The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › Hot Yoga Facts
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That’s the one habit I can’t break, wiping the face! I don’t beat myself up over it, though. There are worse things I could be doing. 😉
I have suffered from teen acne, adult acne and now Rosacea. I make sure to have an extra face towel for the floor series and I bring a wash cloth to wipe my face and eyes. I don’t necessarily wipe, but blot, my face. I only blot between poses, not every one, and very discretely.
At the end of class, I make sure to clean my face with tepid water and so far everything is fine. I’ve been practicing for a little over 2 years now.
Barb
in reply to: Healthy women over 50 and Hot Yoga #679251 here!!!! Started at 49! The hot flashes may have been a little hotter, but other than that, it’s all good!
Barb
in reply to: Pain where leg connects to body #5781I also suffered from this same pain, but on the left side. Deep pain, kind of sharp, on the front, inside panty line area where leg meets the body. Experienced the pain while in triangle, sometimes tree pose and the bent leg during Seated Head to Knee Stretch. It would also hurt trying to get into my car, a jeep.
Hate to say this, but the only thing that helped the pain go away was to stop doing yoga. I know, I know… it’s not what you wanted to hear. I had to stop for a while due to a rotator cuff tear. During that break, as my shoulder healed, the groin pain also healed.
Still don’t know how I caused the leg pain, but it’s gone now.
When I was having the pain, I would just modify the pose and not push too hard on that leg. The only time I experienced the pain was while doing those 3 yoga poses and in/out of the car, so I felt I could live with it.
Sorry I couldn’t offer a magic solution, but sometimes misery just loves company!!
Have fun in your practice!
Barb
in reply to: I am quite overweight and doing hot yoga #5523Hi Ilyzium and Lisetica,
Sorry it’s taken me so long to respond.
Ilyzium – I do have cardio equipment at home, a treadmill and recumbent bike, but I rarely use them. I live near the beach and prefer to walk outside. I don’t enjoy doing cardio, but sometimes you just have to do it.
Lisetica – I hope I didn’t give you the impression that weight loss is easy for me, because it’s not. Have always had some meat on my bones. I’ve never been accused of being too skinny and I definitely enjoy food way too much to ever be really thin. Especially ice cream!!! I could definitely afford to lose an additional 20lbs right now. I’m 50 yrs. old and just don’t obsess about my weight as much anymore. Probably will never see single digit numbers again on any of my clothing and I can live with that! LOL I do my yoga (BIkram and Vinyasa flow), pilates and 2x a week walking and whatever happens, will just happen. I feel healthy and don’t take any meds.
It has taken me a while to get to this place mentally. I still have my “fat” days and feel like I look terrible. Sometimes I’ll see a picture of myself taken 10/15 years ago and think, “Wow, I looked good in that picture!” Meanwhile, when the photo was taken, I felt I looked fat! I’ve learned to stop being too critical of myself.
Good luck in your journey.
Barb
in reply to: Bikram for weight loss – any stories for me?! #5122Ilyzium
Thanks for the clarification. I agree with you that the people that complain they’re gaining weight, but don’t do anything about it, shouldn’t be complaining. Eating junk food and not moving your body, has nothing to do with gaining weight because of age!
I’m going through a stage where the weight was coming off pretty easily with Bikram and then just STOPPPED! I even gained weight back. I re-adjusted my eating habits and still did not see results. Now I’m trying to mix things up with Pilates, Bikram/Hot Yoga, power walking and Balance Barre (Physique 57 type class). Menopause has hit me like a brick wall! That’s when the weight loss stopped and the gaining started. Just turned 50 and hoping to reverse some of the gain.
I guess that’s why your comment struck a nerve. I’m pretty “hormonal” right now. Trying some homeopathic stuff to help with the side effects.
Again, I appreciate the update!
Barb
in reply to: Bikram for weight loss – any stories for me?! #5116Ilyzium, It must be nice to be slim and have it come easy for you!
I wouldn’t judge someone else and tell them their full of %$#%*& about their weight till you walk in their shoes. You don’t know everyone’s situation.
Barb
in reply to: I am quite overweight and doing hot yoga #5077Just doing Bikram!
