Inspired Living: Hot Yoga (On Fox News)

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BIKRAM HOT YOGA

I teach Bikram Hot Yoga and the greatest rewards are students' testimonials of old injuries healed, greater stamina and new vibrancy in their lives. Invariably, the first question asked is, "Why does it have to be SO HOT ?" Our Western mind set of air conditioned control, we believe sweating can't be good for us. "The room is heated to keep you cool." I tell them.

We are miraculously designed. By sweating, we keep our body's inner core cool. Sweat evaporating from our skin actually cools us and the toxins from our systems are released through sweat glands. This release of toxins removes the burden from organs and glands of detoxification, cleansing us internally. After we sweat so much, pores are opened and cleaned letting NATURAL LANOLIN release through the pores, softening and preserving our skin's elasticity. "I feel so CLEAN inside and out, and my skin is so SOFT.", is a beginner's comment.

We begin our practice in Bikram Yoga by learning to breathe properly, so oxygenation of red blood cells create a balance in blood pressure AND blood sugar. We become MORE alert and aware, coming closer to a sense of being IN our bodies, not outside ourselves. A reaction after a couple of classes is ,"I didn't realize before coming here that I didn't know how to breathe! Now my lungs feel so so much cleaner and I have greater lung capacity!".

It isn't uncommon to hear, "Well, I don't sweat." My immediate answer is, "Oh my, we need to get you in class even faster!" Toxins released through open pores sets the body up for fresh replenishment of oxygen rich blood to the organs and glands of detoxification, renewing the warranty on all your parts. Our bodies regenerate on a cellular level. Sweating is the fastest way to remove old cells and revitalize, reorganize, RE- ENERGIZE new cells. It's wonderful to hear, "My family wants to know just WHAT I am doing to have this much energy! They don't believe it could come from my yoga practice!"

When we get beyond all the concern about the heated room, I tell them we are building energy in the series of 26 postures done very methodically and medically arranged to bring new circulation to EVERY body part from brain to skin. All other exercise and movement you do depletes the body's energy like a car running burns gas. Hatha yoga IS a gas station; you are filling the body with energy through strength and flexibility. "I'm not flexible! I can't even touch my toes!", is a common claim. Anything that is hot is more fluid and flexible. What is cold is hard and brittle. The increase in flexibility offered by the increase in blood supply to the warmer muscles, opens up tight areas. We find new space in our spinal columns and begin to get taller, not shorter with age. "All my pants are shorter." a student, who is a dancer, told me. "I realized they weren't kidding about getting TALLER!" A 70 year old told me that she was the same height now as when she was 16 years old. Standing taller now with proper alignment of our spines, gives the internal organs their birthright room to function with out the stress of compression.

There are testimonials involving weight loss, relief from fibromyalgia, elimination of migraine headaches, relief from depression, and healing of old knee and spinal injuries. One student has lost over 10 pant sizes in the waist and dropped over 70 pounds. Another doesn't have to take early retirement because of fibromyalgia. She is active and whole again. The brain cells we don't normally use get new oxygen rich red blood cells, and students with mild to severe depression begin to smile and encourage other students needing a boost for their practice of Bikram Hot yoga. "Just get in the Hot Room and kill yourself!!", Bikram admonishes us, "You will understand the great benefits for yourself! No more 'I'm too tired, I'm too sick, I'm too fat, I'm too weak'! YOU are a gold Rolls Royce vehicle! You just are trying to start it with Toyota key!! This Hot Yoga, 26 postures, 2 breathing exercises gives you the right key to start properly! Now you go 200 miles per hour!"

When a student walks in for their first class, I encourage them to go at their own pace, move with the group, and try the right way. Bikram's Hot Yoga Class is taught to the beginner, yet gives a seasoned practitioner the benefit of a great workout. Every posture is a lifetime journey unto itself. Our bodies change and our lives change . We gain confidence using all of our faith, determination, will, self-discipline and concentration in each posture. After class in Bikram Hot Yoga, our cells vibrate at a higher level, and we KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt, we are more alive!!!

Now is the time the student realizes the higher goals of yoga:
1) Deeper breathing, a key to longer life
2) Achievement of union of body, mind and spirit
3) Stilling the thought waves of the mind
4) Achieving liberation and relief of suffering of all kind
5) Living Blissfully

Trudy and Bruce Swenk are both certified Bikram Hot Yoga instructors. Becoming a certified teacher of the Bikram Method of Hatha yoga requires nine weeks of training with Bikram Choudhury at the Yoga College of India in Los Angeles. August 2002, they opened BikramYoga Winston- Salem, at 127 Fayette St. October 2006, Bikram Yoga Greensboro opened at 4413 West Market St. Bikram Hot Yoga is taught to the beginning yoga student, no experience required. www.bikramyogawinstonsalem.com or www.bikramyoga.com gives complete schedules, rates and directions to the studios.

Winston #336-703-1900 / Greensboro #336- 297-0025