Dealing With My Back Pain Through Bikram Yoga.

I have to be clearly honest with all of you.   I have been a grump for the last 2 weeks.  I completely admit to it and Darryl can vouch on it.  I injured my back around 5 weeks ago and it’s been hurting on and off since then. I have taken it easy and really not done too much (work out wise) and not doing much takes its toll on a gal like me. I’m a mover, and like I said before I am slightly grumpy.

For the last few years I have been dealing with injury after injury from working out, wieght training, long distant running, etc.  I love to fuel my body with such activities, but when it came time to cool off when I needed to I didn’t.  Let’s face it, I’m stubborn.  You can’t tell a stubborn Girl Anything…

So conventional excercise experts would tell you to ease off or take a break temporarily right?  Any personal trainers out there please set me straight.  I have been in and out of physio-therapists and massage therapy for years now and I AM SICK OF IT!

After being invited by my friend Crystal and encouraged by my ‘sister-in-law personal trainer’ I joined and took my first Bikram Yoga class about 3 months ago and I loved it. Since then my other sister -in- law ( I know it’s complicated) and Darryl have even got the bug for it. This class it 90 minutes Long and you perform 26 postures in 42 degrees C.  This is an amazing class to challenge your brain, body, and over all strength of Character.

I’ve included a list of all the positions that are performed in the 90 minutes and their benefits.  Some of the benefits include:  Injury prevention, weight loss and tightening, improved digestion, joint pain, kidney function, circulation, depression, and the list I’m sure goes on and on….

I primarily joined Yoga so that I would stop hurting my self through conventional exercise. I still needed to still lose some of the inches gained when I was injured and there is no better time then the present moment is there?  So one night about 3 months ago I got ready for the longest 90 minutes of my life.  Well actually it wasn’t that bad, but I would be lying if I told you that it was a dream… After the class I was tired but rejuvenated, and I felt great!

Bikram Yoga Poses and Benefits:

