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| i have been practicing bikram for about one week and am seriously considering the 60 day challenge. is anyone out there familiar with this? is it healthy? is it truly beneficial for your body? or is it another way for bikram chourdory to collect? |
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| I'd opt for the latter--cha-ching. However, I did it and it was not harmful BUT, I think it stymied my proficiency in that I'd had no exposure to yoga, much less Bikram and stayed sore and stressed trying to work practice in everyday during work.
nanyamka - 2004-02-17 4:20 PM
i have been practicing bikram for about one week and am seriously considering the 60 day challenge. is anyone out there familiar with this? is it healthy? is it truly beneficial for your body? or is it another way for bikram chourdory to collect? |
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| but how did you feel after the 60 days? was there a noticible difference in your practice or were you just glad that the 60 days were over? my studio has a special...60 days for $60 AND if you complete it you get one month free...if you don't they will take the $125 that you have to deposit and only charge you for one month unlimited. i'm still up in the air. |
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| I am not familiar with the "60 days" but I have a question about bikram yoga. I started to practice at home about 3 wks ago. I expected in the beginning to be soar. But i'm still in pain after every session. Also no energy at all. Am I doing something wrong?  |
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| Crap like "Do this and you get..." doesn't belong in the retail world much less yoga. I will not and do not stand for that in long distance carriers, cell phones or my yoga of choice. That's just me. I felt like crap after the 60 days--sore and tired and pissed off at myself for being sucked in--switched studios.
Guest - 2004-02-17 4:46 PM
but how did you feel after the 60 days? was there a noticible difference in your practice or were you just glad that the 60 days were over? my studio has a special...60 days for $60 AND if you complete it you get one month free...if you don't they will take the $125 that you have to deposit and only charge you for one month unlimited. i'm still up in the air. |
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| Yes you are doing something wrong kiddo--doing it at home. YogaDancer will add more from her expert vantage point I hope but from my view, Bikram requires heat and teachers putting you through your paces to see results--it's not an easy, laid back drill. Pain is no good--a little muscle soreness can be expected--but not pain. Have you any other experience with yoga?
vero - 2004-02-17 5:58 PM
I am not familiar with the "60 days" but I have a question about bikram yoga. I started to practice at home about 3 wks ago. I expected in the beginning to be soar. But i'm still in pain after every session. Also no energy at all. Am I doing something wrong? |
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| thanks bruce, for your opinions! i am not going to do the 60 days, i am just going to sign up for the monthly and practice when i feel like it, without the pressure. if i happen to go 60 days in a row, that's super...if i only make 6 days a week...well..i will feel good about that too. |
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| Seems like a smart move. When I first got started, I delighted in the break from my normal obsession with work. I then found myself trying to get to yoga too much and adversely affecting work and home--everything, including yoga, in moderation I think.
nanyamka - 2004-02-19 9:28 AM
thanks bruce, for your opinions! i am not going to do the 60 days, i am just going to sign up for the monthly and practice when i feel like it, without the pressure. if i happen to go 60 days in a row, that's super...if i only make 6 days a week...well..i will feel good about that too. |
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| Thanks for your reply. Bruce
Yes I did some yoga, at home, about 3 years ago. What I really like about it is that is the only way I can shed those extra pounds. I had back surgery about a year ago so maybe that is the difference here. But like I said is the only thing that makes me loose fat. Even just with 3 weeks into it, Im already seeing results. I would like to go to a studio but I could not find any Brikram's in the area. Is there anything else you can recommend that would work as good shedding pounds?
Thanks again.
Edited by vero 2004-02-19 1:21 PM
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| Hi Vero -
What are you using to practice Bikram at home? When I first started to practice, I used the audio tape and book. I put a small, electric heater in my room with a mirror. It wasn't 110 degrees, but it was a good way to get started. I know that director the studios I teach at did the same thing.
Eventually you'll need to hit a studio for some guidance, even if it is not Bikram. It is a good idea, I think, to go to an Iyengar or Anusara class, to get a better understanding of the body mechanics in yoga. There may be some slight differences between the postures, but a good understanding of proper alignment will help keep you free from injury so you can continue your Bikram practice at home.
About the pain, what kind of pain are you experiencing? |
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| Hello, My Cats Mom.
I am using a book(bikram yoga for beginners), a small heater, and a big mirror. The pain I am experiencing is on my lower back radiating to the top of the hip joint and the hip socket (where the leg meets the hip) on the left side. The interesting thing is that my back surgery corrected a disk that was bulging to the right. It went away after a good night rest, thank goodness. I think that came about because I pulled my right hamstring a few days before and I was trying to protect it while doing the yoga poses. Its been two days since my last yoga session and I will try it again tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.
