The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › Hot Yoga Facts
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in reply to: Nerve Damage? #8640
I think the opinion is that the disc-thinning was not caused by yoga, more likely a genetic irregularity or an injury when very young. A doctor/friend of mine who just started doing hot yoga mentioned to be careful with so many deep backbends. I’m just not sure what “careful” means and looking for some more specific coaching.
There is no numbness or tingling, just severe weakness/paralysis. But great tip on full locust!
in reply to: Reoccuring Neck Injury #8624I began practicing Bikram Yoga in 2005 and have regularly practiced 3 – 5 times a week, until this past August, when I experienced a sudden partial paralysis in my right hand.
This post caught my attention, as my MRIs show a thinning of the discs of my cervical spine at C6-C7. I have not experienced ANY recent pain or stiffness in the neck area, but had some mild but chronic neck pain before beginning yoga. Several doctors have suggested that the amount of thinning shown in the MRI would not be causing this degree of paralysis, but may be a contributing factor and suggested staying away from this “extreme” yoga until they know more. (“But regular yoga is ok” … go figure!!) That was was 8 months and four doctors ago, with no new answers.
However, Dr. Hand Specialist suggests my nerves could repair themselves over many months, and I could/should continue regular exercise if I am careful. I have noticed some mild improvement, but still have very limited movement in my middle, ring and pinky finger.
So, I am curious about the back-bend modifications you suggest. I really miss practicing and hope I can return with some assurance I am not doing any damage to my neck or nerves.
in reply to: Day 17 Class number 22 #6790I’ve been practicing for 5 years and did my first 30 day challenge last November. I agree with LoveTheHeat, definitely let go of your expectations and enjoy the yoga. I hit my “peak” around day 20 and found I couldn’t go as deep into some of the poses after that point. My body just needed some rest in order to improve. So my last 10 days really called me to listen keenly to what was happening — and not happening — in my muscles and joints and simply do what felt right and not one speck more.
Regarding weight loss: I can only tell you what I’ve found to work for me: in my experience, it is 100% nutrition!! I can work my tail off in yoga, in the pool, at the gym, but if I’m eating tons of the wrong kind of calories, my body isn’t going to change the way I want it to. What works for me is small, well-balanced meals — five or six a day. I have to focus on lean proteins, vegetables and whole grains. I can tell you, when my nutrition is “on” it seems I shed flab almost instantly. But if I’m sneaking even little bits of refined sugar, white flour, tasty treats, etc … well, let’s just say there are distinct advantages to living in a climate that’s cold 9 months out of the year. 🙂
in reply to: Major setback. And so disappointed! #6313Thanks, Gabrielle/Abelanger. This is making sense to me now! I’m certain I’ve been doing the same thing, Abelanger … going deep into postures and losing the contraction in my core. Makes a lot of sense that over time the stronger I go into poses like that, the more the chance of something like this happening.
Odd thing: I continually get loads of compliments from instructors on my practice, and little, if any, correction on postures. Mostly, I attend classes led by new/inexperienced instructors. Is this something instructors (even experienced ones) could see/correct? Should I make an effort to go to more seasoned instructors? (Surely brushing up on Gabrielle’s master class would not hurt!)
Thanks again, this has been really helpful. Can’t wait to get back into class!
in reply to: Major setback. And so disappointed! #6288Thanks for your quick and thorough response!
“Have you been to a physical therapist for them to assess your ability to turn on your core muscles? Your issue mid-lumbar COULD mean that over time your strong body has compensated for a lack in that area. So first place is to check this.”
I’ve never been to a PT, but my physician suggested that would be a next step once I get to feeling more normal. I think though you could be right about the over-compensating … I did the whole “health club” thing for about 20 years (ironically, I taught step classes for a brief time in my 20s! :)) So I’m sure after 20 years of “traditional’ ab training, I was probably not strengthening the “real” stability muscles. But that leaves me with the question: wouldn’t 4+ years of yoga correct or improve that? Why would it show up now, when I feel like I was making such progress?
I file your newsletters in a their own little folder, and found a few on backbends, but I suspect that’s not the one you’re wanting me to read right now :)! would you mind sending the ‘back pain’ one along?
Thanks again. Really loving this forum, it’s a great resource!
Namaste — Matthew
in reply to: Hot Yoga for toning?? #6213after 20 years of weights and cardio, adding hot yoga to the mix made ALL the difference. Eating a lot less helped too. As far as weights go, all the heavy lifting was screwing up my yoga, so I changed from ‘heavy lifting/bodybuilding’ type stuff to an full-upper-body circuit with very light weights. The yoga’s plenty enough workout for the legs! My split is yoga/yoga/weights/yoga/yoga/weights. My work/travel schedule kind of puts rest days in where they happen to land.
