BIKRAM BENDER

Finished off the weekend with a Bikram Yoga class that left me soaked, stoked and half croaked. Is it me or are some days harder than others?  The heat seemed even more intense today and I was slipping out of almost ever pose nearly doing a lip stand when I should have been doing a knee to head stand. It was a real love/hate thing tonight during the class but now that I am showered, hydrated and glowing from within...I am craving my next Bikram class already.  I am thinking this week needs to be a Bikram Bender...can I get to the 6am classes?  All depends on baby sleeping through the night I suppose but I am going to give it a go all this week.  I am going to try for a double up as well.....the 6am call followed by the 8pm class later. 

Wish me luck....off to bed now to set the alarm for 4:45am.  Oh man...I sure hope the next blog is headed "Hey...I tried right?" 

Night all....

THE 26 POSES OF BIKRAM YOGA THAT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR BODY & MIND...

As promised, the 26 poses of Bikram Yoga with the associated benefits. *insert applause plus cheering crowd noise here*

If you do decide to try out a 90 minute session in the torture chamber try not to laugh out loud when you get the scripted instruction of "lock the knee...exhale...lock the knee...inhale...lock the knee...lock the knee! lock the knee! lock the knee!" or "go back, waaayy back, fall back, more backkkk....breath"  my personal fave...."its a looowww....slooowww......flooowwww" ....or "your breath is your fuel...come back to your breath" (particularly hard,when simply a mere mortal beginning this practice all you want to do is douse yourself with your water bottle, drink every other water bottle in the room all the while trying NOT to snort and snuffle air in like a pig at the trough....but this is a refined, composed, controlled & disciplined practice of yoga.... one must NOT open the mouth under any circumstances...only in and out through the nose..*I sneak the odd sip of air in sideways through the lips when I can but hey...I am just a beginner after all!!* shhhhhhhhhhhh.....

Anyways, the poses....

1). PRANAYAMA BREATHING - Standing deep breathing pose.

• Good for lungs and respiratory system
• Helps with mental relaxation
• Helps high blood pressure
• Relieves irritability
• Good for detoxification
• Exercises nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems
• Benefits the lungs, respiratory system, reduces irritability, good for detoxification

2.) Ardha-Chandrasana and Pada-Hastasana (Half Moon Pose and hands to Feet)

• Works into the whole skeletal and circulatory systems
• Opens shoulder joints
• Good for frozen shoulder
• Reduces or eliminates pain in the lower back
• Good for abdominal obesity
• Improves and strengthens every muscle in the central part of the body Increase the flexibility of the spine
• Tones the spinal nerves and abdominal organs inproving the working of the bowels
• Increases flexibility and strength of rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, oblique, deltoid and trapezius muscles
• Helps with sciatic problems
• Alleviates anxiety and reduces mental stress
• Stimulates pituitary gland
• Exercises colon, pancreas, kidneys, muscular, skeletal, respiratory and glandular systems
• Firms and trims waistline, hips, abdomen, buttocks and thighs

3.) Utkatasana (Awkward Pose)

• Improves overall body strength
• Opens pelvis
• Strengthens and tones leg muscles
• Relieves menstrual cramping
• Reduces fat pocket under buttocks
• Aligns skeletal system
• Good for arthritis conditions
• Good for digestion
• Relieves joint pain
• Relieves sciatica
• Improves flexibility in toes and ankles
• Exercises liver, intestines, and pancreas

4.) Garurasan (Eagle Pose)

• Works into twelve major joints of the body
• Good for central nervous system
• Facilitates lymphatic function, improving immune system
• Improves mobility of hip joint
• Improves balance
• Strengthens legs
• Good for varicose veins

5.) Dandayamana-Janushirasana (Standing Head to Knee Pose)

• Builds mental strength
• Improves concentration
• Unifies mind and body
• Uses all major muscle groups
• Exercises digestive and reproductive organs
• Good for diabetes
• Strengthens back muscles

6.) Dandayamana-Dhanurasana (Standing Bow Pulling Pose)

