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in reply to: Wiping the sweat #3252
Hello shiwil
Welcome! and thanks for the post, which is incidentally in the right place :cheese:
It has been my experience and that of many others that sweat smells much more pungent toward the beginning of their practice. As you have indicated you have not been practicing very long at all.
If it is bothering you, it could be an annoyance to others. They have to look after themselves and their reaction to it. But you can also do something too: You may consider having a shower before class if you are particularly aware of it and it is causing a personal distraction.
From puberty the odor that we get under the arms is actually held in the hairs. This is one of the reasons that women who remove the hair from here have an easier time controlling odor.
Most likely the odors will not linger for a long time. With a regular and frequent practice you should find that the smell becomes very normal.
For me I notice that if I have a break from yoga for a while (yes that happens) that my sweat may sting my eyes. After a class or 2 that no longer happens. I wonder what other people’s *barometers* are and how they know how well their bodies are doing?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: So what do you wear? #3248Hello Ray
Thank you for your participation. Welcome to our forum.
There are many reasons why you may not have a firm footing in Triangle pose. One of them is strength of your inner thighs. Actually that is usually the biggest reason why feet slip. Another way to ensure that you stay planted in the pose is to drive the heels into the ground. Very often students weight their feet incorrectly especially when the toes of the front foot take most of the weight (and often of the whole body). Unless your towel is a velour style towel (you know that velvety style finish) the towel has less to do with your traction than your technique. Anyway for further discussions on Triangle pose please go to the pose directory and join in there!!! :cheese: Try
slipping and sliding feetNamaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Correct form. #3247Hello BL
Everybody and every body is different. For some when they squeeze their feet and ankles together the hips rotate their legs so that they ‘spin’ outward creating the space between the thighs. Can’t be helped. However you may notice that change may occur over the medium to long term as you become more open in the hips and more balanced in your muscle strength.
Robert wanted me to add that he experiences something quite similar. He finds it that it is impossible to lock out his legs and still keep the knees together. He notes similarly to me that with the clenching of the buttocks, the hips rotate and the knees rotate apart too.
Much more important than concerning yourself with the squeezing of the thighs or knees together (although it would be great if you can eventually manage that) is the condition of ABSOLUTELY and positively always focusing on locking out the legs no matter what. The lift may be more difficult but the leg, core and upper body strength you develop is incredible.
As for your lumbar spine: I am assuming you also have a scoliosis condition. Your condition may emanate from a number of areas, separately or together; leg length differences, hips structure, abnormalities of structure of legs, hips, spine; or even habitual longterm function that has affected development (for example I am positive that my habit of carrying my heavy high school bag over my left shoulder for many years contributed to my condition).
Typically abnormalities that cause asymmetrical expression of your body and going to have some effect on many of your poses. I have always found focusing first and foremost on the alignment of poses, plus trying for symmetry (say for example trying to lie down on the floor symmetrically to train my body how it feels to be correctly aligned) in all poses has been extremely beneficial. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you will try to go to the same depth for 2 sides of a pose, just to ensure best alignment. I found that one side is always more challenging to align than the other. It does feel very empowering to be able to work so closely on it by using the mirror and making constant adjustments.
I am happy to help you nut out problems with other poses if you like. Just ask!!!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Balance Challenge #3243Hello Dan
I want to thank you so much for sharing your story and inspiring thought provoking discoveries.
I am really appreciating the way you have had the intention of creating a strong focused class rather than concerning yourself with balance or not falling out.
This is what I try to instill in my students: that there is a balance (ha, no pun intended) between strength/effort and surrender and we need to find that in very pose. If you substitute focus and concentration for the ‘M’ word 😉 (meditation) then you can only improve your practice.
In our standing poses, falling is learning. When you apply yourself, and push your edge and happen to fall (and not care!) you are in the process of learning how not to fall. This is where a lot of the breakthroughs can happen – if you have the right intention.
You are right when you say:
Many days I wanted to fall out because I was low on energy. That had me wondering, how many people fall out not from lack of balance but from lack of strength.
