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| Hi everyone - I just had my 12th Bikram yoga class and I love it. There has never been something (exercise) that I liked so much but was so darn hard  Now, initially I was interested in Bikram because a woman at my work had lost 20 lbs doing it. I need to lose 20 lbs, so I thought I'd try. After 2 classes I was "hooked on the feeling" I get from it, but I haven't lost any weight OR inches. Does it happen eventually/gradually? I should say that when I look in the mirror, I can definitely see a difference in muscle tone. There seems to be more muscle, and less actual fat on top of the muscle. Is it possible that I've lost fat, but have gained enough muscle that would counteract the actual weight loss number on the scale? I'm all for gaining muscle!! I just don't know how MUCH muscle one can gain from doing yoga. Weight lifting guru's tell me yoga doesn't build much muscle at all. I won't quit regardless of losing weight though, because of all the benefits I've experienced already. Fixed the neck problem I've had for the past 15 years (that 2 years of chiro COULD NOT), decompressed my lower spine where a broken tailbone injury has wreaked havoc for the past 5 years (chiro couldn't fix that either), greatly improved tendonitis in my wrist from my job, tendonitis in my right ankle/foot from too much running, and has seemed to eradicate the patellar femoral syndrome I had in my left knee. I'd have to be nuts to stop! I'm pretty sure my lung capacity has increased already too (quit smoking over 3 years ago.) And my oily clogged pore have cleansed themselves too. Okay, I'll stop the raving now  Any info on the original question would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! |
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| keep up the good work
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
    
| Hi fellow British Columbian Most people find that the weight loss from yoga in general takes a few months to actually happen. Then it seems to happen "overnight." For example, my guess is that if you continue through the summer, you will go to put on your fall clothes and find that they all are suddenly too big. So just forget about it and enjoy your yoga  This is a yogic concept - you just keep doing your own work without thinking of the rewards that may come from it, but you do get to enjoy the rewards when they appear |
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| Onion5 - 2006-05-14 7:58 PM
Is it possible that I've lost fat, but have gained enough muscle that would counteract the actual weight loss number on the scale?
Yes, and this can happen from many different types of exercise (not just Bikram Yoga) if you begin a regular routine with it and are now expending more calories than you were before.
Most people when they say "I want to lose weight", what they really mean is "I want to lower bodyfat". The reason the scale shows no difference is because it's not showing you body composition. From your increased caloric expenditure (in this case regular Bikram yoga classes) maybe changes in composition are happening (for the better!), but this doesn't necessarily mean it'll show up on your bathroom scale immediately.
If you enjoy Bikram style of practice in the heat, if you're near the Vancouver area, you should check out yaletownyoga.com and yogapod.com for Power yoga classes done in heat. Lots more movement, still a hot room, and you'll probably be expending a lot more calories than compared to Bikram due to the increased movement of this style of yoga practice.
Pablo Domene Lee
http://www.pablodomenelee.com
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| Do you think in terms of gaining muscle most efficiently, that I should be doing yoga every second day, instead of every day? For weight training (which I despise), you're supposed to work a muscle group every second day, so I'm wondering if this rule applies to yoga as well. |
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| Onion5o you think in terms of gaining muscle most efficiently, that I should be doing yoga every second day, instead of every day? For weight training (which I despise), you're supposed to work a muscle group every second day, so I'm wondering if this rule applies to yoga as well.
===> What kind of name is that, Onion? Any rule which is in any kind of Physical Exercise is valid in Yoga if Yoga is done as a Physical Exercise. But, actually there is NO rule. If you take enough rest each day, the rule of second day and all is ridiculous. Exercise and your body does not know whether it is second day or third day. As long as exercise is done and rest taken, muscle development is automatic, if proper food is taken. Please read my book "Health and Yoga Aphorisms with Commentary". |
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| Onion5 - 2006-05-16 12:01 PM
Do you think in terms of gaining muscle most efficiently, that I should be doing yoga every second day, instead of every day? For weight training (which I despise), you're supposed to work a muscle group every second day, so I'm wondering if this rule applies to yoga as well.
you should probably find an exercise routine that you can commit to everyday, or at least have enough activity each day to stay fit and healthy, unless you're preparing for some sort of contest.