• Stimulates cardiovascular system
• Increases circulation to heart and lungs
• Opens diaphragm
• Opens shoulder joint
• Helps frozen shoulder conditions
• Improves spine elasticity
• Improves strength and balance
• Reduces abdominal fat
• Helps regulate ovaries and prostate gland

7.) Tuladandasana (Balancing Stick Pose)

• Increases cardiovascular circulation, especially to heart blood vessels
• May help clear blocked arteries
• May help prevent future cardiac problems
• Creates a total spine stretch Relieves stress from spine
• Good for varicose veins
• Builds strength in legs
• Exercises pancreas, spleen, liver, nervous and circulatory system

8.) Dandayamana-Bibhaktapada-Paschimotthanasana (Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose)

• Increases circulation to the brain and adrenal glands
• Centres nervous system
• May be good for depression
• Good for constipation
• Helps reduce abdominal obesity
• Helps with diabetes and hyperacidity
• Releases lower back
• Exercises muscular, adrenal and reproductive systems

9.) Trikanasana (Triangle Pose)

• An excellent cardiovascular workout
• Intensely stretches each side of the body
• Opens and increases flexibility of hip joints
• Reduces saddle bags
• Good for kidneys, thyroid and adrenal glands
• Opens shoulder joint, good for frozen shoulder
• Strengthen and tones legs and buttocks
• Helps regulate hormone levels
• Works all muscular groups simultaneously
• Helps conditions of constipation, colitis, low blood pressure, appendicitis, spondylitis, menstrual disorders

10.) Dandayamana-Bibhaktapada-Janushirasana (Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee Pose )

•  May be good for depression and memory loss
• Reduces abdominal obesity
• Good for diabetic conditions
• Balances blood sugar levels
• Assists in regulating pancreas and kidneys
• Works endocrine, digestive and reproductive systems

11.) Tadasana (Tree Pose)

• Assists in correcting bad posture
• Increases hip and knee flexibility and mobility
• Stretches spine
• Releases abdominal tension
• Relieves lower back pain
• Tightens gluteal muscles
• Good for circulatory problems, arthritis and rheumatism

12.) Padangustasana (Toe Stand Pose)

• Creates balance and focus in body and mind
• Strengthens stomach muscles
• Strengthens joints (hips, knees, ankles and toes)
• Helps relieve arthritis in all leg joints including hips

13.) Savasana (Dead Body Pose) * Now this is the only one I can honestly say I have down pat*

• Returns cardiovascular circulation to normal
• Slows heart rate, reduces blood pressure
• Teaches complete relaxation
• Stills and focuses the mind

14.) Pavanamuktasana (Wind Removing Pose)

• Massages ascending, descending and transverse colon
• Regulates and normalises hydrochloric acid levels in stomach
• Improves and may cure conditions of constipation, flatulence and hyperacidity
• Relieves lower back pain
• Improves flexibility of the hip joints
• Firms and tones muscles of the abdominal wall, thighs and hips
• Increases peristalsis in the gut

15.) Sit-up

• Strengthens and tightens the abdomen
• Open mouth exhalation stimulates diaphragm and eliminates toxins from lungs

16.) Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)

• The arching of the spine increases flexibility and strength
• Rejuvenates spinal nerves enriching them with a rich blood supply
• Improves flexibility and tone of spinal muscles, massages, works and tones back muscles
• Helps relieve and prevent lower backache
• Helps cure or relieve lumbago, rheumatism, arthritis and menstrual problems
• Helps cure loss of appetite
• Stretches the thoracic region and expands the rib cage bringing relief from asthma
• Gentle pressure on the abdomen massages all organs and improves their function
• Strengthens deltoids, trapezius and triceps
• Compresses and opens spine
• Relieves cervical spondylosis
• Improves concentration
• Helps to relieve many utero-ovarine and menstrual problems

17.) Salabhasana (Locust Pose)