I would like to add another dimension. Frankly, not falling out in a pose CAN be easy: It could even be synonymous with not working hard enough. Or as you may have heard it said; ‘not pushing your edge’. It can be related to a fear of falling out, of failure, or looking silly or a number of other reasons.
It is excellent that you have a heightened awareness of what has become a distraction for you (ritualized or not). This awareness makes for a strong physical class. I have had feedback from a number of our readers who say that they don’t need Meditation 101 because they just want a good solid physical class.
The mental aspects, the taming of the ‘monkey’ mind, the ability to look at oneself in the mirror through intense sensations without distracting yourself, the wherewithal to do whatever it takes even though your mind is trying to sabotage your efforts to get to class, stay in class, stay in a pose or ward off distractions and just simply be and focus are what will drive you to creating a much stronger physical class for yourself.
Dan, I love the way you made your point. Unless you strongly object I would dearly love to refer to your post in my next email to all our readers!
Oh and thank you for the shameless and unsolicited plug :cheese: for my Meditation 101 article. Here is the link:
HotYogaDoctor Meditation 101 free pdf.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: which should i do less of #3240Hi Dion
Sometimes I find I have had less time to do my yoga and there have been times where I either have shape to drop or I have some emotional and physical cleansing to do ;). Every time my results are guaranteed to be fast if I go a minimum of 4 times a week. The more the better. If you really have a goal of losing weight then give up some other commitments short term and go to hot yoga as often as you can. I recommend giving hot yoga your undivided attention – don’t do other forms of exercise unless you have to.:cheese: Going 5 or 6 times per week will astound you with what you can achieve. Mind you, don’t expect, just be patient and observe. You may not notice anything for a little while and then just like magic all of a sudden you see your previously hidden form!
I don’t have any experience with cross fit as Jared suggests. If you go the hot yoga path on its own then commit to your minimum number per week and go for 8 weeks solid. Then scale back to your maintenance program. I would love to hear of your progress so come back and post…
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Water during class #3239Hello Steph
I never like to take a hard line on whether someone should drink or not. It really does depend on the circumstances that you find yourself in on any one day.
It is your responsibility to hydrate yourself before and after class. We all know that. But what if you haven’t sufficiently hydrated yourself prior to class? Are you going to stand there and deny your absolute and inalienable need for water just because someone else lays down the law? Especially in the hot room you need to take total responsibility for your need for water. In addition to that you need to take responsibility for the way you allow yourself to get distracted by the myriad of activities that students undertake to distract themselves from their practice.
Your teachers were right about the distraction that water poses when you HABITUALLY reach for the water or use it as an excuse to move, or break your state. It is SO MUCH EASIER to finish your pose and look around or bend down and pick up your bottle. Distractions take you away from your own self-connection and that is what you are trying to accomplish in your yoga.
I have never heard the story about needing water in your stomach to flush it. I do know however if you are metabolizing too much fluid in your belly that it can get in the way of your poses; either because you are diverting energy there or there is that sloshing effect 😉 which can cause different sensations like nausea.
Your first priority is your health and that absolutely supersedes any instructions to avoid water. Please always take that as a challenge in the manner in which it is (or at least should be) intended. That is, every time you think you need a sip of water (and I mean sip and never gulp unless are at the end of your class) stand there and make the assessment: “do I really need this?”. The best way I have found is to ensure that you make eye contact for at least 5 seconds in the standing poses BEFORE reaching for you bottle. If you are encountering sensations that are compelling you to break contact, work out whether it is really thirst or whether you have the opportunity for self-growth or some kind of breakthrough. You will be glad you did.
Make the connection and only then make the decision to grab your water. Speaking with Robert we both can remember occasions where we have forgotten to take water along to class. We both have always hydrated well so the challenge was only a mental one.
