The Beginnings of Heat Stroke?

Hi Megan

May I ask if all your yoga experiences are in a hot room? Yes, both styles do complement each other! And NO, I will not accept your apology 😉 simply because none is necessary!

I must say that I have some thoughts swirling around trying to crystallize about your comments about ‘pushing yourself to the max in every class’ and about ‘needing to vomit or feeling a little dizzy’. Whether it’s heat stroke or not, I will wait to hear the details confirming the hours in a hot room and whether it’s 6 days per week.

It may not just have to do with hydration. It could also have something to do with nutrition.

There is possibly something that needs to be addressed with your approach to nurturing yourself. I would like to sit with this for a bit longer and also ask you to comment on my response to maybe give me some more insight into what’s really going on.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Gabrielle’s word is gold but I am happy to relate some of my experience knowing that these matters are always individual so only part of what I say may relate to your circumstance.

I also struggle with the heat and I do notice that I have different heat reactions even when the heat is precisely the same from one class to the next–so the thermostat is consistent–our bodies change from class to class and our prep, sleep, blood pressue and level of hydration all have an impact.

So assuming normal electrolytes in your blood (no low levels)and a good low healthy BP–focus on how you hydrate. Oftentimes, I drink plenty of water, plus a coconut water, plus either a sports drink (Powerade) or an EmergenC. But I have an additonal suggestion based upon my own body and my experience with the heat. Despite the fact my sodium, pottassium, etc are dead on perfect–I normally take one salt tablet before class and sometimes even one afterward. The ones I buy from CVS cost about $7 for a huge bottle of tablets and this is a treatment used by runners and other athletes for heat prostration. One tablet can make a huge difference.

Therefore, get a good read on your blood pressure, mind your sleep and come to class peppy or don’t come, hydrate even in the overkill range with not simply water or rice drink but with coconut water, Powerade or Gatorade, or Emergen C–and then try a salt tablet and see if it makes a difference.

But listen the the expert, Gabrielle, first and foremost.

Hi guys! I just signed up for the site when I saw this thread because its the exact problem I have been having!! I have been doing bikram on and off for 5 years, but I just started my first 60 day challenge about 20 days ago. I have only made it 14 times, but the point for me was to get myself to go more often, not to be perfect.

ANYWAY, same here. Goosebumps. Cold flashes. usually start when we get to the floor series, sometimes with the first savasana.

I always used to be fine with a nalgene bottle full of water, but now I feel like I have been sweating more than before (is that normal??) and am headachy and wound up after class. I have tried a coconut water and that made me feel better briefly, but by the end of class I was exhausted again in a bad way.

WHAT’S going on?? I don’t want to just start chugging down gatorade or coconut water because I don’t want to end up gaining weight, but I want my practice to be enjoyable and doable. Where is the balance? Is there something I am missing?

Hi Charlotte

It does sound – at least on the surface – as an electrolyte issue! Thanks Bonnie for the questions.

Coconut water is being touted as the be all and end all in electrolyte replacement. Is this really true? I have just spoken to someone doing hot yoga 1-2 times a day taking FRESH coconut water after every class. Not the heat treated stuff in a tetra pack. Now that’s GOT to be better wouldn’t you agree?

Well she’s had terrible issues with shakes, and tingling feelings. Sound familiar?

Go and get some good quality sea salt and consider taking about 1/2 tsp per day anyway you like. Buy some electrolyte tabs if you really want to. Gatorade is an expensive way to get sugar, Na and Cl and K and almost nothing else (haven’t checked lately so correct me if I’m wrong).

David (above) mentions this:

The ones I buy from CVS cost about $7 for a huge bottle of tablets and this is a treatment used by runners and other athletes for heat prostration. One tablet can make a huge difference.

See what happens but DEFINITELY keep a close eye on what’s happening.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Charlotte, I need to repeat what I said previously. If the class really feels way hot and you are getting a bad reaction–there is a good chance you are not well rested and are too stressed for the class. Yoga is great to relieve stress but you need to be in the swing of stressing and releasing. For example, if you are not in the hot yoga habit and you are not sleeping well and having a lot of stress–you might have a very bad class. Next, you may need more hydration than what you have reported. Take note of how much you sweat in a “good” class–that is your standard. I happen to sweat profusely so for me–I need to really drench the towel to know my body is reacting correctly. Right *for you* is the key. Fluid must be absorbed so if you are taking little and peeing it right out, your body is not rested and ready for yoga. Coconut water is fine, emergen C is fine, gatorade is fine, vitamin water is fine. Take care to notice that the fluid is actually being absorbed and Gabrielle has it right–my point here is that one salt tablet can really make a difference and a splash of lemon juice with your vitamin water will push it into your system a bit better.
Hot yoga is a blessing for high stress people but do not try to be superman (or superwoman). Hydrate slowly throughout the day and very close to close–take an additional good bit of support. Add a splash of sea salt or lemon juice. If you are hydrated, you should be sweating BEFORE the class. You know you are good to go if you are really sweating after the initial warm up. Don’t risk your health by not paying attention!! Good sleep AND hydration are both keys to a good experience.