Over the past couple of years, I have been hearing about Hot Yoga (Bikram Yoga), from clients, friends and peers. Originally, I thought that I would never pursue any form of yoga beyond what we use in our dynamic warm-up. Although I was confident that Yoga would never be a part of my lifestyle, I was definitely intrigued by some of the health benefits one can achieve from frequent Yoga practice. Then, lo and behold, my wife signed us up for a thirty-day, $30 unlimited special at Yarrow Yoga, one of Spokane’s Hot Yoga studios. In my mind, worlds were colliding!
From my wife’s view, Yoga has been something she has always wanted to try, but for which she has never had enough time. Jessica has always been passionate about running and lifting, but a few of her running related injuries were starting to catch up with her. Plantar fasciitis, partial hamstring tear (from marathon training) and one dislodged rib (high school javelin), have all been lingering injuries that have not improved with our constant training regimen. She has given every one of her injuries lengthy rest periods, and has even worked with a chiropractor that really made a difference. He confirmed that because of how musclebound she is, most of the muscles around her injury sites don’t have the elasticity to correct themselves. So that meant Jessica needed to improve her flexibility. Since she was in, that meant I was in, too.
Jessica started Yoga a week prior to my first visit. She learned that Yarrow Yoga is for all ability levels. First time Yogis are encouraged to remain in the classroom the entire length of class because of the adjustment period. Even if you cannot continue with the exercises, it is encouraged to sit, relax and adjust. The adjustment is because the class is usually at a cool 105-degree temperature and 40 percent humidity. Needless to say, Jessica was drenched when she came home from her first Yoga class.
This was an intimidating visual for me as we were driving down to class a week later. My head was spinning with concerns that immediately changed once we walked into Yarrow Yoga Studio. The staff is very friendly and the studio provides a tranquil atmosphere. Everything about the experience is calming, aesthetically and physically. As we started the class (90-minute class periods), the instructor commenced with deep breathing exercises. This was really a shocking experience because I thought my lung capacity was better. I could definitely feel myself providing oxygen throughout my body on a deeper level than I imagined possible. From the increased blood flow, profuse sweating and deep compression postures I felt revitalized and relieved of stress.
Enhancing flexibility is definitely one of the main benefits of Hot Yoga, but there are far more that are not commonly known. Due to the immense heat, profuse sweating, compression postures and increased oxygenation, Bikram Yoga is great for cleansing one’s body of toxins. Through copious sweating toxins are purged! I recall telling Jessica that I had not sweated like that since two-a-day practices for college football. Also, one’s hormones become better regulated allowing the thyroid to reset. For some people on long-term thyroid medication, practicing Yoga may improve thyroid function to the point that medication may be significantly reduced.
Beth Galis, owner of Yarrow Yoga, explained to me the other systems and organs that can benefit from Yoga. Cardiovascular, lymphatic, nervous, digestive and endocrine systems all can improve from the atmosphere of Hot Yoga and the compression postures due to the positions and the increased blood flow and oxygenation. You learn to compress and hold parts of your body while increasing your lung capacity. Most people only operate at ten percent of their lung capacity. From there, as you release your compression posture, new oxygenated blood flows to the compressed part of your body. It really makes sense. That is why they say at Yarrow Yoga, “Yogis never grow old.”
As for New Year’s resolutions, Bikram Yoga has you covered. I was told that one can expect to burn anywhere from 500 to 1,500 calories in a session. This is pretty impressive, especially since one should really go as often as possible. They recommend trying their challenge of going sixty days in a row. They say that if you go at least four times a week, you start to see the medicinal benefits of yoga; however, if you can go back to back for sixty days, you receive the medicinal benefits in two months that takes a typical Yogi two years to achieve. Personally, we have noticed a dramatic change in our old war wounds, as well as overall flexibility after only a month.
Justin Rundle is a Certified Personal Trainer with five years of training experience. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Whitworth University, and is the Mount Spokane High School Strength and Conditioning Coach.