As for my “water habits”: I make note of whether I have habitual places that I choose to drink. I always make eye contact and wait the few seconds and then I mindfully take water with minimal energy expended. If I am standing I keep one foot anchored as I reach for my bottle so I have the physical tethering to my Savasana state. And when I finish sipping I come straight back to Savasana: I consciously minimize the distractions.
Steph, like most elements that make the difference in your practice, the conditions around when and how you take your water is another mental challenge. Thanks for the question. The reactions to standing there when everyone else is drinking is an interesting thing to observe within oneself.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: my studio is SMELLY! #3233Hello Heidi Jo
Thanks for your question!
When do you replace the carpet? Well, that depends on the carpet that you have!
If your studio is using regular indoor use carpet then it is probably a breeding ground for germs – especially if there is underlay. My advice is to use a commercial quality indoor/outdoor carpet that is designed for moist conditions.
We needed to professionally steam clean our carpet 2 times a year. HONESTLY.
Don’t place normal carpet that you would buy for a house. It cannot cope with being wet and dirty all the time, especially as most studios don’t have systems in place to stop the sweat dripping on the carpet.
Good luck getting to training!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) #3232Hi Christy Ann
It really sounds as if you feel OK with and about your practice. If torsion is what you need to avoid then you can do that with some modifications: time for some private messaging methinks.
they compare Bikram yoga to a hot tub, sauna or steam room
Bikram and hot yoga are often erroneously compared to exercising in a sauna or steam room or sitting in a hot tub. In these places, there is really not the opportunity to cool down. The temperatures are higher than body temperature and there really can be some risk. If you have ever felt faint even having a bath just during your period, you will be aware of some element of danger.
If you are to continue practice then get a real indication of the temperatures in your studio. Find out how well it is controlled and whether they can set it at 98-100F when you are in the room (ie body temperature). It is my strong belief that you don’t need to have the temperature too high no matter who you are. Take a look at this thread about studio heating: Is the studio I go to over-heating the room?
As for literature… would you be willing to wait a little while I try to find some resources for you? Just a bit busy at the moment, but it is on my action list.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hello Peta
Nice to hear from you again!
This is an interesting question you pose… this is obviously perplexing you to some degree.
I am wondering about how you are approaching this pose (and indeed if this is an issue of difference in tightness/flexibility of one hip to the other). I wonder if you can do an experiment for me for the next couple of classes. Instead of trying to lock out your legs, try lifting your hips. It sounds similar but the focus is different. Pull hard on your heels. I assume your body is hard against your legs, right? Think of RELAXING the muscles that you don’t need for this pose – those around the hips and the back. Think release, and then lift the hips. See if the different focus on your pose – from straightening legs to surrendering your hips – makes a difference.
It may, it may not! But get back to me and we can work it out.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) #3219Hi Christy Ann
You sound as though you desperately want to know for sure that what you feel is right. That doing the yoga is good for you. A lot of it is going to boil down to your belief. And at the same time you want to feel that you have given every aspect due consideration.
Would you mind telling me if it is only the torsion movements that the specialists are concerned with?
Most people who are are unfamiliar with Bikram or Hot Yoga are frankly ignorant of the reasons and the effects of the heat. So rather than investigating it they react by saying it is no good for you. They are afraid of what they don’t know about.
But let’s take this from your perspective. How is it affecting you? Playing with your hormones may indeed change your comfort levels in the heat. What has been your experience so far? Do you feel the same in the heat or are there times where you feel nauseous or fragile (or something else that is different to your regular non-treatment experience)?
There may be some things that you can do. I am wondering though if you could first answer the above questions.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: getting pregnant #3218Hello borntosucceed!
Congratulations on your impending addition :cheese:
I just wanted to comment on your words about the teacher who had 2 babies. I would hate to think that someone would base their decision to practice this yoga on the one story. As all pregnancies are unique it would be difficult to make any kind of statement about how the yoga affected the fetus. With all respect, it does read as though the yoga had something to do with the small size of her baby at birth. One could take the other tack and say that the reason the baby was so healthy was because she did so much yoga! 😉 Her second baby is a unique individual with its own DNA and response to its environment. The most important thing is that the teacher did what she had to do.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: getting pregnant #3217Hello Trace
There are some poses that you will avoid. But at the moment you don’t need to be concerned with those. You probably wouldn’t be needing to change anything from anywhere from 3-5 months. I stopped doing some poses at around 4 months (of course didn’t lie down on my stomach from then on) and there are other modifications.
