This Craigslist Ad Cracked Me Up!
I realize it has been a while since my last blog post but this ad for a used yoga mat and the story of how it came to be was making the rounds on Facebook today and I found it worthy of a quick share. If you have ever taken a hot yoga class, you just might relate.
Does anyone know the author? Are there any updates since it was published on 9/13/11?
Yoga mat for sale. Used once. – $1 (Bellevue)
Yoga mat for sale. Used once at lunch hour class in December 2009. Usage timeline as follows:
11:45a
Register for hot yoga class. Infinite wisdom tells me to commit to 5 class package and purchase a yoga mat. I pay $89.74. Money well spent, I smugly confirm to myself.11:55a
Open door to yoga room. A gush of hot dry air rushes through and past me. It smells of breath, sweat and hot. Take spot on floor in back of room next to cute blonde. We will date.11:57a
I feel the need to be as near to naked as possible. This is a problem because of the hot blonde to my left and our pending courtship. She will not be pleased to learn that I need to lose 30 pounds before I propose to her.11:58a
The shirt and sweats have to come off. I throw caution to the wind and decide to rely on my wit and conditioning to overcome any weight issues my fiancée may take issue with. This will take a lot of wit and conditioning.11:59a
Begin small talk with my bride to be. She pretends to ignore me but I know how she can be. I allow her to concentrate and stare straight ahead and continue to pretend that I don’t exist. As we finish sharing our special moment, I am suddenly aware of a sweat moustache that has formed below my nose. This must be from the all the whispering between us.12:00p
Instructor enters the room and ascends her special podium at the front of the room. She is a slight, agitated Chinese woman. She introduces me to the class and everyone turns around to greet me just as I decide to aggressively adjust my penis and testes packed in my Under Armor. My bride is notably unfazed.12:02p
Since I do have experience with Hot Yoga (4 sessions just 5 short years ago) I fully consider that I may be so outstanding and skilled that my instructor may call me out and ask me to guide the class. My wife will look on with a sparkle in her eye. We will make love after class.12:10p
It is now up to 95 degrees in the room. We have been practicing deep breathing exercises for the last 8 minutes. This would not be a problem if we were all breathing actual, you know, oxygen. Instead, we are breathing each other’s body odor, expelled carbon dioxide and other unmentionables. (Don’t worry, I’ll mention them later.)12:26p
It is now 100 degrees and I take notice of the humidity, which is hovering at about 90%. I feel the familiar adorning stare of my bride and decide to look back at her. She appears to be nauseated. I then realize that I forgot to brush my teeth prior to attending this class. We bond.12:33p
It is now 110 degrees and 95% humidity. I am now balancing on one leg with the other leg crossed over the other. My arms are intertwined and I am squatting. The last time I was in this position was 44 years ago in the womb, but I’m in this for the long haul. My wife looks slightly weathered dripping sweat and her eyeliner is streaming down her face. Well, “for better or worse” is what we committed to so we press on.12:40p
The overweight Hispanic man two spots over has sweat running down his legs. At least I think its sweat. He is holding every position and has not had a sip of water since we walked in. He is making me look bad and I hate him.12:44p
I consider that if anyone in this room farted that we would all certainly perish.12:52p
It is now 140 degrees and 100% humidity. I am covered from head to toe in sweat. There is not a square millimeter on my body that is not slippery and sweaty. I am so slimy that I feel like a sea lion or a maybe sea eel. Not even a bear trap could hold me. The sweat is stinging my eyeballs and I can no longer see.12:55p
This room stinks of asparagus, cloves, tuna and tacos. There is no food in the room. I realize that this is an amalgamation of the body odors of 30 people in a 140 degree room for the last 55 minutes. Seriously, enough with the asparagus, ok?1:01p
140 degrees and 130% humidity. Look, bitch, I need my space here so don’t get all pissy with me if I accidentally sprayed you with sweat as I flipped over. Seriously, is that where this relationship is going? Get over yourself. We need counseling and she needs to be medicated. Stat!1:09p
150 degrees and cloudy. And hot. I can no longer move my limbs on my own. I have given up on attempting any of the commands this Chinese chick is yelling out at us. I will lay sedentary until the aid unit arrives. I will buy this building and then have it destroyed.
I lose consciousness.1:15p
I have a headache and my wife is being a selfish bitch. I can’t really breathe. All I can think about is holding a cup worth of hot sand in my mouth. I cannot remember what an ice cube is and cannot remember what snow looks like. I consider that my only escape might be a crab walk across 15 bodies and then out of the room. I am paralyzed, and may never walk again so the whole crab walk thing is pretty much out.1:17p
I cannot move at all and cannot reach my water. Is breathing voluntary or involuntary? If it’s voluntary, I am screwed. I stopped participating in the class 20 minutes ago. Hey, lady! I paid for this frickin class, ok?! You work for me! Stop yelling at everyone and just tell us a story or something. It’s like juice and cracker time, ok?1:20p
It is now 165 degrees and moisture is dripping from the ceiling. The towel that I am laying on is no longer providing any wicking or drying properties. It is actually placing additional sweat on me as I touch it. My towel reeks. I cannot identify the smell but no way can it be from me. Did someone spray some stank on my towel or something?1:30p
Torture session is over. I wish hateful things upon the instructor. She graciously allows us to stay and ‘cool down’ in the room. It is 175 degrees. Who cools down in 175 degrees? A Komodo Dragon? My wife has left the room. Probably to throw up.1:34p
My opportunity to escape has arrived. I roll over to my stomach and press up to my knees. It is warmer as I rise up from ground level – probably by 15 degrees. So let’s conservatively say it’s 190. I muster my final energy and slowly rise. One foot in front of the other. One foot in front of the other. Towards the door. Towards the door.1:37p
The temperature in the lobby is 72 degrees. Both nipples stiffen to diamond strength and my penis begins to retract into my abdomen from the 100 degree temp swing. I can once again breathe though so I am pleased. I spot my future ex wife in the lobby. We had such a good thing going but I know that no measure of counseling will be able to unravel the day’s turmoil and mental scaring.1:47p
Arrive at Emerald City Smoothie and proceed to order a 32 oz beverage. 402 calories, 0 fat and 14 grams of protein — effectively negating any caloric burn or benefit from the last 90 minutes. I finish it in 3 minutes and spend the next 2 hours writing this memoir.3:47p
Create Craigslist ad while burning final 2 grams of protein from Smoothie and before the “shakes” consume my body.4:29p
Note to self – check car for missing wet yoga towel in am.
The mat costs $1. The chuckles are free. 
You can view the ad here. I would personally like to thank the author of the ad for the much needed chuckles today. So, did you get many emails? Did you have any takers? I would love a follow up ad!
Yours in Yoga LOLs,
You Know You’re a Hot Yogi If …
So, you go to Hot Yoga class regularly. You know all the teachers. You have a group of yoga class friends. You even have your own “spot” in the room. Despite all of this and the fact that you grab every opportunity to rave about hot yoga to your non-yogi friends, and you’re pretty sure that yoga can cure anything (really, anything), you are still not convinced that you have earned the title of Hot Yogi/ni.
Well, here are some more indications, some clues if you will, that might help shed some light:
You Know You’re a Hot Yogi If …
You practice standing head-to-knee pose while putting your shoes and socks on.
You turn up the heat to do housework.
You’re laundry routine (which is a daily occurrence) includes baking soda and vinegar.
You freak out when you run out of electrolyte supplements.
You spend an uncommon amount of time thinking, perhaps even discussing, your digestion/elimination habits.
When people complain about the heat outside, you find yourself giving them a dirty look.
You do not use body lotion because if you do your Standing Bow Pose will suffer.
