adolescent and adult life. My sophomore year in college, I sustained a career-ending injury that was so serious the doctor told me NO exercise whatsoever for at least a year. I had overtrained and pulled a muscle on my interior chest wall, so any time I breathed deeply, I had searing pains all across my chest. Needless to say, going from training 6-8 hours a day to nothing had its adverse effects on my body. In the four years since that injury, I’ve gained 60 pounds, and cannot seem to do anything to lose it. After 3 years on the weight-gain weight-loss rollercoaster, I’ve finally come home to Bikram. It’s the first place where I’ve had to really face myself and be honest about my body and what I’ve let happen to it. It’s also the first thing that has made significant changes to my physique

During my second month of Bikram I had a mentally tough class where I got so mad at myself for letting my body become so disobedient, letting my mind and body get so far apart from each other, that I cried in class. I just couldn’t stop being angry at myself for who I’d become. Being overweight is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to deal with in regards to my self-image, because my outside no longer resembled who I thought I was–or who I wanted to be–on the inside. Inside I’m a disciplined, ambitious, happy person. Outside I’m just out of control.

The next day in class, I came back down. I realized that not only was I letting one aspect of myself drown out everything else that was positive, but that I can’t let the past ruin my present. I am who I am now. And, I’m doing the best thing I can possibly do for myself by being here in Bikram. I look forward to the changes that Bikram is making for me physically, mentally and spiritually.