You have inspired me to put something together for this. I wanted to keep up my yoga in the hot room and didn’t want to just stand or lie there when the others were doing the poses I was supposed to avoid.
The most influential obstetrician in my region (and the most experienced) tells his patients that they can continue going to Bikram Yoga. I do not know under which conditions the placenta tears away from the uterus. Remember you have been doing this for some time so your body is used to the movements. You have to decide for yourself. Remember the first rule here is to do what you know. I may not be saying the same thing to someone who does not normally do hot yoga or any yoga at all.
When I was pregnant, my body was not happy to be in the studio when it was too hot. I have perfectly controllable temperature so whenever I was teaching or practicing I would drop the temperature to body temperature and no higher. No one complained. Heating a room to 110 degrees F poses a risk for anybody, pregnant or not. So please know what conditions you are practicing in.
Your body will have many demands made on it by the fetus. You are probably already taking folate supplements. Electrolytes of course will be good for you. I took specific pregnancy vitamin supplements but had to stop them as they were too strong and made me so thirsty… Maybe you will find that an organic diet will be sufficient and/or some specific supplementation (iron, folate, b) you can talk to your doc, pharmacist, your friends!
Keep us posted on your *status* 😆
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hello!
Welcome to the world of Hot Yoga!!!
Utkatasana. A great pose for those big muscles in the legs, and secondarily in the arms. So you want to know how to *find* them! :cheese:
For all three parts, activate your arms so that they are strong. Straighten your arms and lock them out. Importantly, as far forward as you try to lengthen them and focus the energy like laser-beams, you are also dropping the shoulders down and back. This shoulder movement also helps in arm activation plus the arms will aid your balance. Keep focus on maintaining the strength into, while in, and then out of each part.
Now for the legs:
In Part 1, unless you can get your thighs down parallel to the floor (and this means your bottom is at the same level as your knees) you will NEVER feel your legs getting the full strengthening benefit. One way of doing this is to get down there, push your knees forward toward the mirror and then bringing the weight back into the HEELS. Even try to lift your toes up off the ground. Your arms are the counterbalance, so keep them long and strong, shoulders back. Lifting the chest up off the knees will also help.In Part 2, you will find your legs working harder if you keep your heels up as high as you can. The moment they start to drop is the moment you stop dropping your bottom (ie come out of the pose a bit) and work on your heel height again. Allowing your heels to drop while bending your legs only a little does almost nothing. Once you have worked out how to keep your heels up, then it is a matter of finding that point where your thighs start to work. Don’t shy away from it. There is a magic point where you can REALLY feel them strengthening and it may change from class to class. Keep your belly strong and your chest up. Also note that if your legs get down to parallel to the floor it usually means that your heels have dropped. Optimal position tends to be with your thighs a little higher than parallel to the floor.
In Part 3, the key is squeezing the knees together tightly and activating the arms on the way down. MAKE SURE that once down there you keep the squeeze going. The hardest thing is to reactivate those leg muscles if you *settle* into the pose and worse if you sit on your heels. On the way up, not only reverse by squeezing knees together but consciously try to push your toes into the floor to help raise your body.
I hope that starts you on the *Awkward* pose path. I would love to hear how you go.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂PS My husband just read this post and said that perhaps you were looking for the names of the muscles that are used in this pose. I answered the question in terms of how to *find* them in your body – how they feel. If you would like it answered differently, please let me know!
in reply to: my studio is SMELLY! #3212Hi Lee
Thank you very much for your comment.
In a hardwood floored studio, stepping out after changing direction is a necessity because there is a very real risk of slipping. Good solution! The sweat mostly drips onto the towel.