About going to a yoga class, I've been thinking about it and I think you are right. I talk to a teacher in my area and arrage to go to a class this friday. I'll decide if I want to stay with her or find someone else then. Although she sounded very nice and helpful over the phone. I explained my situation and she said the class was very small so she can keep her eye on me, make sure I was doing it safely.
Thanks for your reply, I was reading the notes between you and Yoga Dancer they are very helpful.
Vero |
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| This is insane.
Vero, if you're waking up unmitigatingly sore, you're over training or pushing yourself tooo hard. Back off. This is not what yoga is about nor what yoga does to a body if used properly. Both yoga and the body.
60 days' practice for someone who has been practicing 1 week? Stupid. Use common sense. Have you ever done anything for 90 minutes a day for 60 days that absolutely drains your electrolytes? I hope you've got insurance that covers self-inflicted injury.
Yoga is not a weight loss method. You're most likely losing hydration right now, not fat, which is the reason it's "the only way" you lose weight. I don't give a darned what the media says, you have to look at what you're shoveling into your mouth, the balance thereof, and what heart-rate-raising exercise you're getting. That combination done correctly will help you lose weight, not sweating yourself dry.
I would suggest you (all) take a look at what you're doing and please apply some common sense. If you learn anything in yoga, it's that one must find a balance in all things. This means once again you're being confronted with that "m" word: moderation. Try it. The results are phenominal.
Christine |
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| thanks, Yoga Dancer, for your input. You're probably right about me overdoing it. I am very intense in everything I do. And the dehydration well it is not weight that I am loosing (I'm still at the same weight that I started with) Its the fact that I can see muscles growing (like my gluts and shoulder). I will watch my water intake and will slow down on the yoga. I'm not waking up soar, I'm soar just after the workout. The next day I feel terrific, thats why I stuck to it for 3 weeks. I thank you very much for your comments and I totally appreciate the fact that you are willing to share your knowledge with people that you don't even know (like me). I will look into other types of yoga.
Vero  |
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| Too bad Christine can't be a little more clear so we really know how she feels...
YogaDancer - 2004-02-19 10:16 PM
This is insane.
Vero, if you're waking up unmitigatingly sore, you're over training or pushing yourself tooo hard. Back off. This is not what yoga is about nor what yoga does to a body if used properly. Both yoga and the body.
60 days' practice for someone who has been practicing 1 week? Stupid. Use common sense. Have you ever done anything for 90 minutes a day for 60 days that absolutely drains your electrolytes? I hope you've got insurance that covers self-inflicted injury.
Yoga is not a weight loss method. You're most likely losing hydration right now, not fat, which is the reason it's "the only way" you lose weight. I don't give a darned what the media says, you have to look at what you're shoveling into your mouth, the balance thereof, and what heart-rate-raising exercise you're getting. That combination done correctly will help you lose weight, not sweating yourself dry.
I would suggest you (all) take a look at what you're doing and please apply some common sense. If you learn anything in yoga, it's that one must find a balance in all things. This means once again you're being confronted with that "m" word: moderation. Try it. The results are phenominal.
Christine |
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| I agree with Christine -- 60 days in a row is a bad idea for a beginner. I have mixed feelings about people who do the 60 days practice -- I think even Bikram says take Sundays off . . .
With all due respect (and you know I love you, Christine) I would seriously doubt that practicing at home is going to cause dehydration. I tried my hardest to get my practice room hot and managed lukewarm at best. It was enough to take off the chill, though, and I think that is important.
That back pain sounds familiar, though. I would say stop with the Bikram until you can develop a better awareness of where you're off in your alignment. My opinion is based on my personal experience with a similar problem. I teach Bikram and as hard as it is for me, I've stopped my practice until I can figure out what it is that I've been doing wrong for these past few years that is causing the pain you are describing. Christine has been very helpful in pointing me in what I feel is the right direction. I think you are on the right path in getting some personal attention. You can always go back to Bikram once you've developed the awareness you need. I know I will -- just probably not exclusively.
Even though your interest in yoga is primarily weight loss (and I do believe you can lose weight doing yoga if you have been sedentary), there is a good chance you'll find out there's more to yoga than that. I've seen it happen, it's a beautiful thing. One thing I felt Bikram communicated at training is that the spiritual will happen if you continue to practice the asanas. For some that is true, for others not so much. The physical part can definitely be the first step on the path.
Best wishes on your journey |
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| Thank you all for your comments. This forum is great.
I feel a little dumm now that I look back  not listening to my body. I was just so into the peace of mind that this is giving me. (I'm going to very stressfull times and this is keeping me sane) I'm looking forward to going to yoga studio.
Vero |
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| Was there some mention of a home practice?
Frankly, I think Bikram (again, I don't support it for beginning yogis -- my opinion) is a great home practice. Asana of any sort has its effects, regardless of what we in this century have decided we must use as a temperature. My Cat's Mom is correct on another point. If someone has spent the last xxx no. of years moving from chair to car to chair as their exercise? Anything is going to tone and/or help them lose weight. The latter I doubt, though, given the fact that people tend to tell themselves since they've now exercised, they can now have extra this or that.