When you drink a glass of wine, you think, “Ooh, I’m gonna pay for THAT in yoga class.”
You 80/20 breathe through childbirth.
You tremble (with excitement and/or dread) when you hear the word Camel.
And …
You are already familiar with the 10 Things They Don’t Tell You About Hot Yoga.
Thanks for reading and feel free to add to this list.
Keep it Sweaty,
Hot Yoga Bag Winner!
We have a winner!
Thanks to everyone for participating in this giveaway event. I especially want to thank Jessica of Maine Girl Creations for generously sponsoring this giveaway and for designing such a brilliant and beautiful Hot Yoga Bag.
So, yes, a winner has been selected using a random number generating software. And that winner is … #5 … a.k.a Lynda Del!! Congrats!
If you didn’t win this time, definitely keep checking back. I have lots of yoga giveaways and goodies planned for the not too distant future.
Click on the Follow Me tab on the right for ways to stay in touch.
Remember, Maine Girl Creations is the place to go for the ULTIMATE Hot Yoga Bag! Head on over there and do some shopping already, sheesh.
Love,
The ULTIMATE Hot Yoga Bag [GIVEAWAY] – CLOSED
I am So Feeling the Love
Thanks to all who participated in October's Yogavive Giveaway. Two winners have been selected and they are … Pat and Agata. I have notified the winners via email and they will be receiving their Yogavive Apple Chips Sample Pack very soon. Congrats!!
I really appreciate everyone's participation and as I promised I will be bringing a food donation to MANNA this week on your behalf.
November's Giveaway is a GOOD ONE.
Have you ever wished there was a more convenient (and attractive) way to travel to and from Hot Yoga class? Or am I the only one?
Most yoga mat bags don't have room for the extra hot yoga paraphernalia – the towels, water bottles, change of clothes, etc. It is for this reason that I usually have several bags with me when I go to class. I have one for my mat, one for my clothes and and an extra plastic bag for my used, sweaty yoga clothes. Then there's my purse and if it is cold out, my coat as well.
Introducing the ULTIMATE Hot Yoga Bag
Jessica over at Maine Girl Creations has designed a beautiful and functional bag for hot yogis everywhere. Check it out!
Product Description
"As my friend Terry calls it- The ULTIMATE Hot Yoga Bag. Do you practice Yoga in a heated room, maybe at a Bikram Studio or one of the many other fabulous heated studios out there? If the answer is YES, you need this bag.
The main fabric is Amy Butler Wall Flower accented with Amy Butler Lotus Full Moon Dot and a water proof/resistant PUL fabric in Pale Yellow. The finished size is 15 1/2"W x 10"L , 6 1/2"W x 10"L, the straps are 20"L perfect to wear on your shoulder, carry in your hand or drape over your arm! The Bottom of the bag is very sturdy lined with Peltex.
On the outside you will find a place to put your mat, how fabulous is that! A side pocket in the contrasting accent fabric for your phone and your keys. The inside of this bag is generously sized and lined with PUL fabric to put your sweat soaked towels and clothing in. The inside pocket is lined with the fabulous accent fabric, it is there to protect your dry goods from the wet, this pocket is generously sized as well."
Isn't it awesome?
Buy it
Head on over to Maine Girl Creations on Etsy and do some shopping.
Win it
Jessica has very generously offered to give one of my readers their very own handmade and gorgeous Hot Yoga Bag! Woohoo!
- -To enter, simply leave a comment below about why you think you will love this bag for Hot Yoga.
Additional Entries
- -Like Maine Girl Creations on Facebook.
- -Follow/subscribe to the Maine Girl Creations blog.
- -Like me on Facebook.
- -Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway.
- -Sign up for my free email newsletter (form in right sidebar).
- -Follow me via Google Friend Connect (also in right sidebar).
You must leave a separate comment for each additional entry in order for it to be counted in the drawing. Contest will end at 11:59PM EST on November 16th, 2010. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on November 17th, 2010. Open to US residents only.
Want to learn more about Hot Yoga? Read these posts:
- What is Hot Yoga and How is it Different from Other Yoga Styles
- What to expect at your first Hot Yoga Class
- Hot Yoga, So Why the Heat Anyway?
- 10 Things They Don't Tell You About Hot Yoga [FUNNY]
- Hot Yoga Hydration Tips
Thanks for reading and good luck in the drawing!!
Lots of Love,
Hot Yoga Stuff: Ultima Replenisher Review
Hot Yogis and Electrolyte Replacement Drinks go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly
I recently received a sampler of Ultima Replensher's Balanced Electrolyte Drink mix from a giveaway on the My Yoga Life Blog (Woohoo! Thanks Callah!). I have to say, I am impressed.
I was always suspicious of other electrolyte drinks and their long lists of ingredients I couldn't pronounce (not to mention the inordinate amount of refined sugar!). Still, knowing that my body needed to replace what I sweat out in just one hot yoga class, I would take them anyway figuring I was choosing the lesser of the two downers (you know, the crappy way I feel when I am depleted vs. the sugar and junk I can't pronounce).
I have done some research and I've even found recipes for making my own all natural electrolyte replacement drink. It is really surprising that I hadn't heard of Ultima before now. Thanks Callah and Ultima for hosting such a cool and useful blog giveaway (just another reason I love blogging!).
Ultima is the only 100% Natural, Sugar Free, Dye Free, Gluten Free, Non-GMO electrolyte drink on the market. Pretty cool, huh?
I tried the following flavors (all of which I could pronounce every ingredient):
- Grape
- Wild Rasberry
- Orange
- Lemonade
The Wild Rasberry is definitely my favorite, with the Orange coming in a close second. The Lemonade is my least favorite. It's not terrible, just a little bland compared to the others. As for the Grape, well, I am just not a grape-flavored-stuff kind of person.
The individual packets are great. I keep one in my yoga bag for after class. I have also been using these drinks after I go for a run (a new adventure for me!). I notice when I do, I don't have a dip in my energy level later that day. In short, I am loving it – such a simple way to take care of my self and continue to live my active yogi life!
Not Just for Hot Yogis
Any althete (or anyone really) looking for an all natural, sugar free electrolyte drink will love Ultima Replenisher. Heck, my kids really enjoy it so that speaks to the tastiness, right?
Still Have Questions?
You can read Ultima's FAQ. Also, feel free to post questions for me about my experience with Ultima Replenisher in the comments below.
Buy It
You can buy directly from Ultima on their website or find out where there's a store near you carrying Ultima products. You can also connect with Ultima Replenisher on Facebook.
By the way, through September 2010 Ultima is offering a coupon for yogis! Get $7 off an order made on their website by using code yogayoga. Thanks Ultima!
Bloggy Love
Please stop by Callah's blog My Yoga Life and say hi! She is super sweet and share lots of useful yoga and running info over there. You might like this related post on The Importance of Hydration.
As always, thanks for reading! Please check back in as I have some pretty cool stuff (hint: giveaways!) planned for the not so distant future.
Lots of Love,
Lindsay
Cool It, Man! Try Some Minty Water [RECIPE] – Hot Yoga Hydration Tips
When it is hot outside, staying hydrated is essential and requires a little mindfulness.
True, it might seem obvious (drink water or die?) and also true, we tend to be thirstier during the warmer months. Still, we can forget to drink enough water. Go figure.
Then again, even if we are paying attention to our water consumption we can become downright BORED with drinking so much water.
Here’s a healthy alternative. It is refreshing and tasty and has the added bonus of making good use of that extra mint growing (like mad) in your herb garden.
Mint-Infused Water
Instructions:
- -Take a handful of freshly picked mint leaves, any variety, and wash well.
