Category: Sleep

Dan relieves fibromyalgia pain through his daily Bikram yoga practice.

8/11/2018

Last December, I bumped into Natalie (who I later found out is a longtime Karma Yogi at BYSJ) at a Garcia Birthday Band show. She stuck a buddy pass in my hand and told me I should go to yoga. It was a wild night and Natalie seemed like a cool lady, so I decided to check it out. I had no idea what I was getting into! At 65 I had never been to a yoga class. Now I do Bikram yoga every day...

In 7 months of daily practice, here is what Bikram yoga has done for me:

My fibromyalgia symptoms of pain and fatigue have been significantly reduced. I used to be in pain just walking up the stairs for class. I didn't even realize I was in so much pain until I realized the stairs weren't hurting anymore. My knees are well on their way to pain-free. This absence of pain where I've become so used to it feels like euphoria to me.
My mood is improved.
Carpel tunnel syndrome is gone.
The shoulder I fractured and dislocated in 2017 has regained almost full range of motion. I had tried physical therapy for this injury and it was just too painful. The heat and the stretching really did it!
My balance and posture have vastly improved.
I've lost body fat and gained muscle tone.
I enjoy deeper, more refreshing sleep. I'm able to fall asleep faster and when I sleep have vivid dreams.
For the first time in my life, I feel able to breathe myself into a state of relaxation.
Food tastes better. Water even tastes better. All my senses are heightened, in a good way. I have a feeling of general well-being all the time.
My empathy and compassion for others is stronger, too.
I've made many interesting, warm and loving yoga friends in the BYSJ community. This place is so much my home away from home that I commute over 1 hour from across town every day to come to class.
I've learned an incredibly valuable lesson about moderation. I'm the kind of person where I throw myself "full throttle" into everything I do. So when I started I was coming to yoga twice a day. I would push myself so hard in class that I was repeatedly getting severe muscle cramps that would knock me to the floor. I was drinking gallons of water before, during and after class. I would have to sit in my car for a long time after a session, waiting to feel normal enough to drive. It took one especially bad day and a lot of guidance from my yoga teachers, but I now practice in a more sustainable way. I come to class once a day and I'm much more moderate with my water intake during class. I rest when I need to and I also try to do the postures with less strain. These days I can stand up after my final savasana, shower and drive off right away feeling fine. I am now applying the same moderation and respect for my body in my daily activities outside of yoga. This is huge!

I wanted to share my story especially for other people with fibromyalgia who think there is no answer besides expensive medications with tons of terrible side effects. For me, Bikram yoga gives me relief of my symptoms without all of that other stuff, and it makes my life better in so many other ways too. You've got to give it a try!

1 Comment

Julia’s Number One Exercise for Good Mental Health

1/1/2018

0 Comments

“I took my first Bikram class in January of 2011. I did 20 classes in 2 months and was hooked. I worked as a Karma yogi for a few years at another local studio, which allowed me to maintain a steady practice regardless of finances. In 2014 my practice began to take a back seat after a significant life change and although I would hear the call to the hot room from time to time and find myself sweating it out periodically over the years, It wasn’t until this last summer ‘17 that I decided it was time to make yoga a priority again.

“I had been experiencing worsening shoulder pain as a result of a car accident and years of repetitive stress due to an active job and lifestyle in general. When I came back to the St Johns studio in August, I was in excruciating pain, sleeping less than two hours of broken sleep a night and let’s just say, my mood was suffering as a result. After 5 months of regular practice, I feel energized, my skin is softer and clearer, I am sleeping almost through the night which I classify as a miracle, and my overall mood has improved significantly.

“Because, this time around, I am focused on nursing my bum shoulder, I spend my time in class focusing on the details of each step of every posture and what that means for my body that day. With a few minor adjustments and a lot of hard work I feel myself becoming more balanced and stronger every day. Even if my shoulder or whathaveyou don’t do what I wish they could, I feel the healing happening and I am excited about that!!

“The mental benefits that yoga provides for me are invaluable. I cope with anxiety and depression that can become severe if I don’t care for myself well. Bikram yoga and the active meditation of participating in class is my number one exercise for good mental health. Let me never forget that again!!”

0 Comments

POTM: Ardha Kurmasana/ Half Tortoise Pose

9/1/2017

0 Comments

Half Tortoise pose provides maximum relaxation effect by getting your head below your heart, sending freshly oxygenated high-speed blood rushing into and around your brain. It's said that 30 seconds in this posture is as relaxing as 8 full hours of sleep!

Among the numerous benefits of Half Tortoise pose:

Increases blood flow to the brain

Stops headaches in their tracks!
Relief for digestion problems like constipation
Slows down the breath and stretches the lower part of the lungs to help improve lung capacity and respiratory condition
Helps cure insomnia, jet lag and general fatigue
Increasing flexibility in hips
Strengthen and stretches shoulders
Relieve neck and shoulder tension
Firms abdomen and thighs

How to do:
Sit down kneel-down position with your hips on your heels. Bring your arms over your head sideways, hands-palms together and cross your thumbs. Try to keep your hips on the heels throughout the posture. Exhale breathing and go down, arms and head together. Touch your forehead on the floor, the edge of your pinkie fingers on the floor, elbows locked. Stretch your arms forward so your shoulder blades come off the spine, still trying to keep your hips on your heels. Stay for about 30 seconds and stretch, breathing calmly in and out by the nose. Inhale breathing and slowly come up with your arms and head together. Relax on your back in savasana for 20 seconds.

Tips:

You build tremendous core strength coming into and out of this posture, so be sure to pay close attention to keeping your abdominal muscles firm and arms touching with your ears.
Do your darndest to keep your hips on the heels the whole time! This will help you use the correct muscles (hint: abs and thighs!!) to lower yourself (not your lower back!) and really stretch your spine in opposite directions.
If you are experiencing a lower back injury and need to play it safe on forward bends, it is ok to touch your hands to the floor when you need to and "walk" yourself down into the pose using the support of your hands. Still keep your abs firm! Do your best, little by little! Once you are into the posture with your forehead on the floor, try to relax your hips onto your heels to let the lower back stretch a bit- it will probably feel really good! Then "walk" yourself up with your hands again as needed. Note that this is only a temporary adjustment. Always stay curious and carefully try doing it the regular way again soon as your back starts feeling better.
You can do this one outside of the hot room, any time you need a restful break or a bit of energy! Next time you reach for that afternoon latte and scone? Try Ardha Kurmasana instead!

0 Comments

Dan relieves fibromyalgia pain through his daily Bikram yoga practice.

Julia’s Number One Exercise for Good Mental Health

POTM: Ardha Kurmasana/ Half Tortoise Pose

Author

Archives

Categories