Student of the Month
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We so are happy to have Laura DeMarti as our Student of the Month. Many of you know Laura, or at least have seen her around the studio because she is so regular with her Bikram Yoga practice. Laura is expecting to have a baby any day now!
Bikram FH: How long have you been practicing Bikram Yoga?
Laura: I have been practicing Bikram Yoga consistently for the past 2 years, but I took my first class exactly 4 years ago. In June 2006 my two younger sisters took me to the 6:30 class and I remember looking at my arm and wondering how it was so wet from sweating? I didn't even think that my skin got that wet in a shower or pool. I purchased the 30 Day New Student Special before class and since it's not in me to quit, I knew I would finish out the commitment, but swore after I finished the 30 days I would not go to anymore classes. After the first 30 days I bought a package; I felt the difference and heard the teachers talk about the benefits. I guess I saw that all of the sweat and hard work was worth the benefits. I continued working out at the gym while practicing Bikram Yoga once a week; I had a hard time giving up running, because I liked the challenge, the way it made me feel when I was done, and the physical workout it gave me. It was in my head that I needed to do cardio, like running, so I continued until I herniated a disc in my low back and my chiropractor told me that I had to stop running; which he had been telling me for 3 years prior to the disc herniation anyway. I was afraid to give up the running, I thought I needed it. I had to take some time off from working out altogether, even Bikram Yoga. When I was done doing spinal decompression to fix my disc rather than having surgery, I returned to Bikram Yoga and running. Finally I gave up my gym membership and started practicing Bikram Yoga regularly about 2 years ago. I have been extremely satisfied with the way Bikram Yoga has continued to challenge me. People who know me know that I love a challenge when it comes to working out; I love what Bikram Yoga does, even after years of practice, the challenge still overwhelms me, in a good way. I am so focused in class, I don't have to try to distract myself with music, a TV show or a magazine like at the gym. It's an amazing concept, I love it! I can't say enough good things about it.
Bikram FH: What do you like most about Bikram Yoga?
Laura: There are so many benefits of Bikram Yoga; I love the challenge, the heat, yes, the heat!, the way it makes me feel after class, and all the friendships with all of the people at the studio.
Bikram FH: Has your practice changed since you became pregnant?
Laura: For the first 6 months, I didn't change much with the postures. As the pregnancy progressed, I made some modifications as needed, I really feel that in general I have still been able to practice and get all of the benefits that I have come to love. At about 34 weeks it did get to be more of a challenge to balance as my center of gravity was compromised; that didn't bother me since I like a good challenge.
Bikram FH: What do you think are some of the benefits you have gotten from practicing Bikram Yoga during pregnancy?
Laura: When I first became pregnant I was really nauseated all the time, it was a constant battle to focus on anything. It felt like I was in a tunnel and the world kept going around me, Bikram Yoga was the only time of my day that kept me focused, allowed me to forget about the nausea and successfully complete something with a purpose! And after class I wasn't nauseated for several hours. After about 4 months, I didn't struggle with the morning sickness and since I didn't start to grow much until about 6 months, my practice pretty much went back to pre-pregnancy. I was determined to continue the regular postures for as long as I could; I believed in the benefits. I have been so fortunate with this pregnancy, I have gained 24.5 pounds at 39 weeks, my mid-wife even asked me what I was doing to look so fit at 38 weeks. She was amazed that I didn't have much water retention compared to most. I know that I owe a lot of that to Bikram Yoga.
Bikram FH: When is the baby due?
Laura: Any day now!
Bikram FH: Thank you for sharing your experience with us. All of us at the studio wish you the best! Is there anything else you would like to add?
Laura: Thanks for choosing me as student of the month, I hope that my story inspires even one person! I feel so blessed to have been introduced to Bikram Yoga and to have been able to practice throughout my pregnancy. I truly think it has made my pregnancy more manageable and will help me through my labor. Thank you to all of the amazing teachers at the Bikram Yoga FH studio, it's obvious they genuinely care about all of the students.
Note to Readers: if you are pregnant or believe you may be pregnant, ask us at the desk about the recommended guidelines for pregnancy and Bikram Yoga.
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Posture of the Month
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Balancing Stick: Tuladandasana
It's a little whipper-snapper of a
posture!
It is short but
intense, and to do it right you must commit to it completely from the
very
first second. As you pivot forward
into the posture use all your strength and determination. Be sure that
you are moving in all one
piece. To make this easier,
pretend the floor is a pit of hungry crocodiles. Your standing leg is in
no
danger. The only way to keep your
tummy and chest and upper leg safe is to stretch your torso like crazy. At the same time stretch more and more
backward with pointed toes and
ever more forward with the fingertips, all the while lifting at front
and back.
To name just a few benefits from this posture, Balancing Stick improves physical, psychological, and mental powers. It also firms the hips, buttocks, upper thighs, and improves the flexibility, strength, and
muscle tone of shoulders, upper arms, spine, and hip joints. This posture strengthens the heart muscle and stretches the capacity of the lungs. It is one of the best exercises for bad posture!
