Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)

Hi Sharon

It seems Ms Andrea is nowhere to be found! 😆

So firstly I think you could try to drink more every day than 2 litres. It should be minimum 2.3 for an average sized woman. Or so I am told 😉

Another liter and a half for days when you do hot yoga.

Try sea salt. Coconut water is nice but it’s not the answer. Emer-gen-C sachets i used to take a lot. Now I just put sufficient salt in my diet.

I don’t think the pins and needles are to do with one’s emotions. I think it is the result of something happening physiologically. It just really depends on the frequency and when it’s happening. Oh, perhaps you can tell me by reading your first post, whether it’s the same intensity or if anything has changed!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Aloha Cindy

How’s that itchiness going? Did it … um … go? 😉 Let me know please. It’s possible that you were awakening your circulation after being sedentary.

Looking forward to your response

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Mai

There are many threads that talk about such challenges! May I suggest using the ‘Search’ box above. Pop the word ‘challenge’ in there and you may be pleasantly surprised!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Beth

Thanks for chiming in Bill! 😉

I agree. Just do what works. I am positive there are some recommendations on existing threads on this forum. So take a look around. You will find them in the section called Practising at Home or Travelling!

There are suggestions for heating, flooring, insulation and humidification.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Sheree

This is what I submitted as your reply, only moments ago. Then I found your new thread. Just keep going here or there (but both won’t be necessary! 😉 )

Advice? OK! Here goes. Go back. But don’t stand right in the back with the newbies. Because most instructors teach to a script that doesn’t handle newbies, standing in the back row means you have to take your cues from people who may very well NOT know what they’re doing.

You should stand in the 2nd row, in between and behind 2 regulars who know what they’re doing. In that position too, you’ll probably have regulars at both sides. Surround yourself with them. You’ll be able to see them from behind and see their reflections too. Teachers actually rely on you looking around (even though a very good class, you should be able to follow the verbal instructions).

You will find the class very satisfying especially when you let go of how well you should be doing. Try to work on great alignment. The script won’t tell you that but you’ll largely have to guess what that means by looking at others and using your intuition. So once again, be surrounded by what you think will be good examples.

Normally the couple of classes AFTER the first one are the hardest because your mind thinks you know what you have to do. It’s impossible to know everything in such a short time! Hey it’s a process

Have a wonderful experience. Come back and let me know how you go

That’s what I wrote. Frankly, you are simply experiencing the difficulties of someone whose expectations are high, was standing in the wrong spot and could have had less than ideal instruction.

When you have better examples I believe things will be easier for you. You are not supposed to struggle. You are currently being overwhelmed by too much ‘stuff’ to do and follow.

Let me know how you go

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Billy

So, tell us! How has it been going? Is the family still going to yoga together? So wonderful to get everyone there. Maybe you now have some thoughts to share.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hmmmm… sometimes the effort in doing the yoga to get some place is the problem. Work on being present with what is happening right now. Get your foundations right. It is highly possible that your technique for this pose needs some adjusting. Often the strain happens when people do their poses incorrectly. Often all you need is a small tweak in technique and you’ll find the ease and keep the challenge: no struggle. The stress you are feeling in your jaw could actually be the result of trying too hard.

Ria, why don’t you ‘meet me’ at the Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee pose section and we can talk about where your struggle is or was? You may already find that your answers are there in existing posts.

See posts on Standing Separate Leg Head To Knee Pose here.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

That’s great news Cristy. Keep us posted. I will take another look after the weekend.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Liliana

I should ask you if you’re trying to ‘suck in your stomach’ consciously on the inhales.

The thing to focus on is to allow the lower ribs to move out and to move up slightly. The ribs won’t be moving down. With the stretch in the torso the diaphragm won’t be able to move down as in abdomino-diaphragmatic breath. Your diaphragm and ribs work together here (because of where the diaphragm attaches): The spreading of the lower ribs will help the diaphragm’s activation. Relax your belly, let the stretch do what it does to the torso and just find the freedom in the lower part of the ribs.

Come back if that doesn’t make sense in your body and I will find another way to explain it.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Julianne

Yes it does appear that your condition is one of flat-footedness! At the moment your feet are not being used as well as they could be to support your body. Your muscles are most likely under-developed.

If you learn how to create the best alignment and support in your foot then you will actually go a long way to activating your feet and possibly part way or completely reversing or fixing this problem. You will also be helping prevent further possible issues with your back, hips, and so on… It’s all good news, but you really must pay attention to best alignment.

I had a similar issue with fallen arches (pronation) and through a regular practice based on PRECISION techniques (the ones I teach here and in my writings, emails, books etc) I have healed that problem.

Anyway, a great place to start is with my free video called Great Posture From The Ground Up! The link is to the page with all the free videos. Find it half way down that page.

Let me know how you go!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Ep

Thank you very much for your questions. The rates are a little different depending on where you are in the world. I know that people in the US can be paid from $35 up to $100 per 90 min class. I know that people in Australia get paid $50-$100 for the same class. I am not sure of the upper limits.

Then there are many differences between styles of yoga and sizes of studios (and the cities they’re in). The busier the studios the more students then it’s more likely to be paid more. That’s a generalised rule.

You have a couple of questions about interning. Have you approached a studio? After a training you should really be able to teach. Hopefully you can choose a training that gives you great foundational skills (that are NOT based on script reciting) that has you teaching well enough that you could even go out on your own if you chose to, right after your program.

There are a lot of hot yoga studios around the world who – following some kind of bikram culture norm – seem to EXPECT that new teachers give a certain amount of time for free. Is this what you’ve heard or been told firsthand? I would like to know.

I have a very strong belief about paying people for teaching for me. If I am putting a lot of energy into someone’s development then it stands to reason that the pay would be less.

I also strongly believe that there should never be a longstanding arrangement where teaching is done for free. Perhaps one free class is acceptable. So, no, I don’t believe in ‘doing time’ for free. There has to be a strong reciprocal arrangement where everybody feels valued.

Standards need to be quantified somehow and agreed upon. Good quality feedback needs to be given and received. For example at my teacher training course I teach a specific kind of feedback. On the other hand I have heard that the feedback some people get after giving a free class is “thanks” or sometimes nothing, and sometimes nothing useful to grow their skills. Don’t settle for situations like that.

I am not clear on your last question. Would you care to elaborate? 😉

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Cristy

Are you still power walking and going to aerobics?

Is your studio aware of your issues? Have they given you any guidance at all during class or given you generalised principles with which to approach your practice? Do they teach the same class every time with more or less the same dialog?

I know you spoke with Esak but working through the pain is clearly not the way to go here.

Let me know so I may be able to give some advice

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Melissa

Thanks for posting. Just so we’re on the same page, would you go and look at this page and tell me to which pose you are referring? You could be talking about Toe Stand.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