Bottom line: a regular hot yoga practice and great nutrition will definitely help you look fabulous for the big day. Good luck.
We should do lunch. for real. Because I’ve pushed through this myself a few times. A mindset that helps me is the view that when life’s circumstances up the ante, you gotta do the same with the yoga. I have a high-stress job, a bunch of great causes I volunteer for, and an hour+ commute to work. Plus for a few years, some stupid health issues that weren’t too pleasant. (But what’s a little cancer? Really.). My solution was to commit to myself to do the early-bird classes at the studios that are close to my office. I have to arrange my whole life to make it work, but it’s a total win/win. I skip the rush hour traffic and get my yoga done before most of my coworkers have had their first cup of coffee. And I’ve never felt better.
Maybe not “the” solution for you, but it’s about focusing on the fact that everything will work itself out because you say so. It just takes a serious “I can do this” attitude, and being determined that you can have circumstances AND do the best that you can today. And, ironically, that attitude works in the yoga studio, too.
in reply to: Slightly confused about Rabbit #6012Don’t let the nickname fool you, I’m no expert. But I do enjoy this pose. The instruction I’ve been given is to not ‘roll’ beyond the ‘crown’ of your head, and when that happens, pull a little harder to compress your front side more. And shoulders, they say, should be away from the ears. Somehow, I have some issues keeping shoulders like that AND keeping tummy sucked in. huh. It’s a new pose every day.
One strange side effect of rabbit: I always feel a significant opening/release in my breathing in savasana after this pose. Good stuff that the dialog never talks about.
in reply to: my studio is SMELLY! #5896If anyone else has the problem with their own clothes/towels/mats smelling funky, I finally found something to keep the smell at bay: add a cup or two of baking soda to the washer and use HOT water. It took a 2 or three washes to get the smell fully out, but now using it every time, it does a great job of keeping the funk away. Sam’s Club sells baking soda in bulk (I think people use for swimming pools). Helpful when you do so much yoga.
in reply to: Ardha Khurmasana #5895Yogalifer: I was corrected by an instructor recently in half-moon to keep my biceps with my ears, not behind. This creates a straighter line, so I’m told. It felt awkward at first but I do feel a deeper stretching feeling right where it counts.
Gabrielle: In Ardha Khurmasana, all of my teachers say to stretch your arms forward, shoulders scapula coming out of the body. When you say there should be a space between arms and neck, is that a different way of teaching this pose, or can both be happening at the same time?
I watched your core strength video (the one with the ball at your low back, right?) I’ll start working this into my routine. I’ve noticed in class that I have a lot of ab strength when I “crunch”, but I’m really weak in this extended position, and obviously the way I’m trying this pose isn’t making it any stronger. I think this will make a difference! I’ll let you know.
in reply to: Ardha Khurmasana #5863Herrow to you!
It is very common for people with tightness anywhere in the torso or shoulders to get to a point where they can no longer stay ‘ironed’ out. The following will happen either separately or at the same time: Your chin will drop a bit, your arms will drop with it a little as your shoulders tense up, you chest closes up a bit AND of course the other is the hips lifting up.
In the pose, my chin is forward, nose is raking the towel, arms are up, shoulders are “stretching” … is that the same as tensing up? Chest “feels” open.
If you have read my manual or seen a pose tutorial or maybe have found it on the forum then you know that I believe that often to squeeze your head with your arms CAN be a problem for some as it introduces tensions that can upset your pose. Let me know if this is your problem.
I was a swimmer, and my shoulders have become super-flexible with the yoga. I have to be conscious to keep my biceps WITH my ears, versus extending WAY behind my head in half-moon, etc. Not sure if this is relevant to your question about squeezing head with arms being a problem … it feels like a natural position for me without any tension at all.
The other thing I would like you to check on is your ability to use that strong core of yours along with squeezing your knees together on entry and exit. Intentionally try to lift your pelvic floor – ie go beyond just sucking in your stomach.
Yes to squeezing knees together … Curious about pelvic floor vs sucking in stomach … in fact, I don’t think I know where my pelvic floor IS? 🙂 This could be a clue!
Has anyone ever come to assist you with your hips during this pose? And if so when precisely during the pose did they do it?
None of my day-to-day instructors have given any physical assistance. I attended a posture clinic two years ago, which is when I first started being conscious about this particular pose. The instructor did a bit of diagnosis with me and suggested it might just be my anatomy, and to continue to work on the entry/exit. At that time, I was literally “falling” onto the towel during set-up, and had to push myself off the towel to get up. I’ve definitely improved since then, but seem to be “stuck” for about a year. Others seem to go in and out with such ease, and I just continue to “try”. (I know, it’s not a competition! 🙄 ) So maybe that’s all there is for me (for now) on this one?
in reply to: 30 day challenge #5847Just finished #23. Love what’s happening!
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