TheHotYogaDoctor

Well, Day 1 and Day 2 went fabulously.  I went to a new studio which is actually closer to my house by a few minutes, but it means I have to cross a bridge, which is sometimes a nightmare.  This studio is beautiful.  First off, it’s in a big shopping mall so parking is not a problem.  The actual yoga room is three times as big as the last studio I was at and the ceiling is high, with lovely fans on all the time.  The lighting is recessed, so no glaring florescent lights to look at.  The flooring is great, everything’s good!

But - best of all - I’ve had the same teacher for two days and she’s fabulous.  She has tweaked (repositioned) my body slightly in about five different poses, sat on my lower body and stretched my back in Half Tortoise, seemed to know which half of my back was stiff and helped me push it down, and gives me great encouragement.  Ah ... who could ask for more?

YEAH !!! how have you found the temp there? Sounds good though, I’m so glad. I myself found it a little too soon in my healing for a CHALLENGE as such. I’ve been doing a full heated class every third day and find that my body is LOVING that timing. My hip is doing VERY well but after only one month is not quite ready. Any way as said I will be here to cheer you on:)

I’m at day 4!!! First 30 days! We’re a bunch doing it at our studio in montreal.

Cool, 26!  Do let us know how your challenge is going!  I did Day 4 today as well.  It was fabulous.

Amy, the temperature at the new studio is perfect. 

I’ve also just found out that towels are complimentary there.  May sound like a small thing, but not when I’m facing a huge pile of dirty towels at my house!  One less thing to have to tote around. Woohoo!

Day 8 is done… I’m one class behind. I have to do a double tomorrow, wednesday and friday… (I can’t do class tuesday and thursday) This is quite demanding with the lifestyle I have. (I work 3 jobs and I’m a workstudy at the studio)

So far, my body is reacting very well to the heat. (I don’t feel it at all when it’s very hot and humdid) But my lower back and hip is getting worst and worst. It’s very hard for me because I’m very flexible and I could go so far in my postures. Now I have to follow what my body tells me. :(

I’m enjoying the experience but seriously ... with all my jobs… I have no social life for a month ... I guess it’s a small price to pay!

You’re right, 26, Day 8 is done.  I just got back.  I left home in the sunshine and now it’s snowing a blizzard!  :(

Holy moly, I don’t know how you manage to get to ANY yoga classes while working three jobs!  I only work half a job and it’s wonderful, I must say, to be able to do that.  Of course, you’re lovely and young, I’m a tad older, so I’ve already done my time of working hard.

Sounds like you might have to back off a bit on your hip and take it easier.  No need to push, you’ve got your whole life to do yoga…

Have a great week!

Hi Annie

Wassup with your hip and lower back? I know that as a physio you will probably have some answers.

Is it a technique thing we can nut out? Here to help

Namaste
Gabrielle

I got an evaluation by my physio…

My lumbar: L3 is the only vertebra that moves (very unstable: I can do full camel only with that one) The other ones are too rigid and I compensate with L3.

Hip: When I’m putting all my weight on my left leg, I contract my gluteus medius witch involves a internal rotation of the hip. Also I contract my adductors instead of my abductors. I’m already working on this with corrections. I’ve been compensating for so long that I created a dynamic sacro-iliac injury.

Postures that hurt:
+++: head to knee. Only on the left side, pain in the left hip going down to my knee
    standing separate leg head to knee pose(left leg in front)Pain left hip going down to my knee

++: Standing bow (left lower back pain when kicking out with the right leg)
  camel lower back pain on the left side
  floor bow, lower back pain on the left side
  hands to feet pose, mostly when we shake our hips right left… then there’s the hip pain going down the   knee.

+: this would be I’m struggling with these posture and I’ve seen a deterioration in my flexibility, it’s so stiff

-rabbit+++ having a hard time just touching my knees with my forehead…
-hands to feet pose: I used to lock my knees and was about 2 inches away from touching my head to my feet. now having a hard time locking my knees.
-standing head to knee (cant put my head on my knee, my elbows aren’t as low)

It’s really annoying. It’s not sciatica (I tested negative to all the physio tests). it’s definitly causing me a lot of pain though. Yesterday when I left the studio i was not walking properly. I felt like an old granny.

thanks for all you advices.

oh yes and just to add… my hamstrings are super super flexible. I feel the pain in my back only. When it comes down my leg it’s really an irradiation.

Hey all - I read both of Bikram’s yoga books and he says that for the first two months, newbies should try to go every day.  I went diligently for 7 days and loved it, then because I couldn’t get to my studio in time I ended up being lazy and didn’t go for 5 days.  Man oh man, coming back for the first time today was so hard, I just felt like giving up - felt all my progres had gone out the window.  I’m committed to doing 2 months straight now, then switch to 5 days a week, never having more than one day in between class.  Trust me, the way your body feels after so much time away is not worth it!

Hi Annie

I was going to write something about your poses and your back. Firstly however I want to know if things are the same or getting worse.

Please let me know. I know these challenges are important for many reasons but I am truly concerned. Are you in need of a rest, some recovery? Is all this a sign to back off?

I await your response.

Namaste
Gabrielle

Hi Gabrielle,

The back is… getting a bit worst somedays and some others… it’s better. Yesterday I couldn’t do any sit ups, it was hurting way too much (I did a double). I’m two days behind in the challenge and thinking of backing off.

Annie

Hi Annie

I was thinking about it today: it takes great determination to start and finish a challenge. It takes tremendous courage to stop for the right reasons, before you have finished what you vowed to complete. I am not sure if you are saying that you would stop your challenge right now, but I would certainly be considering it. Yoga is not about hurting yourself - rather to nurture your whole being. I hope you find your answer (and personally I hope you find some space in your schedule to recover and feel good in your body again!).

Namaste
Gabrielle

We have the rest of our lives to do yoga - that’s the beauty of it!
 
It’s not like a sport where suddenly you can’t keep up, you can’t hit as far…

I am looking forward to aging and feeling good!

wondering how you are doing? Are you up for a 60 -90 day? I am considering doing april and?.... going from there. feeling MUCH stronger and ready to look at taking anew challenge on. keep me posted though on how things are going.

Hi, Amy - I’m doing fabulously!  Today will be Day 22.

I might be up for a 60-day, continuing on after March because I feel so wonderful, although my motivation for doing March was typically my golf season starts in April and golf takes soooo much time.

But, of course, you don’t need me to succeed in any challenge!  I’ll be here reading your updates to encourage whatever you’re up for!

Bonnie