Mammaren

SHAKTI!!!!!

Sorry, LOL

I love the Shakti side tie shorts. They are TINY and cool and stay right where you put them. Love them. I used to practice in pants. But I don’t anymore and I have to say that after going over to the smaller (tighter) shorts, I will NEVER go back. Sometimes I wear a Tonic tank or just a bra style top. Less is better and I actually feel like I experience the heat better this way. I think if you are having to “stay warm” in a hot yoga room, the room isn’t warm enough 😉

I believe Bikram says, “wear as little as you are comfortable wearing.” And I know this varies GREATLY for many. But I do find that when I wear less, I fidget less, I overheat less, and the sweat cools me more efficiently. Two brands I love..

http://www.shaktiactivewear.com

and

http://www.mytonic.ca

happy sweating!

I am also sad for you Jared, and for you Sarah. I have never had an experience like that at any Bikram studio. I realize that everyone experiences good and bad with almost every kind of “class” or group exercise situation. I have had my fair share of bad experiences in gyms and classes and even in other yoga rooms. It saddens me to think that there are teachers out there behaving this way on the box, barking at students, and not showing compassion. This is completely opposite to the way I feel about Bikram Yoga and the way it should be taught and it is certainly opposite of the way I have seen it taught at my own studio.

I should preface my comments by saying that I am a passionate Bikram practitioner and plan to attend Teacher Training in two months. Having said that, I do have a few comments on your thoughts about the Dialog. I believe, and have come to find that the Dialog is an elemental part of the Yoga. BUT, it is NOT the Yoga. The Dialog serves many purposes both for the student and the instructor. It IS important and Bikram is very adamant about HIS Dialog being used. Since I’ve been preparing for Training, I myself have been learning Bikram’s quirky Dialog. I realize that for many, a “fixed” Dialog seems strange. However, the “sameness” of the Bikram series is foundational to the structure of the way the system works. Bikram’s system is designed to be done in the same sequence, same timing, same structure, every..single..time it is done. I believe one of the only ways to achieve this is to use a Dialog. We all love the benefits of the series, or we wouldn’t go back. We all love the glow and the feeling. We do, we all agree. I also think there is a *right* and a *wrong* way to deliver the Dialog. Teachers should ALWAYS be attentive to students. They should be aware of any injuries, limitations, special situations BEFORE class begins. I firmly believe it is inappropriate and out of line for any teacher to “badger” a student in an effort to see them perform or go deeper in a posture. The teacher is there to guide the students, watch, be attentive, encourage, give energy, and lead the class. The teacher is NOT there to bark or push or offend.

Bikram is a quirky man. He is passionate and of course believes in his Series. I think it’s important to remember that Bikram Yoga has always been this way. Bikram does not sell his class as “meditative” or “calm” or “relaxing.” Bikram yoga is hard work from the first breathing exercise to the final Savasana. It’s hot, it’s hard, but it WORKS. Bikram himself says, “I don’t sell cheesecake.” He’s not misrepresenting himself. But, I do believe there is a fine line between pushing students who are ready to do deeper and pushing students who are not. At my studio, we DO ask students to stay in the room. However, if they walk out, that’s their call. We encourage people to sit and lie down if they need to.

I also believe that ultimately your practice is YOUR practice. In the end, the Teacher cannot be responsible for making choices for you. The Teacher is not inside of your body, doesn’t feel what you feel. Just today in class, I was pushed in Salabasana in the second set. My teacher said, “Join us Karen” when he saw that I might sit out. I ignored him, because I was the one in MY body. I was the one nauseas.

I again, cannot imagine dealing with some of the things you all have dealt with. I hope that somehow you find some healing from the unpleasant experiences you have had with this yoga. I believe in it with all of my heart. I believe it can heal and change lives. I look forward to teaching it and bringing MY own heart and soul to the Dialog. Using Bikram’s framework of words to develop my OWN style of teaching. Ultimately, I think this is the goal. He gives me the basics, I have to add the heart. It sounds to me like some of your prior teachers may have missed that very critical step.

Namaste.

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

Great topic

I used to wipe my face quite a lot. I recently stopped taking hand towels into class altogether because I realized it was only a distraction. I also sweat profusely and have found that I can tolerate it. My sweat no longer stings my eyes but it does collect at times and blur my contact lenses. Sometimes I simply wipe it out of my eyes to keep it from collecting so I can still see. As far as the wiping of the hands for the postures where the foot is gripped, I have found it’s a total waste of time. As well as wiping off the knees for Wind Removing. The sweat just comes right back. Also, if you start with a dry hand and dry foot, by the end of the posture they are both wet again and you end up slipping more. I think it’s better to start with the sweat so you have to learn to grip with the moisture, it strengthens the hands. Also, I have found that if I am really gripping properly, with my hands at the ankle (in standing bow) the sweat is irrelevant because of the traction created.

The smell issue is interesting. My sweat doesn’t smell pungent at all. I practice daily (sometimes twice) and shower before and after. I do also believe that the longer you practice, the less your sweat stinks. HOWEVER, I also think this has MUCH to do with diet and what we put in our bodies. I also think it has a great deal to do with hydration.

Hi Gabrielle

I have been doing Rabbit lately by opening my heels. There is probably six or eight inches between them. I always thought the heels had to be touching. But this is the ONLY way I can reach them. When I said that my teacher discourages using a towel, I mean that they tell you not to only grab the towel. I have seen students use the towel to pull and not grab the heels. They do not allow that. Does this make any sense??

So I have been opening my feet, grabbing my heels and rounding in. I still can’t touch my knees but at least I am getting the stretch..

Thanks
K

I can’t grab my feet either in either way. My teachers discourage using the towel or any props. I have just taken to laying out of this one. It’s too frustrating. I can get my head to my knee in the last stretching posture, usually, but not always.