Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)

Hi Diana

Thanks for the details. I think I had something quite similar. Mine was as a result of an injury in my left hamstrings. I have spoken about it in detail on this forum. The long and the short of it is that I believe you should go and see a physical therapist. It is possible that you have an injury that will respond well with massage and specific exercises to restore proper function.

I had to do something very similar with specific exercises because an injury seemed not to get better with yoga despite me taking care, stretching in ways I thought appropriate. Sometimes the yoga doesn’t fix everything and you may need someone who can prescribe some specific movements and training so that you don’t yank on your damaged tissues while practising yoga.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Donna

Thanks for your ‘2 cents’ worth. I know that you are absolutely fastidious with your own health and regimen and I appreciate the detailed and thoughtful reply.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Esther

You can probably guess it’s a busy time of the year. I am finally here!

First question is to ask you if you’ve had any improvements in your knee or if it has degenerated. It’s 2 weeks since you posted and if you were on a 30 day challenge and you’ve been pushing yourself to get to that goal then I really would like to know what the general ‘lay of the land’ is.

As a newbie to yoga or at least Bikram yoga you are probably learning your most important lesson. That could be that despite your teacher’s commands you are the one who SHOULD be in control. Is it possible that you were enticed to go to a place before you were ready to go? I cannot say from a few words.

The inducements to push or to push harder or to go beyond ‘your flexibility’ or whatever some teachers say cannot apply to every student in every case. It’s a flaw in much instruction.

Sometimes the way to speed healing is to stop doing yoga. Other times it is to use a better yoga technique. Perhaps it is icing your injury.

When it came to looking after your knee, did you ice it? Did you apply heat? Did you end up taking some tablets or applying some kind of cream? And if it’s still bothering you did you end up going to some kind of therapist?

I apologise for the delay! What’s been happening?

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Billie

It would be great to know which leg you are having the difficulty locking out. You could be talking about either one here. Please let me know!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Dana

I have just got in touch with someone who may be able to give you some help based on their experience!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Simone

Your best efforts to insulate the room will pay off immediately.

There are films to place on windows. But I imagine you could go for a clear thick plastic that would be like a blind or curtain that would seal the window well and also if possible leave a air space (even if small) between window and plastic. Of course you could just put curtains there.

Ceiling insulation is vital. A smooth and shiny surface is good to reflect heat back down and will also resist microbial growth (easy to clean too).

I would recommend insulating before trying to increase the heating power. Heat rises so super-insulate the ceiling.

I just read your other post about the blinds. It seems you haven’t measured their success yet. I wonder how that goes. If you can also get your humidity to around the 50-60% mark you will find your heating bills will be less.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Chan

Wow, that’s amazing! Thanks for your trust in me! I am very grateful.

You have asked some excellent questions.

Actually there is some good advice in the form of a “Getting Started Guide” that comes with your whole package. It really does help you work out how to use your Manual and DVDs with an integrated approach. It also has some instructions on how to set up your studio at home.

I would REALLY recommend you read the entire first section of the manual. They are the introductory chapters. It’s really only 54 pages long. There is a section on the way we learn and how you can apply that to taking on new skills or improving your old ones.

Also in the introduction is plenty of information that will help form the foundation of your yoga practice with some interesting concepts that are really generalized principles you can apply to your whole practice.

If you’ve never done yoga before then you will probably should watch a class of yoga. But if you’re like most people you won’t really want to watch a whole class without getting up and trying something too! It’s not supposed to be as entertaining as your favorite movie.

So when you do, start with Volume 1. Watch either the whole 90 minute class, or for a smaller bite do the standing poses (the first half of class) or the floor poses (second ‘half’ of class).

Volume 1 has classes with 2 sets of each pose. So for your first viewing(s) you can watch the first set and if you like DO the second set (join in wherever you like).

But watching how to do it is a great way to get your bearings. If you really do want to get a taste without practising along, then watch the full 60 minute single set class on Volume 2.

One really important thing about ANY exercise video (particularly yoga) is that there is NO PERFECT place to set yourself up. You will always have to move your body or your head or something in order to see the screen for MOST of the class. I tend to pop the TV screen spatially at 10 or 11 o’clock.

