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in reply to: Throwing up after class #6844
Hi Kitty
Thanks for the ideas Lee! It could be a simple timing issue.
After considering all the ideas below, please come back so we can see in which direction we are led.
Maybe we will discuss what you’re eating in a general sense or any other symptoms you haven’t yet shared. So far, all we know is that you practice often, you teach and you throw up consistently after class. We don’t know how long this has been happening and whether your last meal is purged (what makes up the vomitus), what kind of food you eat (most raw, mostly cooked, commercial juices from a juice shop????). There are lots more questions that could be asked.
Methinks it would probably be something a little more insidious than the timing of your last meal. Here’s why: After practicing so many classes per week and already being an instructor you probably have sorted out your eating patterns.
Note that I didn’t say anything about WHAT you eat. There could be something severely lacking in your diet. Perhaps a gradual decline in something essential (nutrients, electrolytes, iron) – something that may be picked up in a blood test. Please check your vitamin D levels too with an hydroxy 25 test if you’re going to get tested. Make the test comprehensive. Of course being a woman it would be worth exploring whether you are pregnant (I had to say it).
If you haven’t already seen this movie then please go ahead and Watch This!. Very simply, this has the power to change your life and understand what your body really needs and wants. We love it so much we have it available from our own store. Watch the trailer at least!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Post Yoga drink #6841Hi Michelle
What can I say? It’s your choice what you put in your body! I don’t want to sound flippant about it. If that’s what you think will do the best for you then go ahead.
I personally prefer fresh, raw, organic produce, salads, a protein packed smoothie (with greens and maybe spirulina and all sorts of goodies and superfoods) or I may just have water or an organic juice.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: question about pose tutorials #6836Hi Stef
Thanks for the question. The Pose Tutorials are the same products that WERE available on the VIP Membership program. All the 17 recordings are now only available as professionally produced DVDs.
I created these 17 very popular recordings (covering 19 poses plus the topic of meditation) over 17 months just for my Private Members – and recently made all the DVDs available at The Store. I have stopped creating them for now because they took almost my entire time.
I am now able to devote my time to other interesting products and projects such as TEACHER TRAINING and retreats, and a whole raft of exciting things like books and more free products too … Anyway I am thrilled I can bring more of what people are asking for into reality.
The Pose Tutorials are now only available as separate DVDs. If you want the whole set just get in touch with me directly.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Planning to go next week. Some question. #6833Hi Nattie
Thank you Kordelia for the response. I will add to it:
It is wonderful for you to do hot yoga when you are overweight. Just recognize that you do need to follow Kordelia’s instructions and not overdo it.
The heat acclimatization process takes 2 weeks (it’s a physiological process). So persist for that time even though you will find it tough. Then it takes some attention on learning the poses themselves. That process in itself has to be allowed to unfold, for you to make mistakes – so just listen well, observe well. If you find yourself lacking energy, try watching the first set of poses (for the visual example of what to do) and then do the second set.
Wear skin-fitting clothes NOT LOOSE ones. Don’t wear sleeves. Wear a singlet or gym top of some description. Wear bike shorts or capri pants (even though it’s better to wear something where you can see your knees – no explanation needed as you’ll discover!).
PLEASE DON’T drink Gatorade. It’s just table salt and sugar and little else. You would be better to find some electrolyte sachets or tablets and have them before or after class. And/or you can start adding unrefined sea salt (like Celtic, Hawaiian or even Himalayan) to your diet (add to your food and even add some to your water). Drink 2-3 liters of water every day. And more on days with classes especially if you live in a warm climate. Take water in with you for class and sip it as needed between poses.
Eat a light meal before class and try to leave about 2-3 hours food-free before class.
I hope that helps. There are many other threads like this on the forum so you can scout around and see what others have recommended.
You can never say why someone else passes out. It may have no bearing on your experience. You are carrying extra weight around at the moment so just take it easier as your body and mind get used to the new routines. It will be worth it.