• Same benefits as Cobra pose and even more effective in helping conditions of slipped disc and sciatica
• Firms buttocks and hips
• Increases spinal strength, flexibility and circulation
• Improves flexibility and tone of spinal muscles
• Helps relieve and prevent backache
• Helps cure or relieve lumbago, rheumatism, arthritis and menstrual problems
• Helps cure loss of appetite
• Improves sluggish digestion
• Increases abdominal pressure and regulates intestinal function
• Strengthens the abdominal wall
• Helps correct bad posture
• Improves function of liver and spleen
• Strengthens shoulder, arm and back muscles
• Compresses and opens spine
• Relieves cervical spondylosis and back pain
• Encourages concentration and perseverance

18.) Poorna-Salabhasana (Full Locust Pose)

• Firms muscles of the abdomen, upper arms, hips and thighs
• Increases spinal strength and flexibility
• Improves flexibility and tone of spinal muscles
• Helps relieve and prevent lower backache
• Helps cure or relieve lumbago, rheumatism, arthritis and menstrual problems Helps cure loss of appetite
• Helps correct bad posture
• Improves function of liver and spleen
• Strengthens deltoids, trapezius and triceps
• Compresses and opens spine
• Relieves cervical spondylosis

19.) Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)

• Increases circulation to heart and lungs, improves oxygen intake
• Opens diaphragm and expands the chest region - improves respiratory conditions
• Opens shoulder joint and helps frozen shoulder conditions
• Increases spinal strength and flexibility and tone of spinal muscles
• Revitalises spinal nerves by increasing circulation to spine
• Strengthens, compresses and opens lower, mid and upper spine
• Improves strength and balance Reduces abdominal fat and strengthens abdominal muscles
• Helps regulate ovaries and prostate gland
• Helps cure or relieve lumbago, rheumatism, arthritis and menstrual problems
• Improves digestion
• Helps correct bad posture
• Strengthens concentration and mental determination
• Develops internal balance and harmony
• Improves function of kidneys, liver and spleen
• Strengthens deltoids, trapezius, rhomboids, latissimus dorsi and triceps
• Relieves cervical spondylosis

20.) Supta-Vajrasana (Fixed Firm Pose)

• Helps conditions of sciatica, gout, varicose veins and rheumatism in the legs
• Slims and tones thighs, firms calf muscles and strengthens the abdomen
• Strengthens and improves flexibility of lower spine, knees and ankle joints
• Lubricates and increases circulation to joints
• Strengthens and lengthens abdominal muscles
• Creates a great stretch into hip joints and diaphragm

• Relieves lower back pain

21.) Ardha-Kurmasana (Half Tortoise Pose)

• A rejuvenation pose providing maximum relaxation
• Assists in relieving digestion problems and constipation
• Stretches lower part of the lungs, increases lung capacity
• Excellent for respiratory conditions
• Increases circulation to the brain
• Firms the abdomen and thighs
• Increases flexibility of hip joints
• Helps with insomnia
• Increases flexibility in hips

22.) Ustrasana (Camel Pose)

• Compresses spine, relieving back problems
• Opens rib cage, lungs and digestive system
• Stimulates nervous system
• Great for lungs and many bronchial problems
• Strengthens back and shoulder muscles
• Improves flexion of neck
• Stretches throat
• Flushes fresh blood through kidneys
• Helps eliminate toxins

23.) Sasangasana (Rabbit Pose)

• Provides maximum longitudinal extension of the spine
• Stretches the spine to increase proper nutrition to the nervous system
• Improves the mobility and elasticity of the spine and back muscles
• Stimulates thyroid and parathyroid glands through compression, helps balance and regulate the metabolism
• Balances hormones
• Improves flexibility of scapula and trapezius
• Improves digestion, glandular problems and helps improve conditions of the sinus, common cold and chronic tonsillitis
• Helps insomnia, depression

24.) Janushirasana with Paschimotthanasana (Head to Knee Pose)

