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 New Here - Bikram BeginnerModerators: Moderators Jump to page : 1 2 Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
| Yoga -> Bikram Yoga | Message format |
Orliaes |
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| ajb |
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Given that you've only gone 3 times, I'd say you're doing really well. It takes time to get used to the heat and the postures. Especially doing the postures in that heat!  You may be holding your breath in some postures, which could cause you to feel like you're going to pass out. Other than the first and last breathing exercises, you're supposed to breathe through your nose throughout class. Try to take breathes slowly in and out through the nose and posture wise, just do what you can. When I first started practicing, I struggled and had to sit out a lot. Again, it just takes time. It will get better. Good luck!  | |||
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| Orliaes |
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Breathe!!  Drink lots of water, do what you can, listen to the words, watch what's going on, notice what happens to your body, be observant, be patient, be determined, and most of all... even though it probably seems like torture right now... have FUN. And congratulations on going back the day after your first class - that is probably the hardest part. | |||
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| Orliaes |
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| Rant |
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| ajb |
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| I've heard of the Master Cleanse and I've even attempted it. I lasted 4 days and I felt so terrible, I didn't practice at all those 4 days. Instead of going to yoga after work, I went home and planted myself on the couch. lol. My partner lasted 6 days and practiced once during that time. I work at a Bikram studio (the desk, not a teacher) and when we have people doing a fast, the teachers always tell them to "take it easy." Do what you can but if you're feeling dizzy or light headed (seems to happen even more during backward bending), take a knee, sit down or lie down. The Master Cleanse is a shock to your system so you will definitely want to proceed with caution. The dancingj gave you great advice. As a beginner, you just want to do what you can, hydrate, replace your electrolytes and be patient. When you are done with the cleanse, I suggest replacing your electrolytes asap after class with either Emergen-c packets or coconut water (Zico and O.N.E. are my favorites). Best of luck with your yoga and the Master Cleanse! | |||
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| ajb |
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| Duffy Pratt |
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| libragirl |
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| Cyndi |
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Expert Yogi Posts: 5098   Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | We've had this discussion before about fasting. If you have never fasted before and are new to Bikram at the same time....you are asking for trouble. Fasting is a lost art and should be done with care and/or proper guidance from a trained professional doctor of some sort, whether it be MD, Holistic, TCMD, Ayurvedic or whatever. The Master Cleanse is the WORST and not the correct method of fasting. It's very dangerous to your health in the long run. You really should stop the fasting or either stop Bikram until your fast is over. If you want to loose weight and continue with Bikram - safely, drink Spirutein Protein Meals. It has all the daily vitamin, minerals, and all kinds of stuff that is good for you. I usually take mine right after my Bikram session. Not that I'm trying to loose weight, I just don't like to eat a lot of food after yoga. These meals give me the nutrition I need without eating or better yet, without having to prepare and cook. I like to have freetime after Bikram, Best wishes with your practice. Edited by Cyndi 2008-04-15 5:56 PM | ||
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| yoga-addict |
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Veteran Posts: 243  | |||
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| yoga-addict |
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| Orliaes |
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| Cyndi |
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Expert Yogi Posts: 5098 Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Sorry guys I don't have time to type a loooong explanation on the Master Cleanse. I found this article below that was written by an Ayurvedic practictioner friend of mine who commented about this on another forum. I totally agree with her and have had similar experiences myself. These Master Cleanses also ruin the intestinal memory of the human body system. It's just not good in the long run and is only a short term fix. It's like a bad fad diet and basically is. If you do a search on this forum about Master Cleansing, there are lots of discussions about the subject. The following is from an Ayurvedic perspective. The TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) perspective is very similar. Chinese doctors do not believe in these practices because of the imbalance to the internal organs. There are many safer, healthier ways to rid the body of toxins. It should never be