I think that any physical strategy to cope with the problem in the studio really needs to have absolute minimal conscious input DURING the class – a kind of set-and-forget solution. The ‘t’ towel and mat, and turning on your mat for stepping out work well. Stepping out along your own mat – and this is just a personal preference I am proffering – has the potential to disturb the self-connection that you gain. I broached that in Meditation 101, the free pdf last week. It works best if you can turn and still be facing a mirror.
Breathe that clean fresh air! 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: fever sores #3209Hi yogini
It is hard to say what those sores are. Maybe it is a reaction to the heat. Or maybe a reaction to the stress your body is under (yoga, life in general?).
Maybe it is a the cold sore virus that has been stirred up. And maybe it has happened totally coincidentally to chime in with your yoga practice and has nothing to do with yoga at all.
Others in the forum may be able to lend an opinion or tell you of their experience, but I have not seen this before. The body is an amazing thing…
You may like to go to a doctor and have it swabbed and cultured and find out for sure (if leaving it to heal by itself is not preferred).
If you find out what it is and are willing to share it, I am eager to hear of the results
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hello Tani-Sue
How frustrating that I haven’t got back to you in a reasonable time. It was definitely not my intention to keep you waiting. On a metaphysical level: I was wondering what the universe might be trying to tell you about *patience* or even *letting go*?
It seems that there is an element of struggle in your practice at the moment. Some of it is physical and some of it mental. It is strange how the mental aspects make the practice so much more difficult to cope with. The mind is usually the reason people skip classes when they had intended to come; it makes up excuses that sabotage even the best of intentions, plans and goals.
Perhaps a good place to start is to look inside and work out what need of yours is not being met by not presently being able to attain your physical goals. Simply acknowledging this may be the key to *letting go* of the outcome and allowing yourself to *be* and practice yoga.
OK that is the mental stuff handled in a superficial way. If any of that rings true for you then please respond because together we can nut it out and find a strategy for you to overcome it.
But now let’s look at the physical side.
The mental and the physical actually dovetail so when you can mentally relax and let go you will probably find that your body surrenders too.I am wondering about your adductor muscles and how willing they are to comply. In cobblers pose and sitting cross legged it sounds as if you have quite some tightness. Are you able to put some towels or something under your knees so that you can settle into the pose without that resistance that has your legs pulling away from the floor (out of tension and pain)?
Those extra stretches that you are doing will definitely make a difference to you. There are many muscles attached around the pelvis and hips. It may be difficult to learn how to do this but you need to release them. Allow the opening. The anxiety you have around that area may be actually creating tension there. Especially for warrior poses, focus instead on pressing down through your heels and even lifting up your toes off the floor to ground the foot from the ball of the foot back to the heel. With that focus you may find that your hips feel more solidly supported and will let themselves relax.
You mention a weak feeling in your lower back. Would you let me know if you feel this all the time or if it is just during the poses you mention? It could be as fundamental as needed to develop core strength. Or it could be that your hips are tight and it is difficult to release enough there to be able to lift up out of the hips by tilting the pelvis and finding height in the spine.
Thank you for being so patient and reminding me with your last message 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: my studio is SMELLY! #3206Hello everyone
Now back from my weekend away I can now devote some time to re-formulating my answer. For me this issue of sweat really comes down to some very important HYGIENE factors. In my opinion, it is firstly the responsibility of the studio owners and teachers to create the right conditions for health and hygiene. Further on you will see what I do in my own studios to create optimal conditions. But first let’s look at the issues.
PROBLEM NUMBER 1:
When you practice at a studio there is always going to be the smell of sweat. If you started out with a completely pristine space and no one had ever practiced Hot Yoga in there, you would smell the sweat in the air from the very first class.
PROBLEM NUMBER 2:
If, at your studio, sweat that drips off the body falls directly onto the carpet then you have the potential for sweat to lie around for hours, days or even months. This is a breeding ground for all sorts of microorganisms.
