I never anticipated quantifiable health results from Bikram yoga. But after 5 weeks attending 3 times a week, I have quite amazing results. My blood pressure lowered from 122/83 to 106/63. My heart rate lowered from 72 to 61. All of my "before" readings were in the healthy zone so now they're simply healthier than before.
My most striking results though, aren't in medical numbers. My biggest "wins" are significantly reduced allergic reactions, mellower moods (meaning lower anxiety levels), being more creative, and having more energy. I need to mention, though, that these results didn't kick in until after 5 weeks into the program. Before that I felt weary and fatigued with moments of mental clarity and joy from this moving meditation.
Also, I seem to have more time to be productive even though my entire round trip for a yoga session takes 2 and one-half hours. I'm excited to see what other benefits I'll notice in another couple months of sweating, huffing and puffing, and tolerating the intense stretching in the classes.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Yoga-hot or not
Last month, I renewed a hot affair from 14 years ago. This time around it was still hot, but also hard. In those 14 years, my flexibility level has decreased and I found myself not just huffing and puffing, but also embarrassed that I had not paid more attention to this most important aspect of physical fitness. You may be wondering what in the world I am writing about. I’m writing about hot yoga. Also known as Bikram yoga.
Class lasts for 90 minutes in a room heated to about 105 degrees, give or take a couple based on the whims or preferences of that day’s instructor (I think.) Some instructors are truly heart centered, some are what I term yoga nazis. But the classes are so standardized that I get the same workout regardless of the disposition of that day’s instructor.
You may be wondering why in the world I am taking 3 classes a week. I wanted to detox from all the environmental pollutants around, especially the horrible air pollution we have every winter in the Salt Lake Valley. And sweating lots along with stretching does this quite well. And as a sort of experiment: Could I recover my flexibility? Improve my vision? Increase my energy levels? Reduce or eliminate minor aches and pains? Complete the last bit of healing on plantar fasciitis? And would I experience other assorted benefits such as fresher skin, better posture, more mental clarity, etc?
The answer after 3 weeks of sweating/stretching is absolutely yes. I’m still doing Pilates, stationary biking, snowshoeing so I haven’t given up my other loves. But my vision is clearer, my foot no longer needs wrapped when I snowshoe (yeah). My energy was really low for the first couple weeks but is on an upswing. So I’ll continue attending hot yoga class after my first-month-special-price offer runs out.
The biggest benefits, though, weren’t physical at all. It was the mental/spiritual stuff. I could spend 90 minutes in a room without the “noise.” No cell phones, internet, news, advertisements, music, interruptions, or fragrances. No responsibilities. Nothing to do but the poses. I love this. I may begin to crave it. I’m getting hooked again after all these years.
I must tell you this, though: hot yoga is not for everyone. It’s hard. It’s really hot. You will sweat profusely. You’ll be uncomfortable, embarrassed, and unable to keep up. I know this from experience. If the heat isn’t for you for reasons such as health, you can still do yoga. If you’re curious about hot yoga, google Bikram Yoga on line and print out the postures. Or purchase the book and the CD.
If you want to know more about yoga, you can attend a regular yoga class offered at perhaps dozens of locations close to your home and experience the superb benefits of yoga without the rigor.
If you choose to check out a hot yoga class, you can probably find one close to your home. And, as an added benefit of hot yoga, you’ll be drinking lots more water.
Speaking of water, whenever you have an ache or pain such as a headache, migraine, back pain, shoulder pain, the first thing to do is to drink a large glass of water. It may be all you need to stop the pain. Bottom line: dehydration can cause physical pain. Water is expensive, safer, and healthier than a pill. If you’re so inclined, add a packet of Emergen-C to your second glass of water. Sometimes all you need to reduce or eliminate the pain is to rebalance your electrolytes.
We had some friends over to play bridge last night and I was stumped finding a mouthwatering recipe. Yes, I know, I write cookbooks, but I hadn’t thought to look through my books. I know this sounds nutty. But my books are on our bookshelves, not in my cookbook cupboard. So, duh. In my Complete Idiot’s Guide Glycemic Index Cookbook I found, Oven Baked Chicken Mole (p. 149), Bananas with Rum and Raisins (hold the ice cream) p. 279, and from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Low-Carb Meals, Chocolate Drop Cookies p. 364 (which worked perfectly for a guest who is gluten intolerant because it’s made with almond flour.)
Here’s the Oven Baked Chicken Mole Recipe for you to try. I hope you like it as much as we did.
