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in reply to: Help with arm positioning #7171
Hey Mel
It’s OK to play with the placement of the arms. Move them in or out but keep them symmetrically placed. You’ll find sometimes your arms will even feel as if they’re bending to get around the problem (while on the floor) and then with the effort of the pose they will straighten up!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Infrared vs Traditional heat??? #7170Thank you for the clarification Suz,
Much appreciated
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Asking from Iceland #7163Hi Inda
This question comes up quite a lot. We have a Calorie Counter at our sister site which you may enjoy using.
Remember calorie counters can only give you a guide, they are not an exact science. Every body has a different set of circumstances.
If you want to read what many others have posted in the past on this forum then pop the word “calorie” in the search box up the top and that will get you a very significant set of results.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Sweat in eyes and nose! #7162Hi Mary
I have found that the only type of head band that works for me is one that is elasticized around the back of the neck and then over the top of the head from ear to ear it fans open like a scarf/bandana. It keeps more hair under it and it seems to control the pouring of sweat. It has to fit snugly or I seem to drip sweat.
Did I describe that adequately! Hope so.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Balancing in Standing Bow. #7161Hi Jeff
Please tell me where you hold your left leg. Around the ankle or around the foot? If it’s around the foot, where exactly?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Infrared vs Traditional heat??? #7155Hello suzd
The product is probably good. However I would like to point out to everyone that this is obviously your own business or you work there, and you are talking about the company in the third person as if you were a customer. 🙄
Please be more honest in your posting. It is your first post here and we encourage adding value and not just blatant advertising.
So everyone, I encourage you to make up your own mind.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Fiona
It was all you!!! You’re right not to blame the teacher. 😆
Seriously though, it seems you were stuck in your thoughts and then the judgment of your thoughts. That can be a vicious cycle. I don’t think there’s a person on this forum who hasn’t rehashed thoughts and feelings over and over again in their lives or in their classes.
If you think about it (hahaha) it was just your inability to be present. There you were thinking about bananas, bright lights, wobbling, wondering why you were lazy and then judging yourself for not getting up … and I bet the list could go on for ever.
We’ve all been there somehow, sometime. Our humanness allows us something that no other being on earth has and that is to notice our own process. You can think. Yes! But you can also OBSERVE the thinker. In doing so you stand at ‘arm’s length’ from the thinker. It is in this way that when you notice that you’re on a train of thought or judgment or whatever… that you can ‘get off the train and watch the train go by’. This then allows you to be present to notice your sensations, and yes to notice more thoughts bubbling up! 😉
I have no platitudes for you. I can however simply remind you that you are NOT your thoughts.
What can you do? Observe your thoughts and stop identifying with them. They are not you. This is partly what you’re practicing yoga for. To dust the mountain off and find the gold buried beneath. There’s an old parable about that. If it rains and you discover the gold, you can worship the rain. But the dust will settle again. It’s not the rain that uncovers the magic it is your own ability to dig a little deeper. Sift through the rubble of your thinking mind and access that peaceful, non-judgmental, calm, observant being that does the yoga and accepts what is.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Tight Groin and Cross Training Options #7150That is a shame isn’t it Bonnie?
It’s a little ironic isn’t it? Being rushed out of a yoga studio because we have to hurry so that we’re not in the way of the next meditation class. 😆
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Wrist Surgery #7149Excellent point Bonnie, thank YOU!
Your ability to intertwine your arms in Eagle could be easy or hard depending on flexibility right up to the shoulders. If you cannot grab your hands at all then just cross your elbows to start. Flexibility will return in time!! AFTER (not before) you go to class, check out the Eagle discussions for hints and tips or just come back here and report.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Tight Groin and Cross Training Options #7141Hi Paul
Don’t be concerned about that! It’s all good. Here to help.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Balancing in Standing Bow. #7139Hi Jeff
It is simply that your body is not perfectly symmetrical in ability, flexibility, strength and orientation. It is possible that a tightness in one of your hips (or indeed a slight rotation of your pelvis on one side relative to the other) means that on one side the orientation favors (moves to its favorite position) a better (or should I say, deeper) bow.
