Testimonials

 

Why Did You Start Going To Yoga?: Well, I am gym-type of guy and still go to the gym, but every time I visit my folks in San Francisco I feel the need to exercise.  I don’t belong to a gym out there so my sister got me to try the yoga.  Oh boy I felt terrible that very first Bikram class. I had to leave the room 3 times!  I tried it again the very next day and it was not as bad.  On another trip to visit my family that following December, my sister got me to try it again.  After that, I had sworn it off completely.  I thought it just wasn’t for me. Fast-forward 3 years later to December 2011.  Once again, I find myself in a Bikram Yoga class with my sister.  There was nowhere else to work out while I was visiting my family, so I went.  I don’t know what changed in me but that time I loved it!  I went all week long and immediately, upon returning to CT, I began my regular practice. The first month was SO challenging but I pushed myself to go 5-6x a week.  The 105F temperature and 40% humidity is what differentiates this practice from any other form of yoga.  It warms up the muscles and allows for safe stretching and at the same time makes it a challenging, vigorous workout.  But it’s not only about stretching and flexibility.  I feel overall strength, balance, cardiorespiratory endurance and mental strength when I practice! I have developed significant flexibility in my hamstrings, hips and spine as well as upper-body that I had previously been lacking.  It is amazing to see my body transformed into what it is now.  I couldn’t even touch my toes from standing position without bending my knees before I started.  Now I am able to balance and feel stronger too!

What is your favorite posture?: My favorite posture is Standing Head To Knee Pose.  It requires balance, strength, flexibility and mental focus. This is the posture that I have enjoyed progressing with.  I went from bent knees on my standing and kicking legs to locking both and holding the posture strong!  Despite the progress, it still challenges me, and that’s what I love!

In addition, I have lost 30 lbs since starting my Bikram Yoga practice, and have made healthy changes to my daily diet.  I had started taking a low-dose Blood Pressure medication in early 2011 since I would intermittently get a BP reading as high as 170/100mmHg but I was able to wean myself off of the medication completely in October 2012 with strong, stable Blood Pressure readings.

My Bikram journey is just on its sophomore year but I am looking forward to a long-term practice!

When Did You Start Practicing Yoga?:  Summer 2003

Who Told You About Yoga?:  A different yoga lady at a health club told me to try Bikram Yoga.  We had been doing single sets of the postures in a “cold” gym, and one hot day she brought us outside to practice.  The heat and sweat made a huge difference for me.  She told me about the REAL Bikram and gave me the old “Red Book” that Bikram himself wrote back in the 1970′s.  I started doing the postures at home with a space heater.  About 2 months later, I found a certified studio and have been practicing regularly ever since.

Why Did You Start Going to Yoga?:  As a single father of a teenage daughter, I used the yoga to help manage stress and found it also started to help to ease my back pain considerably.  I have degenerative discs in my lower back, and prior to practicing I had taken at least 10 trips to the emergency room because of severe back spasms.  Since I began practicing Bikram Yoga, I haven’t been back to the ER.

What is Your Favorite Posture?:  My favorite posture in the series is “Bow Pose”.  The combination of backward bending and chest/shoulder opening relieves so much tension in my spine and upper body.

When Did You Start Practicing Yoga?:  Summer 2008

Who Told You About Yoga?:  My aunt had been practicing Bikram Yoga on a daily basis for about a year when she encouraged me to give it a try.

Why Did You Start Going to Yoga?:  I had been suffering from a lot of pain in my lower back which was caused by degenerative disc disease.  This was especially devastating because my family business is in the automotive  industry.  The back pain made it extremely difficult to perform daily tasks on the job (i.e.; lifting tires, working on cars, etc).  In additon, I live a very  active lifestyle and I’m a ski enthusiast.  In attempts to avoid surgery and reduce my pain, I had tried physical therapy, chiropractic treatments, massage therapy and other forms of rehabilitation at little to no avail.  I was unable to do any other form of traditional exercise which would put pressure or impact on my spine, so I figured I would give it a shot!  I had nothing to lose.  I washooked right from the first class and began practicing as much as possible.  After 6 months I had regained my flexibility and my back pain had reduced substantially.  I had started to rehab myself using the yoga.  The core strength  and flexibility I gained at Bikram Yoga gave me the ability to work, ski and live with hardly any pain.  Bikram Yoga put me in the best physical shape of my life, and when I pair the yoga along with other activities, I feel strong and I can have fun again.

What is Your Favorite Posture?:  Actually, I have two… the first is Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose.  This posture gives me an intense stretch for my entire spine and I love the head rush when the posture is over.  The second posture, Camel Pose, gives the most relief to my back pain.  The compression for my lower back is so deep that I can feel the benefits of the posture throughout the next day.  The posture is so hard to do, but it’s the one I miss the most when I can’t make it to class.

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Why did you start going to Bikram Yoga?

In 2007, at only 40 years old, I was more overweight than I had ever been and my health was seriously deteriorating.  I had thought I was active, exercising and weight lifting at the time.  It was to my surprise after a routine physical exam that I had high blood pressure (140/90) and high cholesterol (247).  Further I have a family history of heart disease and cancer.  My physician discussed medications I may need if I did not take this seriously.  Further, I was also experiencing serious back pain and loss of flexibility.  My spine was hunched over.  I could not touch my toes without bending my knees.  My back hurt if I tried to bend down, and especially hurt after doing regular household chores such as raking leaves or mowing the lawn.  It even hurt during sleep.

I owe my life changing experience with Bikram Yoga to my wife.  We discussed necessary diet changes.  Then knowing the benefits of Bikram yoga she continued with some gentle nudging for me to try a Bikram yoga class.  Yoga for a guy, “no way” I thought.

With her encouragement and some heart felt thought I knew I had to take responsibility for my situation.  Not just for myself, but for my wife and two children.  I wanted to be healthy and be there for my family.

I started taking Bikram yoga classes in November of 2007.  I remember my first class was a humbling experience to say the least.  What I found immediately was that this 90 minute Bikram Yoga class was extremely challenging, and I considered this the hardest workout I had ever done.  I have continued practicing three times per week since this time.  For other guys out there who have misconceptions about yoga as I did – you just have to check this Bikram yoga out!  All yoga is good, but this form is a great full body workout that will push your limits and greatly improve your core strength and flexibility!

Further, it is also a 90 minute break from everything else.  Putting this time aside for myself actually allows me to give more of myself to others in my life now.  You can do more when you feel great.  I feel great.

Currently I am in very good physical and mental condition.   I have gained strength and regained amazing flexibility.  My core is stronger.  My physical appearance and muscular definition have improved.  BP is normal (122/75 ish)and cholesterol is down to 169  with no meds, regardless of family history.  I am maintaining around 40 pounds of weight loss without starving or neglecting myself.  I can keep up with my children.  I am much more flexible and rarely experience back pain.  My spine is much straighter and I notice improvements and more movement in this area all of the time.

 

What is your favorite posture?

Standing head to knee.  Formerly not being able to touch my toes and now I can do this!  Wow!  Thanks to a very good decision to start taking Bikram yoga!  I am no pro at this yoga, but I am happy to be where I am.  After some time and a real commitment – the results are obvious!!  It is nice to be going in the right direction and I feel so much better than when I started!