1/4 cup cornstarch or Hi-Maize Resistant Starch
1/4 cup coarse yellow cornmeal
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. unsweetened baking cocoa
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 cup yogurt
1 TB. butter, melted
1 chicken, cut into pieces or 6 skinned chicken breasts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients except chicken. Dip chicken in mixture and place in a baking dish.
Bake for 1 hour. Chicken is cooked with juices run clear when pricked with a fork.
Today the first day of March, our valley air is clearer, our primroses are blooming and it’s a wonderful day to experiment with flexibility exercises.
Warmly,
Lucy Beale
Class lasts for 90 minutes in a room heated to about 105 degrees, give or take a couple based on the whims or preferences of that day’s instructor (I think.) Some instructors are truly heart centered, some are what I term yoga nazis. But the classes are so standardized that I get the same workout regardless of the disposition of that day’s instructor.
You may be wondering why in the world I am taking 3 classes a week. I wanted to detox from all the environmental pollutants around, especially the horrible air pollution we have every winter in the Salt Lake Valley. And sweating lots along with stretching does this quite well. And as a sort of experiment: Could I recover my flexibility? Improve my vision? Increase my energy levels? Reduce or eliminate minor aches and pains? Complete the last bit of healing on plantar fasciitis? And would I experience other assorted benefits such as fresher skin, better posture, more mental clarity, etc?
The answer after 3 weeks of sweating/stretching is absolutely yes. I’m still doing Pilates, stationary biking, snowshoeing so I haven’t given up my other loves. But my vision is clearer, my foot no longer needs wrapped when I snowshoe (yeah). My energy was really low for the first couple weeks but is on an upswing. So I’ll continue attending hot yoga class after my first-month-special-price offer runs out.
The biggest benefits, though, weren’t physical at all. It was the mental/spiritual stuff. I could spend 90 minutes in a room without the “noise.” No cell phones, internet, news, advertisements, music, interruptions, or fragrances. No responsibilities. Nothing to do but the poses. I love this. I may begin to crave it. I’m getting hooked again after all these years.
I must tell you this, though: hot yoga is not for everyone. It’s hard. It’s really hot. You will sweat profusely. You’ll be uncomfortable, embarrassed, and unable to keep up. I know this from experience. If the heat isn’t for you for reasons such as health, you can still do yoga. If you’re curious about hot yoga, google Bikram Yoga on line and print out the postures. Or purchase the book and the CD.
If you want to know more about yoga, you can attend a regular yoga class offered at perhaps dozens of locations close to your home and experience the superb benefits of yoga without the rigor.
If you choose to check out a hot yoga class, you can probably find one close to your home. And, as an added benefit of hot yoga, you’ll be drinking lots more water.
Speaking of water, whenever you have an ache or pain such as a headache, migraine, back pain, shoulder pain, the first thing to do is to drink a large glass of water. It may be all you need to stop the pain. Bottom line: dehydration can cause physical pain. Water is expensive, safer, and healthier than a pill. If you’re so inclined, add a packet of Emergen-C to your second glass of water. Sometimes all you need to reduce or eliminate the pain is to rebalance your electrolytes.
We had some friends over to play bridge last night and I was stumped finding a mouthwatering recipe. Yes, I know, I write cookbooks, but I hadn’t thought to look through my books. I know this sounds nutty. But my books are on our bookshelves, not in my cookbook cupboard. So, duh. In my Complete Idiot’s Guide Glycemic Index Cookbook I found, Oven Baked Chicken Mole (p. 149), Bananas with Rum and Raisins (hold the ice cream) p. 279, and from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Low-Carb Meals, Chocolate Drop Cookies p. 364 (which worked perfectly for a guest who is gluten intolerant because it’s made with almond flour.)
Here’s the Oven Baked Chicken Mole Recipe for you to try. I hope you like it as much as we did.
1/4 cup cornstarch or Hi-Maize Resistant Starch
1/4 cup coarse yellow cornmeal
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. unsweetened baking cocoa
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 cup yogurt
1 TB. butter, melted
1 chicken, cut into pieces or 6 skinned chicken breasts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients except chicken. Dip chicken in mixture and place in a baking dish.
Bake for 1 hour. Chicken is cooked with juices run clear when pricked with a fork.
Today the first day of March, our valley air is clearer, our primroses are blooming and it’s a wonderful day to experiment with flexibility exercises.
Warmly,
Lucy Beale
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