Can you tell me what you mean when you say your toes are spread? Are you talking about the foot on the ground?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Wrist Surgery #7138Hi Mallory
You haven’t tried yet and so I don’t know what limitations you will find. But you have probably chosen the style of yoga that will least bother your wrist. These are static poses. There are no poses where you put your hands flat on the ground and support your entire weight with your wrist bent.
There is a pose where you lay your arms palms down under your body. There are pictures of that pose here. It’s called Locust pose. But I envisage that it may be uncomfortable at first – as it is for just about everyone who has ever done this pose – but your wrist will be straight and not bent and your whole arm and shoulders (ideally) will take the weight.
Some of the poses will help you create traction in your wrist (space!). Other times you will be asked to extend your arms over your head and lock out your wrists and elbows. Don’t be concerned about doing that just yet. Hold your arms up and see what length you can create. Hint: Check into your shoulders and keep that relaxed. Enough with the hints! 😆
So my advice would be to go and start, just use your first few classes to familiarize yourself with the poses and the series. Come back here with specific questions. Don’t push yourself too much as you learn what the activity does to/for your wrist.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Protein and building strength… #7137Hi Bonnie
I know you asked about whey powder. I am not really into milk. If I take a powder it’s the Rice Protein Powder (organic and from sprouted rice so they are nature’s little powerhouses!). The brand I use is Sun Warrior. It’s 85% protein! In my opinion this is a far cleaner source of protein than processed milk. But that’s just me!!! 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Tight Groin and Cross Training Options #7136Hi Paul
Thanks for posting your questions! For the supplementary exercises may I suggest you take a look at what others have suggested before? The search facility up the top is quite effective. Type in a key word. I just tried “cross train” and came up with 4 different discussions. There are plenty of other discussions depending on the word used.
Your results really do depend on your goals. Do you want overall body fitness? Or do you want to segment your training for a while… If you REALLY want to make yourself more flexible then there’s nothing like these exercises in the hot room (proviso: poses with best technique … you’ve come to the right place! 😉 ).
So, in answer to your first question. Yes you can expect significant improvements to your flexibility. The better your technique (and there are some keys to certain poses) the quicker it will happen. The less running and cycling or other ‘tightening’ activities the quicker it will happen. What kind of cross training do you most enjoy? Your challenge will be to find the balance of training that makes you happy! It’s entirely up to you.
There are plenty of exercises you can do outside of class to boost your body flexibility. The hot room after class is a perfect time to settle into some long duration stretches. Use the search facility here to look up the word ‘yin’ or ‘yin yoga’ or ‘yin stretch’ on this forum. There will be descriptions there and then of course there’s Google for some visuals on the poses described!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: back injury coming out of this posture #7133Thanks Bonnie
I am sure that will help you Stefania. The advice:“ok, you overstretched, just lie down” is really not very helpful. To me your description of the event in question screams ‘poor core activation’. As you have discovered it only took a microsecond. And you were in that very precarious asymmetrical position with one hand on your hip and the other coming up to join it.
Core engagement is very important and often neglected in this type of yoga. You can’t get through Astanga yoga without core activation.
You may have an email I sent you about core activation. It has the word “Ahem” in the title. PM me if you need a copy of it. And there’s another entitle “Strong Abs: Good or Bad?”. Bonnie has recounted an incredible story about someone with a gorgeous body with a 6-pack who has poor core strength. It’s very common!!!
You will have no problems going back to yoga if you engage your core whenever you can. Learn the difference between just ‘sucking in the stomach’ and true core activation. There is a difference. You will get some protection from sucking it in. For you, if you haven’t already, I would a) do the core exercise from the video b) maybe see a professional physio or pilates instructor for some hands on help with core activation if you think that’s called for.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Where is your butt? #7130Hi Madison
It sounds as though your legs have been in a “W” position. That’s definitely a no-no! Can’t wait to hear what happens. I hope you find some ease in the pose (even if you’re not in so-called ideal position!).