PROBLEM NUMBER 3:
Hygiene can become a problem dependent on 2 factors; the ability to air the room and the material that gets sweated on.Now a couple of stories.
Where we first practiced:
When Robert and I first started this yoga years ago we have some very unpleasant experiences about smell and sweat. Both of us recall, just like you Jacquie, lying face down in someone else’s PUDDLE of sweat. It was extremely off putting. And yes, old sweat smells much worse.Besides being a turn off it is a hazardous condition for people to exercise in. The heat creates a breeding ground for the microbes in the room. Yikes.
Our first home studio:
My first studio was my converted double car garage at home. We set it up with a full wall of mirrors, carpeted and properly insulated. When practicing at a studio there is almost an expectation that you are going to smell some sweat in the studio before, during and after every single class. BUT when you are at home, somehow smelling any sweat outside of class is NOT an option. By default you MUST find a way to handle it.After my very first public class at home (which was only tiny) we already had wet patches on the carpet and the smell was traveling through the house. We lifted the carpet to air it but it never completely dried or was cleansed as the stain would remain. We HAD to come up with another option.
Placing the towel across your mat (BEWARE: contentious idea – that really works 😉 )
We started to position the towel across the mat in a ‘T’ or a ‘t’ formation. When students arrive they place their towel across the mat and just before they get to the 2 min Savasana the towel is picked up and placed lengthwise on the mat.What this means is that any sweat that drips from you is collected by the towel. All Warrior poses where you straddle the mat still have you positioned over your towel. Now 99% of your sweat drips onto your own towel. YOU get to take it home and take responsibility for your sweat. The studio stays cleaner and smells more fresh.
The studio owners and teachers still have to work to keep the studio smelling clean and fresh. The biggest determinant I have found in keeping a fresh hygienic studio (once dripping sweat onto carpet is no longer happening) is to have the studio well ventilated and aired after every single class. Every night when we left the space, the doors would be left wide open. And yes, you can use incense and essential oils, but not to mask the smells and hoodwink people into believing the space is clean.
Some people get really turned off by the smells in the studio. While we can ask people not to wear strong fragrances, we can’t ask them not to eat garlicky food before class – but that happens and it is not very pleasant standing next to someone who enjoys these things. Foot odor, the smell of garlic sausage, strong perfume or even oils and incense can be equally offensive to some. My aim is to provide a neutral environment where anyone can be comfortable.
I know the towel position thing is going to get some of you a bit perturbed. Yes, I have had my fair share of visiting students or other Bikram teachers who are dogmatic about the fact that Bikram doesn’t do it this way. My answer to them is simple: the position of your towel has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the practice of the yoga. It is simply a way to provide the best possible conditions for you and everyone around you.
I also tell them that the results speak for themselves. No one EVER complains of a stink in my studios. And even better than that: our carpet cleaning bill is not 80% of what a regular studio spends. It is not even 50%. Not even 10% of what a regular studio spends on cleaning. We needed to professionally steam clean our carpet 2 times a year. HONESTLY.
Last point of carpet. If your studio is using regular indoor use carpet then it is probably a breeding ground for germs – especially if there is underlay. My advice is to use a commercial quality indoor/outdoor carpet that is designed for moist conditions.
Thanks Regan for bringing up this problem. My suggestion is for anyone who is concerned to approach your studio owners and teachers with ideas for improvement. It is your practice and you can place your towel any way you like. If you are the only one who does that then it doesn’t address the rest of the environment but you could feel a little more comfortable in your own space.
Hey, I have to sign off, I have run out of room :cheese:
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Embarking on a 30 day challenge #3203Hello popcorn
I want to congratulate you on embarking on your challenge. I am really looking forward to hearing more distinctions and discoveries from you if you are willing to let us know.
Thank you again Hannah for your compassionate and interesting insights (as always).
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: my studio is SMELLY! #3200Hello Everyone
You won’t believe this! I was in the middle of a very long answer to the first 2 posts the other night and then my computer absolutely died! Really!
