I started Bikram yoga because I needed something different. Playing pro basketball, I lived in the gym. I always stretched, lifted weights and ran, but after I stopped playing professionally, I began looking for an alternative to those - something that would challenge me, make me work and focus, somewhat give me the rush and feel that playing ball gave me. Through a woman I was dating, I discovered Bikram yoga. Though the heat did kick my ass at first, I fell in love with it immediately. Now I have been practicing Bikram off and on for a combined 12 or so years over the last 19 years. I keep coming because it’s great, man. I love it! It challenges me in the ways I like to be challenged. It keeps out of my comfort zone. It humbles me. It keeps me striving for improvement. Returning to my practice after time away has taught me to be more patient with myself, let go of some of my expectations, and just roll with it; wherever I am that day. It helps keep me in the moment. I love the way it makes me feel. Physically Bikram yoga keeps me in a place where I can do what I still love to do, which is to be in the gym and on the basketball court. I would say the greatest benefits are how much better my lower back and left knee feel when I’m practicing consistently. Years of basketball has taken its toll a bit, but the Bikram seems to keep those areas free from pain, by strengthening them, and keeping them flexible. Overall, my entire body just feels better, looser and stronger. When I leave the room, I’m light, I’m floating, even a little tingly. I feel more alert, more relaxed and I feel more in tune with my self. It makes my whole day better. When I leave the studio, I’m always glad I came. I have more energy, I eat less, I sleep better and need less sleep. And it keeps me feeling young enough to still get out there and run up and down the court. Getting myself back in that yoga room and beginning to rebuild my practice after time away is something I am most proud of. I knew I needed it, but wasn’t making the time to make it part of my day once I had my two daughters. I would practice a posture or two or a few throughout the day at home, but it’s not the same. I needed to be back in the studio vibe; with that heat, the instruction/the guidance, and the energy of the other people in the room on a consistent basis, there’s nothing like it. The mind will try to play tricks on you if you let it, tell you how hard it is, how hot it is, how long class is, all of these things to deter you from going.This happens to me from time to time, and on those days when I can ignore the mind and make it to the studio I always feel good about, because I know the right decision was made, because once I’m there and complete the practice, I always, without fail, feel better. Overcoming the doubts, excuses, and the shenanigans of the mind is an accomplishment for sure. I actually have a few thoughts and mantras that I rotate through to keep me going, especially on those super challenging days. One of them I actually first heard at the studio: it’s the acronym T.R.U.S.T. – Try Releasing Until Serenity Takes Over. I like that one. I also use this mantra from Yogananda, that says, “I am the Prince of Peace, Sitting on the throne of Poise, Governing my Kingdom of Activities.” That’s the one I use when the mind really starts f**ing with me in class. I also like this one here too, this one comes from Access Consciousness . . “All life comes to me with ease, joy, and glory." This one keeps me relaxed and in a place of enjoyment in class. The other thought I often have is: wherever you are and whatever you have today is good enough. This one helps me stay relaxed and in a place of gratitude for whatever I can do that day. It takes the pressure off that I sometimes put on myself to be good at something. I remind myself that this is a lifetime practice, my career in yoga doesn’t have a window. I can do this as long as I live.
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A friend posted this great little meme on Facebook the other day: First, I love this. As a language-learning geek, a mom and a bookworm, I love everything about it. But it also made me think about... yoga! (Surprise, surprise.)
So I want to share with you this: Introducing our new studio identity...That's right. At BYSJ we love nothing more than creating a "buzz" in our community. Our new name, inspired by this exciting and transformative new style of yoga we'll bee offering, is no exception! Traditional Bikram yoga? It's nice, but it's just too easy to really have an impact.Not only does practicing yoga surrounded by bees challenge your concentration powers, it also boasts a long list of medical benefits! In Bee-Cram Yoga, you will:
Full protective gear is available as an add-on to your membership for the minimal fee of $99/month. And don't worry, the room will still bee hot. Scroll down for the REALLY BIG announcement...🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 Keep scrolling 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 Keep scrolling 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 Keep scrolling 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 Keep scrolling 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 APRIL FOOLS!!!As Dr. Evans explains in this video, at the root of chronic back pain is often more than a physical issue: It is my least favorite and most favorite thing to hear: My back hurts, should I stop doing yoga?Short answer? Nope. But why is that my least favorite question? I have been there, and I feel for you. I know back pain can be debilitating, life-altering, make you feel hopeless, make everything suck. I want you to feel better, and I want it to happen fast. I also know the internet (and potentially your doctor's office) is riddled with myths and misunderstandings about the causes of back pain and what the most effective treatments really are. I have heard of medical pros recommending extended bedrest (which has actually been found to make back pain worse) or to avoid backbending (which in many cases is the exact kind of movement needed to balance the great amount of forward bending we do in our culture.) Here's why it's my favorite question, though: because I have been there, and I have also experienced the tremendous power of - myself - to heal my own body. You thought I was going to say 'the power of Bikram Yoga,' didn't you? And in a way, I did. Bikram Yoga is an incredible tool designed to diminish pain and disease in the human body. A tool is what it is.
