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Hi Eileen
Any updates on your condition? Did you work out a solution?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Noj
Any news for us? I am eager to hear how you’re going!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Is daily yoga healthy? #10291Hi Heidi
I’m back after a pretty long absence! Ha. The ‘no pain no gain’ discussion continues: Yes ‘go to your edge’ really means do what you can, focus on alignment and breath and the depth will happen naturally. Depth is not necessary as an outcome, pose outcome is necessary. That means going to the point where everything stays on track alignment-wise, without feeling PAIN, being aware that discomfort is fine. But pain and struggle do not even enter into it.
Muscles do experience micro-tearing when you stretch and work them. That’s partly why, in the recovery process, you need some time.
Your last question about pain within reasonable limits is definitely a subjective question. I code pain as danger. I code challenge as worthy of attention and focus. The only times I have felt pain in practice have been at times when I have returned to practice after a break, or when I have injured myself. So if you are feeling pain then perhaps some specialised pose specific help is in order. Let me know!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Shoulder injury still #10290Hi Beverly
How’s that shoulder? Are you willing to take up the ball again with me to try and get you sorted out? September and October forum posts went into a black hole. Let me know where you’re at.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Juice Fast? #10289Hi Sharon
did you ever get an answer to your juice-fast question? Wendy was helping out there for a mo! Are you goals to still lose weight with juice-fasting? How’s the shape change with hot yoga? A lot may have changed in 3 months
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Setting up a new hot yoga studio #10288Hi Brittany
Please let me know where you’re at with your certification and your studio. The lack of answers for this thread are just bad timing for me with running my teacher training (first question) and then a family bereavement (second question). Both extremely overwhelming times. I AM willing to help. I humbly apologise. You must think I was ignoring you or something!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Anette
Have you managed to get back to yoga yet? You posted at the time of a bereavement and I just didn’t get around to any posts back in September and October.
Can you tell me where you’re at?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Knees and feet #10286Hi Allison
It could be your shoes or flip flops. It could have something to do with the way you use your feet in and or out of yoga class. Have you seen my video:
Great Posture From The Ground Up? There could be some answers in there for you.
Let me know if this is still happening. I realise it was a while ago that you posted.
Hi Angel
My thoughts about Triangle. You mention that your toes go numb in triangle. So I figure that you are putting too much weight on them in that pose. Drive the weight down through your HEELS. Lift your toes to activate your feet, press the balls of your feet down. If your feet are sliding and toes are pressing down then that is a fundamental problem you can fix.
If what I said doesn’t work, we can work back through another fundamental you could address!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Previously broken back and new to yoga #10285Hi Lynn
Start searching around the forum. There are some answers in there already. Eg, what to do with the issue in Fixed Firm.
You’re doing really well after only 5 classes. I just recommend you do some homework regarding the ideas and questions I have already flagged simply because your injury is one not to be taken lightly.
Fantastic progress
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Previously broken back and new to yoga #10281Hi Lynn
So that’s great. You’ve come here right at the beginning of your experience. I really don’t like to do this because this is a free forum and I don’t like to solicit business in this way, but I do honestly believe that with your good body awareness and your wish to improve your practice that you would do well to consider buying my book called Hot Yoga MasterClass.
You are so new to your practice. You have an opportunity here to take responsibility and do things right for your body right from the get-go. There are things that many studios do in the course of a yoga class that actually could be detrimental to your back.
In the book you’ll find milestones as to where and when and how you should move beyond where you are. And you’ll find hundreds of photos of the actual techniques of each of the poses AND more importantly to you, hundreds of photos of the mistakes you are likely to make (or be taught to make, or that just happen because of the sheer enormity of instruction that you receive that the mind cannot possibly process). And on top of that the book will explain in words and often with photographs how to fix the mistakes.
Finally before I get back to writing (my new book) I would be remiss if I didn’t ask you when was the last time you had radiographic records made of your back and what the people looking after you say about, or recommend to you about physical movement and limitations? What they say doesn’t have to be the way it should be, but as you can see here, this is just me on the other end of the globe online just trying to interpret your words, your body, your practice through each other’s filters.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂PS depending on your learning preferences, there are many options when it comes to my resources: The free forum, the manual, DVDs and even more highly detailed tutorials (and more).