Don’t struggle! Try to keep an even breath, even when it get’s challenging. And … Have fun!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: vulnerable knees #6829Hi Jennifer
Thanks for your questions. I was wondering if you can tell me more about your past injuries:
>> Have you had any ligament damage?
>> What difficulties or limitations do you have outside of yoga?
>> When you say “every move” do you mean in every single pose your knees are troublesome?
>> Or is it that perhaps you start out OK, you get to a point in your class where your knees ‘pop’?
>> Then does it keep happening in every pose or are there particular movements?
>> Can you tell me what happens to you when you experience the popping sensation?
>> What do you have to do when that happens?
>> In your seated poses you seem to indicate you are feeling vulnerable. What is happening and which poses and what do you have to do to relieve it?
>> And finally (for now, anyway) can you tell me what happens when you lock your knee? Phew, that’s a lot of questions.Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Valorie
Aha, the story is revealing itself… 😉
That’s very interesting about the poison oak episode. Perhaps there is some relation.
I was talking with a friend yesterday. During our conversation (with regards to some recent issues she’s been having) I discovered she eliminated salt from the diet of her whole family ages ago, believing as we all do that too much salt is bad for you.
That in itself is an interesting statement. And yes too much IODIZED TABLE SALT IS BAD FOR YOU. What is good for you however, is natural unrefined sea salt. In fact it’s essential.
I recommend going out and buying some proper salt! Try Celtic, Himalayan or Hawaiian. I am sure there are plenty of others and by all means go to a store where they sell them bulk and sample some. Then make sure you start to take about a teaspoon of the GOOD salt every day. You can sprinkle it on your salads, your meals, anything. Hey, even add a pinch to your water bottle to make it a great electrolyte drink.
I would also up your water intake. If you are only drinking 40 oz of water per day on non yoga days I do think that is not sufficient. See what you can do to take 60-70 oz per day, maybe even more. But keep up the salt too. Kids should have the good salt too. About 1/2 a teaspoon would be good depending on their age.
So, back to the conversation with my friend yesterday. I ended up bringing her some Himalayan salt later that day. And we both agreed there are 2 good reasons to buy that poisonous table salt: Making Play dough for your children and for adding to cold water when you are wanting to set dyes in clothes where the color runs! 😉
I would love to know if the salt and water make a difference to you. And how you go with your yoga, skin and what effect the heat experimentation has on everything.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: KNEE INJURY MCL (MEDIAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT) #6827Hi Vanessa
OK! Grade 1. I believe that with appropriate care (and pose modification) until your MCL is healed, you should return to a normal hot yoga practice! Yay
When you get back in the hot room, if you have any questions, come back and together we can work it out! Just continue building on strength and ease back into your twisting poses as indicated so that your healing stays on track.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Valorie
Thanks for your in depth post. It must be somewhat distressing to still have the problem even after giving up the yoga temporarily. It has been winter recently for you and so you would not have experienced hot ambient temperatures. So, was it the heat and the yoga? Or was it that that set of conditions aggravated something latent and caused those eruptions?
I wonder about the underlying conditions in your system and would love to know more about what you are eating, how much water you are drinking, whether you add salt to your diet and what kind.
As for practicing without the heat, (well, it doesn’t have to be completely without heat) I think it is a great place to start. It is really an ideal scenario for you because you can self-regulate the heat and your conditions to build in the right amount of challenge and heat for you.
You could see how you go with a class in a mildly heated room. Check out how you feel and what happens and then work out whether you are fine with the full 90 minute class or if you have to ‘re-acclimatize’ by starting with the shorter classes first. Over time you can also heat the room a little more…
You’ll also be quite surprised at how much heat you do generate in low temperature rooms. So don’t be so concerned. It is possible that you have been going to a room where the heat has been too high for YOUR system. So let’s see what happens.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: KNEE INJURY MCL (MEDIAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT) #6823Hi Vanessa
Oh dear! Are you in great pain? Clearly while you’re on advil and icing and elevation you probably should avoid going to yoga! 😉 You should avoid further risk to your knee until all inflammation is gone.
OK, so some questions:
Were you told whether this was a grade 1 or 2 tear or perhaps grade 3?