• Head to knee pose helps balance blood sugar levels and the metabolism
• Improves flexibility of sciatic nerve and ankle, knee and hip joints
• Enhances kidney function
• The intense stretching pose increases circulation to liver, spleen and pancreas
• Stimulates thymus gland, digestion and immune system
• Increases flexibility of the trapezius, deltoid, erectus femoris and biceps muscles, sciatic nerve and last five vertebrae of the spine
• Stretches and strengthens pelvic girdle, hip joints, shoulder joints and spine
• Powerfully massages all the abdominal organs
• Stimulates and tones the digestive organs, increases peristalsis, relieves constipation and other problems
• Regulates function of the pancreas, assisting those with diabetes or hypoglycaemia
• Mobilises joints and increases elasticity in the lumbar spine
• Relieves compression of the spine and sciatica
• Strengthens and stretches the hamstrings
• Improves concentration and mental endurance

25.) Ardha-Matsyendrasana (Spine Twisting Pose)

• Compresses and stretches spine from the bottom to the top
• Increases hip and back flexibility
• Improves digestion
• Firms the buttocks, thighs and abdomen
• Improves elasticity, flexibility, circulation and nutrition to spinal nerves, vessels and tissues
• Increases synovial fluid of the joints
• Removes adhesions in the joints caused by rheumatism
• Tones the roots of the spinal nerves and sympathetic nervous system
• Detoxifying
• Opens bronchial muscles and rib cage
• Helps prevent slipped disc
• Relieves lower back pain
• Helps sciatica and arthritis of the knee
• Massages kidneys, liver, gall bladder, spleen and bowels

26.) Khapalbhati (Breath of Fire Pose)

• Detoxifies and cleanses body by removing stale air and toxins from lungs
• Brings mental clarity
• Strengthens abdominal organs and wall
• Normalises bowels
• Energises body
• Improves oxygenation to the body
• Improves cardiovascular and respiratory systems
• Good for high blood pressure

So basically, do these 26 postures twice for 90 minutes in a room heated to approximately 40 degrees under the instruction of a  qualified Bikram Instructor.........

AND.....

you MAY end up looking as good as this.....

OR...

if you are male then perhaps THIS is what you may be aiming for???

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heheheh..ok...maybe that's not sexy but I bet he can do ALOT to himself...by himself...for himself....oh yeah....I went there!!

So, there you go.  Hopefully it was helpful and I hope you enjoy the journey you are about to embark on whether its towards a Bikram Yoga Studio or running far far away from one.


Either way.................NAMASTE...........

Bikram Yoga: My new addiction

Well for those of you that have never heard of Bikram Yoga think "Hot Yoga" as it is called in some countries.  Whatever you know it by or if you are learning about the practice for the first time in this blog let me just start by saying that I have been doing the practice for just over 10 days and am already like a herion addict looking for a fix everyday.  I have done several Yoga classes and I have never before experienced anything quite like the journey that this form of yoga takes you on. Let me just say up front, I am in no way a teacher, trainer or even close to being coordinated or flexible enough to have mastered a decent hamstring stretch let alone any Yoga practice to be judgmental of any style or form of other Yoga practices. There have been measurable benefits I experienced in everything from a body balance class that incorporates Tai Chi, Pilates & HathaYoga to a meditation and flow Yoga class.   I just find that Bikram Yoga takes it to a whole other level mentally, physically and yes, even emotionally.  Let me tell you about my journey so far....

I heard about Bikram Yoga...well, overheard about Bikram Yoga.....through a conversation some insanely fit women were having at the gym.  Me in my baggy jumper and trusty stretch pants, them stretching out their finely sculpted limbs without so much as a fat roll between them I was curious to learn more about this "Bikram Yoga" that had them both buzzing about how challenging it was but how the results were amazing etc. Watching them get off their mats and head for the daycare where my daughter was as well, I swallowed my lump of jealously when I watched one of these divine creatures pick up her baby who was at least 5 months younger than mine.  How can she LOOK like THAT after just having had a baby!  I still look 5 months pregnant despite half starving myself, punishing gym sessions, early morning bootcamps and throwing myself into awkward and desperate poses in several different yoga classes. What gives??   I chanted "Bikram Yoga Bikram Yoga" in my head for the whole drive home fearful I would lose this potential golden nugget of weightloss secrets and be forever stuck in my own limitations and lack of discipline.  Finally home, baby sorted, grabbed laptop and madly typed in" Brickhun Yoga".... what the hell...ummmm..."Brickham Yoga?"....damn it..."Brick Yoga"....damn you google damn you to hell....."B Yoga"....ewww...notta exactly....so then typed into google search "yoga that starts with the letter B". YES!!!  BIKRAM Yoga!!  Finally!  So long story short, after finally getting the name right I was able to then do a local search for Bikram Yoga Classes and found the only one available was thankfully, not too far from where I live.  I showed up the very next day for my first Bikram Yoga Class...

