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 Healing Monthly testimonials from Bikram Yoga Students from all over the world
Issue:
High Blood Pressure from Work-Related Stress
Problem During 2000,2001, and 2002, my doctor noticed that my blood pressure had begun to 'drift' upwards. The results of my last blood pressure test in 2002 were 140/90. My doctor said this was border line and that if it continued medication would be in order.
Doctor Advice Life-time medication if there was no improvement. The long-term result was that my elevated blood pressure was greatly increasing my risk of a heart attack / heart disease.
Benefit Description 1. My blood pressure slowly decreased over the last three years that I have been attending Bikram Yoga. To me it really seemed to go in stages. First, I got a hold of my breath in Bikram and this enabled me to be calmer during the classes. Then as this calm became more automated it spread to other areas of my life therefore making me calmer in general.
-BP:135/88
2. Then, after the breath, I became better able to attain the positions which seemed to bring me to the second phase. A more lifted chest (with an increased air flow capacity), increased stamina and calmer more relaxed personality. -BP:128/87
3. Finally, through the patient efforts (and it required patience) of the Bikram trained instructors at Bikram Burlington - Kelly, Mindy, Mandy, Marla, Betsey, Adam, and Mary, I began to be able to 'flow' with the yoga and quiet my sometimes excitable mind. I am now at the beginning of the path but I am squarely on the path. This is the final BP testing I will talk about. It occurred in December, 2005. To set the stage I will explain a little about myself. I am a busy executive at a software company. As part of my agreement with shareholders I am required to purchase 'key man' insurance. This million dollar policy is to insure that the company will not collapse if I die. Now, to get this insurance you must submit to a lengthy medical exam and, as you can image, insurance companies are not in the business of insuring border line healthy people. This exam involves a medical technician, an EKG machine, Blood Pressure Tester and several other blood assay tests. The insurance company's technician took my blood pressure three times and then looked at me with a quizzical gaze and said "you don't have much stress in your life." I asked him why he said this since the exact opposite is true. He said the three reading of my blood pressure were: BP: 114/78, 114/77, 116/77.
No one with stress in their life would get readings this consistent and this low. Then he took my standing pulse which was 64. Then my resting pulse on the floor: 46. He then hooked up the EKG machine to me and put sensors from my feet to my neck and read the difference between the pressures at these various parts of my body. All readings were exactly the same and all excellent.
In science, there is the concept of 'hold everything else equal'. This is a powerful concept because it enables a scientist to watch the changes caused just by the agent that is being added to, modified or deleted from the process. Well, I want to add this concept to my testimonial. In other words, the changes I listed were only due to Bikram Yoga because I changed nothing else in my daily processes. I held all other things in my life equal to their state at the starting of my practice.
This is additional information: Today, my insurance agent, Jim Handy with National Life of Vermont called. He said that he had some great news for me but that he was puzzled. The great news was that he often quotes executives on what Prudential calls their Preferred Best rate.
This Preferred Best rate is the highest health category for an individual and therefore the individuals that achieve this rating get the lowest cost for the insurance. Jim said that no one he has underwritten (submitted) passed the health tests required to achieve this rating. That is until today when he received the underwriter's approval for my application. The savings between what it would have cost given a lower health score and my 'Preferred Best' rating has paid for my Bikram classes this year. (Thanks, Kelly of Bikram Yoga of Burlington, Vermont, where I practice: I owe you a debt that will be impossible to pay back.) Jim Handy is no longer puzzled about how I achieved this health. I told him - Bikram Yoga.
To Bikram and Rajashree, I thank you. To everyone at Burlington Bikram I say thank you. Without Bikram's expertise in designing the Bikram series, Bikram's and Rajashree's leadership and skill in training and certifying teachers and the dedication of these teacher upon graduation to helping each student excel, I would be just another bad medical statistic. - Jim Smith
www.Bikramyoga.com |
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 Namaste
na⋅ma⋅ste - noun
Definition: A Hindi salutation/greeting. A combination of two Sanskrit words, nama meaning "to bow" and te meaning "you".
Interpretation: The God/Goddess in me recognizes and honors the God/Goddess in you. | |
 Spring has Sprung!
The Universe is so brilliant. Just as the seasons begin to change and the flip flops reemerge from their cold weather hiatus, new life blossoms all around. Tiny flower buds, wee green leaves and a hue other than brown in the grass begin to color our world, reminding us that life is being breathed again into the natural world around us. As the Spring sky shines down on you and the fresh scent of lilac graces the air think back to January 1st. Remember that day, just 2 short months ago? You, like many of us, more than likely made several resolutions to yourself. Before the year gets away from you and hypnosis of everyday life steals your attention, take a moment to check in. Are you honoring your commitment to yourself? If not, be inspired by the new life all around - and start again. If you are doing just what you said you wished to do, inspire the rest of us. See you in the hot room. |
 Challenge Finishers
 Practicing Bikram Yoga on a daily basis is a HUGE commitment. Just finding that much time on a daily basis will require some sacrifice. Then there are the physical and mental components. The following Yoginis deserve recognition.