Were you asked to wear a brace? If not then the injury is probably on the non-serious side!The knee although a simple hinge has a complex arrangements of ligaments. Your MCL also joins to your meniscus (unlike the lateral CL). At the moment you will want to avoid twisting movements.
When you swelling is gone then you will be exercising your knee and building the strength again. Just open and close your knee as the simple hinge (avoid twisting for now). Start to practice locking your knee (using your quadriceps muscles).
There is generally very good supply of blood to the MCL so it should heal well. But it does depend on the size of the tear (grade of the injury). It could take up to 2 months to heal it back to normal. So …
There are poses that you will want to avoid or modify when the time comes for yoga.
>>> 1 Eagle: Just crouch down hips back body up, twist the arms but NOT the legs.
>>> 2 Tree: See if you feel comfortable just putting sole of foot on lower leg or upper leg NOT at the knee. Your 100% healthy leg could do the regular tree or you can maintain symmetry and do the same thing on both sides. Obviously NO toe stand.
>>> 3 Fixed Firm: May initially be difficult. It depends on the tear and the healing. It may actually feel comfortable because Supta creates some space on the inside of your knee. So don’t be concerned at this stage if you have to skip for a while. The modification is simple and very restorative: Sit on your heels with knees and feet together. Just sit! Feet face down with lower legs straight and untwisted.The above are the obvious ones.
OK I am on my way out the door so I will have to continue later with the rest.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Question on light-headed episode #6821Hi Wes
I am glad your feelings of crisis left you quite quickly. You may not have been hyperventilating in that obvious way until you left the room but I still believe your exertion led to a manner of breathing that set up the whole scenario. Check out the web for the effects of breathing on the acid/base balance. Look at respiratory alkalosis for example as well as hyperventilation. The science of how the body’s pH can change with the breath is astounding.
Adrenalin? Well, it could be if you were feeling panic all of a sudden maybe kicked off by the crash in your sugar levels (due to eating the wrong stuff before yoga? 😉 ). I would tend to think otherwise especially as you are a frequent regular practicing yogi!
Your body freaking? Yes! See above about breathing. You were having a “tough practice”. This is usually reflected by changes in breath. Believe me stranger things have happened.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Question on light-headed episode #6811Hello Wes
That must have been so worrying for you.
Lots of things it could be:
>> A one-off experience (it does happen)
>> Precursor to heat exhaustion. It really could have been too hot in there.
>> The numbness I would want to know more about. Is it still happening? Did you feel tingling or numbness anywhere else? Perhaps it’s a mineral, electrolyte, vitamin or other deficiency. Worth checking out for sure. In fact, do it regardless because it’s good to have a base point to work from. When you do your full blood test also check on your vitamin d levels with a 25 hydroxy test.
>> A stressful period in your life. Something going on? Probably not the answer.
The likely answer:
>> The hyperventilation could have kicked off the numbness. Your breathing could have been very deep – and for the most part that’s good. But hyperventilation is not too much oxygen it’s the lowered levels of carbon dioxide that lowers your pH in your circulatory system and that kicks off a chain of events which can stop the oxygen from being delivered effectively (in the right concentration). It can set up a situation where your blood vessels are constricted. This means less oxygen to the brain: Lightheadedness and other systemic effects (including numbness).You may not remember whether you were breathing more deeply than normal but you did mention you were working very hard.
So the good news is that you can perhaps go to class and then just focus on a continuous fluid breath rather than the deepest breath you can create. See how that goes. If that works then you know that the way is a little clearer to deepen your breath. Just don’t FORCE your breath or your practice. 😉
As I mention above, it does pay to investigate your blood.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Trouble with legs #6809Hi Ilonka
Would you like to post in Supta now? It would be great. When you get there copy and paste the relevant part of your question. And also please tell me when you go back into the pose with shoulders on the ground and your feet hurt, are your knees coming off the floor? Are your knees together or apart? Can you put your knees further apart? Are you able to keep the pose working for you when you go back just onto your elbows?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Help! knee pain after one class! #6808Hi Susannah
I’m sorry to hear of your pain.
