Posted on April 10th, 2012
0
Wendy is back from the Bikram seminar in Croatia and had an amazing experience. MORE TO COME!!!
Posted on April 10th, 2012
So Heather and I have been practicing yoga since last October and loving every minute, well most every minute.
It all came about because we are on the backside of middle age, a little (ok a bunch, me) overweight, injured by life but wanting to be in better shape again. Heather is a Banker with a history of running Marathons, I am an ex Soldier, ex Policeman, Businessman, Commercial Flight Instructor somewhat overachieving ex Marathoner, Ironman, Triathlete. Heather is in fine health, but I suffer from a blown disk in my back, which has lead to arthritis and immobility, plus bone chips in my right shoulder leading to more arthritis and a frozen shoulder. Something like Carter and pills coming to mind? Lastly I had hypertension with readings in the 150 something over 90 something range.
Since I was unable to participate in Boot Camp type fitness due to my “issues” Heather had told me for sometime to check out Hot Yoga. Being a guy and afraid of being made to look silly amongst ladies in yoga suits I procrastinated long enough to miss the free sessions, naturally, and came in to speak with someone. Someone turned out to be Wendy, very persuasive, and Larry, Uncle as it turns out to a previous colleuge of mine. Long story short I purchased a three-day pass.
My first session was amazing, so much so I convinced Heather to purchase a three-day pass as well. We were both hooked! We immediately purchased a three month unlimited pass and have barely missed a day that we were available to attend, including the January 30 day challenge. As a result of our Yoga my chronic back pain has diminished to a dull roar, I am able to sleep on my right side again and my hypertension has reduced to high 120’s over high 70’s, wow! We both sleep like logs particularly prior to class, and during Savasana, Heather’s record being three separate occasions during one of Pete’s classes (now that’s living dangerously). Heather has also reduced her incidence of anxiety attacks, which is a tremendous source of relief.
The bottom line is we have discovered a life long non competitive fitness activity, but will always take a spot by the door as it’s half a degree cooler and my favorite instructors always open the door when I need it most, at least that’s what I think. We will always be thankful that Heather convinced me to check out Hot Yoga, and will always advocate its use to rehabilitate or just live healthier.
Thank-you Bikram, and all the gang at the Sidney studio!
Martin and Heather Pepper
It all came about because we are on the backside of middle age, a little (ok a bunch, me) overweight, injured by life but wanting to be in better shape again. Heather is a Banker with a history of running Marathons, I am an ex Soldier, ex Policeman, Businessman, Commercial Flight Instructor somewhat overachieving ex Marathoner, Ironman, Triathlete. Heather is in fine health, but I suffer from a blown disk in my back, which has lead to arthritis and immobility, plus bone chips in my right shoulder leading to more arthritis and a frozen shoulder. Something like Carter and pills coming to mind? Lastly I had hypertension with readings in the 150 something over 90 something range.
Since I was unable to participate in Boot Camp type fitness due to my “issues” Heather had told me for sometime to check out Hot Yoga. Being a guy and afraid of being made to look silly amongst ladies in yoga suits I procrastinated long enough to miss the free sessions, naturally, and came in to speak with someone. Someone turned out to be Wendy, very persuasive, and Larry, Uncle as it turns out to a previous colleuge of mine. Long story short I purchased a three-day pass.
My first session was amazing, so much so I convinced Heather to purchase a three-day pass as well. We were both hooked! We immediately purchased a three month unlimited pass and have barely missed a day that we were available to attend, including the January 30 day challenge. As a result of our Yoga my chronic back pain has diminished to a dull roar, I am able to sleep on my right side again and my hypertension has reduced to high 120’s over high 70’s, wow! We both sleep like logs particularly prior to class, and during Savasana, Heather’s record being three separate occasions during one of Pete’s classes (now that’s living dangerously). Heather has also reduced her incidence of anxiety attacks, which is a tremendous source of relief.
The bottom line is we have discovered a life long non competitive fitness activity, but will always take a spot by the door as it’s half a degree cooler and my favorite instructors always open the door when I need it most, at least that’s what I think. We will always be thankful that Heather convinced me to check out Hot Yoga, and will always advocate its use to rehabilitate or just live healthier.
Thank-you Bikram, and all the gang at the Sidney studio!
Martin and Heather Pepper
Posted on March 28th, 2012
Warren
-43 years old, 6ft 240 lbs
Multiple dislocation/joint injuries; severe back/neck trauma in teens, 25 years of back pain (SI joint)
My wife convinced me to give Hot Yoga a try when Bikram Yoga Sidney had the free classes on January 8th. While I was sceptical it was challenging enough to get me interested and I could tell the core strengthening would be very worthwhile for me. The first few classes I tried the typical male approach of trying to powering through every pose and realized that was a bad idea. After 3 or 4 classes I became aware, while laying in Savasana, that I was clenching muscles and guarding old injuries and was not even close to laying in a straight line; forget about relaxed.
