Benefits include : Compresses and stretches spine, improving elasticity and flexibility.  Relieves back pain and deformity in lumbar region and prevents slipped discs.  Opens bronchial muscles and rib cage while increasing circulation to spinal nerves, veins and tissues.  Helps detoxify arthritis of the knee and sciatica while massaging the kidneys, liver, gall bladder, spleen and pancreas. It is also good for Abdominal musculature.

 

Notes on the posture (refer to picture above): Make sure that both of your seat bones are touching the floor for the entire posture with spine straight.  Your crossed knee that rests on the floor and opposite heel should touch for the duration of each side of the posture.  Your arm that crosses over your raised knee should push back on your raised knee with the extended elbow, while the hand holds the same side knee (if you can reach).  For practitioners that are able, your apposite arm should wrap around your torso, palm facing out until you can reach the opposite thigh promoting core strength.  If you need assistance to keep your spine straight however,  your opposite arm can hold up your spine, behind your back and near your buttock with palm flat, so that you can pull your torso up  and out of your pelvis to get a better stretch.    And, as in everything, breathe.

 

 

On September 10th, 2001 I worked what I thought would be my last tour of duty as a New York City Fire Lieutenant.  The next day, the man who replaced me was killed along with 342 co-workers and good friends.  I went back to work and retired a second time in January 2002. By then I was a changed man.  Along with the rest of my Fire Department brothers and sisters, I was filled with anger, sadness and grief.

I took my first Bikram Yoga class in January 2002 while visiting Maui.  The practice of Bikram's Hatha Yoga has guided me to a place of peace that I never could have envisioned nearly four years ago.  I am still unsure why spending 90 minutes in a hot room doing Yoga produces such stillness of mind for me.  I just know that it does.

In the spring of 2005, I took the Bikram Yoga Teacher Training course.  During the nine weeks of intensive Teacher Training practice I experienced an amazing catharsis.  A lot of old anger and sadness arose at the beginning, but toward the end of the nine-week course, a sense of serenity, peace and forgiveness overtook me.

I spent twenty years of my life doing something that I felt was important - being a Fireman.  I worked at the busiest fire companies on the planet, and I absolutely adored my job.  But for the past four years, any time I talked, or even thought about my beloved vocation, I would think of someone I loved who was no longer here and become grief stricken.  I resolved to avoid thinking and talking about my past. I tried to bury twenty years of my life.
My experience with Bikram Yoga, especially the Bikram Yoga Teacher Training, has brought me to a place of forgiveness and acceptance.  Bikram Yoga has given me back my stories.

I am now teaching Bikram Yoga.  Teaching yoga is filling a void for me now.  Once again I feel like I am doing something important, making a contribution. 
This Yoga changes lives.

I would like to include my e-mail address. Please email me at:

kerrinkris@juno.com
Sincerely,
Charlie Hubbard