It won't work without you. Your outlook, beliefs, attitudes and behavior are actually as or more reliable predictors of your pain than any physical issue! If you believe your pain will last forever, if you let fear keep you from moving your body, if you think you are too fat, too thin, too busy, too old, too poor, too sick to deserve to feel better? You won't do the things (like coming to class) that will help you feel better. And you won't feel better. Which will reinforce your negative outlook and pretty much keep everything sucking until something has to give... Luckily, Bikram Yoga will help you improve the health of your outlook as well as your physical health! Because watching yourself not give up on yourself for 90 minutes at a time? That's bound to generate some positivity. Access to a supportive community/ social connections have also been found to correlate with reduced risk of chronic pain. Have you been trying to get your "palms together like glue" but it just ain't happening? Lots of people try to bring their arms back too far in Bikram yoga's "arms over the head" position. If this is you, you'll have trouble getting your palms together. Because of anatomy, everyone has a certain point where, when the shoulders are pushed back too far, the arms will not be able to fully extend at the elbow. Pushing or forcing the arms too far back and then trying to straighten them puts a lot of strain on the shoulders. Bikram yoga is hard enough! Take it easy on your shoulders, please.If your shoulders are feeling strained when you stretch your arms up in this position, try bringing the arms slightly forward, then bringing the elbows toward each other to straighten out the arms. This will help you keep your palms together, which will help you stretch your shoulders, create length in your spine and... Feel better during and after your class.Check out these related posts on how to work smarter, not necessarily harder in yoga:
This is an issue I help a lot of students with, often because they have told me their shoulder(s) hurt. As Emmy Cleaves says, pain is a gift. That shoulder, bless it, is trying to tell you something! It's the first thing I look for when the student takes my class: are you overusing your poor shoulder? Bikram yoga is so, so great for healing shoulder injuries because we don't do any weight-bearing on the arms. If your shoulder was bugging you when you started but you are not experiencing improvement after a few weeks in the hot room, it could be because you are overusing the shoulder in class and thereby preventing it from healing. Once you learn how not to overdo it and start practicing that way, any chronic pain or stiffness in the shoulder should improve relatively quickly. Bikram yoga is hard enough.Work smarter, not necessarily harder, in class and you will notice the difference in how you feel after.
So how do you work smarter, in this case? Whenever you are not going to bring your palms together for the pose, there is no need to bring your palms together in the set-up of the pose. This means Eagle pose, Standing Separate Leg Stretching, and Triangle pose. Simply bring your arms over your head sideways with shoulders fairly relaxed, the way you would do if a cop (hopefully this never happens to you, but it's just the best example I can think of!) told you to put your hands in the air. You wouldn't stop to think about stretching or looking pretty, would you? Just bring your arms over your head. Check out the video above for a demonstration, and check out these related posts for more tips on how to stop overdoing it in yoga:
I've shown this hack to a buncha people with a variety of issues: hypermobile joints, "knock knees," lower back pain, swayback, trouble balancing, knee pain and more. It has helped them. Try it in your next class and let us know what it does for you. By the way, we had so much fun making this video. Yoga should be fun.What will make your yoga practice even more fun is if you do it without pain or strain and your injuries heal faster because you are using correct musculature to support your body. Bonus if you feel strong and stable while standing on your own feet!
Want to deepen your understanding and get more goody out of your Bikram yoga practice? Check out these posts below for more videos from Kay, or search the archives for "tips!" I've been practicing Bikram yoga since I was a 20-something in nursing school. After about 3 months of taking class 3-4 times a week, my whole life started to change. I'm not sure there is much outside dancing and breathing that I have 'stuck with' for the past 20 years! There are so many benefits I have received from Bikram yoga. Balanced mood, resolve to face life’s disappointments, better sleep, more energy in my body, less pain, more coordination. If I’m practicing 3-4 times a week: my cellulite will (mostly) go away, my cravings for sugar, caffeine and alcohol (mostly) go away. I’m suddenly ravenous for huge bowls of salad, sautéed spinach and hummus. People start telling me my skin looks incredible, and to be totally honest, sometimes after class I feel like I’m glowing from the inside out, bones to skin. My body is happy and my mind follows. Oh, and sex! Can't forget that good ole' sex drive that most definitely comes into play with good hormonal balancing… TMI? J I have a pretty 'serious' neck injury - it's a tear in my spinal cord called a syrinx and I get migraines/headaches because of it. When I practice consistently my overall body pain is lessened, my headaches are much less often and I feel I am 'more stable' overall. I drink so much water when I practice consistently, and I know good hydration is a huge factor in my wellness. The people who love me most have started practicing yoga too, because they see how significant the impact has been in my life. Those who are closest to me always ask (from my partner to my mother to my best friend) if things seem amiss, 'have you been getting to yoga?'
Everyone in my life knows how important my practice is to me and they encourage it because I'm nicer, I laugh more and I'm not bitchy when I take care of myself. Taking care of myself for 90 minutes several times a week allows me to be the engaged, present partner and mother that I want to be. I am naturally flexible in my body, so Bikram offers me a lot of chances to build my strength. Being determined to do it is where the growth happens, that for me is where I know I can face anything (dishes in the sink I'm coming for you!) Being 'determined' to hold my self accountable to giving my best (whatever that is, and sometimes that's having a 'gentle' class so I don't worsen a sore back or pop my spinal cord open!) My determination to honor my body and the messages it is giving me - that keeps me in the room. One of the things I love the most about Bikram is that is constantly surprises me. Who would imagine that a class where you do exactly the same thing every time could offer a lifetime of surprises?! Since my body is different every day and each teacher or class provides new opportunities for understanding, it never gets boring. I’m so happy you have a studio that is so warm and welcoming I want to bring everyone in my life there! Thank you for having child care and making it a place for my whole family! I'm so grateful to my husband who now practices too, and that has really turned Bikram yoga into something we do/are as a family. What you need to know about parking at BYSJ. |
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