What Yoga has shown me is that what I thought of as my back being 'OK' was not, not even close; 25 years of back issues just taught me to ignore pain a bit too well. While chiropractic treatments deal with the joint misalignments they are not preventative; and as there are no muscles directly supporting the SI joint complete core strength and conditioning is necessary. I now focus more on doing the poses correctly, as best I can, than on trying to do them fully and the progress and benefit has been outstanding. Yoga allows me to focus on holding my body correctly and making sure I am using both sides of my body equally; this has been very good for me as years of favouring my back has resulted in some very bad inequalities in muscles. It has been 2 months since I began and for the past 2 weeks I have been back pain free. The complete absence of sensation from my lower back has been extraordinary; I actually understand what 'OK' is now. I have also lost 20 pounds and enjoy a much better night's sleep.
I am a heavy boned, wide built guy and some of the poses are extremely difficult to bend/twist my body into, I'm not sure I'll ever get my hands together in Eagle, but there has been a lot of progress already. When I started I could barely get my hands to mid calf in Standing-Head-to-Knee; now my hands are under my foot, the fingers are not interlocked but I'm getting there. Although there are several poses that I can't get into very deeply I still feel the benefit, and can see that the future benefits will be even greater. I hate Rabbit for the throat choke but love it for the stretch and sense of release in my lower spine. For now it is challenging enough to lock my knee, balance on my whole foot (not the outside edge) and keep breathing; and lock the knee.
Lock the knee.
-43 years old, 6ft 240 lbs
Multiple dislocation/joint injuries; severe back/neck trauma in teens, 25 years of back pain (SI joint)
My wife convinced me to give Hot Yoga a try when Bikram Yoga Sidney had the free classes on January 8th. While I was sceptical it was challenging enough to get me interested and I could tell the core strengthening would be very worthwhile for me. The first few classes I tried the typical male approach of trying to powering through every pose and realized that was a bad idea. After 3 or 4 classes I became aware, while laying in Savasana, that I was clenching muscles and guarding old injuries and was not even close to laying in a straight line; forget about relaxed.
What Yoga has shown me is that what I thought of as my back being 'OK' was not, not even close; 25 years of back issues just taught me to ignore pain a bit too well. While chiropractic treatments deal with the joint misalignments they are not preventative; and as there are no muscles directly supporting the SI joint complete core strength and conditioning is necessary. I now focus more on doing the poses correctly, as best I can, than on trying to do them fully and the progress and benefit has been outstanding. Yoga allows me to focus on holding my body correctly and making sure I am using both sides of my body equally; this has been very good for me as years of favouring my back has resulted in some very bad inequalities in muscles. It has been 2 months since I began and for the past 2 weeks I have been back pain free. The complete absence of sensation from my lower back has been extraordinary; I actually understand what 'OK' is now. I have also lost 20 pounds and enjoy a much better night's sleep.
I am a heavy boned, wide built guy and some of the poses are extremely difficult to bend/twist my body into, I'm not sure I'll ever get my hands together in Eagle, but there has been a lot of progress already. When I started I could barely get my hands to mid calf in Standing-Head-to-Knee; now my hands are under my foot, the fingers are not interlocked but I'm getting there. Although there are several poses that I can't get into very deeply I still feel the benefit, and can see that the future benefits will be even greater. I hate Rabbit for the throat choke but love it for the stretch and sense of release in my lower spine. For now it is challenging enough to lock my knee, balance on my whole foot (not the outside edge) and keep breathing; and lock the knee.
Lock the knee.
by Emilie on March 18th, 2012
Emilie first started Bikram Yoga in March of 2010 and she is a testament to the fountain of youth through yoga.
The consistency of her daily practice is one of the reasons she is feeling and looking so great! Here are a few insights from Emilie after having done her 60 Days of Yoga.
Thinking that this much yoga in a row would help improve her postures and sciatica problem, she proved herself right. Taking each class one day at a time she got ever more motivated to continue as the “challenge” went on and simply made her life outside the hot room and inside the hot room balance out. Sure enough, posture depth, focus and listening all improved. Since this time, it isn’t so much weight loss that Emilie has noticed, but weight re-distribution: her body is rebalancing itself. We all anticipate the changes this next year will bring.
No need to reveal Emilie’s actual age, suffice to say she is a brilliant testament to Bikram’s “You are never too old, it is never too late, you are never too bad, to start again with this yoga”.
“I love my studio, and the teachers. I cannot imagine my life without it!”
Emilie
The consistency of her daily practice is one of the reasons she is feeling and looking so great! Here are a few insights from Emilie after having done her 60 Days of Yoga.
Thinking that this much yoga in a row would help improve her postures and sciatica problem, she proved herself right. Taking each class one day at a time she got ever more motivated to continue as the “challenge” went on and simply made her life outside the hot room and inside the hot room balance out. Sure enough, posture depth, focus and listening all improved. Since this time, it isn’t so much weight loss that Emilie has noticed, but weight re-distribution: her body is rebalancing itself. We all anticipate the changes this next year will bring.
