sweat

Good lesson learnt – more water!

June 17, 2015 By Beverley Brown Leave a Comment

Hello there

Well I’ve always said I learn from every class I practise and definitely every class I teach!

In the early days I did not use to drink as much water as I should as I was always worried that I would need to go to the loo mid class! Then when it was really drilled into me that I should be drinking a lot more water than I had been, I started upping my intake. What I found was my strength and practice was like night and day (it was almost like a totally different experience) and I was amazed at how such a simple thing could shift how much stronger and more capable I felt.

The other day I went to class and realised very early on in the piece that I did not feel as strong in the postures. Then it dawned on me that not only had I eaten something salty for lunch I had not drunk very much water after that. The difference in my practice was almost tangible so I thought I would reiterate it here how important it is to drink water throughout the day. It really is necessary and definitely helps so much with your determination, concentration and focus which is such a part of this dynamic Bikram Yoga System.

Bevx

Why does Bikram Yoga use heat?

May 20, 2015 By Beverley Brown Leave a Comment

Bikram Yoga is practiced in a hot room for a number of reasons – too numerous to detail in this post – however I can at least explain a few. Of course one obvious reason is that the heat allows the body to feel more flexible and therefore can help the student to get into the postures, reducing the chance of injury. However that doesn’t mean you should abandon all awareness of what your body can do today – mind/body connection AND awareness should be paramount! Some days you may be more flexible than others – and that’s OK! It’s all part of a fascinating process!

The heat also serves as a detox – not only a physical detox as you will sweat but it also provides a mental and emotional detox too. For a beginner it encourages the practice of controlling the mind as of course it will feel a bit different if you have never worked out in heat before.

Remember however, whatever you put your focus on will increase so it is prudent to concentrate more on you than the heat. By focussing on the heat you will give it more power and you don’t want to give your power away to something outside of yourself! You have a far greater inner power which is waiting to serve you – all it needs is your acknowledgement and your attention.

The “outer” is nothing compared to the “inner” so if you feel the heat – don’t get out of the kitchen / or yoga class! – just focus on your heart and BREATHE – that is where the power is to overcome what you think is bigger than you. By doing that, it keeps you calm and you realise that the heat is not a problem at all.

After a few classes you will begin to love it – or even better you won’t even notice it at all, as all your attention will be on the wonderful you!

The Benefits of Heat in a Bikram Yoga Class:

Allows the body to get deeper into the postures
Physical detox when sweating
Emotional and mental detox as the control of the mind is increased
Allows you to prove your inner power
Melts and moulds stiff and brittle fascia in the body keeping the organs working well
Can help to mould your body into it’s lovely new shape!
and more….

Bevxx

How to stay strong and calm in a Bikram Yoga class

April 11, 2015 By Beverley Brown Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever done a Bikram class you should have experienced the incredible peace you get after the class that usually lasts quite a while. The body can even tingle all over for hours and you can sleep like a log! However what about when you are in the class itself? Is it possible to feel that peace when you are challenging yourself in so many ways? When you first start it may not feel like it as the mind often wanders, you’re busy checking out the other students’ postures, often comparing yourself and all sorts of other distractions (such as the heat) can manage to get your attention.

However there are a couple of simple pointers that can be put into action straight away that I personally have found to really have a beneficial effect not only on my postures but also my whole class experience.

Drink lots of water before you come to class

Now I know this one is obvious and you should have heard it many times but make sure you drink lots of water before you come to class. You do sweat a lot in a Bikram class so obviously you need to be hydrated before class and also after class to replenish what you have lost.

However, I was always a bit concerned that if I drank too much water I would need to go to the loo mid-class so I would not drink as much as I should! It was a belief that I used to limit myself with and I can so see that now. I finally got over myself and started to drink a lot more than I used to and that addition alone made such a difference to my strength. The difference in how I felt, how much stronger and calm I was in the postures, was like night and day. I know it is such a simple thing but when you’ve been stuck with a limiting belief for many years and finally kick it – it is a great feeling.

Breathe through your nose (not your mouth)

A lot of energy can be wasted by huffing and puffing through the mouth during and in between postures. Again I was guilty of that for a long time and more recently another teacher just happened to mention to breathe through the nose instead of the mouth particularly when standing in between postures. The room I was practicing in at the time was incredibly hot and humid even for me, and it really helped me stay calm and bring back my attention and focus rather than letting the mind go all over the place and allowing the internal chatter to have a negative effect. Again it was an instant realisation that something so simple could have such a beneficial effect.

Those are the things I love – small adjustments but with big results. I hope they help!

Bevx

So what’s so different about Bikram Yoga?

March 19, 2015 By Beverley Brown

The Bikram Method of yoga is one of the most popular types of yoga out there. Wherever and whenever you go to a 90 minute Bikram class you will get the same workout. 26 postures – most of which are done twice – each one specifically designed to work the body in a certain way and in a certain order. For some people it may sound a bit boring to have the same workout each time but quite honestly it is anything but that! Having the same postures to do each time allows you to have your own “benchmark” in some ways as you will feel the difference from class to class in each posture and can measure your own progress if that interests you. By the way some days you will find the postures easier than others – it doesn’t matter – it’s all good! In another blog sometime in the future I will explain why that happens.

The instructor will give a “dialogue” for each posture and there are several reasons for it. The instruction is specifically designed to protect and assist the student in getting the most benefit from each posture. The instructions are somewhat detailed and I actually love that as it assists new students to improve quickly so that no effort is wasted.

Of course when you first start you may only hear about 10% of the dialogue – that is all very normal! There’s a lot going on! Each class after that you will pick up more each time and eventually get some “aha” moments!

I’ll write more about this soon …

Bevx

Help! It’s my first time!

March 19, 2015 By Beverley Brown

When you attend a Bikram class for the first time it can feel a bit daunting! You’ve heard through the grapevine that it is a real workout, apparently it’s hot, you worry about being the new kid on the block, what if everyone is going to look at you – OMG there are mirrors????!!!! and so it goes on….

Well let me assure you there is nothing to fear – everyone has to start somewhere and it might as well be now! This yoga class is for you – no one else matters – only you! It is a personal journey and a very rewarding one at that.

Your first class may feel a bit of a blur – there’s a lot going on – “I have to do what???, What on earth is that teacher rabitting on about? Oh at least I can drink some water now! Oh – halfway through and I get to lie down – Phew! Ooh – it’s over and I feel really relaxed and I’m sure I’ll sleep well tonight!”

Take it easy on your first class – just get used to this new environment. The dialogue from the teacher will probably sound like a load of old gobbledly gook to you (some say a rap!) – that’s VERY normal – you will hear and understand a lot more once you’ve got your first class under your belt! Don’t forget you can lie down at any time if you need to – it’s your choice!

MUST DO’S:

Arrive at least 15 mins before class to register and relax
Drink plenty of water through out the day
Don’t eat for at least 2-3 hours before
Bring a mat and a towel to put on top – and another if you wish to shower onsite
Bring water with you in a plastic container (no glass)
Wear clothes you can stretch in – you will sweat so light and fitting gear is more comfortable
Go easy on yourself and smile!

See you in class!

Bevx

Good lesson learnt – more water!

Why does Bikram Yoga use heat?

The Benefits of Heat in a Bikram Yoga Class:

How to stay strong and calm in a Bikram Yoga class

Drink lots of water before you come to class

Breathe through your nose (not your mouth)

So what’s so different about Bikram Yoga?

Help! It’s my first time!

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