- -Place the leaves in room temperature water, about 1 large liter-sized bottle, and allow to infuse for several hours or overnight (can also be stored in the fridge for longer).
- -Remove or strain mint leaves from water.
- -Add ice if desired and enjoy a refreshing, soothing summer beverage!
Feel free to experiment with the ratios of mint and water. Also, bruising or chopping the mint leaves first will make for a stronger minty flavor.
Another way to infuse your water with natural mint is to make a “sun tea.” Simply fill a bottle or jar with drinking water and fresh mint and place in a warm, sunny location. Your mint tea will be ready in about 20-40 minutes depending on the degree and intensity of the sunny spot.
Mint is so easy to grow and especially manageable if grown in a container. However, if you don’t want to make this yourself, the Metromint water sold in health food stores is an adequate substitute. It just seems a little excessive when it is so easy (and cheap!) to make your own. Another bonus: Mint has many health benefits!
Try it in Hot Yoga Class
Now, this is not for everyone, not all of the time. Sometimes it seems that anything but plain water is icky (for lack of a better adjective) when you’re intensely focused on your sweaty practice, but it is worth a try now and again. Mint is cooling in nature and is also quite soothing if you’re feeling nauseous. I like it, not all of the time, but sometimes it is simply AWESOME.
When Water Isn’t Enough
Maintaining proper hydration is important for overall health and well-being. If you happen to love Hot Yoga as much as I do, it is especially important. You lose trace minerals and overall balance when you sweat a lot and in Hot Yoga class, you sweat even MORE THAN A LOT! Here are some more ways to replenish and maintain proper hydration and mineral balance:
- -Electrolyte supplements such as Ultima Replenisher (my fav) and sports drinks such as Gatorade.
- -All-natural coconut water.
- -Or you can make your own all-natural electrolyte drink (info below).
I like this recipe from Aviva Jill Romm’s “Naturally Healthy Babies and Children”:
Electrolyte Replacement Drink
Combine:
- -8 ounces water (preferably warm or room temperature)
- -1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- -A pinch of salt
- -2 tablespoons or more of honey, sugar, or maple syrup
I recommend at least 1 serving (the above 8 oz) on days you sweat a great deal.
Please share your tips below!
Lots of Love,
Lindsay
More Resources:
You’re all dried up (yoga and water)
Yoga Students – Drink Tap Water (not bottled)
Strike a Pose Saturday: Dancing with Your Inner Warrior
I am feeling all nostalgic for South Florida, the ocean and Hot Yoga Teacher Training.
So, this week’s Strike a Pose feature includes a picture of me yoga-posing it on Ft. Lauderdale Beach, in the thick of teacher training.
Jimmy Barkan’s Yoga Teacher Training was a life-shifting experience for me, symbolized here by the funny camera angle.
I know this pose by several names: Reverse Warrior, Exalted Warrior and Dancing Warrior. I like all three names and use them interchangeably. Depending on the mood and the moment, each name can be appropriate.
Yes, I could have my right knee a little more bent in the picture above, with my thigh parallel with the sand but 3 weeks into the training, my legs and hips were ridiculously tight from the hours of yoga practice every day. Not to mention the sand and the surf – they made things a little tricky, too (hey, where’d my feet go?).
Tips
- -The alignment of the bent knee is important to avoid straining the ligaments of the knee joint. Keep the knee centered directly over the ankle.
- -Keep the straight leg very active and straight with the outer edge of the foot pressing into the mat (or sand … or whatever).
- -Hips should be in a neutral position which means scoop the tailbone slightly and draw the navel and lower ribs in and up.
- -Try not to lean into the hand that is on the outer thigh but rather lift up and stretch back.
- -The tendency will be to straighten the front leg when you go back, so be mindful of the legs, with a little extra attention on that front knee, throughout the pose.
Benefits
- -Increases the strength and flexibility of the legs, ankles and feet.
- -Stretches the groin, hip muscles and connective tissue of the hips.
- -Stretches the side of the torso and the arm.
Read last week’s tips for Wheel Pose.
Thanks for reading and please leave any questions or comments below (I love questions!).
Lots of Love,
Lindsay
By the way, please practice safely. These articles express my opinion and while I have over a decade’s experience with hatha yoga practice, intensive teacher trainings and hundreds of hours of teaching, always consult your physician before beginning any exercise regimen and to find out what activities suit your uniqueness. Because you are special and doggonit … I like you.
Strike a Pose Saturday: King Standing Dancer, er, Bow Pose a.k.a. My Favorite
I know, I know … I’m not supposed to pick favorites … BUT … if I had to, this pose it IT. For so many years (over a decade now – sheesh!) I have been practicing this pose and every time I do, it reveals something different to me … about me, within me, and it’s always new.
In Hot Yoga, it is know as Standing Bow or Standing Bow Pulling Pose. In other yoga styles, it is known most commonly as Dancer’s Pose. Doesn’t matter to me. You can call it “Show me your butt and I’ll pick my nose pose” … I’d still love it. Yes, a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.
Here I am at Bikram Yoga Asheville. Janet Horn, one of the owners was sweet enough to stay after class and give me some tips. She even took this picture for me. Janet ROCKS.
Did you notice that my toenails match my shirt?
Some Tips:
Beginners – This is a very challenging pose so please, be patient. And rest assured that at any level, you can still find a correct position and receive all of the benefits of the pose. Work on lowering the upper body first. Then, you can think more about kicking the leg back and up. For most beginners, if you kick back too much at first, you will not be able to lower the upper body down quite as much. The standing leg hamstring requires care and attention to open up (necessary to lower the upper body). Allow the arm that is holding the ankle to extend back and away from your body while the other arm reaches forward with the palm facing down, parallel to the floor. Keep your eye gaze up over the extended fingertips (not down!).
Intermediate/Advanced - Your standing leg hamstring is key. It is, in fact, 40% of the pose. Notice that if you kick the leg back too quickly the hamstring won’t allow you to lower the upper body. However, if you don’t kick enough in the beginning, you’ll lose the dynamic stretching (the reaching and kicking in opposite directions) and again your mobility will be limited. So basically, experiment with this understanding that 40% of the pose is in the standing leg hamstring, 40% is in the backbend (happens naturally) and the other 20% is in allowing the shoulder and hip to move up and back behind you (hips are NOT square by the way!). Your two heels will line up from top to bottom in the full expression of the pose. More advanced students may grab lower on the leg (away from the ankle). Think of your side body as long and stretching with both sides of the body equal in length. The side with the kicking leg will want to contract – lengthen by kicking back more.
Benefits:
Stretches the shoulders, chest, abdomen, hips, groin and hamstrings.
Strengthens the legs, ankles and feet.
Improves balance.
Opens and strengthens the lungs and heart.
Improves circulation.
See you on the mat!
Lindsay
Bonus! Here is my first YouTube video ever … Standing Bow Pose Example.
By the way, please practice safely. These articles express my opinion and while I have over a decade’s experience with hatha yoga practice, intensive teacher trainings and hundreds of hours of teaching, always consult your physician before beginning any exercise regimen and to find out what activities suit your uniqueness. Because you are special and doggonit … I like you.
And the Yoga DVD Winner is …
I think I like this whole giveaway thing.
Really, it is pretty great. Not only do I receive the gift of giving, but hosting this event has introduced me to so many cool people and blogs. Yes, I think I LOVE IT.
And honestly, I am surprised at how many entries there were on my little blog here. BIG thanks to all who participated in my FIRST EVER giveaway and if you didn’t win this time, don’t worry, I plan on doing many, many more of these.