Your problem is possibly due to the new skill overwhelm that most people experience (for the internalization of any new skill). It is entirely possible that due to the mind’s inability to pay attention to a hell of a lot of conscious activities that are in some way foreign to you that some strain has occurred.
So what may have happened is – if it is in Awkward pose – that most or all of your conscious attention was being paid to the travel down, a straight back or your arms straight or any number of other things. This probably left little or no attention available for squeezing your knees together. I am guessing with Pilates as one of your fortes you probably had your core engaged.
It is also possible that if your torso was leaning forward at all then there was more pressure on your knees.
It is very common for vital parts of the technique to completely drop or move in and out of awareness during this and every other pose… It’s part of the process. Just not very satisfying for you at the moment.
What do you think having read my ideas?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Oh bumma, I closed the window with my reply! Yikes
OK so here goes again: You are right Bonnie. Get rid of the facecloth for your poses.
If you have stinging eyes and a condition that makes it risky to use your yoga towel, then bring in a clean cloth to dab or blot your eyes only (and not your face).
I am now in the middle of formulating an answer to you about the acidity. It’s much more complex than is intimated in that article. I am trying to organize an interview with a world expert on sweat as we speak.
Your sweat is acid. I may write something in the next few days about the amount and types of acid in the sweat. I did some research and found a scientific article about the amounts of acid in the sweat. In a well hydrated person the amounts don’t really change even with extreme exercise.
Anyway, rather than start the long answers now, here’s something that I hope will be helpful …
The pH of the skin is acidic and contrary to what the article says, in this external environment the acid prevents fungal infection and keeps the skin in good condition.
Just a hint to those who have a problem with pimples and blemishes. The acid mantle of the skin is important to maintain, it seems! Soap is alkaline and dissolves fats and acids so some attention can be paid to what methods of cleaning are used.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Asthma and Hot Yoga #6803Hi Alyssa
Hmmm. Eagle eh? I get the sense that most people pulling their arms down is less of a chest or lung opening pose than many others. The poses with arms over head tend to be the ones that create that opening especially with precision alignment techniques employed. The classic Bikram pose that is referred to for asthma is Tuladandasana. But there are others that have a similar pose mechanism.
Actually I don’t think that anyone’s asthma would be cured if they were to only do Eagle pose! 😉 There has to be a balance in approach and that’s why we have a series of poses. I think the yoga has a holistic effect of creating better systemic function.
Anyway just thought I’d throw that into the ring.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Taming the Monkey Mind #6794Hello Jodie and Angela
It’s a great question that you both ask. Yes just like any other skill, meditation improves with practice. Of course you have to have the right practice. 😉
We always hear “focus on the breath” and it can be so frustrating to feel as if you are really doing that … but your mind seems lost in a million thoughts only microseconds later. AAAaaarrrrrghh.
So I hope the Meditation 101 will help. It really is an enormous topic. When it comes to finding resources sometimes you just need to find a book that speaks to you. That will change for everyone. However nothing can substitute for your hours of practice (wherever that happens – a few moments here and there right up to a whole 90 minute class and beyond).
Recently I created a Pose Tutorial that spends a lot of time on meditation. It’s called Savasana and Meditation. It may be interesting to you too because it has some specific skills to practice.
Another thought I had is to take a look at this very helpful thread. Lost My Mojo Even Though I Didn’t Take A Break. This will help you find ways to renewing your focus.
There are million things for you to pay attention to. You can start with 1 or more specific things in a class and track for your ability to sustain that attention. Hint: The breath is what every teacher will tell you to do but could be one of the harder ones for a number of reasons. An easier one is to utter (silently to yourself) a mantra. The Mojo link gives you some great examples that other students have used or are using right now. Maybe you have your own to contribute.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Night Sweats #6789Hi Angela
I am guessing that’s a huge relief for you. Is it a case of “everything in moderation”? Perhaps.
I would love to know if, having taken any of the suggested steps/supplementation above that you would have less fluctuation of your body’s responses to the exercise.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Night Sweats #6783Hi all
OK, I have FINALLY come back to post something that I hope can help. It would be best for me to give just a brief overview of some obscured scientific aspects and take it from there.
