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Yoga & Diabetes
This month Kathy chose Kaycee Anseth-Townsend as student of the month (See her story in Student of the Month). Why is this significant? Because Kaycee has Type 1 Diabetes. Therefore I thought that this month would be a good time to talk about what diabetes is - and the effects of yoga asana therapy on this disease.
First let me basically explain a little about diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, your body makes little or no insulin. In type 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin but your cells cannot use it well. This is insulin resistance. In addition, your ability to make insulin gradually decreases as time goes by. In both types of diabetes sugar builds up in your bloodstream because it cannot enter the cells. High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels - which can create even more problems.
Some of the causes of diabetes include genetics, obesity, high blood pressure, stress and lack of exercise. Some individuals with heart disease are also effected by diabetes. Some pregnant women can also develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. It is estimated that about 7% of the US population has diabetes.
Managing diabetes can be a very challenging and on-going process for a diabetic. Several times a day the blood sugar levels needed to be tested. It is normal to check before meals and before bedtime. People without diabetes generally have blood sugar levels less than 100 mg/dl (milligrams of sugar for every 100 milliters of blood). For a diabetic the blood sugar levels prior to meals should be in the 90-130mg/dl and 1 to 2 hours after meals - less than 180 mg/dl.
What about yoga and diabetes? One of the recommendations that a diabetic receives is to exercise. For a diabetic exercise is especially important because it can help lower the blood sugar. With yoga something additional seems to happen. Through the stretching and compression during the various yoga postures the pancreas is stimulated. Blood pressure is reduced. Through the relaxation of the muscles it appears that blood sugar is reduced by the increased uptake of glucose. Because the body is better able to utilize blood sugars - the amount of insulin required through medication is often reduced. This reduction of insulin use can often happen within just the first month or two. So it is important for an individual to closely monitor the blood sugar levels as a yoga practice is established.
At Bikram Yoga Bend we are not medical doctors and we cannot diagnose or treat diabetes. We can though share information and our experience of what we know. Casey Rossetto, one of our teachers is a Diabetes Educator of Eli Lilly. In India, the effects of yoga on diabetes is well known and there are many studies about the benefits of yoga therapy. At this time there are not so many studies on the US.
If you, a friend or family member is challenged by the disease of diabetes be sure to talk to us. We just might be able to show you what Bikram, Rajashree and all the yogis of India have to say about having an increased quality of life.
Hope to see all you of very soon in class..!!
Michael Harris, Studio Owner and Director
NEXT MONTH: Pain and Yoga |
| Posture of the Month |
Balancing Stick
Tuladandasana
In this posture Bikram loves to say, "give yourself a mini-heart attack so you don't have to have one later". Sometimes this posture feels exactly like that. In just ten seconds your heart rate jumps up and you feel the blood rushing through the body. Most students heart rate averages around 130 bpm during class. In this posture it can and will go to 150 to 170 bpm - for that amazing 10 seconds. At the same time there is an incredible stretching action happening with the arteries surrounding the heart. This stretching action is like stretching a rubber band. So there is this stretching going on at the same time that the heart rate is increasing. Then everything is released and you feel this sensation of the blood flowing through your whole body. This stretching and increased blood flow helps to reduce and diminish plaque within your arteries. Thus doing what? Giving you a mini heart attack so you don't have to have one later. In addition some of the other benefits include increased balance, firms the hips and buttocks and improves the flexibility of the shoulders.
There really is only one thing to do when practicing this posture. Once you step forward, come down immediately parallel to the floor - T like Tom - and hold for at least 10 seconds. That way you won't miss any of the benefits from this posture.
One of the best ways to learn more about the postures is to read Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class book. And, when you come to class everyday you will "Make Your Body Smile!"
Michael Harris, Studio Owner and Director |
| Student of the Month |
March Student of the Month is
Kaycee Anseth-Townsend
This month Kaycee Anseth-Townsend is our student of the month. She is currently on her 50th day of her 30 day challenge. So what does this mean exactly? It means that Kaycee is extremely dedicated to have developed a consistent yoga practice from the very first day that she stepped through the front door! Already in such a short amount of time, her energy level has improved, her attitude is more positive, her movements less klutzy, she says she's maybe even a bit more graceful! But, she has not always been so dedicated to her health. Dealing with both depression and Type 1 Diabetes, she spent many years ignoring her body rather than learning ways to take control of her life.
With Type 1 Diabetes, insulin administration is considered mandatory in order to sustain normal healthy blood glucose levels in the body. During her first few weeks practicing here, Kaycee continued to wear her insulin pump while taking the 90 minute class. More recently she decided not to wear it as she's seen her levels balancing out more on their own. Of course this hasn't happened with out attention to her diet, her lifestyle, and her continuing practice of Bikram Yoga. She believes she is finally taking "active participation in [her] own health."
Often times she practices side by side with her husband Al, both of them grinning and taking in so much more from the community of the studio than just the 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises. They both have been able to improve their friendship and compassion for each other as they learn to support each other through their respective yoga journeys. Although there are endless possibilities of what changes will occur for both of them, noticeably her circulation has improved--so much in fact that Al no longer complains of her cold feet at night!
Kaycee is learning to use the class and especially the individual postures as a "barometer" to measure and gauge how intertwined her body and mind really are. When a class has great energy and she feels really strong, she's prepared to go to her maximum for that day. But this is not always the case, as a sharp change in blood sugar can send her straight to the floor forcing more challenges and frustrations to come up. Her determination helps her face her biggest struggle: learning to be gentle with herself, to relax and breathe through each and every moment, regain control, and get back up as soon as possible! She knows the benefits--taking charge of her health now will help avoid major complications down the road and hopefully reverse the years she ignored her diabetes.
Her own words sum up her experience best:
"I find that I crave yoga. Some days I definitely crave it more than others, but I crave yoga more, I crave coffee and chocolate and margaritas much less!"
Kathy Durham, Bikram Yoga Certified Teacher
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OTHER NEWS:
On February 2nd, Kathy Durham won Third Place this year in the US Hatha Yoga Championships. Congratulations Kathy!!!
On February 25th Sarah and David Boorstein talked about and made us some delicious raw and live food.
Coming up on April 12th and 13th, Jason Winn will be conduction workshops on how to deepen your yoga practice. More info to follow. You will not want to miss this event.
Hope to see you in class soon!!
Michael Harris, Director
Bikram Yoga Bend, Oregon | |
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