Also, thanks everyone for sharing the wonderful quotes and inspiration that help you to connect. Here is a highlights reel:
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Harold Whitman via Tena
“Be still and know that I am God”….that reminds me to slow down. – Nicole
” …come on everybody, try to love one another, smile on your brother …” -Tiffany Chiristie
“To watch us dance is to hear out hearts speak”. Yoga and dancing are ways for us to express what words could not. -Mandala
“Breathe and Believe.” via Benita
I read something a long time ago “Wherever you are, be all there,” and that’s stuck with me ever since and reminds me – the wanderluster – to be present wherever I am, physically or emotionally. -Doniree
“There is no spoon” – from The Matrix via Adanma
“Living might mean taking chances, but they’re worth taking. Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth making.” via Deanna
And congratulations to Michelle H. She is the winner of the Barkan Method of Hot Yoga DVD! I am certain you will love this DVD as much as I do, Michelle.
If you are still interested in practicing Jimmy Barkan’s approach to Hot Yoga in the comfort of your own home, the DVD is available on Amazon.com or by visiting the Barkan Method website.
Like I said, I plan on doing this again real soon. so, please keep in touch. I’ll even give you a hint. The next giveaway will have something to do with my Facebook Page (so, scoot on over there and “like” it *hint hint*). Oh, and tell your friends!
Lots of Love,
Lindsay
Strike A Pose Saturday: My Forehead and My Knee – A Love Story
I love yoga.
And I do not discriminate. I love it all. So, if I had to consider only one style of yoga and pick my favorite part about it, it would be quite difficult for me. But considering I teach HOT Yoga and my blog here is called a Yoga HOT SPOT, I will pick my favorite thing about certain poses in this tradition of Hatha Yoga (the physical practice of yoga poses) known simply as Hot Yoga. By the way, you can read this post to learn more about this wonderful lineage and the evolution of Hot Yoga.
Okay, one thing stands out for sure (other than the torrid conditions – that’s just too obvious) and sets Hot Yoga apart from other classes for me. This is the emphasis on the forehead to knee connection … and I just love it (surprise, surprise). This is not to say that this position doesn’t make an appearance in other yoga styles. Of course, it does. In fact, the chin to chest action that happens when your forehead touches your knee is known as jalandhara bhanda, or throat lock, and janushirsasana, head to knee pose, is not unique to Hot Yoga. However, it is the emphasis on the forehead (not nose, not chin) touching the knee (not shin, not thigh) that really stands out. When this forehead to knee contact is made, the front side of your body contracts and the back side of your body stretches, creating a rounded, and emphatically so, position of the spine. Learn about the benefits of this rounded spine position here.
Janushirsasana - Head to Knee Pose
Janushirsasana Tips:
-If your hamstrings are tight, bend your knee as much as you need to in order to touch the forehead to the knee (not your shin for crying out loud!).
-If your hamstrings are not tight …. just shut the heck up, won’t you? Just kidding, if your hamstrings allow you to fully extend your legs in other poses but when your forehead is touching your knee, you just can seem to go anywhere, try lifting the pelvic floor in (a LOT) and also drawing the navel in and up. This will help lengthen the lower back and create more rounding. You might notice your forehead sliding up higher on the knee and you’ll be able to straighten the leg a little more.
-If it just kills your knee to have that foot at the inner thigh of the other leg, you can position the extended leg directly in front of you (rather than 45 degrees out) and place the other foot underneath the straight leg thigh.
-Relax your shoulders. Even with the chin to the chest in what is called a “throat lock,” let your shoulders come away from your ears. Shrugged shoulders create a lot of unnecessary tension, leak energy you could otherwise use and limit mobility and the desired rounded spine position.
-Find it difficult to breathe? Well, if you are used to breathing shallow and only in the chest you will probably feel a little claustrophobic in this position. Try breathing as if your lungs are on your back and as if your are trying to stretch your back muscles (which you are) with the breath.
Again, you can read about the many reasons why MY FOREHEAD LOVES MY KNEES so much by checking out this post here. And if you have any additional questions, please post them in the comments below.
Thanks for reading!
Lindsay
Mindful Monday Recap: The Internet is So NOT Over
Before I started this post today I asked myself: Should I even bother? And why blog in general? Because according to Prince, this internet thing is soooo over. The answer: Yes I should bother. Blogging is totally worth it. I completely disagree with Mr. Prince.
And I have proof. This internet thing is so NOT over. Thanks to all (including those I have not mentioned below) for keeping it alive with such thoughtful and inspired posts.
Love this post from Krystina McIntyre on elephantournal.com. “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” How to have compassion for ALL … even if they piss you off. Seriously though, this is well worth your time.
In your day to day life, it is easy to notice, and even get caught up in, the things that well, suck. These sucky things reveal to you a clear contrast of what it is that you do want to live, see, do, or be. And while those contrasts are wonderful teachers, this article takes a different approach. Cultivate an abundance of positive aspects with 50 Things to Love About Life That Are Free.
Have you heard of positive picketing? Love demonstrations? This post and video made me smile. The message I received: What if we could love our jobs as much as these lululemon devotees do?
Another beautifully written post from the ever-lovely Kathryn Budig: When in Doubt – Breathe. She had me at “I have the best job in the world.”
This posted piqued my interest as a hot yogi and mommy. From the momlogic blog: No Joke: Mom Brings 4-Year-Old to Hot Yoga Class. I really appreciate this thoughtful post as well as the included safety tips. Thanks to Yoga Dork for turning my on to it.
Please leave your comments below and feel free to share a link to your blog or a favorite article you read recently.
**If you haven’t already, there is still plenty of time to enter my giveaway for The Barkan Method Hot Yoga DVD. Click here for details.
Lots of Love,
Lindsay
Why I Practice Hot Yoga & Barkan Method Hot Yoga DVD [GIVEAWAY] – CLOSED
UPDATE – Winner Announced Here.
Scroll down for the giveaway. But first, if you don’t mind …
These are some of my favorite words ever. I return to them often for comfort, for a sense of knowing. They are my reminder, my connection with my Self, my home.
Gabrielle Roth, author of Sweat Your Prayers, sums up so beautifully the practice I fell in love with many years ago.
“To sweat is to pray, to make an offering of your innermost self. Sweat is holy water, prayer beads, pearls of liquid that release your past. Sweat is an ancient and universal form of self healing, whether done in the gym, the sauna, or the sweat lodge. I do it on the dance floor. The more you dance, the more you sweat. The more you sweat, the more you pray. The more you pray, the closer you come to ecstasy.” -Gabrielle Roth
I do it on my yoga mat. The more I flow, the more I sweat. I offer my practice and my sweat to something bigger than me, to liberation and transformation, giving myself (and the world which I am part of) the gift of movement and freedom.
And how appropriate that this is my very first Lindsay’s Hot Spot exclusive blog giveaway! Drum roll please …. I am giving away the Barkan Method of Hot Yoga DVD for home practice. This DVD is another way I stay connected … to my teacher.
My first class with Jimmy Barkan was in 1999 at his studio in Ft. Lauderdale. All I really remember of that class was the resounding YEEESSSS that spoke so loudly to me. Somehow, when you meet your teacher, you just know. So, when I returned to South Florida in 2009 for his 200 Hour Level 1 Hot Yoga Teacher Training, I felt as if I had come home (yes? yeeeessss!). And I am so glad to share this amazing teacher and lineage of Hot Yoga with all of you.
I realize that you may have some questions …
This DVD is awesome you guys. You can have a Hot Yoga practice at home or get your Hot Yoga fix while on the road.
There are two very special things about this DVD that I love and that make it extra-awesome:
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- 1. Tutorial Section: in addition to a full 60 minute Class Section, there is an additional Tutorial Section where you get detailed tips for every posture in the sequence. The really cool part? You can access the tutorial at any point during the class section.