violent, traumatic and more importantly, quickly. It takes time and patience and using common sense with a good diet and good rest. (originally posted March/06 at a yoga group where people were claiming the physical and 'spiritual' benefits of fasting).... I used to do the same fast once or twice a year for about 10 years and i have to say i loved the immediate results.....untill the last few times i did which were not such great experiences and i stopped in spring 2000.....if i only knew then what i know now.... You are absolutely right to make note of the importance of proper methods and proper times...... From an Ayurvedic perspective, fasting is not a recommended practice even though you may find that popular interpretations of methods of detox will advocate it.....these interpretations are incorrect.... Fasting is extreme and ayurveda, a science of balance, recommends never creating any extreme condition within the system.....among many other things, fasting shuts down the digestive system, which in turn aggravates all 3 dosha as well as further sub-dosha, particularity those of vata and pitta......it has a negative effect on the production, nourishment and quality of all 7 tissue layers due to depletion of ojas and the specialized agni responsible for transforming one tissue layer to the next.....it causes long term effects on digestive enzymes....and seriously depletes ojas on every level (personally i find this is the scarriest part)...... Another crucial thing to consider is the condition of the microcirculatory channels (srotas)......a huge majority of people have clogged, congested (with acidic toxins) srotas .....in these cases, any toxins released during a fast would have nowhere to go, since they have to pass through the srotas on a cellular level, and will end up becoming reabsorbed into the system, taxing the liver in particular, first, and thereby not only defeating the purpose of the fast but creating future problems... I know with the lemon juice/maple syrup/cayenne fast it is said that the combination of ingredients provides all necessary vitamins and minerals but honestly, in light of the things mentioned above, the nourishing components of the mixture cannot function to nourish at all...... Also anyone with predominent pitta dosha or paricularily with pitta imbalance should not have cayenne in the first place.....even people who are very conscious and eat right, have good routine, etc., tend to have some ranjaka pitta imbalance with acidic toxins in the liver, due to environmental factors beyond their control, emotional challenges, etc.....using cayenne for the purpose of cleansing is not such a great idea.....people with predominant or excess pitta or vata need to be especially careful detoxing, period...... There is SO much understanding of the dangers of improper detox within the knowledge of ayurveda.....there are safer, more effective ways to cleanse the system and achieve the lighteness clarity of mind which can enhance spiritual insight...... I am definitely not trying to create an argument here.....I am simply elaborating on my original response.......sharing a little of my experiential, as well as clinical, experience (in my practice i have seen the damaging effects of fasting, colonics, etc) i.......i used to love fasting.....i understand how all of the evidence supporting it seems to make sense.....i think it is a good idea to have a broader, more complete perspective though, before making such a very important decision regarding ones health......:-) What are the safer ways then? I’m really sorry but its just not that simple....aside form some very basic, general health recommendations for people who are fairly well balanced there are really no generic protocols in Ayurveda...its complex.... There are some simple things one can do to open up the channels and slowly, gently detox to a degree...sipping throughout the day on warm, boiled water infused with very small amounts of spices like one clove, some fennel seed and corriander seed can be good....maybe a pinch of cumin if there is no constipation....marshmallow root if you feel dry... The ratio should be about 1/4 tsp of spice or less to 1 litre of water infused for at least 20 min...cooking with the same spices along with a little turmeric (in very small doses to begin with and NEVER untoasted) kalunji, and maybe fresh ginger (but not if there is high pitta) can also help over time.... But for true detox, a safe and effective one, a complete protocol must be disigned by a professional after through a assessment of all the tissue layers, channels and sub-dosha.... How about senna, triphala, ayurvedic enemas, oils taken orally there are so many colon cleansing methods in ayurveda. Fasting can healthy when done properly by giving the digestive system a rest, and is a part of ayurveda and taoist Chinese medicine?? Fasting and cleansing done PROPERLY....one must know with great punctilio how and when to carry out these procedures...again, Ayurved does never recommends harsh or extreme methods or substances....like senna when not used properly which is almost always the case... and if there is high pitta triphala must be formulated secially with fennel and rose...also the majority of triphala is not made with wild amla, rather a hybrid and is usually cultivated improperly leading to bacterial contamination....if anyone who has felt nauseous after taking it this is why.... Unfortuantely people with good intentions choose to implement Ayurvedic practices, substances and formulas based only on superficial knowledge....i had done the same in the past when i first became excited about it, long before i became a practitioner... Ayurved is DECEPTIVELY simple, as are many of the Vedic sciences....honestly, the more i know/learn the more i realize how very, very complex this system is and how crucial it is that people use it properly, with the guidance of a well trained professional.... | ||