Oh, I almost forgot. I also recommend you Take a Look at the Free Videos on yoga techniques for some yoga and body basics that really do make a difference.
in reply to: Previously broken back and new to yoga #10279Hi Lynn
An amazing story. Thank you for sharing it with us. I think that we need to explore what happens in each of the other backbends to know whether it is fear, physical limitation or a combination of both.
There could be a bit of toing and froing as questions are asked and answers come back and schedules are fit into and experiences are had.
The main backbends are as follows:
>> Half Moon Backbend
>> Standing Bow
>> Cobra, Locust, Full Locust, Floor Bow
>> Fixed Firm
>> CamelBack flexibility (and other factors) affects poses such as
>> Awkward, eagle oh and many others including sit up and paschimottanasana poses.So in the meantime can we start with the backbends? I want a sense of how you manage your poses and where your challenges are. Please break them down one by one and be as specific as you can.
I have no sense of your abilities or even your technique. I also have no idea if the limitation is ONLY in the lower spine. For instance, what happens in your neck and mid back in each of those poses? At what point do you feel fear in that pose? At what stage are you at in each pose (ie progress compared to ‘ideal’ pose)? At what point do you have to come out of the pose if that ever happens?
Possibly it’s best to deal with one pose at a time if there happens to be too much information. We’ll see!
Nice to hear that you always listen to your body. So yes, stop when you need to.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: How to flatten my stomach? #10277Now that WOULD be something miraculous: Predictive text forum answers! I will get onto it right away. 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: How to flatten my stomach? #10275Hi Kofilino
Welcome! And yes, you did come to the right place. Go and see my free video called Flatten Your Tummy And Strengthen Your Back. You will probably think I made it just for you! :cheese:
Actually, without even the slightest exaggeration, I hear from women who say that this is the way they finally got rid of their extra shape on their bellies.
Keep me posted with your progress.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Becky
You are such a good friend! :cheese: Let me see if we can get the ball rolling.
You have given me some clues straight away in your post.
>> 1. Your friend is doing Bikram yoga every day and has done so for the past 2 months. He hasn’t had a break.
>> 2. Without a break your friend’s body is tired and lacking ANY chance of recovery. He really needs to take a few days off and do no yoga.
>> 3. You mention he has pain, is sore, achy has stiff joints. This is OH SO TYPICAL for 2 reasons.a) the first reason for the pain? He needs to LISTEN to his body and rest. Yoga is really about being present with what’s going on. Pushing past whatever barrier he’s up against is really counter-productive. Every BODY needs time to regenerate tissues and take time to rest. Yes, some people do practise for days and months at a time. But the forced schedule does not allow for your friend’s very common scenario.
b) the second reason? It is highly likely, given what you describe that (despite how wonderful an environment it is to practise) your friend may not be using the best yoga techniques to support the opening up, the pain-free, wonderfully challenging yoga poses he is doing. To work hard and to be challenged is the goal. The goal is NEVER, ever to struggle. Your friend is struggling.
So Becky, the scenario is very typical – unfortunately. There are actually a lot of threads on the forum that talk about people unable to lose weight. It could be a nutritional change. It could be salt intake (sea salt of course) and it could be water habits.
But it also [strong]has something to do with the way he’s doing his poses. I can guarantee that.[/strong]
Would you be willing to ask your friend to come to the forum? I have too many questions that would make this process unwieldy! You being the 3rd wheel and all. 😉
In the meantime, if your friend is continuing to go to yoga, he really MUST start ONLY going as far into any pose as he can with EXCELLENT alignment.
There are resources I can point him to to make his practice satisfying and fun and pain-free again. But I really think I need to talk with him (write :lol:) directly.
Thanks for the good background
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Want to do Bikram/Hot Yoga at Home, Tips? #10269Hi Kate
You’re addicted. 😆 Good for you!
2 things: Many of the questions you ask are already answered in this section on the forum. You chose well by putting your question in the “Practicing at Home or Travelling?” section. So please hunt around.
A propos of your concerns of mold, I do believe that you could greatly benefit from a personal infra-red heater that would heat you and not the whole space. You could have one aimed at you, or even one on each side of you!
Whatever you do, ventilation is key to clearing the air after you practice.
Besides the forum you could find a lot more information assembled together in one spot (or in several spots! 😉 ) …
Here’s where you may be interested in some help (beyond the forum): Take a look at the top of this page. You’ll see 3 ads. Yes these are products you can buy. I am just making you aware of them. All 3 will have something that will appeals to you. You can also find them in the top “Products” menu right up the top of every Hot Yoga Doctor website page.