No need to reveal Emilie’s actual age, suffice to say she is a brilliant testament to Bikram’s “You are never too old, it is never too late, you are never too bad, to start again with this yoga”.
“I love my studio, and the teachers. I cannot imagine my life without it!”
Emilie
by Tyra on March 18th, 2012
I wanted to share with you my story. I am 39 years old and have suffered chronic back pain since I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 20. When I was 24 I had a major car accident leaving me with herniated discs and soft tissue injuries. There were days where it was difficult to get out of bed.
I have spent thousands of dollars on all kinds of therapy including, physiotherapy, chiropractic therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, and too many others to mention. All of them with promises of decreased back pain. I have tried different pillows, different mattresses and anything else I researched. Nothing worked.
In December of 2009 my frustrated physiotherapist mentioned to me that I should try “hot yoga”. I decided to make it my 2010 New Year’s Resolution. I joined Bikrams Yoga with a 6 month commitment. I told myself I would practice yoga which I had never tried before, a minimum of 3 times a week with 100 percent effort.
The staff at Bikrams Yoga in Sidney were very compassionate and encouraging. The first class was the hardest but with each class, every week I noticed some changes. It wasn’t always easy and I didn’t always “enjoy” it. But I came and I gave it an honest effort.
After 12 weeks of yoga I left for a much needed vacation. For the past 20 years I return from a tropical vacation tanned on only one side. This being a result of too much back pain to lie on my stomach. I might be able to stand it for 10 minutes but the low back pain was too much to endure and I’d flip over.
On this last trip in March I grabbed a lounge chair with enthusiasm, and a good book and started tanning on my stomach. NINETY MINUTES went by when I realized I had no low back pain. NONE!!! I turned to my best friend and let out a squeal. She put her book down with panic on her face and asked what was wrong. All I could say was “Bikrams”. She looked at me with question and I said “I have been lying here on my stomach for an hour and a half pain free. It can only be one thing…BIKRAMS!” She smiled back at me and said, “See it’s working!” Wait till we get home and tell Wendy.
I spent the rest of the trip enjoying my new freedom. In fact my back might even be more tanned than my front!
We came home and immediately got back into practicing yoga. When it came to the spine strengthening exercises I smiled to myself with that all too familiar pain and thought “it’s working!”
I share this with you not because you haven’t heard it or known it but to share with all those people who are just starting out like me not knowing if Yoga is right for them or if they will benefit from it.
If you are committed with “bull dog” determination then you can only benefit from it. After 12 weeks of yoga I did something I hadn’t done in 20 years. I can only imagine the possibilities in the future. So thanks to you, to Bikram, and to all your wonderful caring staff who encourage us on a daily basis. Without them and their encouraging words I don’t know if I could have continued.
Please feel free to share this with whomever you wish.
Tyra
I have spent thousands of dollars on all kinds of therapy including, physiotherapy, chiropractic therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, and too many others to mention. All of them with promises of decreased back pain. I have tried different pillows, different mattresses and anything else I researched. Nothing worked.
In December of 2009 my frustrated physiotherapist mentioned to me that I should try “hot yoga”. I decided to make it my 2010 New Year’s Resolution. I joined Bikrams Yoga with a 6 month commitment. I told myself I would practice yoga which I had never tried before, a minimum of 3 times a week with 100 percent effort.
The staff at Bikrams Yoga in Sidney were very compassionate and encouraging. The first class was the hardest but with each class, every week I noticed some changes. It wasn’t always easy and I didn’t always “enjoy” it. But I came and I gave it an honest effort.
After 12 weeks of yoga I left for a much needed vacation. For the past 20 years I return from a tropical vacation tanned on only one side. This being a result of too much back pain to lie on my stomach. I might be able to stand it for 10 minutes but the low back pain was too much to endure and I’d flip over.
On this last trip in March I grabbed a lounge chair with enthusiasm, and a good book and started tanning on my stomach. NINETY MINUTES went by when I realized I had no low back pain. NONE!!! I turned to my best friend and let out a squeal. She put her book down with panic on her face and asked what was wrong. All I could say was “Bikrams”. She looked at me with question and I said “I have been lying here on my stomach for an hour and a half pain free. It can only be one thing…BIKRAMS!” She smiled back at me and said, “See it’s working!” Wait till we get home and tell Wendy.
I spent the rest of the trip enjoying my new freedom. In fact my back might even be more tanned than my front!
We came home and immediately got back into practicing yoga. When it came to the spine strengthening exercises I smiled to myself with that all too familiar pain and thought “it’s working!”
I share this with you not because you haven’t heard it or known it but to share with all those people who are just starting out like me not knowing if Yoga is right for them or if they will benefit from it.
If you are committed with “bull dog” determination then you can only benefit from it. After 12 weeks of yoga I did something I hadn’t done in 20 years. I can only imagine the possibilities in the future. So thanks to you, to Bikram, and to all your wonderful caring staff who encourage us on a daily basis. Without them and their encouraging words I don’t know if I could have continued.
Please feel free to share this with whomever you wish.
Tyra
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