This means your mat will be at an angle to your screen.

Once you get familiar with what you’re doing you will not have to look at the screen very often, if at all.

The idea of my videos is that whenever you look at the screen you will see exactly what you need to see. This is why it’s not a live class. You will see onscreen instruction. Plus you will see correct pose and the correct thing to do pretty much as the instruction is heard. Where it’s appropriate you will see mistakes (marked with a red cross) so you can work out how to fix any potential problems! Where there are 2 figures on the screen you clearly see which one is right!

So when you first get your materials:

>> Read the “Getting Started Guide”
>> Read the introductory chapters in the Manual
>> Watch the video (any class will do, but I think a double set class will allow you to get involved rather than just watching)
>> Your learning curve should not be overwhelming. Allow yourself to review a pose at a time using the manual and Vol 1 DVD before watching a class and you can focus on that specifically in class. The rest of your class will improve little by little just by carrying over these techniques.

As far as practising morning or night: Honestly, it really does depend on your schedule. Practically, if you’re not normally an exerciser, then start your practice firstly, in the afternoon or evening because your body will be more pliable at that time. It is not really about flexibility but more about ease of movement and lubrication! Also when one starts a hot yoga practice it’s very normal to feel a little tired. So starting later in the day usually makes for a good night’s sleep! 😉

Just do what you can. Yoga can be practised at any time.

Last one: Advice for newbies. Read the first part of the manual. It will give you a well rounded way to approach your practice. Have goals about what you want to do, but don’t get attached to them. Yoga is about observation and self-awareness. I don’t like to prepare people too much for what they should expect because there is no blueprint. However I can tell you that you are likely to feel fabulous (at least after class! 😆 ).

So my advice is, just go ahead and do it. Make sure you allow yourself a learning curve that caters for making mistakes. Your practice will evolve. Take electrolytes and drink water. Read the forum as you need to about these important things when you get around to it!

And as usual, I (and thousands of others) will be here to lend a hand whenever you need it.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Tara

Just wondering … Did you know that there is a Hot Yoga app out there for iPhone and iPad and guess what? It’s mine! 😉 Actually it’s quite a lot of fun

>> It has a couple of games on there to help you learn pose names in Sanskrit or English and the sequence as well.

>> It has the pose benefits, plus a variety of classes:
* the full 90 minute class
* a 35 minute and
* a 60 minute class (for those times you just don’t have the full hour and a half to devote – that happens!)
>> … and more 😆

You can find out about the The Hot Yoga Doctor App for iPhone and iPad here. Listed are all the details you’ll need.

Let me know what you think! You’ll find it’s well reviewed too.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Nikki

Is there any pain in Standing Bow?

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hello Stefani!!! Nice to hear from you 🙂

Glad you liked the email! Hmmm Loving your backbends! Is it your organs singing? Your chakras rejoicing? It’s so beautiful to access parts of your body that normal everyday movements don’t reach. It’s tied in there somewhere with all that. What’s your theory?

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Luna

It seems you’re saying it ONLY happens in Eagle! That in itself is bizarre. It can be quite an effort-heavy pose when you’re trying to balance and negotiate the positions of all your limbs. Many hold their breath. Is it possible that you are doing that?

Try the next couple of classes to go less deep and just stay with your breath and keep it fluid. If it’s not that we will work on something else. 😉

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Luna

You’re the second person to ask a similar question in a week. Here’s the other one: Metallic Taste In The Mouth.

As I said to Grace it would indicate an imbalance in your system and there are so many possible reasons that it’s really worth having it all checked out.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Bonnie

Yes, I do remember that! About a year ago, I started buying almost exclusively organic food for the family, we started wholefood multivitamin supplementation, we started juicing EVERY day, we eat mostly raw food, (with a small cooked component every day). We (and particularly me) started taking lots of superfoods!

So that is why I mention that! I think that an element of practicality has to enter into it. And I am happy to disclose what I do along the way, complete with a change of approach. I still take my caps however not as many as before!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