- 2. There are two people demonstrating: one more advanced and one showing modifications for every posture and for many different levels. So, really, ANYONE can do this!
Here is an excerpt from the DVD
Now …. about the giveaway!
Lots of ways to enter:
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- -Mandatory: Visit the Barkan Method website and leave a comment here telling me something that you learned (can be anything).
- -Leave a comment below sharing your favorite quote, movie, song, etc. that reminds you to connect.
- -Subscribe to my monthly email newsletter (info in right sidebar)
- -Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (link in the right sidebar). If you already follow me … that counts.
- -”Like” Hot Yoga with Lindsay Fields on Facebook. Again, if you already do … it counts.
- -Follow me on Twitter … @lindsayyoga.
Each of these methods count as 1 entry (so, you can have up to 6 entries) but to be counted you must leave a separate comment for each entry.
Contest ends at 11:59pm July 20th, 2010. Winner to be announced on July 21st, 2010.
Open to US residents only.
Let the commenting commence!
Love,
Lindsay
26 HOT Yoga Quotes … and Some Smokin’ HOT Photos, Too!
Do you find quotes as comforting as I do? Something about ‘em, right? Like, hearing your own thoughts and feelings phrased in such a succinct and beautiful way. They’re not necessarily profound, or even unique, insights but they’ve got that certain something that triggers within you a resounding “YES!”
So, hand-picked by yours truly … Here are 26 of my favorite quotables – some related to Hot Yoga, some about yoga in general and some just because, well, they’re AWESOME! Yours to read whenever you need a lift. Enjoy!
These GLOWING photos are courtesy of Pyro Fusion Entertainment!!
And let the quoting commence! 
The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea. -Isak Dinesen
To sweat is to pray, to make an offering of your innermost self. Sweat is holy water, prayer beads, pearls of liquid that release your past. Sweat is an ancient and universal form of self healing, whether done in the gym, the sauna, or the sweat lodge … The more you sweat, the more you pray. The more you pray, the closer you come to ecstasy. -Gabrielle Roth
The more we sweat in peace the less we bleed in war. -Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
Yoga maintains youth long. It keeps the body full of vitality, immune to diseases, even at old, old age. The Yogi never becomes old. -Bishnu Ghosh
Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat! -Zora Neale Hurston
It takes courage and intelligence, you know, to do the stages of Yoga right, and to start with this Hatha Yoga… It’s just you and nothing but you, standing in one spot frozen like a statue with no place to go for help or excuse or scapegoat except inward. -Bikram Choudhury
It’s all in the hips. - Chubbs (from Happy Gilmore)
In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. -Albert Camus
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. -Anais Nin
Postures strengthen and develop will and body – physical and mental development are intertwined. -Bishnu Ghosh
Suffering is Optional -Unknown
The discipline is to get you to the place where you trust your intuition & the yoga pose is an easy place to practice it. -Erich Schiffmann
I don’t like an alarm clock but it’s useful to me. I don’t like tension but it tells me something needs attending. -Hugh Prather
You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside. -Mr. Yoga
Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are. -Jason Crandell
Yoga exists in the world because everything is linked. -Desikashar
Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny.
-Upanishads
Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralyzed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as bird wings. -Rumi
Yoga is almost like music in a way; there’s no end to it.
-Sting
You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state. -Sharon Gannon
Basketball is an endurance sport, and you have to learn to control your breath; that’s the essence of yoga, too. So, I consciously began using yoga techniques in my practice and playing. I think yoga helped reduce the number and severity of injuries I suffered. As preventative medicine, it’s unequaled. -Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Nothing can steal happiness, peace away from you: if anyone does make you angry, you are the loser; if someone can allow you to lose peace, you are the loser. -Bikram Choudhury
On an airplane, you are always told to put on your oxygen mask first. The same way in life, you need to take care of your health first. If you are not happy and healthy, you cannot make anyone else happy and healthy. -Rajashree Choudhury
Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don’t claim them. Feel the artistry moving through and be silent. -Rumi
Breathe and all will be revealed, love and all will be healed. This is yoga. -Seane Corn
I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am. -Sylvia Plath
Please share your favorites in the comments below.
Thanks!
Lindsay
Yoga Poses and Benefits: Warrior III/Balancing Staff Pose
This posture really gets the heart pumping and the lungs opening, building a deeper connection and stronger relationships within the body and, by default, in your “off the mat” life. This posture is especially helpful with strengthening your most important relationship – your relationship with YOU. Practice this posture to peel away the layers of fear and self doubt and reveal your true, confident, calm nature and strong self!
Warrior III/Balancing Staff Pose
Virabhadrasana/Tuladandasana
Instructions:
- Start in Tadasana. Lift your arms overhead bring the palms together and interlace your fingers. Release the index fingers and cross your thumbs, bringing your palms flat, arms straight throughout.
- Step forward a couple of feet with the right foot, shifting the weight into the right leg at this point. Toes of the left foot are pointed and you can lift the left toes off the mat to check that the weight is in the right leg.
- Hinge at the hips and bring the upper body down and left leg up keeping the entire body in a straight line until it is parallel with the floor.
- Look down through (not over) your arms at the floor about 5 feet in front of you. Flatten the upper body and keep the arms straight.
- Continue to lift the leg and lower the upper body, stretching your arms and legs apart in opposite directions.
- Avoid the temptation to flare out the lower ribs and arch the back. Draw the lower abdominals in and up and do the same with the lower ribs - in and up – creating even more length and a feeling of spaciousness in the upper body. Deep ujjayi breaths all the way up to the collarbone will also help facilitate space and strength.
- Keep the standing leg straight and notice that you might need to bring the left hip down so that the hips and shoulders are parallel with the floor.
Benefits:
- Improves balance and concentration.
- Stretches and strengthens muscles of the thighs and hamstrings, as well as the back muscles, shoulders and arms.
- Opens the chest bringing benefits to the lungs and cardio-vascular system.
For some this posture is a favorite and for others, well, not so much. What are your experiences with Balancing Staff Pose? I would love to hear them. Also, please feel free to post any questions or comments below.
And here’s to you!
With love,
10 Things They Don’t Tell You About Hot Yoga [Funny]
Time for Some Smile Therapy.
I like to think of it as my contribution to the popular Laughter Yoga movement. Here’s a list of 10 things they leave out of the oh-so-enticing, hot-yoga-will-change-your-life brochures.
1. The stink. Your clothes and towels will find it. After a few hot yoga classes you will notice it. And it won’t go away on its own. Fortunately, there is help. Here is what has worked for me: White vinegar in the rinse cycle does wonders. You just have to run an extra rinse cycle at the end. Baking soda added at the beginning of the wash cycle also helps.
2. Drama Queens If you have been to a yoga class before you may have noticed that some people like to vocalize their yogic experience in the moment, usually with moans of pleasure or sighs of release. However, in hot yoga the vocalizations manifest a little differently. The pleasure moans are not unheard of, mind you, but you are more likely to hear load grunts, groans, scoffs, and even some swears as the so-called drama queen curses the sadistic teacher, the unbearable heat, the invasive smells, their own limitations, etc.
3. Emotional Outbursts Sometimes you might be the one making all the noise a la “#2 Drama Queens.” Giggle-fits a.k.a. “the giggles” are fairly common. On the other end of the spectrum, you have tears. Yes, right in the middle of class, you’ll begin sobbing for no apparent reason. In hot yoga class you are bumped right out of your comfort zone and confronted with yourself, your limitations or perhaps where you are holding on so strongly that when you are unable to control something (the heat, your body, etc.) you are forced to just LET GO. It can be pretty intense. Along with the physical release, you also let go of some serious emotional sh*t (as I affectionately refer to my “breakthroughs”). Fortunately, the yoga room is a safe place to be vulnerable and you are sweaty enough to hide the tears. So, cry (or laugh) it up. It’s good for you.
