Jbigler

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

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