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Backproblem worse from Bikram Yoga #7126Hi Stefan
This is a problem that has been going on for a long time. You have posted many times about it and your solutions don’t ever seem to be permanent.
I would like to ask you what the x rays have shown is going on with your spine. Your sport is obviously a factor in the health of your spine. I would like to know when your most recent rays were taken and what they showed. What bony damage, if any is evident? What else can you tell us?
I don’t think anyone can advise for or against backbends at this stage without knowing more. I would logically assume that they are required for balancing out your forward bending life (like everyone else’s). I wonder what it is about the supported Cobra in the sun salutation that makes it feel good compared to the Bikram style one. There are still many unanswered questions!!!
The other thing one tends to assume when reading posts is that you are doing the poses correctly. You have my manual and you’ve been around the forum for a long time. I still have a niggling feeling that there could be some elements of your practice that we can look at.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Protein and building strength… #7124Hi everyone
Yes, protein powder seems like a great idea, thanks Elisa. If you want to take a more natural ie less processed route then I take sprouted whole grain brown rice powder which seems to be very effective.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Shoulder Surgery…. #7114Hi Dana
It is possible that you are naturally asymmetrical or your injury has created an asymmetry. Your practice could even that asymmetry out. It may not!!! All you can do is work on precision alignment. You may find that the arm that has the relative longer length may need to be slightly bent or not as straight when both arms meet above the head. Your focus on the shoulders is paramount in this case. Then it takes patience! FYI: One of my arms is slightly bent. So yes, I do know the challenge you face.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Protein and building strength… #7113Hi Shona
It’s hard to give you specific tips when I have little indication of the nature of your practice. I can’t tell if your practice is strong, if you’re flexible and go to a great looking pose but don’t know how to find the strength, if your technique is optimal, if you need to supplement your practice, what your exact aims are. It could be that focusing on certain elements could change your practice. At the moment I would need more information.
Your first question was about increasing protein intake and your second is about strength training. If it is simply strength then perhaps you can either tell me if you are aware of particular poses where you are needing help or if you are willing to go venture outside of the hot yoga room to meet your needs!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Skin issues #7112Hi Emma
May I suggest that you put the word “pimple” in the Search box at the top right of this page? It will come up with a LOT of threads that have information that may be relevant to you
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Protein and building strength… #7109Hi Shona
I am not sure that a vegetarian diet would be holding you back. There are some good tips in there about alkaline diets (thanks Cyberry!) and about nuts and grains (thanks Lisa). Do you eat a lot of dairy? What about cooked food and raw food? What proportion of uncooked food do you eat?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: hamstring, glutes, and s.i.joint #7108Hi Shona
Yes, you’ll notice elsewhere on the forum particularly in the Standing Head to Knee posts that I recommend a modification to that pose which helps open up the area while building strength. It involves a grip around the knee. It definitely helps the student focus on the basics of leg locking, balance, and resolving pain and tension in the hip/pelvic/gluteal area.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: my studio is SMELLY! #7099Hi Dana
Carpet is largely responsible for any smell in a studio, or at least any smell that lasts more than a short time after class once the air has been refreshed.
Carpet has always been a requirement by Bikram. It’s not just for new franchises.
Aside from that – IMHO – it really doesn’t have a bearing on one’s experience of the yoga asana (except if the smell is unbearable people tend to ‘vote with their feet’ and take their ‘asana’ elsewhere 😆 ).
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Natural body builder and Bikram Yoga #7098Hi Stefano
Welcome to the forum. I really don’t have enough knowledge about body building and appropriate supplements to even start to give you an answer.
I tend toward wholefood products. So much of what you have written about sounds like a different language to me! 😆
Maybe there’s someone else out there who can help you who by giving you the benefit of their experience.
Thanks for joining us at the forum. I hope you find useful information here.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂 -
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