4. Creatures of Habit Whatever you do, don’t, seriously, don’t EVER mess with the regulars. You can tell these people by their rituals and routine. They arrive extra early to ensure their “spot” in the room and get pretty darned protective of it. If you do have a run in, best way to avoid a all-out brawl in the yoga studio: quietly pick up your mat and move. That’s it.
5. Bodily Function Overload. You are likely to fart or even throw up in class. Yoga postures twist and compress the abdomen and stimulate the digestive organs. It’s kind of the point. So, yes, farts in yoga class happen. They’ve “happened” to us all. So, it is safe to say that no one will judge you because of a little tootage. However, if you have the “death farts,” maybe you should consider skipping a class, you know, out of consideration for others. Also, backbends stretch the lining of the stomach and leave you feeling a little queezy (Holy Camel!). Often the heat and excessive sweating is enough to make you feel nauseous. It is for this reason most yoga studios and teachers recommend that you don’t eat for two hours or so before class. Either that or they don’t want to clean up your “leftovers.” Ew.
6. Over-Sharing You will get up close and personal with complete strangers. Like, in ways that, if it happened outside the sacred space of the yoga room, would induce bodily function overload. Here are some examples: The Sharing of The Sweat No it doesn’t stay neatly within the confines of your own mat and towel. It’s messy, it splashes, and sometimes on the most inconvenient of places (like in your eyes or in your mouth!); The Roaming Strands of Hair When you finally make it down to your mat after a standing series you notice not one, but two hairs stuck to your arm and neither one of them are from your own body; Your Smells Are Telling Whether it is the garlic in the italian food you had for dinner or perhaps you had tee-many-martoonis last night, the sweat, gives you away every time.
7. T.M.I.! Along the same lines as #6 … You might get an eyeful, i.e. wardrobe malfunction. In other words you’ll gain MUCH more information about somebody than you want to in this particular, sweaty, bendy context. To avoid wardrobe malfunction: ladies, wear clothes that fit and cover all the right places and guys, please wear fitted shorts, or at the very least, wear skivvies under those swim trunks. Which leads me to …
8. Modesty, Schmodesty You really won’t care that you are practically naked in a room full of strangers/mixed company/acquaintances, also mostly naked. Sheesh, I mean isn’t it enough that you are there – and willingly so?
9. It’s Not The Most Ideal Singles Hang Out Seriously. You will look like crap immediately after – sweaty, flushed, splotchy. And don’t forget about the aforementioned bodily function overload and over-sharing. It can be a bit much for even the most desperately seeking individual.
10. You will become adept at strategizing as you will find yourself plotting your escape at certain points in class. Okay, after this pose I will roll up my mat, navigate through a weave of sweaty people to the back of the room and tiptoeing quietly, I will scale the back wall until I make it to the door, at which point I will stealthfully open the door and make my way out to cool fresh air FREEDOM!!!
Mostly, I want to tell you that you won’t always like hot yoga and it will probably push your boundaries a little (okay – a LOT). I personally enjoy being bumped out of my comfy zone. I find that is when I really learn something about myself.
Having a sense of humor is important when diving head-on into personal transformation like we do in hot yoga. It is also helpful to know that you are not alone. So, please share your stories and comments below!
By the way, I highly recommend smiling in class, as much as possible.
Love,
Lindsay
For some added smiles, here is Nina Paley’s comic “Why I Quit My Yoga Class”
Strike A Yoga Pose: Warrior II Basics and Benefits
Warrior II Pose - Virabhadrasana II
By channeling your inner warrior in asana practice, this posture can bring focus, strength and courage into your life helping you to overcome the challenges of ego and pride.
Yes, shaky thighs and all …
Virabhadra Symbolism
Creation of the Hindu Lord, Shiva, images and mythology portray Virabhadra as having raging, fiery hair and three burning eyes. He wore a garland of skulls and wielded terrible weapons in each of his one thousand arms. However, he was not simply a murderous demon. Just as Shiva and destruction are an important part of the Hindu Trilogy (Brahma/Creator, Vishnu/Sustainer, and Shiva/Destroyer), Virabhadra, the Great Warrior, symbolizes that within ourselves which has the power to overcome the prideful ego (symbolized in stories by king Daksha) for the sake of the heart (symbolized by Sati, Daksha’s daughter and first wife of Lord Shiva). Thus, Virabhadra destroys in order to save.
Here is the Wikipedia article where you can read more about the Origin of Virabhadra.
Warrior II Pose Instructions:
- Start in Tadasana. Lift your arms over head and bring your hands in prayer position. Step 4-5 ft to the right bringing your arms parallel to the floor, palms facing down. Heels are in line from the side and feet are parallel to each other at this point. Scoop your tailbone under slightly, bringing your hips into a neutral position. Arms move back, chest lifted out in front, shoulders roll down and imagine them sliding down your back.
- Pivot on the right heel 90 degrees (heels still in the same line). Bend the right knee until the right underside of the thigh is parallel with the floor and continue to sit down, softening in the hips until you have a 90 degree angle with the right shin and thigh. The knee might have a tendency to move inward and if this is the case, soften your right inner thigh and you can use the right hand to externally rotate the right thigh so that the knee is centered directly over the right ankle.
- Your weight should be evenly distributed in both feet and you want to make sure, especially, that you have the outside edge of your left foot in contact with the mat and some weight in that area as well.
- If your upper body begins to lean forward, draw the left arm back in order to bring the upper body centered over your hips.
- Shift your eye gaze to look out over you right arm across the right middle finger.
Benefits:
- Increases the strength and flexibility of the legs, ankles and feet.
- Therapeutic for flat feet, sciatica, backaches and osteoporosis.
- Stretches the groin, hip muscles and connective tissue of the hips.
- Opens the chest, lungs and shoulders.
- Builds stamina.
Virabhadrasana II
Thanks for tuning in! Please, feel free to share using the buttons below and ROCK ON with your yogi self!
Lots of love,
My Top 5 Yoga-Related YouTube Moments
So, with no cable television or satellite to speak of, I am a frequenter of the internet phenomenon that is YouTube. Sometimes educational, often entertaining, I just LOVE how much YOGA is out there! After much deliberation, I have narrowed it down to my Fav 5 Yoga Moments on YouTube (cue drum roll). For your consideration, we have:
#5 Esak Garcia 2007 Bikram Yoga Championships All thoughts about yoga asana competition aside (another day, another post perhaps), this is a truly beautiful demonstration and offering to the yoga community.
#4 I Need A Yogi Feels so wright it can’t be chatuWRONGa! A little bit crude? Maybe. A whole lot of funny? Definitely!
#3 Solid Potato Salad Where’s the yoga you ask? Just wait. It gets pretty bendy after about 45 seconds. Complete with 3-Person Cartwheel Mandala at the end. Yeowza!
#2 Acro-Yoga Performance Another exquisite offering of yoga. Also adding to the beauty: music by DJ ChebISabbah. All kinds of yoga yummy. Siiiiiiggghhhhhhh …
#1 Bodhisattva in metro This is my all time favorite. Hands down. Please watch and experience the magic for yourself.
Bodhisattva is the name given to anyone who seeks enlightenment for the benefit of ALL beings.
Thanks for tuning in! Please vote for your favorite below or feel free to add to the list!
Keep it Hot & Bendy,
Lindsay
Yoga Foundations: Mountain Pose Basics and Benefits
Mountain Pose
Tadasana
This is the starting position for many standing postures and is also used as a transitional position between standing postures. It is easy to bypass this posture in your practice, however it is a posture and even on its own has many benefits.
