Ask The Hot Yoga Doctor!

Sore Hands

2008-03-20T16:54:59-08:00

I had my first hot bikrim yoga class last night. It was amazing. However, this morning i can barely grip a towel with my right hand, even turning a door knob hurts. My hand keeps having spasms. I am wondering if this is common from yoga? I’m going to go tonight anyways, but i was just wondering about that. Maybe i’m doing something wrong?

look forward to your reply

Pain between shoulder Blades

2008-03-13T12:39:27-08:00

sometimes ****** Yoga helps, sometimes not.

Underneath my right shoulderblade is some kind of a “trigger point”...if I do too much typing, ironing, paddling in my beloved kayak - it can trigger some kind of a muscle spasm what really hurts. It stays there for minutes, I have to Breathe ! a lot and then it disappears. (Have been in ER because of that..its NOT the heart..)

I had an injection..did not help

had accu puncture and massage..helps for a while..

should I concentrate on certain postures and avoid some others ?
in addition I had a pretty bad fall (Cross Country)..not much fun to try yoga...any ideas ?

and could I download the “ebook”..I am new here..a German living in Canada..thanks Angelika

Left shoulder in forward rotation

2008-03-06T06:10:05-08:00

Gabrielle,

My question is concerning balancing out my shoulders and muscle skeleton system using Bikram. I have a forward rotation in my left shoulder area which need to rotate backward toin order to correct my posture. Please advise me of the posteres to work on more to assist me.

thanks,
sam
Posted by sam holland Jr. on 01/22 at 05:53 PM

Hi Sam

Wow, that’s a great one! And so common too. I could dedicate a book to the subject. Luckily the whole series can help you!

Would love to know what you do, or how you think you developed the problem? Do you work on it out of class too?

I think you could pay attention to your shoulders in every pose and get some benefit here. You already realize that external rotation of your humerus or upper arms is necessary to correct it. Oh, that is more than half the battle won. Just as you do this in your ‘real’ life you can transpose that to your yoga class. Always cinch the arms down away from the ears, rotate the arms externally every chance you get. Without getting too anatomical for you, it will save you energy and protect you from creating damage (in the rotator cuff) in your shoulders every time you lift your arms up over your head. (This is a particular issue that I press every class - start with your shoulders right, keep them there, use less energy to do the poses better all class!).

If that doesn’t answer your question, then I recommend choosing one pose at a time, start with the one that gives you the most concern, go to the forum and ask the question. Once you ‘get’ the right way hardwired into your system the whole class will become more effective and easier.

PS do you have some exercises that you use through your day to create this rotation? Tell me your favorite. I have a couple I can recommend.

Cheers
Gabrielle

Grinding and clenching teeth

2008-03-06T05:43:27-08:00

A comment rather than a question. My dentist recently observed that my back molars have been ground down a bit. I was mystified because I don’t think that I grind my teeth in my sleep. Next day at yoga I realised that I clench my teeth hard when doing Sasangasana (rabbit). One and a half minutes, three times a week, in a hot room for three years or so, would be enough to grind down my teeth. Now I consciously unclench my teeth, suck my tummy in harder and find that I’ve gained in the position. It’s interesting that I’d developed a long standing bad habit without realising. We should strive to attain full consciousness in all of the postures.
Posted by Julie House on 01/21 at 08:07 PM

Hello Julie

I thank you for your posting…

I know you probably didn’t expect a response but I would like to add to your comments.

Tooth clenching is often stress related, but tooth grinding on the other hand, is actually a primate behavior.

What you noticed becoming a habit in class is a fantastic observation. You have become more aware and have taken the steps to remove that element from your conscious hours!
Clenching and what it does to the muscles in your head, neck and shoulders is an extensive subject (of many a book I am sure) and extremely complicated. What I can say in all certainty is a couple of important things:

1) your teeth should never touch at all unless you are eating.
2) grinding happens generally as an unconscious ‘habit’ that is innate, but can be worsened with stress related conditions. Everybody grinds to some degree.

Grinding habits can be separate from the clenching behaviors. I doubt very much that your grinding is a result of 3 years of yoga. It would be a result of a lifelong habit.
If your dentist has observed your molars are ground down, and he/she feels that you need to address that, then you may need something called an occlusal splint. Please ask them to explain what it is and how it works. It is a diagnostic tool and it will also help reduce stress levels because of the way it lengthens and relaxes the muscles around the jaws. It could get to the bottom of any unusual cause of the grinding (beyond the regular stuff, perhaps your occlusion - or the way your teeth bite together - needs some attention).

Namaste
Gabrielle (Dentist, graduated 1986!)