I have asked the specialist/author to give me permission to post his article on my website and will do so if that is achieved.
Alrighty: Let me see if I can encapsulate this in a post that’s not too long. From now on E (estrogen) and P (progesterone): because it’s easier to type! ;P
REGULAR HEALTH CYCLE:
>> First half of normal cycle is E dominant, second half is where P is manufactured by follicle. This is how balance is created for ALL the estrogens. Natural levels however are constantly changing so are difficult to diagnose. Partly also because the tests don’t pick up all of the active hormones. The plot thickens!
>> Changes in E output occur in women’s 40s or so due to influence of Hypothalamus and Pituitary not ovaries.
>> Onset of menopause: E levels drop enough to stop follicle maturation and egg release.
>> Eventually periods stop (could be erratic and sporadic)
>> Hormones are still secreted. Uterus produces prostacyclin with many protective effects (CV). That’s why you want to try and keep your uterus! Prostacyclin cannot be synthesized in the lab.
MENOPAUSE SEEN BY DOCTORS AS A DEFICIENCY: SEEN AS A DISEASE
>> Usually the course of therapy is to address a so-called estrogen deficiency. The problems could be because of fluctuating E and P levels (not just E).
>> HRT creates estrogen dominance which can cause huge list of problems; cysts, fibroids, increase cancer risk, decrease thyroid activity (worsened circulation and weight increase), decreased sex drive.
>> Some of the aforementioned problems are the REASON that doctors advise having a hysterectomy. Hmmm.
>> Hysterectomy causes more problems – see above re protective prostacyclins.
>> REMEMBER: Medical system and doctor education are HUGELY influenced by PHARMACEUTICAL companies and funding etc. (I used to work in a pharmaceutical company so I know first hand what it’s like. Got outta there.)
>> Doctors and pharma industry WRONGLY label synthetic progestins as P. BUT they work differently.WHAT HAPPENS WITH ESTROGEN DOMINANCE:
>> Stimulates uterus for pregnancy prep, see natural function in first half of cycle.
>> 2 of the compounds estradiol and estrone not good without being opposed by correct hormones (P)If you are having problems with night sweats then it could be because of your HRT or pill or whatever hormonal synthesized drug you’re taking – if indeed you’re taking it. And you could be getting an imbalance through your diet too (through water and through meat and dairy – more on that soon).
>> Estradiol is one of the main E hormones: It is given to fatten cows and maximize farmer profit. It corrupts food chain through meat (milk?) and water.
>> XS estradiol may cause women to put on weight if unopposed by P.
>> Estradiol OPPOSED by NATURAL P metabolizes fat into energy, causes weight loss or weight control.
>> XS E: Depletes BONE MASS leads to OSTEOPOROSISMECHANISM OF HRT BONE LOSS:
>> Osteoblasts: Lay down bone. They have P receptors.
>> Osteoclasts: Scavenge and dissolve bone for replacement. They have E receptors.
>> Estrogen dominance means old material is broken down, and NOT replaced
>> Causes progressive bone loss and porous bones
>> Bone loss also by (XS) meat and dairy intake
>> Recap other estrogen dominance problems: Lots of other symptoms like night sweats, migraines, hay fever, skin rashes, UTIs, varicose veins, high BPIt frankly seems all a bit scary for me. Here are some further things discussed:
>> The real problem is P deficiency
>> The need to address the imbalance with NATURAL P. Eg Mexican Wild Yam and other similar products. This has been shown to increase bone density and alleviate symptoms of menopause and associated problems.AN INTERESTING QUOTE FROM SHERRILL SELLMAN:
“No side effects of natural progesterone. Protective against fibrocystic breast dx, protective against cancer, maintains uterus lining, hydrates and oxygenates skin, reverses facial hair grown and thinning of the hear, acts as a natural diuretic, helps to eliminate depression and increases a sense of well-being, encourages hat burning and the use of stored energy. Hot flashes and vaginal dryness quickly disappear with applications of natural progesterone.”