My tip: try to stay present and fully connect in Tadasana. You will quickly notice how this awareness of subtleties benefits your practice as a whole.
Instructions:
- Stand with your feet parallel to each other and maybe touching the inside of the big toes and heals together. Lift the toes and then spread them wide including the connecting bones in the front half of the foot. With your feet stretching and widening, return the toes to the mat and lift the arches of the feet by pulling the muscles of the inner ankle gently upward.
- With your weight evenly distributed across both feet, engage your thigh muscles just enough to pull the knee caps up. Inner thighs are also active and rotate inward slightly.
- Activate the muscles of the pelvic floor and core, drawing the navel towards the spine while at the same time scooping the tailbone in a subtle movement, visualizing your tailbone rooting downward.
- From this rooted position, visualize your vertebrae stacking one on top of the other, following the natural s-curve of the spine, all the while the muscles of the abdomen and back are supporting you.
- Roll your shoulders down and back, opening and lifting the chest slightly.
- Feel your head balancing lightly on top, chin parallel with the floor, and the crown of the head is centered over your hips.
- Hands are positioned by your side, palms facing outward in a nice, open and anatomical position for the shoulders. Alternately, you can bring your palms together in the center of your chest, a position known as anjali mudra (mudras are symbolic gestures or positions of the hands), namaskar, namaste or prayer position.
Benefits:
- Improves posture.
- Strengthens core muscles – pelvic floor, abdomen and back.
- Therapeutic for flat feet, backaches and sciatica.
- Strengthens thighs, knees and ankles.
“Mountain pose teaches us, literally, how to stand on our own two feet…. teaching us to root ourselves into the earth…. Our bodies become a connection between heaven and earth.” ~Carol Krucoff
Rock Your Tadasana
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this information, please share using the buttons below. As always, I welcome any questions or comments!
Namaste
Lindsay
Original photo courtesy of Anna Ferguson with addition design & magic by Adam Fields.
Yoga Class Etiquette
Here are some basic yoga dos and don’ts to help you feel comfortable attending a class if you are new to yoga, or perhaps as a refresher for more seasoned practitioners. These simple tips can help create an enjoyable, productive experience for everyone.
Be on time. Try to arrive 10-15 minutes early for class. This will allow time for registration and payment and help the teacher to start class on time for everyone. Also, arriving early will help you prepare for class by finding your spot in the room and beginning to get centered and relaxed. If you do arrive a little late, that’s okay. Most teachers are very understanding. Just try to enter the yoga room as respectfully as possible as others have already begun to relax and prepare for class. Try to scope out an open spot first then move carefully through the room and unroll your mat quietly.
Turn your cell phone off. A phone ringing can be very distracting to both teacher and students. If you are on call, you can let the teacher know before class begins and set your phone or pager to vibrate. Also, if you have a watch or an iPod that beeps, leave it outside the yoga room or set to silent.
Take your shoes off. Most studios have a place outside the yoga room to keep your shoes. You will spend a lot of time on the floor and practice in bare feet. Removing your shoes helps to keep the floor clean for everyone.
Refrain from wearing perfume or scented lotions. This is out of consideration for others. Some people have sensitivities to fragrances. Even natural essential oils can be too much for some people, especially when breathing deeply as we do in a yoga class.
Keep talking to a minimum. Comments and loud conversations can distract others from their experience in class. If you have a specific question about something as it occurs in class, you can feel free to ask the teacher (not another student) at the time. It is likely that another student has the same question. Just keep it to a minimum and not too chatty or lengthy. Also, try to refrain or to at least speak quietly just before and after class as people are relaxing or meditating. You can have your conversations outside of the yoga room.
Final relaxation is part of class too! This is so important. This is the part of class, arguably the most important part, where we integrate the benefits of the body work, the breath work and focus of the yoga class. If you absolutely have to leave early, let the teacher know before class, position yourself near the exit and leave as quietly as possible.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post (we could all use a reminder now and again), please share using the buttons below.
Namaste,
Lindsay
Photo courtesy of Anna Ferguson.
What is Hot Yoga and How Is It Different from Other Yoga Styles?
I am simply amazed at the popularity of yoga these days.
With so many styles and talented teachers out there, it is relatively easy to find a style that is right for you, but what is “Hot Yoga” exactly? A common misconception is that Hot Yoga is synonymous with Bikram Yoga. While Bikram Yoga is a type of Hot Yoga, there is so much more to this wonderful lineage from Calcutta. Here is a brief description of Hot Yoga, its origin and evolution.
I like to think of Hot Yoga as a noun, not simply an adjective describing any style of yoga practiced in a heated room. It has a very distinct lineage which incorporates alignment principles and subtle variations to the ancient practice of yoga asanas (yoga postures) that differ from other styles of yoga. These innovations help increase a posture’s efficiency to be more rehabilitative and fitness oriented.
Hot Yoga is a branch of Hatha Yoga (the physical form of yoga). The goal of Hatha Yoga, or “Forceful Yoga,” is to purify and remove blockages in the body and the mind in order to free oneself from limitations and live a fuller, richer life.
Two basic branches of Hatha Yoga today:
Yoga of Krishnamacharya – Tirumalai Krishnamacharya is referred to as “the father of modern yoga” and credited as the yogi who brought yoga into the mainstream. This is probably the most common branch of yoga with offshoots such as Iyengar Yoga, developed by B.K.S. Iyengar, and the Ashtanga Yoga discipline of Pattabhi Jois.
Hot Yoga of Bishnu Ghosh – Bishnu Ghosh was introduced to the healing benefits of Hatha Yoga by his brother Paramahansa Yogananda (author of Autobiography of a Yogi). He is credited with then bringing what he learned to the common people, that is, people other than sages and holy men like Yogananda. A Pioneer in the study of yoga asana, Bishnu Ghosh founded Ghosh’s Yoga College in 1923 and helped numerous people heal their various ailments. His student, Bikram Choudhury, founder of Bikram Yoga, then brought this wonderful healing modality to the United States.
Styles of Hot Yoga
Here are four popular styles from the Hot Yoga lineage:
Bikram Yoga
Bikram Choudhury, as I mentioned, is a direct student of Bishnu Gosh and responsible for bringing Hot Yoga to the United States. Bikram shattered his knee in an accident and with the aid of his teacher, he embarked on a vigorous yoga rehabilitation that led him to design his own style of yoga known as Bikram Yoga. Bikram’s Beginning Yoga Class is a series of twenty-six postures and two pranayama breathing exercises performed in a specific order, two sets of each, and in a roomed heated to 105 degrees or greater. It is designed to be rehabilitative, restoring all systems of the body to healthy working order.
Barkan Method Hot Yoga
Created by Jimmy Barkan, The Barkan Method is built on the teachings and principles of Bikram Choudhury and Bishnu Ghosh, but also incorporates postures from other styles of yoga. Jimmy, who was once given the title of Bikram’s Senior Most Teacher, found that “even though consistency is important to measure results, daily variations are necessary to challenge, excite and help students become unlimited in their practice.” Jimmy has also developed a Hot Vinyasa (series of postures and movement coordinated with the breath) sequence based on Hot Yoga postures and philosophies. The Barkan Method has a large network of teachers and studios all over the world.
Moksha Yoga
Founded by Ted Grand and Jessica Robertson, Moksha Yoga is based in Toronto with locations and affiliated studios worldwide. It is a fundamental sequence of postures practiced in a heated room. While it incorporates principles of Hot Yoga, Moksha Yoga also integrates the opinions of a wide range of experts and peers in the yoga community. True to Hatha Yoga tradition, the series works to stretch and strengthen muscles while detoxifying the body and calming the mind.