The Home Practice Kit has many elements that will help you: A pdf manual with information about heating the room, insulation, even hydration and clothing, how to place your mat and mirrors. There is a transcript of the audio class too and photos of the finished poses and lists of benefits. The kit has a 90 min audio class on CD and mp3 (and a few other shorter classes if you get the audiovisual pack).
Now that the Hot Yoga MasterClass manual is in Paperback the cost of owning it has come right down to less than the price of 2 public classes.
The issue with home practice is that you really need to be even more diligent about having a precise practice. This is a ‘real’ book and completely different to the kit mentioned in the above paragraph.
The Hot Yoga MasterClass manual has all the steps you need to make sure you know how to do the poses with best physiological principles taken into account, how to avoid the mistakes that cause risk, injury and damage. And there are descriptions and pictures of the mistakes that are made (common and uncommon).
More importantly there are descriptions and pictures to show you how to fix your mistakes.
I will leave it to you to check out the bonuses and the different packages. Of course come to the forum, as many answers are already here. Just no photos!
Can you wear a lot of clothing? Well, yes you can. But consider seeing if you can work with infrared heating. There are special exercising suits for those who want to sweat. I have never used them. Maybe someone in a similar position can chime in!
You asked if an audio class is sufficient. It is if it’s a good class. I use the same set of classes when I practice at home. Yes, some of them are mine! I can’t listen to a poor quality class more than once.
Hope that all helps
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂That’s great news Nina!
Keep me posted.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: I am quite overweight and doing hot yoga #10266Hi Danielle
I for one would love to keep a track of your progress.
Is your challenge 30 straight days or 6 days per week (recommended)?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Hot yoga and hear rate #10265Hi beatdream
I just saw your post for the first time! Dang!
So, where are you at?
What do you think now? I honestly don’t think you can ascribe the problem to any cause if you don’t have historical data. Even then you would need to have tested the hypothesis somehow.
In any event a look at your hydration and electrolyte intake (and if you read around here you’ll see I recommend sea salt as a great starting point) you will benefit greatly. Take a look around the forum.
You do do a lot of exercise. Because you are very fit your HR is going to be low because you have a strong heart muscle. But the spikes on the ECG, well, if you’ve never had an ECG then they could have been there for an indeterminate time.
I would be interested to know any update
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Steady yoga #10254Thank you drnadira, your sentiments are greatly appreciated. I am happy I have been able to help!
Have fun in your discoveries.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Toes & Heals… together #10248Hi Danielle
Great question. 😉 If you look at your own word choice I am absolutely positive you’ll come up with the right answer (yoga centric or otherwise!).
No force, no struggle. Besides, there are more reasons than size that determine foot position.
Actually this question has been answered before so I am sure hunting around the forum will help you greatly.
And a great place to start will be to watch This Free Videoand then the other free ones and apply them to your practice now.
See you soon
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Numbness in fingers and elbow pain #10242Hi Maria
Welcome! So, carpal tunnel syndrome is associated with numbness in the fingers and sometimes hand in certain places. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome then perhaps there is a connection. But I am sure it has nothing to do with your elbow.
Can you please tell me more about this sore elbow? When does it happen? Is it as a result of any particular movement or action? Say, for example, does it happen when you lock your arms out? There is quite a lot of that happening especially at the beginning of class.
If you look up tingling on this forum you’ll find lots of ideas about electrolyte lack. Is your issue bilateral?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Nina
A quick thought while I am in the middle of deadline stuff: Often one just has to think of the action in another way. So, how different does it feel in your body to:
>> Activate your leg muscles?
>> Lift the kneecap up with the help of the quadriceps?
(instead of the blanket command to lock the knee)There can be a misconception of what it means to ‘lock the knee’ as I think I point out on the video… 😉 The video is not entirely about aligning the foot. I know you realise that too. But there are other elements at play. Pronation. Angles of the femur from the hip. And more.
Let me know if that changes anything with those 2 questions. As I say, it’s all about narrowing it down. One step at a time.
PS: Stacking is about using the muscles in a functional way when the joints are stacked correctly. As there is almost NO place in the body where there is a vertical line (even in the legs – and yes I know that is very surprising) it has to do with the series of levers and pulleys that are in your body
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Nina
Thanks for ‘dropping by’! 😉
The first thing I would really value you doing is to go and check out the video Great Posture From The Ground Up.