You have to show up at least 30 minutes before the class starts so being the Virgo that I am, I showed up 45 minutes before hand and found myself waiting outside the studio for a full 15 minutes before the doors were graciously opened for me. Shoes removed, I walked into the studio barefoot, signed in and clutched onto my Yoga mat like a child to its favorite blanket waiting for the class doors to open and begin this much anticipated Yoga class.  After what felt like an eternity. the class doors fling open and a wave of hot moist air blankets the waiting area while one by one red faced, fatigued almost tramautised looking individuals came slowly out through the doors walking past me like I wasnt there in a sort of trance like state.  I should mention that the bodies that came out were like someone opened an FHM or GQ magazine and all the models came walking off the pages...the fitness levels of these Bikram students was incredible...and then there was me....yeah. 

Anyways, once the room was cleared of traumatised looking models,I was allowed to waddle my way into the room, pick a spot (of course, near the back and in a corner...favorite hiding place in new classes) and then told to lay down feet facing the wall and get adjusted to the heat....no talking...just laying and adjusting.  It is literally like a sauna in there and the sweat was pouring off me just in the exerted energy used to fling out my mat, peel off my sticky jumper and lay my big arse down...heart pounding I waited to be told what to do next.  Without warning the lights are turned all the way on and an insanely sculpted instructor who makes Brad Pitt look plain was at the front of the room. *clap clap* "Welcome to the torture chamber! For those of you who are joining us for the first time, you are about to know what it feels like to die for 90 minutes but I promise you, if you do nothing else but just STAY in this room, you will leave knowing what it feels like to really live."  Panic.  Gulp. Stand.Ohhhh Shit...

Facing a mirrored wall I feel like I am literally the pink elephant in the room at 6ft tall wearing full length yoga pants and a pink singlet, I am surrounded by the scantily clad and seriously fit super beings.  We were told to stand and begin with the "Pranayama Breathing" (I will do a seperate blog on the 26 different bikram poses and what benefits they give the student...) and I watched as the rest of the class neatly folded their hands under their chins and began this intense shoulder & elbow raising (and at first, eyebrow raising) breathing technique designed to get as much oxygen into the body as possible creating a buzzing almost wind tunnelling sound through the throat.

 Every joint, vertabrae and bit of cartilage in my body SCREAMED at me with just the first breathing pose, I began to think I was in over my head. Pushing on nonetheless, pose after pose I twisted, bent and  forced my body and mind to move past the heat, past the straining, past the pain and began to "get comfortable in the uncomfortable".  It became like an open eyed meditation and I literally just did, the best that I could, exactly what the instructor asked me to do letting go of everything else but the poses themselves.   Before I knew it I was up to my last sit up, final spine twist and into the final "Breath of Fire".  My body no longer screamed for water, or cool air but just to lay down on my mat, close my eyes and give my body the rest it deserved for a full 5 minutes. Ahhhhh.....Namaste....

Once the room began to fill with the sounds of dragged mats, squeezed water bottles and soft chatter I flicked open my eyes, gave a final stretch and sat up feeling very drained yet energised at the same time. I was literally SOAKED from all the sweating, humidity and moisture in the room.  Heading out through the studio door the cool night air was like a first kiss leaving me high and dizzy but wanting more more more....I understood what our instructor meant by "really knowing what its like to live".   I felt so relaxed, spent, clear.....reborn.