I really didn’t adust my eating habits. Maybe had second thoughts about grabbing a quick cookie in the afternoon, but that’s about it.
I’ve slacked off on my Bikram lately and have been mixing it up with some Pilates, Hot Yoga and a Physique 57 type class. I mainly do my Bikram series at home now. I’m lucky enough to have a room dedicated to yoga and I can get the room heated up to about 95 in the winter and run a humidifier. Summer time I can get it hot like a Bikram studio! It’s on a 3rd floor with skylights and gets pretty toasty.
Good luck with your practice!
Barb
in reply to: Where is your butt? #4356Butt on the ground……. ALWAYS!!!!!!
The arch should be from the butt to the shoulders. Your butt should never leave the ground. If you can’t keep your butt down, don’t even put your shoulders to the ground. Plus, the bottom of your knees should always stay on the ground.
I’m sure Gabrielle can give greater details, but that’s the gist of it.
Barb
in reply to: Teacher Training #4344There should be a warning given that reading the TT blogs is addicting!!! 😆
Barb
in reply to: Teacher Training #4342Here are some TT blogs to read. They give the day to day musings of whats going on and how they felt. YogaJenn’s blog from a year ago is probably the best. I believe her current blog has a link to here teacher training blog.
http://www.yogajenn.blogspot.com/
http://allibakes.blogspot.com/
http://blog.paulaskew.ca/
http://katherineyoga.blogspot.com/
http://heidi-jo.blogspot.com/Most of the blogs have links to other blogs.
Good luck with your decision. Happy reading!!!
Barb
in reply to: Post-yoga flu symptoms #4154Hi Shoshana!
Everyone here has given you great ideas. One suggestion that I haven’t seen is the possibility of still going to class, but only performing 1 set of each pose. I know it may be hard to do since we all tend to unintentionally push ourselves. Stand in the back of the room, so you won’t feel self -conscious sitting out so often. Just really concentrate on your breathing during your “breaks”. I wonder if it will turn into a real meditative type of practice for you.
Obviously, alert your instructor to what you plan on doing so they don’t worry that something is terrible wrong.
Good luck in your future practice. FWIW, I also practice at home and it is much more relaxing than at a studio. Start a collection of CD/DVD’s, such as MasterClass ;-), Bikram CD and even Jimmy Barkan’s. Gives a nice variety.
Barb
PS I also have been practicing about 18mos and just turned 50. Some days the heat is just too much and other days a blessing. I just go with the flow!
in reply to: What heater can I buy for home. #3897Hi Stacie
I like your avatar 🙂
I’ve also heard/read about those heaters but I’m skeptical of the infrared heat. I bought an infrared heater and the glow that came off of it was disturbing. Felt like I was looking directly at the sun. It also heated the floor directly in front of the heater itself to a very high temp. that made me a little nervous.
Here’s some info on how I heat my home studio. It’s not perfect, but it works for my husband and I when we can’t get to a “real” class.
The room is located in our 3rd floor attic. It’s a finished room that measures 13 ft. x 14 ft. with a ceiling height of 7ft. 9in.. The room also has 2 skylights which give wonderful light, plus privacy and some sun warmth, but never direct sunlight on us. It also has hardwood floor, no carpet. We keep two mats in a T shape to prevent slippage once the sweating starts.
We use a Kenwood and a Holmes electric, oil filled heaters. Both are 1500watts and both state a high limit of 95 degrees on the thermostats. We also use a Bionaire hot air humidifier cranked up as high as it can go. I keep the heat units at separate ends of the room so they don’t heat each other and cut the heat too soon.
With both the heat and the humidity combined, we can get a reading of between 100 and 105 on the thermometer that we have hanging in the room. When planning a session, I turn everything on about 1 hour before I’m ready. It’s usually up to at least 90 in the beginning and by the time I’m finished it’s over 100. In the summertime we keep a fan on very low, just to circulate the air.
Since the room small, the electric is all on a single circuit breaker and we couldn’t run both heaters on the same circuit. To solve that problem, we connect one of the heaters to a HEAVY DUTY extension cord and run it down the stairs to a separate circuit.
