Ask The Hot Yoga Doctor!

I’m feeling very frustrated with my lack of progress lately…

2008-05-15T08:42:21-08:00

Hi Gabrielle! My question doesn’t relate to one particular pose, but to any pose that requires the hips to open…

I am feeling very frustrated lately with my hips - not because I expect miracles, but because I’m just not seeing/feeling much progression in their flexibility… The other day I did a Hot Hatha class (which is usually my favorite because of the overall feeling of deep stretching), and right off the bat I felt terrible because I couldn’t even sit cross-legged for the arm stretching we were being led through… I’m finding cobblers pose to be extremely depressing as well - as it is very very difficult for me to push my thighs down towards the floor, and even more difficult for me to do this while trying to sit up straight… My lower back feels so weak - it doesn’t want to let me sit up straight with any degree of comfort…

I have been doing Hot Yoga (not Bikram) for about 3 months now, 4 - 6 times per week, some classes are 60 minutes and some are 90 - I usually try to go for the 90 when I can…

In one of my previous posts I was wondering about my hips in Tree Pose and you suggested some extra stretching in the heat after class, and I have been doing this… but still am feeling so tight in my low back and hips… Help!! I’m becoming more and more frustrated each day, and I think it’s affecting my ability to concentrate in class…

getting pregnant

2008-05-13T23:38:27-08:00

hi there

i am 32 years old… i danced, played sports, ran competitively my entire life till the age of approx 25 when a knee injury slowed me down...i heard about hot yoga and have been practicing bikram yoga in the hot studio now for approx 2 years 3-5 times a week depending on my schedule and i am really, really loving it....it has changed my life..i never liked yoga before as i like an intense workout and always found yoga to be easier for me no matter how hard i pushed but being in the heat has changed that...i love to challenge myself through the class and have only increased my flexibility and stamina...i feel like i am in the best shape of my life..however i am considering getting pregnant soon and i have heard you cannot practice hot yoga while pregnant...is this true?? if so can i still practice bikram yoga without the heat?? and if not do you have any suggestions as to what i can/should do while pregnant without being bored in a prenatal kind of class.....although...this will be my first pregnancy and i know i might feel differently when i am going through it, but i just want to know my options now and then play it out as it happens…

thanx trace

post workout recovery yoga--when to do it??

2008-05-13T08:27:34-08:00

I am training for triathlons. On the weekends I am either simulating a triathlon and working out super hard or having the actual triathlon events.

For muscle recovery, what do you think is most beneficial--doing a yoga class the same day as the hard workout or waiting until the next day? I probably cannot fit in both days.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Jill

Cannot reach my heels in Rabbit Pose

2008-03-06T07:34:47-08:00

Posted by Ela

It is mean for today..
Obviously I cannot grab my heals and I do not know what is more important in this pose.
Struggle to reach feet or to try bend without grabbing feet.

I would really appreciate any help!

Thanks,

Ela

Health Issues and Bikram Yoga

2008-05-13T16:30:48-08:00

Hi ... just signed on here today. Love Bikram yoga, but very few doctors have much to say about it and can’t answer my questions. I started Bikram yoga last September but have taken two months off due to the following concerns.

After many years of great health, I had two situations arise that concern me regarding hot yoga. First, a diagnosis of overactive bladder. Does getting low on fluids (as in class) stress the bladder? I usually weigh about 2.5 pounds less when I get home than when I left for class, despite drinking a liter of water in class. I usually shower and go to bed after class, so I don’t drink a lot on arriving home. Am I going to bed dehydrated? I declined medication for the OAB, the thought of starting down that road is untenable.

The second issue is that, in the scan looking at the abdomen/bladder, a “non-occlusive” blood clot was found “in the splenic vein, extending into the confluence with the portal and superior mesenteric vein.” NO LOCAL DOCTOR SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF THIS. I have no diseases, don’t drink or smoke, and a blood test showed my coagulation is normal.

Naturally, with these two things going on, I’m kind of leery of heading back into the kind of extreme bodily exertion activity that hot yoga is. Could hot yoga have produced this clot? “Severe dehydration” is the one cause of such a clot that could possibly apply to me, if indeed one is “severely dehydrated” after hot yoga.

Whew. I know this is a lot to ask. But I’d like to go back to yoga knowing the facts, not just what I “suppose” may be true. Thanks for any insight!

Rebecca

heachache right after floor bow pose

2008-03-06T08:11:58-08:00

Posted by gusth

I get a very bad sudden headache right after floor bow pose but then it quickly goes away.
Any ideas what that could be?
thank you.

Discussing the Advanced Series? (Bikram)

2008-04-16T16:57:35-08:00

Hi there,

Is there a place to discuss the Advanced Series?? I have some questions about some of those postures..

Thanks

What’s more important?

2008-05-13T13:05:32-08:00

It’s me again.. What’s more important? To have your fingers under your heels or your forearms behind your calves?? I can get my arms behind the calves really well, but I cannot grab the heels. Actually I can’t grab my heels at all. Yes my upper body is sandwiched to my lower body.. no air, no light.. Japanese Ham sandwich..

OUCH OUCH OUCH!!!

2008-05-13T13:02:37-08:00

I LOVE half moon. Always have. But lately it HURTS me so much. To the point of my eyes welling with tears. I can do a fairly “deep” half moon (whatever that means) and have always thought my posture was great. But for about three weeks I feel like my spine will NOT move. Some days are worse than others (of course).. I have also seen that my “progress” in the third part of Half Moon has all but gone backwards. I feel like my spine has turned to steel..

Ideas??

I practice five or six times a week and have been doing Bikram for four years or so..

cannot reach my feet

2008-03-06T07:21:14-08:00

Posted by Ela

Hello,

I am a beginner (2 weeks), 55 years old and 40-50 lb overweight...but I am determined to make it. I plan to attend classes everyday at least 2-3 months.
As I’ve predicted I had a lot of problems with several poses. I meant with all of them but I know I have to be patient and kept my paste.
The biggest problem which cost me frustrations are poses when I need to reach my feet and I am not able to do that.
This is one of those poses. I can only touch my feet. How to progress?
I will posted my problems with other poses.
Thank you for your help,

Ela