I have some comments, food for thought, great suggestions and ideas for you all. But… I am leaving right now for a 3 day course so… stay tuned and I will get back to you.
Have a wonderful weekend
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Space between the feet.. #3190Hi K
That is good noticing. 😉 You know, this is a natural response to trying to get deeper into the pose. When you have your feet in a bit and knees positioned outward – then the hips tend to have an easier or less resistant time opening up in the backbend.
If you want to enhance the ability to open your hips then try to resist this movement. And keep the widening of the knees til second set which is often when it is invited by your teacher.
Simple answer. You are not strictly doing anything wrong. You could certainly improve the flexibility in your hips by keeping everything firm for the first set.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: arms behind the calf muscles #3188Hello Jen
You are definitely on the right track. Focus on the pull and the lift and your body will open up.
Whenever you are standing you drop your shoulders down and back away from the ears. You do exactly the same thing in this pose and in Rabbit too. The difference is that you are upside down, so it tends to confuse folk somewhat. In Rabbit, try getting your heels together because you will instantly feel a difference in the pull. And the other thing that is useful is to suck not only your stomach in but your chest up so that you have a compression right from the neck to the hips. Sounds odd, but there is a BIG difference. Try it.
Have fun experimenting
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Problem with my meniscus #3186Hi yogini
Thanks for the compliments! :cheese:
Would you mind telling me what limitations of movement you are having right now because of your knee. How severe is it?
Robert and I were talking about knees at lunch today – as you do – 😉 and he will come and post about his own specific knee issues. So if you manage to get us some more info before then that will be really helpful.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Tips about Weight Loss? #3185Hello Somy
The trick is to be a little patient. Have your mind on your intention to lose SHAPE not weight, AND let go of your expectations. If you really want to succeed, then don’t get attached to it. Throw away your scales, and go by the way you FEEL in your clothes, and in your skin and in your head and heart.
If you REALLY want it then you have to go as many times per week as you can. Twice per week is not going to get you your goal. But 4 times per week will do it. 5 times better and so on.
One day you will look in the mirror and won’t believe that you hadn’t noticed the changes happening. Let it go. And before you know it you won’t be going to lose weight at all. You will be loving the heart-opening experience, the mind and body cleanse and feeling good for no good reason. That is when the shape drops off you!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: getting pregnant #3184Hello trace
You have done so much Bikram yoga in the hot room that you should be able to continue. I generally tell women to go with what they know. So if they are 3 months pregnant and have never done HY before then maybe it is better to wait. But you have 2 years’ experience under your belt.
My story: I practiced Bikram Yoga between 2-5 times per week when I was pregnant. Plus I was teaching several classes per week. I went to pregnancy yoga – and yes, I thought it was boring. But it gave me a great opportunity to meet other first-time moms. And I learned some stuff that I incorporated into my Bikram series while everyone else was lying on their tummies – which I couldn’t do after about month 4.5. The Bikram series doesn’t really address any pelvic opening moves to facilitate childbirth, so I created that for myself.
Doing this yoga was absolutely the best thing I possibly could have done. Pranayama breathing is a gift and allows you to perfuse your whole body and that of your baby with beautiful life-giving breath.
There will undoubtedly be some modifications for you and your pregnant form. But rest assured you can do 90 minutes of wonderful yoga in that heat.
Come back and tell us what happens
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Health Issues and Bikram Yoga #3183Hello Rebecca
It seems to me that you are not mentioning any of the signs of severe dehydration (headaches, nausea, aches, cramps, dry mouth, irritability, dark urine, stiff joints, confusion, rapid breath and weak pulse etc, etc, etc). The first port of call for dehydration issues is a very easy look at the color of your urine. If it is dark then you can look at your hydration and electrolyte levels.
With all that in mind, do you still think you have the signs of severe dehydration that could have contributed to forming the clot?
I am not sure that I have answered everything that you asked. Would you be willing to let me know if I should clarify anything else?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂 -
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