There is no door on the room, so we closed it off with a heavy drapery curtain from ceiling to floor. We also placed some of those weighted draft blockers (long beanbag type things) on the bottoms of the curtains to prevent any drafts.
I hope this information helps. If you have any other questions, please ask! I tried to cover everything.
Barb
in reply to: benefits of DVDs? #3874Hi Raina,
I perform both a home and studio practice. I will NEVER get my yoga room as hot as the studio, but I still get the yoga benefits. Sometimes I just can’t get to the studio, but I need the yoga. Just keep in mind, as Gabrielle said, that you probably won’t get as deep into the postures as you would during class. The hottest I can get my room is about 100, but that is about 9/10 months out of the year. In the dead of winter, I top out at about 90/95. I just crank up the humidity a bit more.
When I do yoga at home, I find that the practice is more meditative and sort of a “fine tuning” session. I will concentrate a bit more on the positions I struggle with in class and maybe even perform a “redo”. Stop the DVD and play with my position a little.
I can confidently say that I feel the DVD’s at home are worth it. I currently have Bikram’s audio CD, Jimmy Barkan’s DVD and last, but definitely not least, Gabrielle’s MasterClass. MasterClass is the most diverse and the one I find myself using the most (No……. Gabrielle did not pay me to say that %-P ).
Enjoy your Bikram with whatever you decide.
Barb
in reply to: Recommended DVD's #3657I know that Gabrielle’s MasterClass has just been released (wink wink), but just to add to the diversity in addition to Bikram I do Jimmy Barkan’s DVD. Jimmy was a student of Bikram’s and he branched off on his own and does a series very similar to Bikram. You have to go to his site http://www.thebarkanmethod.com to order the DVD. I like that he does a 1hr version when time is limited.
I’ve already ordered Gabrielle’s MasterClass, and it seems to have much more detail than Jimmy’s. But if your only option is a home practice, I say the more diversity the better. Just to hear a different voice can help.
Barb
in reply to: Going to class when ill? #3523It must be that time of year. I’m also feeling sick. Lots of tightness in the sinuses, eyes itch, ears popping, all above the neck stuff. 😛
I did go to class and felt a little better afterwards. Not my best class, but at least I was trying.
No 2nd Camel Pose for me either Edge :red: I thought my head was going to explode after the 1st one. I found Rabbit to be great for opening up the sinuses.
To attempt to keep my germs to myself, I bring tissues and a small zip lock bag so I can put the used tissues in a confined space. If the need to blow my nose arises, I make sure to wait for between poses.
Feel better everyone!
Barb
in reply to: Change in Temperature from Classroom to Outside #3398Hi MBF1!
I also live in New England and can understand your concern. During the colder months definitely bring a change of clothes. Even if you don’t have shower facilities, change into your dry clothes. There’s nothing worse than wet clothing going into the cold air. Your whole body will just lock up!
If you have heated seats in your car, heat those babies up 😆 It will feel great!
Barb
in reply to: bustyness preventing head from touching the knee! #3312Wish I could help you AndiP, since I also am well endowed. I don’t seem to have too much of a problem with this move. Just a little suffocation once in a while depending on what I’m wearing. Are you reaching out and then over towards your knee, or just bending at the waist? I keep both legs straight, reach out while bending over, then bend the front knee as much as necessary to reach my forehead. I also seem to have the weight in my back leg, while trying to bring the hip up on the bent leg. I’m sure Gabrielle can explain it better than me.
In the end, it probably just comes down to anatomy!
What I would like to know is how you do with Eagle Pose? There is no way in creation that my elbows are going to come down to my waist. They just have a too tough of a time getting past “the girls” 🙂 .
Good luck
Barb
in reply to: Frozen Shoulder #3288Just a quick update
My shoulder looks like I’ve been abused, (small fingertip black and blue marks), but I have full rotation and movement after a 1/2 hour deep tissue massage this afternoon. After the massage I took 2 Aleeve and iced my shoulder on and off twice for 20mins. I also did some physical therapy moves, like dangling the arm in small clockwise and counter clockwise circles.