Anyway, vero, consider something go give yourself a different focus. For example, you know probably by now that I support more form and alignment oriented yoga, particularly for beginners. However, since you're into the musculature, (sp?) why don't you throw in something like speed walking or treadmill every other day? It'll give you the aerobic element you might need, plus it gives your Bikram muscles 24 hours to heal.
If you think about regular gym work like weight lifting? The recommendation is to vary the mucle groups so one can heal/rebuild, right? If you're pushing your body to pain as you are, what is the difference between what your yoga practice is doing to your body and over-lifting? Look at it this way. Another point is that variation also helps progress.
And Bruce?  Watch out. Someday I really will tell you how stupid I think all this commercialism is. I've actually been POLITE! Because I realize people only come to places like this with what the media has told them. The media only tells them what they want to hear, 'ja know? 
Christine |
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| Hello Yoga Dancer. I think you are kind of confusing me with nanyamka (about the 60 days) Anyway, for what pertains to me "ay, ay, captain" "will do ma'am" 
vero |
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| Oops@ I think I did.
Well, thank you for taking my rant in the spirit it was intended, now how I can come across.
See if your body is nicer to you with you being nicer to it!
Christine |
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| I just finished doing yoga with your suggestions (modify). Much, much better  No pain. The book said to give it your all (at least that is what I got out of it) so I was. Your way much better.
Thanks a million
Vero |
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| Bless your soul.
The thing to remember for type A people such as you and I, is that in yoga pain means NO gain. I'm willing to bet you'll see a nice smooth progress vs. fits and starts.
It never means Not to use your muscles and muscle energy, but straining to the point you were is so unnecessary and very counterproductive. There's a reason other traditions all say "relax into a pose!" So make your all your mind, body and spirit. Not all your energy, muscles, frustration and FORCE!  Yoga can be something after which you're ready to go out and take on the world, not need muscle relaxers, hot bathes and a nap. Although those sound good sometimes too! 
I'm glad you found the ease in a practice, vero. That's a step on the right track!
Christine |
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| I am on day 40 of The 60 Day Challenge and I feel great. I will admit to being a bit tired and sore at times but usually the soreness dissipates as I continue practicing. As far as the challenge is concerned, I'm not doing it soley for the physical aspect of it but also for the mental aspect. There is something very rewarding about committing yourself mentally and physically to a goal that at first may seem overwhelming. I couldn't have imagined getting through 5 classes straight yet here I am at day 40 and there is nothing short of a catastrophe that will keep me from my goal. Obviously I won't continue doing Bikram Yoga every day once I've hit 60 days but I don't think I can go back to a life without it at least 4 or 5 days a week. I've lost 21 lbs in 40 days, at least 5% body fat, I've been told I look younger, healthier and it feels great. If you're thinking about doing the challenge just go for it. Don't listen to other people because there will always be someone trying to talk you out of it. As far as the cost is concerned, most studios have monthly unlimited packages whereby if you committ yourself to doing the challenge it's only going to cost you about $4-5/class. Good luck. |
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| Type A?  |
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| Good for you Erik--sounds like you're taking a sane approach to the challenge. One day early in my practice, I was SO frustrated not being able to make progress I just picked up my mat and started to walk out--the teacher said, hey, relax --it's ONLY yoga. Made3 an impression. Sounds like your're seeing positive results BUT, as I mentioned earlier in another forum, I started finding ways to get out of work and family obligations to get to the studio--gotta keep things in balance.
Erik - 2004-02-20 3:10 PM
I am on day 40 of The 60 Day Challenge and I feel great. I will admit to being a bit tired and sore at times but usually the soreness dissipates as I continue practicing. As far as the challenge is concerned, I'm not doing it soley for the physical aspect of it but also for the mental aspect. There is something very rewarding about committing yourself mentally and physically to a goal that at first may seem overwhelming. I couldn't have imagined getting through 5 classes straight yet here I am at day 40 and there is nothing short of a catastrophe that will keep me from my goal. Obviously I won't continue doing Bikram Yoga every day once I've hit 60 days but I don't think I can go back to a life without it at least 4 or 5 days a week. I've lost 21 lbs in 40 days, at least 5% body fat, I've been told I look younger, healthier and it feels great. If you're thinking about doing the challenge just go for it. Don't listen to other people because there will always be someone trying to talk you out of it. As far as the cost is concerned, most studios have monthly unlimited packages whereby if you committ yourself to doing the challenge it's only going to cost you about $4-5/class. Good luck. |
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| Bruce. Take the family with you. Tell work you're seeing a doctor for job related stress and anxiety. It's cheaper to them than medical leave.
What the heck. It's not quite a lie ... is it?
Christine |
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60 day practice