Standing Deep Breathing Expands the lungs to their full capacity Increases circulation to the whole body Counteracts emphysema, asthma, and other breathing problems Helps regulate blood pressure Exercises the nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems Half Moon/Hands to Feet Pose Revitalizes liver, spleen, pancreas and kidneys Corrects bad posture Helps to eleviate lower back pain, bronchial distress, scoliotic deformities, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder Improves circulation in the legs and to the brain Increases the flexibility of the spine, sciatic nerves, most of the tendons and ligaments of the legs Strengthens and firms the abdomen, hips, thighs and buttocks Awkward Pose Increases circulation in the knee, toe and ankle joints Relieves rheumatism, arthritis and gout in the legs Helps to cure slipped disc and lumbago in the lower spine Increases hip joint flexibility Strengthens and firms upper arms and all muscles of thighs, calves and hips Eagle Pose Relieves tension in neck and shoulders Improves sexual vitality and control Improves flexibility of all 12 major joints of the body Strengthens and firms legs, arms, and abdomen Standing Head to Knee Pose Develops concentration, determination and patience Increases pancreatic functions Helps balance blood sugar levels Improves flexibility of sciatic nerve Strengthens and firms abdomen, thighs, legs, upper body and arms Standing Bow Pulling Pose Flushes out kidneys helping to eliminate toxins Increases the size and elasticity of the rib cage and lungs Helps correct high blood pressure Helps tennis elbow and frozen shoulder Improves the flexibility and strength of the lower spine and most of the body’s muscles Improves flexibility of sciatic nerve Strengthens and firms abdominal wall, upper thighs, upper arms, hips, and buttocks Balancing Stick Pose Strengthens the heart muscle and improves circulation Increases lung capacity Helps tennis elbow and varicose veins Increases the flexibility of the spine, hip, and shoulder joints Strengthens and firms arms, hips, buttocks and upper thighs Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose Helps functioning of the abdominal organs Brings blood to the brain Stretches and strengthens the sciatic nerves and tendons of the legs Increases flexibility of the pelvis, ankles, hip joints and last 5 vertebrae of spine Improves the muscle tone and flexibility of thighs and calves Triangle Pose Improves every muscle, joint, tendon and internal organ Revitalizes nerves, veins, and tissues Improves crooked spines Helps correct frozen shoulder and tennis elbow Increases strength and flexibility of the hip-joint and of the muscles of the side of the torso Strengthens and firms arms, upper thighs, waistline and hips Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee Pose Increases blood circulation to legs and brain (helping with some types of headaches) Massages internal organs Helps with diabetes and hyperacidity Helps relieve constipation, dyspepsia, and hemorrhoids Improves flexibility of the spine, shoulders, hips, sciatic nerve Strengthens and firms abdomen, waistline, hips, buttocks, upper thighs Tree Pose Improves posture and balance Improves circulatory disorders Relieves tension in neck and shoulders Increases flexibility of ankles, knees, and hip joints Strengthens internal oblique muscles to prevent hernia Toe Stand Pose Develops psycological and mental powers, especially patience Helps to cure gout and rheumatism of the knees, ankles and feet Helps with hemorrhoid problems Strengthens stomach muscles, weak joints, and feet (which have 1/4 of all the bones in the body) Dead Body Pose Returns circulation to normal Improves concentration Helps reduce hypertension, nervousness, anxiety, and irritability Wind Removing Pose Massages the colon Helps and prevents constipation and irritable bowel syndrome Stimulates the liver, small and large intestine, and spleen Improves flexibility of the hip joints and relieves lower back pain Firms the abdomen, thighs and hips Sit-up Strengthens and firms the abdomen Increases flexibility of the spine, hamstrings, and sciatic nerve Cobra Series Relieves back pain Increases spinal strength and flexibility Improves functioning of the large and small intestines, liver, kidney and spleen Improves pigeon chest by opening rib cage, permitting maximum expansion of the lungs increasing oxygen intake Improves digestion Helps relieve lumbago, rheumatism and arthritis of the spine Helps to cure gout, slipped disc, sciatica, tennis elbow Helps relieve menstrual problems Strengthens the immune system and revitalizes the thyroid Improves flexibility of hip and shoulder joints Strengthens and firms abdomen, hips, legs, buttocks and arms Fixed Firm Pose Helps to cure sciatica, gout and rheumatism in the legs Helps to prevent hernia Strengthens and improves flexibility of lower spine, knees, and ankles Firms thighs, calf muscles and strengthens the abdomen Half Tortoise Pose Provides maximum relaxation Stretches lower part of the lungs increasing blood circulation to the brain Good for diabetes and anemia Massages heart, lungs, and coronary arteries Increases flexibility of the hip and shoulder joints Firms abdomen and thighs Camel Pose Stretches abdominal organs and cures constipation Stretches the throat, thyroid gland and parathyroid Stimulates the nervous system Opens rib cage to allow for maximum expansion of the lungs Maximum compression of spine improving flexibility of the neck and spine Firms the abdomen and slims the waistline Rabbit Pose Maximum stretch of the spine allowing nervous system to receive proper nutrition Maintains mobility and elasticity of spine Nurtures the nervous system, helps with depression Improves digestion Helps cure sinus problems, colds and chronic tonsillitis Strengthens and firms abdomen and back muscles Head to Knee with Stretching Pose Helps balance blood sugar levels Improves kidney function Improves digestion Improves the flexibility of sciatic nerves, ankles and hip joints Strengthens and firms abdomen and arms Spine Twisting Pose Increases circulation and nutrition to spinal nerves, veins, and tissues Improves spinal elasticity and flexibility Helps cure lumbago and rheumatism of the spine Improves digestion Firms abdomen, thighs and buttocks Blowing in Firm Increases circulation Removes toxins Strengthens all abdominal organs Trims the waist line

I’m putting out a personal  challenge for myself and I’m going to be blogging about it to document how I feel and to see if I can heal my back through Bikram instead of visiting my favorite physiotherapist.  Do you think it’s possible?  I think so.

So I have taken 2 classes since putting this challenge on myself, and I feel so much better.  My back One week ago started with aches, tightness, wanting to consume ibuprofen (YUCK!), beyond tight lumps of knots in my back,  to just tight with knots. I’ve  had Darryl massage my back a few times in the last week and I tell you there were some not so nice words coming out of my mouth.

So this is week on of my journey. I’m hoping that this journelling will help me be accountable to what I have set out to do for my body, but most of all my health.

Come back next week and I’ll let you know how my back it doing.

Have you tried Bikram, and if so what have you noticed as far as the positive qualities?