Completed 30 Day Challengers:
Jacqueline L.
Mei Ying L.
Elaine B.
Mie W. (on track to complete a 60 day challenge)
Taz (on track to complete a 101 day challenge)
Completed 10 Day Challenger: Dedra B. (on track to complete a 30 day challenge)
Feel the itch? Go ahead, sign up. There is always time to start a Challenge. We are here to support you to win so you will never have to do it alone! |
 Lisa
Student of the Month
Becoming a Bikram Yoga student has changed my life. In August 2009, I was under a lot of stress with a business that was struggling and a strained marriage. I had been praying for a stress outlet. I was driving and was lead to Pearland Bikram Yoga. When I stopped to inquire, I opened the door and felt the presence of peace. My stress level was immediately decreased. I was greeted by positive people. Everyone in the Studio was happy and relaxed. The instructor told me what to expect and the benefits that I would gain from the Yoga. After my first class I was in shock that I was able to complete the entire class, and at how great I felt after two consecutive days. It has now been six months since I began practicing, and I have minimized my stress and worries. In addition, I have also lost ten pounds and several inches. I can easily lean over and put on my socks and pantyhose because my lower back is now much stronger. My metabolism has been regulated. I have more energy. My libido is wonderful. Most importantly, I have peace. Many of my friends have noticed all of these changes in me. So, I delight in sharing the good news of Bikram Yoga. I plan my day around my yoga. Thank you Bikram Yoga for coming to Pearland! |
 Savasana
Posture of the Month
 Savasana literally means 'shav' or corpse and 'asana' or pose. This is the simplest looking asana or pose among all the other yoga asanas or poses, but it is very difficult to master it. It is done mainly to relax the body between asanas or poses or in the end after all the yoga asanas or poses are done. It can also be done at night before going to bed. You simply need to relax the body and mind and visualize and feel the 'prana' life force circulating through your entire body. This brings about a state of relaxation that keeps you healthy, happy and friendly. This is a natural state. To keep the body still helps to keep the mind still which relaxes every body part. To be able to do this the body needs to be in a comfortable, soothing position and state. The aim of this asana is to reduce muscle strain. All the muscles cannot be relaxed immediately after taking the savasana position, therefore one has to relax each muscle with great deliberation. One has to pacify and relax the mind, freeing it from thoughts, worries and ideas. One has to think of each and every body part (the amount of detail will depend on the time available) and relax it, from the crown of the head to the toes. The direction of relaxation can vary from crown to toes or from the right hand, to right foot and then left hand to left foot, finishing with the back and head. The mind and body are deeply connected. If the mind is occupied by thoughts and worries then the savasana will be unsuccessful. Therefore one has to acquire the stability of the mind along with the stability of the body. When one first goes into the asana the motor neurons that innervate the skeletal muscles are still firing nerve impulses. As the breath becomes more regular and relaxed the nerve impulses slowly begin to drop. The rhythmical movement of the respiratory diaphragm leads to deeper relaxation and eventually even the nerve impulses to the deep postural muscles of the torso are minimized. After taking the position first attempt to free the mind from thoughts and worries and concentrate on the body. Then concentrate on each body part, relaxing it. After relaxing the whole body, turn the mind to the direction of the breath. Do not allow the mind to control the breath but let it be slow and relaxed. The more the body relaxes, the slower the breath will become. In the final position the whole body is completely relaxed, the breath is very slow and the mind is stable and quiet.
Do:
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Keep the mind focused on relaxing. If thoughts come do not stress about them but let them pass.
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Keep the spine in a straight line.
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Avoid moving the body parts as even the slightest movement will use many muscles and increase the nerve impulses.
Don't:
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Go to sleep.
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Let the mind wander.
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Move the body.
Benefits:
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Right from the time of conception to the time of death innumerable processes continue operating incessantly inside the human body. Even when the body seems quiet or asleep these processes do not stop. It can be said that the relaxation of the body depends upon the scale of slowness of these operations, therefore an attempt is made to slow down these internal operations.
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Every activity inside the body needs oxygen, supplied through blood circulation. When we need more oxygen the circulation is increased which leads to an increase in respiration. In Savasana an attempt is made to break this cycle by slowing down the speed of activities in the body. By practicing this asana the internal operations slow down, slowing the breath and therefore pacifying the mind. A new cycle is formed.