SOME IDEAS TO TAKE ACTION:
>> IF constipated (less than 3 movements per week) address your dehydration
>> Organic wholefood diet: 80% organic, 60% raw (minimum)
>> Hydration: 2-3 liters BUT MORE with hot yoga
>> 1/2 tsp per day of unrefined sea salt (eg Himalayan (not sea!) or Celtic). BUT 1 tsp per day if doing hot yoga. Sprinkle of food, add to your water
>> Avoid coffee?
>> Investigate probiotic supplements to replace healthy gut flora
>> Greatly elevated levels of Vitamin C with bioflavinoids (the figure I read was unbelievably 30-40g per day – but I like and trust the source of this information)
>> Optimize Vit D levels (which may mean high levels of supplementation see my post from early to mid March).
>> 1 tbsp flaxseed oil or 2g krill oil for those non-vegetarians
>> Vitamin B6, 50mg, 3 times daily
>> Vitamin E 800-1200 IU till symptoms improve then 400-800 IU maintenance
>> Natural P cream topically applied
>> Daily activity and minimum 3 90 min classes per weekPHEW
I hope that was interesting.It would help me to know if that was useful in ANY way.
Although it helps to know where you are hormonally speaking, remember that your blood test will give you a snapshot. I am not sure how you get to know the fluctuating levels that all systems experience. The above is intended as food for thought and I cannot take any responsibility for how you use the information. (Sorry for the necessary waiver!). Playing with vitamins rather than synthetic hormones is far less risky.
Namaste
Gabriellein reply to: excessive sweating #6781Hi Valeria
How’s your water intake going (after a few suggestions from our PM)? Are you willing to give us an update?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: More variety of classes when doing yoga at home #6773Hi msleen
So far I have only used a live class. Wondering whether it is more appealing to hear that others are in the room. Generally, would you prefer live or just instruction?
The new home practice guide is to be shortly available – hopefully in the next 10 days (the class is live).
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) #6772Hi Marie
I really appreciate you sharing your story. It is great to hear from someone who has followed their inner wisdom.
I can really understand the reticence of professionals to recommend certain activities. It’s sage advice to not ‘overdo’ anything. I sense that since with IVF it is a contrived situation where for a while you are forcing the body out of its balance that you would want to be very mindful and conscientious about your activities. For this reason I can understand why one can follow someone’s opinion without question. To even get to the IVF program you acknowledge there were probably difficulties in becoming or staying pregnant. It’s natural for there to be extra caution in dealing with these situations.
Thank you for your hot yoga vote! This must be an exciting time for you. I wish you every success. If you’re willing please update us.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Beautiful! Bonnie your BP values are impressive.
Briar, I would say that exercising with hot yoga creates immense cardiovascular health through pump efficiency and so many other criteria. In that way it has helped with my BP. I would like it to remain ‘low’. I am sure that the efficiency and better operation would prevent it from getting it so low that one shows signs of problems. Just as I believe the yoga helps normalize my systems for me, I believe that your body wants to operate at its optimum.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Asthma and Hot Yoga #6762Hi Jackie
By and large the experience is good for asthmatics. Especially if the air exchange systems are good. The humidity in the air really brings ease to your breathing. I hope others with asthma can share their experiences. I have only anecdotal evidence from my students.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Briar
Yes, smooth is good! There are times when a very deep breath makes one dizzy. Just lighten it off and you’ll be fine.
The reason I ask about your BP level is that so many medicos/patients etc think that low BP is not good. And they unnecessarily label someone with a healthy level of BP as having low BP. I would really suggest you go and get it checked at some stage in the future. Eg, my BP used to be 90ish/60. That’s on the low range of NORMAL, not low. Those adjustments that I gave you make the difference (well, for me anyway!).
Find out soon (they have machines at the chemist/pharmacy that you can simply try) or get it measured at your next checkup.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Do you know specific details to make a hot room? #6754Hi Rachael
You’re welcome! I don’t know what the output is. It’s great that it has a big reservoir though.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂 -
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