UKYogi

It seems to me – and I could be wrong that other Joint issues have developed since I stopped going to Bikram yoga.. I have severe pains in my elbows..I mean sooo severe I am going to get xrays tomorrow. and they did not start until I did the lotus (laying on your arms -palm facing down) I think this pose has damaged the tendons in my arms.. I even asked a friend of mine if she had any problems and she said she has the same problem and also has develped problems now with her knees..

I don’t know .. “something” is not quite right.. I have read posts after posts about people getting injured during bikram yoga.. I think the heat makes people push their body much harder than they really should and are actually damaging ligaminets in the process… I don’t know.. all I can say is now that I have stopped going.. my “body heat” has regulated.. and now once I get this arm/elbow pain treated I will be happy…

Just feeling a tad frustrated to say the least.. I wonder if the instructors actually “truly” understand waht this form of yoga is actually doing to the body.. because if they did they would not push the attendees as much to keep stretching stretching stretching.. until someone gets injured..

Hey Gabrielle

Thank you so much for your input.
I would like anyone reading this to first of all say.. that my acupuncturist is NOT by any means saying Bikram yoga is bad, although she did say she is questioning the health validity and may not be for everyone. She said she is currently treating a few people right now with issues which she believes stemmed from exercising in those heat temperatures.

The issue I have had is I am peri menopausal, and get hot flashes.. and have for over a year.. since starting Bikram yoga, I have not going maintained the heat but its no longer a flash.. LOL!! but consistently 24hrs a day.. my body is just oozing heat.. I am unable to ever cool down, nor am I able to sleep. My acupuncturist indicated that in Chinese medicine, as heat already dehydrates ones body, adding additional heat through this intense form of exersion on the body is just compounding the problem – and I mean the problem I have.. others maybe ok.. but for me.. it has affected me. She said I am not sure that you are physically able to hydrate your body enough to address what the body needs and some with regards to the amount of fluid we are losing through this form of exercising. She said I personally may not be adequately able to replace the fluids sufficiently and thus affecting my bodily thermostat.. she ALSO said when one is exercising the thyroid and the heat on top of that could send the body into turmoil.. Now one thing she said to me was. people are doing Bikram yoga, but have no idea of their “constitutional” state of health and the underlying issues could be compounded by this.

So that being said, it was her recommendation to lay off it.. and since I have not been to yoga for 4 days – my body is no longer in that constant state of heat – so I have to believe there was some truth to it.

I have seen people in my class almost collapsing.. and to be honest now I am not doing it keep asking myself.. “why was I putting myself through that torture” 🙂

I am now enrolling in “regular” no heat yoga..

I think the key is to be cognisant of your body and recognize when things do not seem right. The instructors are just merely reciting Bikrams mantra, but its up to us to protect our bodies and do what we feel we need to do at the right time.

Best wishes everyone

Janet

THANK YOU SOOOO much for this wonderful insight and information.

I have a lot to digest here 🙂

I am a vegetarian, and weigh 110lbs so hmmm I wonder if I do eat enough throughout the day.. I drink as much water as I can and I take x3 Electrolyte Stamina tabs before class and 3 after class.. with the hope that it helps with my dizziness etc.. hmmm has it helped – I am not sure – the jury is still out 🙂

Hey Gabrielle, yes with regards to feeling HOT.. I feel HOT all the time, but I am sooo hot when I am in bed I cannot sleep, combined with the muscle fatigue in my arms and legs.. I find myself tossing and turning to “stretch out” or release the fatigue I feel in my muscles.. I don’t know what to day –

I LOVE the cardio aspect of the yoga and do know any cardio is of great benefit, I just wonder if I am over working my body – I guess I am analyzing this way too much as I want ONLY the best for my body, as we get older I guess we become more conscious of our health and well being as well as how our body is reacting.

Hmmm the last Savasanna yep.. I am up and out LOL!!!! so I will try and give it more time to relax after the class and see if that helps. unfortuantely due to my work schedule I have to do the 6:30 class which means I am still fairly “up” well after and cannot wind down.

Thank you all so much for your advice, and input. I will certainly take it all on board, and tweak what I need. I am probably an “A” student and focus on getting the poses just right – without just relaxing into it and doing what I can without going over board.

Gabrielle I watched your breathing video and I am DEFINITELY going to incorporate your technique tonight 🙂

Thank you all so much.

Janet