Hot Yoga

[rocknrollgirl]

. Staff pose, no problem. Recently during a seated forward bend, my instructor could tell I was almost there with chest fully on legs, so he came and gently pushed my back down to help me "get there", and that felt SO GOOD on my back, I could not believe it. I have always had tight hamstrings, but they have certainly improved in this practice!


Emily,
Together you and I would make the perfect yogi!

I don't think hot yoga is bad for your body. I just think it needs to be kept in balance like all exercise. My teachers are very careful with the hot classes and always say..."hot rules are in effect". We only have 1 class that goes over 95 degrees.

I do have to be careful in the summer. If I run in the heat and take a hot class the same day I can get light headed. I have low blood pressure. So in those situations, I always drink electrolytes during class. I did take more cool classes this summer because of it.

[emily_in_nc]

. Staff pose, no problem. Recently during a seated forward bend, my instructor could tell I was almost there with chest fully on legs, so he came and gently pushed my back down to help me "get there", and that felt SO GOOD on my back, I could not believe it. I have always had tight hamstrings, but they have certainly improved in this practice!


Emily,
Together you and I would make the perfect yogi!

I don't think hot yoga is bad for your body. I just think it needs to be kept in balance like all exercise. My teachers are very careful with the hot classes and always say..."hot rules are in effect". We only have 1 class that goes over 95 degrees.

I do have to be careful in the summer. If I run in the heat and take a hot class the same day I can get light headed. I have low blood pressure. So in those situations, I always drink electrolytes during class. I did take more cool classes this summer because of it.

Haha, yes we do make a perfect yogi together.

I can't imagine running and doing yoga in the same day. For me it is an either/or thing. Walking and yoga, yes, but not running. They both take too much out of me, and I sweat quarts doing each one.

[Crankin]

OK, I went to a 1.5 hour Hatha class today. It was way too easy, but the kind of stretching I need. Plus, my SI joint is killing me.
So much more professional, and the instructor remembered me from 6 years ago. Except for one couple that was there, I was the youngest person in the class. Of course, it was at 11:45 AM, so, who else would be there? I will be trying out some other classes in the future. This time is going to be kind of tricky, as one of my clients was at the gym, doing a group training class, while I was on the treadmill and elliptical. I had already told her I was joining, and we agreed not to acknowledge each other.
Oak, I agree about the intimacy thing. The first PT I went to, in 2007, was a former racer and spent a lot of time working on my psoas and groin. I don't think my current PT would do this! But, the other good thing about the new gym, is there is a fantastic LMT there, who my friend has worked with since he broke his hip.

[emily_in_nc]

OK, I went to a 1.5 hour Hatha class today. It was way too easy, but the kind of stretching I need. Plus, my SI joint is killing me.

I'm sorry to hear that, Crankin! An easy, long yoga practice does sound nice, though. In Belize there was a "restorative" practice on Sunday mornings that was like that. Sometimes it was exactly what I needed. And I'd like something like that now, while I'm nursing an injury, my back is sore, etc. The practice I go to is so intense that I have to really gear myself up to go if I am not feeling 100% physically.

[OakLeaf]

Not the most reliable of sources, but this does confirm some of what I've been told about the dangers of hot yoga.

It's easy to say "just leave if you don't feel good," but even I've had a teacher who gave lip service to the idea of protecting oneself, but would "gently" urge his students to go "a little farther," and literally every time I went to one of his classes I'd injure myself. Fortunately nothing that didn't heal in a few days, but I finally just had to stop going to his classes, because it never felt unsafe to the point where, emotionally, I was ready to stop; it was just physically unsafe.

Non-Bikram hot studios may well be less rigid about letting practitioners drink water, and about calling 911 when it's warranted. Just be careful!!


Crankin, hope your SI feels better soon.

[rocknrollgirl]

We are a non Bikram studio for sure. They encourage us to drink and take a break in child's pose AND to not spend all our time in the hot room. They teach balance at my studio. I am pretty lucky to have such an awesome place so close by.

[VeganBikeChick]

I made it to another class tonight. I really love the girl that teaches on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. She is so positive and leaves us with things to think about in a positive way while we're practicing. Tonight it was an Eckhart Tolle quote at the end of class. The only downside is that her classes are jam-packed. Literally wall to wall hot sweaty bodies. There wasn't even a foot between my mat & my neighbor's. I don't know if I'll be able to continue if all of her classes are like that. I really enjoy a tiny bit of personal space.