Comments on: Yoga Brain

By: Tiger Beaudoin

Tiger Beaudoin — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 11:16:31 +0000

If you’ve run a marathon you can bend it like Bikram - and anyone who has the discipline to train for a 26.2 mile run will enjoy Bikram’s structured approach to yoga.

http://www.bikramfinder.com will dispel fears about heat (see the “health benefits” section) and provide encouragement from former marathoners (in the “testimonials” section.)

Give hot yoga a try - because it’s later than you think. Bikram say: “Never too late, never too old, never too bad and never too sick to do yoga and start from scratch again.”

By: Bikram Baby

Bikram Baby — Wed, 31 May 2006 14:28:31 +0000

I wish you luck with the Bikram.

Though it’s a style of yoga that doesn’t suit everybody, from what I’ve read on your blog, I’m sure you will be able to handle the heat, and excel at Bikram.

By: KF

KF — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 16:43:21 +0000

Thanks, everybody—and thanks particularly to Mel for a great post on her blog. This is all really helpful, and really encouraging.

What’s also encouraging is that my yogalates studio was up around 94 today, with AWFUL humidity (it’s 60% outside right now, and about the same in the studio), and I had once of the best classes yet. So I’m definitely going to give the Bikram place a shot…

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 15:19:54 +0000

The heat can be a little overwhelming at first. I practice Bikram and take class about four or five times a week. It has done wonders for me. I will say though that in the first month, some people do experience some nausea, dizziness, etc. It took me two months to really get used to the heat and even now some classes are worse than others. If you hydrate properly and stay within your limits, you get used to it. I’ve never seen anyone pass out in my studio and it has gotten up to 110 before. I often find the ability to stand the heat depends more on the humidity and the number of people in the room with you. The ability to deal with the heat also has a lot to do with diet and how much and what you eat before class. I usually try and stop eating about four hours before class except for an orange about an hour before class. Hope it is helpful.

By: Mel

Mel — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 04:46:46 +0000

I just wrote a piece for you at my blog about managing the heat. But I know you can totally handle it—you’re already used to exercising in a warm room, and you trained for the marathon.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 22:32:22 +0000

I’ve been to the Bikram studio in Claremont and they’re a good bunch. Very low-key, not too peppy, and just the right amount of serious about what they’re doing. Their studio is not the hottest Bikram I’ve been to (Dupont Circle DC gets that honor) and it’s not the best all-around one (Highland in Denver) but it’s right up there. Bikram’s not for everyone, but it is, for me, both a cardio and a yoga-style workout in one–a complete package–and because of the sweating it’s very cleansing etc. My recommendation to friends trying Bikram is to do it three times. The first time you’re figuring out what the deal is, the second you’re starting to get it, and the third you can really evaluate whether it’s for you. The trick if you stick with it is to manage your eating schedule (Bikram can’t happen after meals), your water intake throughout the day, and, well, your laundry.

By: KF

KF — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:52:27 +0000

Thanks, Krista—I’ve been watching Mel’s challenge, which is one of the things that’s inspired me to think more seriously about Bikram than I have before. I’ll definitely ask her a question or two!

By: Krista

Krista — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 03:46:57 +0000

Mel over at In Favor of Thinking is a Bikram practitioner, and she’s in the midst of a 60-day challenge. Sometimes she blogs about it, and I bet she’d be willing to answer questions.

By: e. fiction

e. fiction — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 22:14:10 +0000

I’ve always been skeptical about yoga, and the more I hear people I generally trust describe its benefits, the more my skepticism grows in direct proportion to the increasingly undeniable knowledge that I’d probably enjoy it.

I’m intrigued by yogapilates, because I’ve always contrasted the ostensible ineffectiveness of yoga (= doesn’t burn too many calories) with the effectiveness of pilates (= if it works for Madonna...).

I know someone who does Bikram yoga every morning at six. She swears that it gives her energy and mental clarity throughout the day.