CorePower Yoga
Based in Denver with locations throughout the United States, CorePower Yoga is built on the premise that yoga should be accessible to everyone. CorePwer studios offer classes at varying levels and varying temperatures ranging from 80-100 degrees. Classes they offer such as Hot Yoga, Hot Power Fusion and CorePower Yoga, combine a heated environment with the flowing style of Vinyasa and a focus on core strengthening. They also offer Yoga-Pilates and Yoga Sculpt allowing students to find a practice that is truly right for them.
Related reading:
What to Expect at Your First Hot Yoga Class
Hot Yoga: So, Why the Heat Anyway?
Thanks for reading! I’d love to here from you. Please leave a comment below with any thoughts or questions.
Namaste,
What to Expect at Your First Hot Yoga Class
If you are curious about hot yoga and perhaps thinking about taking a class, read this article I wrote for Hot-Yoga.net first to learn what you can expect before, during and after your first class.
If you have never done yoga, perhaps simply the word inspires images of hyper-flexible people positioning themselves into seemingly impossible, pretzel-like positions. Add the word “hot” to the mix and it really puts an exclamation point on it. Even for those with an already developed yoga practice, it can be pretty intimidating. The good news is that there are some things you can do to prepare yourself, mentally and physically, for the challenge (and, yes, it IS a challenge) …. Click to read full article.
P.S. I love questions! Please feel free to post yours below.
Cleaning Your Yoga Mat
After a few hot yoga classes your mat might lose that New Mat Smell. Okay, truthfully, it might be down right stinky. These are my preferred methods.
HOMEMADE CLEANERS: for light washing periodically, maybe even after every hot yoga class to maintain a fresh, functional mat. Just spray, wipe and hang to dry. Here is what I use: To a 32 ounce spray bottle add 1 cup vinegar. Fill the rest with water and add 15-25 drops of your favorite essential oils. You can also add 1 tablespoon castile soap or mild detergent (optional). Experiment with your essential oil blends. Just know that essential oils are extremely strong and only a very small amount is needed. Tea Tree oil is perfect because of its antibacterial properties. Lavender and Thyme are also wonderful. Another combination I like is equal parts rosemary, clove, eucalyptus, cinnamon and lemon essential oils. According to stories, this mix was used by a group of thieves who robbed the dead and dying victims of the bubonic plague. The robbers did not contract the infection and for this reason the blend is known as the Theives Blend. Added bonus – it smells wonderful! A very simple homemade cleaner would be water and Thieves Blend only.*
WASHING MACHINE: Most people don’t realize you can wash your yoga mat this way. I do it every 2-3 months. Use cold water and don’t over do it with the detergent. Stop the machine before the spin cycle. Hang your mat and allow to dry completely.*
*Some mats are made of different materials (rubber, jute, etc.) and require special care. Always check the care instructions when you purchase a yoga mat.
Also, I’d like to add that vinegar in the rinse cycle is great for getting that sweat smell out of your yoga clothes and towels. You just have to run an extra rinse cycle at the end. Baking soda added at the beginning of the wash cycle also works wonders.
Here’s to a happy, healthy yoga mat and practice!
Hot Yoga Benefits: The Rounded Spine Position
In postures such as Dandayamana-Janushirsasana (Standing Head-to-Knee Pose), Dandayamana-Bibhaktapada-Janushirsasana (Standing Separate Leg Head-to-Knee Pose), Sasangasana (Rabbit Pose), Janushirsasana (Seated Head-to-Knee Pose), we engage our perineum and belly muscles (mula and uddyana bandhas), tuck our chin to our chest (jalandhara bandha), and round and curl our spine forward as much as possible, a position unique to the Hot Yoga lineage.
I am sure you have heard many times in Hot Yoga classes something to the effect of, “It is more important to keep your forehead in contact with your knee than it is to straighten your leg,” or “Engage all three bandhas or locks as you round and curl in.” You hear these things all of the time, but for heaven’s sake why? Well, there is a method to the madness. There is, in fact, a reason we tuck the chin and round the spine. It is so very good for you! Here are a few examples as to why:
- -Increased flexibility of the sciatic nerves, tendons, hip joints, and the last five vertebrate of the spine. The rounded spine position of Janshirsasana helps make the lower back and hamstring quite flexible as well as provides relief from joint pain in the hips.
- -Improves mobility and elasticity of the spine and increases flexibility of the back, neck and shoulder muscles. This unique position gives maximum extension and stretch to the spine allowing the nervous system to receive proper nutrition.
- -It aids in digestion by improving and even increasing circulation to the internal organs and bowels. Practicing these asanas regularly will prove beneficial for those who suffer from constipation and indigestion.
- -By stretching the muscles across the internal organs, we help to resolve kidney problems, aid in the proper functioning of the pancreas, liver and spleen thus strengthening the immune system.
- -Tucking the chin to the chest provides a massage and increased circulation to the thyroid and parathyroid glands which are responsible for our body’s ability to properly absorb calcium and other essential minerals, regulating our sleep/wake cycle and metabolism, and also aiding in weight loss.
- -These asanas which incorporate the rounded spine, engaged pelvic floor and belly muscles are also helpful in reducing flab and toning the abdominals and hips.
So, as you can see, there are many benefits to receive by practicing these asanas with a rounded spine and your chin tucked to your chest. This is just one of the myriad ways Hot Yoga heals and restores vital balance to the body and why I am so excited to share and teach this wonderful, curative and therapeutic system!
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Namaste Hot Yogis,
photo courtesy of Hot Yogi
Hot Yoga: So, Why the Heat Anyway?
This is probably the question I am asked most often as a Hot Yoga teacher.
Yes, the room is intentionally heated to about 90-95 degrees and in some studios, even hotter (Bikram studios will be around 105). While it is true that the heat is not necessary to practice yoga, it is absolutely safe and, in fact, has many benefits.*
Here are a few examples:
- The heat warms your muscles which allows for extra flexibility and a deeper release in your body with less chance of injury and improved resolution of injury.
- Capillaries dilate in the heat. This in conjunction with the specially designed asanas (yoga postures) helps to oxygenate the tissues, muscles, glands and organs more effectively.
- Improved circulation. The body, as it is trying to regulate a safe body temperature, increases heart rate and volume of blood ejected from the heart with each beat in order to transport heat from the body’s core to the skin surface. The benefit of this is improved circulation to your extremities.
- It is great for endurance and willpower. A challenging environment strengthens self control, concentration and determination (if you can do this, you can do anything).
- Sweating flushes toxins through the skin which, after all, is the body’s largest organ of elimination.
All that said, the heat will effect people in varying ways and caution should always be exercised. The heated room is a tool and not something you should have to survive against. Always listen to your body and take care of yourself. Proper hydration is essential before, during, and after class. As the sweat rate increases in a hot yoga class, body water loss increases, and without adequate fluid replacement, the body’s ability to dissipate heat is compromised. Electrolyte supplements like Ultima Replenisher are also helpful, especially when beginning a hot yoga practice and acclimatization process.
One final note, I have found that reminding myself of the benefits that the heated room brings during a difficult part of class completely shifts my energy and I am able to push though those layers of self doubt. It is my hope that this information also helps you in your personal practice.
Here are some related Hot Yoga articles:
What to Expect at Your First Hot Yoga Class
What is Hot Yoga and How is it Different From Other Yoga Styles
Thanks for reading!
*Practicing yoga in a heated environment is contraindicated for people with Multiple Sclerosis. Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise regimen.
(ref. “Physiological Concerns while Exercising in the Heat ” by Leslie S. Funk www.wellness-design.com )
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