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| Katie |
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How did you give up caffiene? I have tried so many times but just crave coffee so badly! I have tried decaf but it just isnt the same! i try to give it up for a week every 3 months just to give my body a break but i can never last longer than a week  Is it really that bad for us - caffiene? Do you notice a difference in your yoga practice if you have caffiene or not? Katie | |||
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| Cyndi |
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Expert Yogi Posts: 5098 Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Gosh, I think I've said this a zillion times on this forum....Bikram yoga is PLENTY ENOUGH, fasting is totally NOT necessary. As for the coffee...you don't need it. You'll have plenty of energy, believe me. If you are addicted to coffee...try barley or orzo (I don't think they have orzo here in America, this is the Italia version of roasted barley). Another thing you could try is green tea or jasmine green tea (my preference). That is how I made the switch years ago. Also good one is Yerba Mate. It's a beverage from South America that is very traditional. Alot of people have used this to combat their coffee addiction. However, I do love a cup of java...or better an expresso now and again. It's just not something I HAVE to have. These days I can safely call myself a "pleasure" coffee drinker,  I would NEVER drink coffee and then try a Bikram class. First of all, coffee is very WARMING and is also a diuretic (sp?) My heart would pop out after my first Trikonasana!! and I would literally pass out from heat exposure during Camel and that is one asana I do NOT want to sit out on!! Traditionally, coffee was used to offset big heavy large meals in the winter cold months. Today coffee is totally abused. It's really a shame because like everything, it has its purpose. | ||
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| Cyndi |
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Expert Yogi Posts: 5098 Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | |||
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| Rant |
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| yoga-addict |
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Veteran Posts: 243 | thanks for the answer Cyndi- I never knew that Ayurvedic methods don't recommend fasting. I've been trying to give up caffiene with some success and some failure! Two things really help me for the poster who asked how to do it- one is if you can quit caffiene for a couple of weeks- then let yourself have a cup of coffee and feel what it does to your system. You can REALLY feel the difference when you are not having it every day and it made me realize what a jolt it gives and not a pleasant one! The other thing that has helped me in the past month- there is a yoga stretching book out on the web that listed caffiene as death to flexibility and that has really been a motivator for me. When I want a cup of coffee I just think of all the time I've spent trying to touch my toes. | ||
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| Chatoyancy |
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| I'd like to make a quick comment on BMI, since it was mentioned. There are definitely possible health risks when you're overweight, not to mention the poor self-image and self-esteem issues that can go along with it. Losing weight and becoming more fit helps reduce those risks. That's undisputed. However, I personally have a bit of an issue with BMI. That chart was developed in the mid 1800's as a social study and wasn't meant to be followed so stringently as a measurement of our health. I don't even believe it's been updated since then!  Yet fitness PR seems to flog us over the heads with it. (Often the same fitness center staff that makes fun of yoga--I'd like to see some of those jocks try it!) Sometimes even our doctors hit us with it, and while I wouldn't disregard a doctor's advice, I do believe that Western medicine can be very closed-minded. Here's some quick info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index I don't have a problem with using it as a guide for a ballpark figure, but that's it. I use the scale the same way. I feel it's more important for me to judge by how my body shape changes and improves, not to mention how fit I become and how much better I feel overall. I believe that a particular weight and BMI doesn't automatically mean I'm healthier. Orliaes, I think it's great that you've decided to take control of your health--good for you! *Imagine clapping smiley here* I know only too well how hard it is both physically and mentally, so I'm very proud of you! Please don't think I'm saying you should totally disregard BMI. I just wanted to share that info in the hopes of helping you create a better life for yourself, as I know only too well how easy it can be to become obsessed and frustrated by numbers! Edited by Chatoyancy 2008-04-16 2:23 PM | |||
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