Can you come back and tell me if anything from there resonates for you? If not, that’s good to know too. It will be a great place to start.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Practice Plateau #10238Hi Anna
Can you tell me more about what’s going on? Are you going to largely script-based classes? What’s your feeling? Are you not having that sense of discovery anymore? I imagine you’re at a public studio. Is that the case?
That’s good for starters!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Not losing any weight at all #10237Hello Daniel Tamayo
Thank you for your contribution to the forum. Your weight loss is absolutely astounding. You must feel fantastic as a result of your regained health! 🙂
Regarding your other comments:
I would like to point out that it would be unwise of anyone to be giving advice that is not couched in terms that puts the onus on the reader to do their own research and make their own decisions.
I am OK with the fact that it is your belief that absurd statements exist on this forum. It is based on your model of the world. You are entitled to your opinion. I would have a 24/7 much-more-than-full-time job if I made every answer a scientific treatise backed up with evidence that was actually cited! Hahaha. I would need to employ people.
The ionic structure comment I will have to agree is something that I find hard to believe. I had heard this from reliable sources and found it online! Ah, the legitimacy of information really does have to be checked and rechecked eh? 😉 Just because it’s online (or you’ve heard it) doesn’t make it true … or true in all cases. Take for example the commonly held belief that sweating detoxes the body… Do you believe that? I don’t. But the majority of people you will talk to (and especially hot yogis) believe that they are sweating out toxins (unless there’s been a shift in sweat-consciousness lately ;)).
However, back to salt: The comment re structure of NaCl does not alter the message (in the words surrounding that comment) which is something I will stand behind… [strong]”That table salt that people use in processed food and on tables in hundreds of millions of households across the world is ‘poison’. It is sea salt with ALL the goodness taken out of it”.[/strong]
B). Adding salt to your drinking water. YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL. This can be exceptionally dangerous to your body, immune system, and your electrolyte balance…which directly affects the first three. Did you notice that no one gave an exact amount? IF YOU ADD TOO MICH SALT TO THAT WATER, it brings the specific gravity of the water to a point where your body will not absorb it. The water then goes straight through your system. google the term “salt water flush”….
Daniel, I have done my research on hypernatremia. There is an almost negligible problem with taking too much salt. However hyponatremia (insufficient sodium) is a potentially LETHAL – and fairly commonly so – situation. That is not the case for hypernatremia. Check ‘hypernatremia’ on this forum for that verification. I will not qualify that comment right here because the parameters are not clear. So, sorry, not citations! 😆 That comment re risk of too much salt, could be contentious for some to believe especially if it is not clear what type of salt is used in the studies that are referenced. Again, I extend an ‘invitation’ to do your research. Read on however for more …
The point you make about adding too much salt to water is honestly NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Why? Because, correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you are referring to highly saturated or supersaturated solutions of salt. Some people take a very small amount of that solution as therapy, or a daily dose of electrolytes.
Nobody would be able to stomach large amount of high concentrations or supersaturated salt in say, their drinking water and water they sip on during class.
[strong]
Salt water flushes really could not, in any sense of the word, be confused with the recommendation that one COULD think about putting a pinch of salt in their drinking water or sprinkling a little sea salt on their food.[/strong]You will notice that I mention in my posts to add a few grains or a pinch of salt! 😉
May I ask you if, in your post, you are suggesting that one is OK if they use NaCl as table salt? I would be interested to know.
C) Your body is changing…you have stated you see toning of the muscles, you have increased flexibility…and you are eating healthier. Why do you need to get to a specific numbered weight?
Agreed! There is way too much reliance on the numbers on the scales. I always encourage people to monitor how they feel. Sometimes working through all the issues helps too. Then they make up their own minds. I also don’t advocate counting calories. But guess what? There are people for whom that works. It is my experience that a yoga practice can change their whole relationship to food (consciously and unconsciously) and so the calories SHOULD eventually not figure into the equation. But as I say, some people … What was it like for you and your relationship with food?
Finally I would like to make a request of you: And that is that you contribute to this forum with politesse. Please respect the time that everyone gives freely to come here and comment. You seem annoyed and a tad aggressive, perhaps one could say, ‘on the attack’ (that’s how it landed for this reader). Keep it nice, get curious, ask questions, feel free to clarify things. Behave respectfully. If you don’t agree with somebody then let them know. Please be courteous! See you soon!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂 -
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