Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)

Hi Sangria

There are many anecdotal stories online of people with ‘heart problems’ who have benefited from Bikram yoga, lost weight, changed their shape. Someone who has had heart attacks may indeed need some exercise to reduce their future risk. Perhaps your dad can get inspired by other people’s stories on this forum and other online resources because after all he is the one who will have to make any decisions as to his own health. IMHO doing yoga (and not just this kind) would be better than 100% reliance on cardiovascular drugs.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Momo

That’s an interesting question.

It is actually harder to forcefully push the air out through your nose than it is to forcefully push it out with your mouth open.

When you do exhale see if you can constrict your throat. If you’ve watched the video Effective Breathing In Hot Yoga then you’ll know the theory behind this.

If you try to breathe out through your nose with any force you will probably notice that it feels more like you are blowing your nose (and need a tissue ;)). The other notable effect is that it is FAR more tiring to breathe for many cycles inhaling and exhaling via the nose. Someone wrote to me about his use of a Pranayama technique called Bhastrika Pranayam. He was getting dizzy (and getting tingling in his fingers).

I like this Pranayama technique because it is quite sustainable and calming and you don’t have to limit the length of time you do it. I have not encountered any people who faint. Other styles of Pranayama are purposely practiced sitting down because of the potential for lightheadedness or dizziness.

I hope that was useful!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hey Kelly

You must be mighty pleased! BTW: What are you planning for your regular schedule?

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi

The anti-dandruff shampoo application may mean the problem is fungal infection. It is worth a try. The hot room could be a culprit here and people have different levels of susceptibility.

Alyssa, I have found that something I learned in meditation class helps me with things like itches. In fact the last time I was at a Vipassana 10 day silent meditation course, there was a young man there who had terrible excema and itchiness and the technique helped him too.

It is to acknowledge the impermanence of everything in your reality; the way things change, the way sensations are not static. When we do recognize the impermanence we learn to accept and even embrace the temporary nature of an experience. I like to say (even repeat) the words “this too shall pass”.

Sure it will take practice but as you know the mere fact that you scratch makes you more itchy. The skin gets hotter and even more irritated and more itchy. Leaving it alone is key. Perhaps this will give you a mental edge when you need it to take your focus to all areas of your body and not just the itch.

I would really love to know if this works even in some small way for you.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Aaron

You are not alone! This is one of the most common problems in hot yoga. If you haven’t already please go and read Opening Up Your Hamstrings In Hot Yoga.

If you want a ton more information and precise techniques then you will find it in my Pose Tutorials. There are several titles in there which will help you. Actually one of them covers both Hands to Feet and Separate Leg Intense Stretching (2 of your big culprits 😉 ). Another one which is worth considering is the combined tutorial on Floor Intense Stretch and Sit-Up.

I don’t think it’s wise to rule out hamstrings damage at this time but the techniques mentioned above will at least protect your body instead of further cause damage.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Maria

Your post seems to indicate that you haven’t experienced bleeding but you have experienced very uncomfortable cramps. Is that right?

It could be that your body is responding to what is to you uncommon stretching for you. Perhaps this is the first time in a while that you are stretching so deeply in this area. I can’t tell by your words whether you had internal damage in your female plumbing back in 1997 but those abrupt changes may mean you had some.

I have no idea whether it’s common because I imagine your circumstances aren’t very usual. Are there particular poses that you can feel this pain? Is it steady and dull, frequent, shooting?

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Aaron

Thank you Cindy for jumping in and explaining what I would also have done. As it happens Cindy and I have similar experiences with injured hamstrings which with over working became injured. This meant the yoga didn’t help heal it but actually exacerbated the situation.

It would be remiss of me not to mention that you could simply be practicing these poses with wrong technique. Often what happens in Janushirasana or other poses that use the same kind of pose mechanism is that the student tries so so so hard to straighten their leg before they are ready. The head may or may not be on the knee (usually not on it). So without me simply guessing from a myriad of possibilities, you can help me by answering a couple of questions.