That night I slept like a dead person only opening my eyes a minute before the alarm went off.  This is usually not the case for me....I am a chronically light sleeper and wake to the sound of an ant passing wind!  Best night sleep I have had since a very young child and the energy I found that I had all that day and next night was amazing! I headed back for my next class that night and 10 days later...I crave it like I used to crave a hot cup of coffee in the mornings! Thats another thing I have noticed...right away my food cravings have completely gone away! I even bought myself a bag of cashews which I usually inhale like nobody's business but this last time I just didnt enjoy the handful I took...they literally tasted different and I didnt want them at all.  That, coffee, sugars, cakes, anything that is refined and sugary, bready, starchy, salty, alcohol or otherwise bad for me has been deleted from my "crave file".  There are poses that work on the thyroid and metabolism so perhaps that is why but I have found that the weight is coming off quite easily now because no matter how hard I worked at the gym, that bag of cashews later that night or the toast with honey or any other night time nibbling I slid into made the effort at the gym all for nothing.

Well, time to organise the info for the next blog on the poses themselves.  I am sure that will be alot more helpful to those who are seriously interested in it.  I will also look into finding some helpful links along with where you can do a class...

If you are even considering it....let me be the one that gives you that shove in the back or kick up the pants to get there...you will NEVER look back.  Its life changing....

Day three

Well, still only half way thru my "how to blog" book and still have a bit of stage fright with respect to what on earth I am passionate enough to begin blogging about.  Perhaps that is why this is so important for me to do this.  Finding WHAT I am actually passionate about.  I know, I should do a list....

Ok...the list..

Starting now...

Things I am passionate about in no particular order:

1). My children and family
2). Health: Nutrition and Fitness
3). Bikram Yoga
4). Pyschology
5). Bargains
6). Writing
7). Cooking
8). Antiques/Art
9). Women and Childrens Issues
10). Equality
11). Nature
12). Finding a career that makes my heart sing
13). Travel
14). Spirituality
15). India
16). Canada
17). Theatre/Performing Arts (more as a member of the audience that performing myself)
18). Astrology
19). Intuitiveness
20). Learning
21). Balance
22). Charity


Okay...well thats a start I suppose...a good grid to build a road map from.  22 potential things I can actually blog about.  YAY! So glad I did that.  I am sure there is more things to add to that list but I am on a bit of a time restriction at the moment....baby is sleeping and due to wake up any minute now. 

Now to start brainstorming about the list above and create a blog with a more streamlined blabble about one of the above. 

No time like the present...

The time is now...

Walking thru the door..

:)

Still flapping the wings

Well, day two in the new digs and I have to say that I am still nesting in here. I wouldnt say I am techno-challenged but definitely a newbie.  I bought a book called "create your own blog" which curiously was written by not only a Canadian...an Islander...not just any island...Salt Spring Island!! I am originally from Vancouver Island and have family on Salt Spring Island which is where the writer "Tris Hussey" hails from originally.  A sign?  Syncronicity? Desperation for meaningful conveniences? Hmmm...not sure but so far, the content has been extremely helpful and is well layed out for those still wet behind the ears so to speak. 
Blogworthy content is my mission now...as well as getting this space looking like I had hoped it would...I have been driving thru the bloghood gathering ideas and inspiration.  I am sure the penny is going to drop any minute...

till then..

Is it me or?

Well, here it is. My third attempt at starting a blog. Hopefully this one will be the one that I can set up and actually use....not much hair left to pull out now...fingers crossed this one spells success.


Not really sure what this blog spot will entail. There are so many thoughts that pass through this head of mine. I am sure it will be filled with many random thoughts, rants, tips, experiences, questions and other things. I figured the first step would be to just get PAST the template set up, get happy with the layout, maybe even figure out how to get some music added...you know, sort of "move in" to blogland. Once my pictures are hung and the tables arranged, perhaps a sudden stroke of genius will occur....perhaps just a stroke. Here's hoping for the first...

Yes, like a newborn baby I have arrived to blogland gulping in mouthfuls of air, screaming and even feeling a bit naked but I am ready to grow and evolve into a worthy blogger whose words may one day be worth reading. In the meantime, I shall press forward and learn how to crawl before I walk....