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Hey Onion,
I think it would be perfectly fine to use Bikram as a means of staying healthy and maintaining an average body weight. In fact, that is what Bikram's whole philosophy is mainly about. I find that it is much easier for me to hike mountains, do a full day of Trikonasana's working in my garden, so much easier and with a sense of well being, since I've started this Bikram/Hot yoga practice.
BUT, like Neel's suggestion, rest and proper food is important. When you feel you are tired, you should rest. When you are hungry, feed your body with the proper nutrition. I think this is where the problem lies before most people get started and should be addressed first and foremost. Good luck. |
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| I have now done something close to 50 classes. I don't think in terms of going every day, I think more in terms of strings of classes. I'm up to three days now, so if/when I go today it will be four. My body seems to sort of wear down after a certain number of classes in a row at this time in my practice, so after a while I find that if I take a day off I feel better the next day than if I had gone to class.
I'm pretty chunky, have a bit of a gut. The first thing I noticed was that my shoulders were looking better. I think that the arm motion of the Pranayam Breathing and Half Moon pose where your arms are up in the air for a long time do wonders for your shoulders.
People, including my Kidney specialist, have said I look like I've lost a lot of weight, but I don't think I've lost much more than 5 pounds at this point. But, I just had to go to the 4th hole on my belt, so I'm pretty sure something is happening.
Weight trainers think in terms of bulk. I'm noticing that when I stretch out my arm, my bicep feels taut and firm -- but it doesn't have as much of the classic "bulge" that everyone goes for in w/t. My muscles are leaner, longer, yet plump and healthy feeling. I've been reading lots of stories on here from men who are overjoyed to be breaking the "musclebound-ness" that the current emphasis on w/t gives us. |
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| just read about your belt
and I relate
I have belts that I've drilled holes into and then had to cut the ends off
yeah, i know, why not just buy a new belt, right?
keeping the old belt reminds me of how far I've come....
Keep Practicing, Good Luck! |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| John and Steve - I finally got rid of my jeans that I kept for that "look how much I've lost" comparison and even my first pair of "thin" jeans. If anyone wants to know, I just say "size 16 (on a 5'2" body  ) to size 8." I definitely lost sizes before I lost much weight. It was a thrill when I first had some of the new clothes wear out enough to be put into the gardening/cleaning/painting only category and I had to buy new ones for work etc. I wish I had a belt - it is smaller and would be a good reminder without taking up so much closet space  |
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| I seem to be having the same experience. Definitely have noticed a difference in my shoulders and arms. It's wonderful. I've also had great improvement in my digestive system, which has seemed to be out of sorts for the past decade or more.
I've found it difficult to go too many days in a row. I've only done 2 days in a row so far. Usually I just go every second day. I suppose going to class because I enjoy it would be better than forcing myself to conform to some wacky ideal in my head of going daily (for two months as Bikram suggests) and then making myself sick of it.
I can't wait to see where I'm at by my 50th class. That's great!! |
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| The Sixty Day thing, of course, is the Bikram Challenge. I don't think you could realistically just jump in and do it without having a base of practice under you. Bikram may say you can, but (blasphemy here) I'm not sure Bikram is always right. I would love to take the challenge. They're going to run it again starting in June, but I'm going to be out of town for a week in July, so I don't see how I can do it.
If I go today I'll have five classes in a row. That's pretty good, but my back is getting a little sorer every class and I know that eventually I'll have to take a day or two off to let it settle down. But at the moment I'm into the idea of getting a good string in. I don't think I've done seven in a row yet. Besides, my monthly unlimited pass is going to expire soon and I want to get as many classes in as I can. |
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Fat loss/Muscle gain?