What I would like you to do is firstly tell us which poses exactly are the ones you feel the problem. You can use English or Sanskrit names – go to the Pose Gallery in the Resource Center if you need some help, or the forum main page has them listed too but without photos.

Please also tell us any other information you can think of about what you’re doing and how. Don’t worry if you can’t add details at this stage, as I will ask you questions where needed.

Do you think you have had an injury in your hamstrings? Are there any other times it feels sore or is it only in class?

That’s enough for now!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hello Alyssa

Have you always had this problem with hot yoga and itching or is it a recent development? I gather that if you already have a dermatologist that you would already know what normally sets you off! Things like washing powders and stress and so on…

Are you a teacher? Is that why you spent 5 hours there or were you attending classes and workshops?

Can you tell me if you get itchy the moment you start yoga, or if it is just in the heat that causes it?

It’s a difficult situation because sometimes just the thought of being itchy or the fear of having to scratch if itchy can fulfill the prophecy. This is not just psychobabble. Just start scratching in front of someone or wiping your nose and they’ll soon be doing the same. So I thought I’d throw the mental aspect in right from the get-go.

What are your thoughts?

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Micherie

Is it that your fingers are coming apart? Or is it that your thumbs are sliding apart and your hands are opening up? It is possible for your hands to move apart along with your thumbs uncrossing and still keep your fingers interlaced right down to the ‘webbing’. Please try and do that and please, please, please don’t worry about this straightening-of-the-wrists nonsense. I can’t help but think that this addition to the ‘dialog’ is making something conscious that needed no attention. Relax your wrists and allow your arms to lengthen and create traction from grip to shoulders. You don’t want your wrists moving laterally and bending them that way. That would indicate other issues. If that is your problem let me know.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Cecilia and Micherie

Micherie: What I know as the classic Lotus pose is sitting cross legged but with the heels on the thighs rather than on the floor under the knees. I would love to know which pose you are referring to because I think it may be a different one.

Half lotus is definitely less of a challenge isn’t it Cecilia? What types of stretches have you tried? I know there are some great yin stretches you could do which would complement your hot yoga practice beautifully. I find they work effectively and fairly quickly to open the body especially when you practice them after class when your muscles are very warm and less resistant to stretching.

Is that a hint? Do you want a video on hip opener stretches (and getting into full lotus pose)? It’s not a bad idea. If you search in the forum you can find reference to Yin Yoga in many posts. I love square, frog and other poses. Let me know if you want some ideas. Oh, another great one is thread the needle pose.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Kira

It was always my understanding that everyone (well almost) has sweat glands. All kids sweat. It is just that at puberty they develop the type of sweat glands that secrete directly into the hair follicle. This is the type of sweat gland that produces the distinctive smell!!!

I am almost positive that there is nothing but anecdotal evidence and opinion rather than any definitive rule about kids doing the yoga. If your child does gymnastics or runs, or swims or plays football or just runs around, they are sweating.

May I ask you what exactly you have been told and perhaps any fears you have because of it? It would certainly be interesting to know.

I personally can’t see a reason – based on sweat gland development – why a child would have to be excluded. Of course common sense prevails and you would not challenge them (or anyone) with ridiculously high temperatures. I am as ever, happy to hear what others have to say to introduce me to other reasons and be convinced otherwise.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Ann

I say, go for it! You will get so much more than just the physical exercise. It seems to me that you are definitely seeking something way more holistic that gives you mind-clearing stress-busting elements in addition to the exercise your walking routine provides.

Take a look around the forum: You will find some amazingly inspiring stories. My wish is that you can add your own to it in the very near future.

BTW it is not uncommon to feel that wonderful mind calming effect in even one class.

Welcome and thanks for joining us here at the forum.

I am sure the question of frequency is going to come into your head. You don’t have to do the yoga every day but you may move in that direction. Try yourself out on a diet of 3-4 times per week and walk (or do weights) those other days. I for one will be interested in how you find your balance! You won’t need to lift weights methinks unless you want to, of course. 😉 My thought is that you may not want to lose or completely replace that lovely communion with your environment that you get by taking that walk!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