I’m not a fan of deep tissue, since I do bruise easily, but I’m amazed at how good my shoulder feels. The deep internal pain is totally gone, just some external tenderness from the bruising. This is like night and day compared to the last time that I suffered from Frozen Shoulder. Never would have believed it if I didn’t experience it myself.
Hopefully this will never happen to me again, but the combination of Bikram, massage and some therapy moves have worked a miracle! Time is definitely of the essence with this injury and I’m just glad I caught it so quickly to clear things up.
I plan on attending my normal morning Bikram class tomorrow as usual. I thought it was a bit premature to go right after the massage and so did the therapist. She definitely felt the morning would be perfect.
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. Trace, if you hadn’t mentioned the massage I probably wouldn’t have committed to mine so quickly!
Barb
in reply to: Frozen Shoulder #3282Hi Trace!
Thanks for the reply and the suggestions.
I’m not modifying in the positions too much, but I don’t want to look/feel like a doofus by just doing nothing! %-P I have a pretty high pain tolerance and I can’t believe how horrible this pain can be sometimes. It’s such a sharp and deep pain when it happens.
Today I have a 1/2hr appointment with a massage therapist that my husband and I use. She knows about the shoulder and hopefully she can work it out a bit more. I’ll let you know how that goes. There’s a Bikram class this evening that’s right after the massage and I may attend that also.
I’m still sore and very “aware” of my shoulder, but it is 1,000% better than the last time this happened. Definitely did the wrong thing, and stopped using it. I guess the old adage, “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it”, is very true!
Keep the suggestions coming.
Barb
in reply to: 10 year old ankle injury #3280Hi Frippledip! (your name makes me smile 😆 )
I can’t help you with your ankle problems, but I can commiserate with you about the 10 shades of red! I also turn very red during Bikram, but I have always turned red during any kind of exercise or exertion. I’m blonde and very fair, so I think that has a lot to due with it. I always make sure to warn the instructor, if they’re new, not to worry about me looking so red. Not only does my face turn red, but sometimes my upper arms and my legs. Very strange, I know but I feel great.
As long as you feel fine, have no broken blood vessels in you eyes or feel faint; just think of it as a healthy glow!!
Maybe this will give you some hope, I’ve been practicing Bikram for about 9 months now and I do notice the redness abating at a quicker pace once I’m finished. A nice cool shower helps.
Good luck in your practice.
Barb
in reply to: Yoga Etiquette Question #3128Sometimes touching someone else happens ;-P . It occasionally will happen to me in Full Locust when I first stretch out my arms. Usually a quick “oops, sorry” and a slight shift will take care of it and it doesn’t happen the 2nd set.
I feel your discomfort, but I don’t know if I would have moved to another spot. I definitely would have said something to her after the 3rd collision. If your instructor was that upset with your move, it would have been good to explain to her after class what was happening. Maybe this person has a history of being a mat hog 🙄 .
I would suggest trying to stay away from her the next class. Sometimes that’s hard to do, but you can try. If it happens again, absolutely say something.
By the way, Congratulations on your 4th class 🙂
Barb
in reply to: I am quite overweight and doing hot yoga #3122Gabrielle,
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
in reply to: The Outside Cold after The Heat #3121When it’s cold outside I make sure to bring a change of clothes, like sweatpants and a t-shirt to change into after class. There’s nothing worse than wet clothes against your body in the cold.
If you have heated seats in your car, turn those on also to keep your back warm.
It’s getting warmer here in Massachusetts, so I’m enjoying leaving the studio without having to bundle up!
Barb
in reply to: I am quite overweight and doing hot yoga #3116I know what you mean about keeping your yoga to yourself. Whenever I introduce a friend to my Bikram class for the first time I’m always worried. Worrried they won’t like it, get hurt, be overwhelmed, hate me for bringing them ;-P . My own practice seems to suffer because I don’t maintain focus. Even my instructor tells me not to worry about the friend, she will take care of them 😉 .
We all have tough days regarding Bikram. These too shall pass.
Barb
in reply to: I am quite overweight and doing hot yoga #3088Congratulations 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
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