Make
up your mind that you can hold Balancing Stick for ten seconds, and don't give up!
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Yoga Studio Etiquette
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- Quiet Time In Yoga Room - this means please no talking in the yoga room at all times: before class, during class, and after class. Before and after class are meditative times for many yoga students. During class only the instructor talks. You can always ask questions after class! You are welcome to chat away with your friends in the lobby and changing rooms etc. Be mindful of your voices in the hallway, the sound carries into the yoga room.
- Yoga Mat And Towel
Required In Yoga Room - we require everyone use a yoga mat and
put a towel over the yoga mat during class. The only exception are
Breath Mats, which are a combined yoga mat and towel. If you sweat more
than most people, the Breath Mats often soak through completely, please
be mindful and use a standard mat under your Breath Mat, or bring an
extra towel to set over your Breath Mat.
- Super Size Beach Towels -
bringing a over-size towel to stand on during class does not buy you
extra space in the yoga room. In crowded classes, please fold the width
of your towel to match the width of your yoga mat to help everyone fit in the room.
- Shoes and Gum - Please no shoes in the yoga room, leave them in the lobby, this includes flip-flops! GUM... don't chew gum in the yoga room, don't put your gum on the floor of the yoga room (yes we find gum on the floor of the yoga room, believe it or not).
- Kleenex, Tissue, Paper Towel in the Yoga Room - if you bring any of these items in the yoga room, keep them on your yoga mat at ALL times, whether clean or used. Do not put them on the yoga room flooring. Our yoga room flooring is anti-bacterial, and we sanitize the yoga room every night, HOWEVER, we should always be mindful to keep our sweat, and anything else from our body on our own mat.
- Changing Rooms - please do not wash your wet clothes, towels, or mats in the sinks. After class please put your wet personal items into a water-proof or water-resistant bag. Do not set your soaked items on the floor as they will create puddles. If you want to rinse your clothes, please do so when you take a shower.
- Showers - if there is a line for the showers, please take a 2 minute shower. The showers are not meant to be personal cooling tanks. Faster showers also help conserve water and natural gas. If you take a longer shower, please let others go before you.
- Be A Good Example - please be a good example with your own behavior around the studio, and as always, be kind to one another.
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New! "Strike A Pose" Photo Contest
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We are excited to announce our first ever "Strike A Pose" Photo Contest for Summer 2010. Going anywhere interesting this summer? Good with a camera? Strike a yoga pose and send us your photo! We know this is a creative group, so have fun with it! Email us a photo or upload your photo on our Facebook site. The photo should be of you in a Bikram Yoga posture from anywhere around the world
(even Michigan is ok, even past photos are ok). Make sure to warm up before you strike a pose for
the camera, do not risk injuring yourself for the sake of a photo
contest. Here's an example: "Ian O in Standing Bow, Taos, New Mexico"
Yoga students and teachers are welcome to enter the contest. Flexibility is not the only criterion! However your pose should resemble a Bikram Yoga posture (from the Beginning or Advanced series). Artistic talent, interesting locations, and stories will all count in the contest! The teachers will get together at the end of the summer to vote on the best photos. Bribes are accepted (not really). The top 3 photo submissions will win a free Bikram Yoga T-shirt (new style coming soon). Also we will feature the top 3 photos on our main website homepage in a slide show format. Photo contest winners will be announced and showcased at our Fall Party, during which the Summer Yoga Challenge Raffle will also be held. When you email us your photo, remember to tell us about yourself (name, age, profession, how long your have practiced, etc) and a brief story about the location and context of the photo. Have a fun summer!
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Bikram Yoga Farmington Hills |
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SUMMER YOGA CHALLENGE
| Only 3 Weeks into summer and 86 yogis have already signed up... Wow!
Either we made the Summer Challenge to easy, or everyone just wants to win Free Yoga.
It's not too late to sign up, just ask at the desk.
Attend only 50 classes before Sept 22nd, and your name will be entered into a Raffle. The top 3 Raffle prizes include months of Free Yoga!
We will have a Raffle party in the Fall to determine the lucky winners.
Click here to read more about the Summer Challenge.
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STAY CONNECTED
| Stay connected to the Bikram FH studio and the greater Bikram Yoga world by joining us on Facebook & Twitter!
Watch videos, read articles, stay current
with announcements, share comments, & more!
 
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
| Did you know that your fellow Bikram Yoga students have skills and talents other than stretching and sweating in a hot room?
This month we turn the spotlight to Jessica Ripka, who is an amazing and talented singer-songwriter!
Last week Jessica invited a few of us to listen to her sing and play piano at the Actor's Loft in Royal Oak, it was amazing!
Watch and listen to Jessica here on YouTube.
Learn more about Jessica's music, view upcoming show schedule, etc. at jessicaripka.com
Note to Readers: do you have talents or skills other than sweating in a hot room? Let us know by email so we can share it with our yoga family.
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