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Integrates the feeling of relaxation into the conscious and unconscious awareness.
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Relieves stress on the body and mind.
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Improves the functioning of the brain.
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Decreases high blood pressure.
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Useful for preventing and improving heart complaints.
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Can be used for insomnia.
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It is beneficial for emotional disturbances, stress, anger, depression and frustration, redirecting the energy and giving a feeling of calmness and freshness.
Benefits Specifically for Women:
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Savasana can be very useful during menstruation as it gives a deep relaxation to the muscles and also to the mind. It will give the peace and calm needed by relaxing the muscles, focusing the mind and getting rid of any anxieties or worries. Savasana can also help if there is any lower back or pelvic pain. By focusing on the stressed parts the women can relax the area and relieve the pain.
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During pregnancy it is a great practice to do at any time of the day, especially if feeling tired or emotional.
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Irregularities in the menstrual cycle are often indicative of a larger problem. Savasana helps to rebalance the body and relaxes every body system.
Precautions and Contra-indications:
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 Zen Corner Two years ago, I heard about a therapist in Hawaii who cured a complete ward of criminally insane patients without ever seeing any of them. The psychologist would study an inmate's chart and then look within himself to see how he created that person's illness. As he improved himself, the patient improved.
When I first heard this story, I thought it was an urban legend. How could anyone heal anyone else by healing himself? How could even the best self-improvement master cure the criminally insane? It didn't make any sense. It wasn't logical, so I dismissed the story.
However, I heard it again a year later. I heard that the therapist had used a Hawaiian healing process called ho'oponopono. I had never heard of it, yet I couldn't let it leave my mind. If the story was at all true, I had to know more. I had always understood "total responsibility" to mean that I am responsible for what I think and do. Beyond that, it's out of my hands. I think that most people think of total responsibility that way. We're responsible for what we do, not what anyone else does, but that's wrong.
The Hawaiian therapist who healed those mentally ill people would teach me an advanced new perspective about total responsibility. His name is Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len. We probably spent an hour talking on our first phone call. I asked him to tell me the complete story of his work as a therapist.
He explained that he worked at Hawaii State Hospital for four years. "That ward, where they kept the criminally insane was dangerous. Psychologists quit on a monthly basis. The staff called in sick a lot or simply quit. People would walk through that ward with their backs against the wall, afraid of being attacked by patients. It was not a pleasant place to live, work, or visit".
Dr. Len told me that he never saw patients. He agreed to have an office and to review their files. While he looked at those files, he would work on himself. As he worked on himself, patients began to heal.
After a few months, patients that had had to be shackled were being allowed to walk freely, he told me. "Others who had to be heavily medicated were getting off their medications. And those who had no chance of ever being released were being freed". I was in awe. "Not only that", he went on, "but the staff began to enjoy coming to work. Absenteeism and turnover disappeared. We ended up with more staff than we needed because patients were being released. Today, that ward is closed".
I had to ask the million dollar question, what were you doing within yourself that caused those people to change? "I was simply healing the part of me that created them", he said. I didn't understand. Dr. Len explained that total responsibility for your life means that everything in your life - simply because it is in your life - is your responsibility. In a literal sense the entire world is your creation.
Whew. This is tough to swallow. Being responsible for what I say or do is one thing. Being responsible for what everyone in my life says or does is quite another. Yet, the truth is this, if you take complete responsibility for your life, then everything you see, hear, taste, touch, or in any way experience is your responsibility because it is your life. This means that terrorist activity, the president, the economy or anything you experience and don't like is up to you to heal. They don't exist, in a manner of speaking, except as projections from inside you. The problem isn't with them, it's with you, and to change them, you have to change you.
I know this is tough to grasp, let alone accept or actually live. Blame is far easier than total responsibility, but as I spoke with Dr. Len, I began to realize that healing for him and in ho'oponopono means loving yourself. If you want to improve your life, you have to heal your life. If you want to cure anyone, even a mentally ill criminal you do it by healing you.
I asked Dr. Len how he went about healing himself. What was he doing exactly, when he looked at those patients' files?
"I just kept saying, 'I'm sorry' and 'I love you' over and over again", he explained.
That's it?
"That's it".
"Turns out that loving yourself is the greatest way to improve yourself, and as you improve yourself, you improve your world.
~Joe Vitale http://www.educate-yourself.org/zsl/hooponopono25jul06.shtml | |
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No matter where you are, trust that you are exactly where you are supposed to be, doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing to forge your perfect and unique path. All is truly well.
Many Blessings,
Taz | |
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