More Class Times!
As of August 1st we will offer these new class times: - 6:00 am Monday & Wednesday
These classes are being offered on the contingency that they are busy. So if you like them, use them! Otherwise, we may be removing them from the schedule. |
New Carpet
We hope that you are enjoying our new carpet in the hot room!! |
One of Ours, in Ireland
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taken on the Aran Islands (Inishmore) in jeans and battling against the wind
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We have a committed practitioner, Annette H., who took a trip abroad to Ireland this summer with classmates from the University of St. Thomas to study peace building in Northern Ireland. 12 undergraduate and graduate students pursuing two courses of study for credit: Northern Ireland: Conflict and Peace and Contemporary Ireland: Society and Culture, are learning how the Northern Ireland model for peace can be emulated in other parts of the world. |
Meditation
Our meditation classes are growing in number of people who attend, but mostly by the number of people who are effected. We have created something truly special here. Please join us. $10 love offering suggested, but not required.
Meditation at PBY
2pm Saturdays
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Zen Corner
"The difference between the possible and the impossible lies in a person's determination." ~Tommy Lasorda "If you'll not settle for anything less than your best, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your lives." ~Vince Lombardi
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Peak Nutrition
If you really want to optimize your health by providing your body with an unparalleled supplementative diet of foods that actually regenerate, cleanse and nourish, then we have what you have been looking for. Ask for your free informational DVD at the Studio or click here to have one mailed to you. Be sure to include your mailing address. |
Note from Taz
Since it has been so hot outside, I have noticed that the heat sometimes causes people to be lethargic, me included. I have also noticed that it can sometimes impair one's thinking. Perhaps it is a panic mode that gets kicked in because the body is struggling. What they commonly call the fight or flight reaction, which is the body's built in parasympathetic system response. It comes out in the form of drama - one's mind gets away from themselves and they may believe all of the panic...or drama, if you will, that the mind creates around being hot. It is largely untrue since yes, it is a little uncomfortable, it is usually not dangerous though. There is usually little cause for panic necessary. That is a great reason why although it is so hot outside, we really do benefit from staying in the hot room. It teaches and soothes. The mind eventually acquiesces, and realizes, that no, indeed, the heat is not a reason to panic. The heat is a gift, and luckily, we have all of the resources that we need to keep ourselves cool and hydrated so that we can stay in control of our health, mentally and physically.
Many Blessings, Taz |
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Greetings!
We are so celebratory this month. We have several new students joining us from our Groupon Offer. We are so excited to welcome you. We hope that some of our existing customers were able to take advantage of the savings, as we normally do not extend that to existing clients. We are lucky to have each of you with us, practicing at PBY. Bikram Yoga is a wonderful gift to give to yourself. Please let us know how we can help you and your practice grow.
See you in the hot room!
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Bikram Challenge Finishers!
We want to showcase the dedicated folks who considered, tried and maintained the sometimes brutal, yet wonderfully rewarding Bikram Challenge. We salute you. They had a few things to share about the Challenge. Enjoy what was said!
 Annette - 30 Days:
"The 30 Day Challenge has helped me gain more confidence, patience, endurance, and above all a better understanding of my mind and body."
Megan - 30 Days: "The 30 Day Challenge absolutely changed my outlook on life. It allowed me to appreciate myself by dedicating 90 minutes a day to rejuvenate my mind and body. I grew not only as a person, but as a Bikram practitioner. I urge everyone to try it for yourself... You will not regret it!" Ronnie and Catherine - 30 Days: 
"After around 135 Bikram Yoga classes, Catherine and I decided to attempt a 30 Day Challenge. With both mental and physical determination, we managed to complete 33 days of yoga, no doubles, working through every pose and never taking a knee. The Challenge never got easier especially working a 40 hour week. Just realizing you'll soon be facing 90 minutes in a hot yoga class is stressful enough, but knowing we'd always feel better after class was always so rewarding. Whether it's developing mental focus, building strength, breathing control or simply releasing toxins, the Bikram Yoga practice is a beneficial tool. A special thanks to Taz, all the instructors and fellow yogis who encouraged our progress along the way. Namaste." Molly - 30 Days: "After The Challenge, I have fewer backaches, better posture, and looser pants. But the best thing is a greater appreciation for myself and my body, flaws and all. Doing yoga every day put me in tune with my body in a way I've never experienced. Plus, it's hard not to be impressed with what you can do after looking at yourself in standing bow for a cumulative 90 minutes."
Many congratulations also to our other Challenge Finishers:
Mila A - 60 Days (who is out of the country currently)
Desy B. - 30 Days
Claire F. - 30 Days
Sonya L. - 10 Days
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Farewell from Mahmoud and Linda K.
 Mahmoud and I were probably the first students to sign up at Pearland Bikram Yoga. Literally, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the Bikram sign go up. We immediately went in to inquire about the opening date. We attended the Grand Opening reception, and started yoga classes at PBY immediately. I still attend the yoga classes today. Attending Bikram Yoga classes has immensely helped my health physically and emotionally. I have been diagnosed with a degenerative back and with fibromyalgia. Both are very painful, however, I have found much relief with the heat and stretching positions that I practice at Bikram Yoga. My last day will probably be August 2. My husband and I have retired from HISD and are moving to the Middle East. I will continue in the educational field in Abu Dhabi and my husband will be able to spend more time in Iran with his mother and family. I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Taz and the Bikram family for their dedication that they demonstrated to all the Yogis that attend Pearland Bikram Yoga. It has truly been a joy to go to class almost every day and receive the relaxation and relief. I will miss everyone at Pearland Bikram Yoga. I hope to return on my visits back to Houston.
Click here for a link to Abu Dhabi Educational Council Fast Facts
We will miss you both so very much. Godspeed!
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Head to Knee with Stretching Pose
Janushirasana with Paschimotthanasana
 This 24th posture of the Bikram series, second to last before final breathing, is easy to overlook as one is feeling like they are heading into the final stretch. This is however a very good time to bolster down and be committed to completing with as much vigor as you began the class with. Why? Because it  is one of the easiest places that the ego can sneak in and disrupt the harmony created during class. It is an easy time for the mind to take over in preparation for exiting the hot room and rejoining society. Don't let the ego hijack your practice. Stay present. Here's how to maximize this pose.
Begin this posture, as with all the floor exercises, with an intentional sit up. Turn and face the mirror. Outstretch the right leg. Bend the left from the knee and rest the sole of your foot on your right inner thigh/bicep. There should be a light pressure there. At this point, your right leg can be flat. Unless you have a very tight hamstring(s), which some people do. Straighten your leg and flex your foot. With your torso directly facing the mirror, raise both of your arms straight over your head. Interlock your fingers, if possible. Turn your torso and raised arms to face your right leg and with all of your core strength place your cupped hands around the ball of your right foot. No cheating here. Remember this first part of the posture is a compression, so focus very hard on rounding your back and on keeping your shoulders level. This is the first place where the ego really wants to creep in as many people focus on keeping a straight leg, but their forehead is miles or millimeters from their knee. Nope. You must bend your knee until you can comfortably press the forehead to the right knee. Do your best to touch the knee. For some this is really hard. That's ok. Try, try, try - always try. For those limber ones, it is easy to touch the knee to the forehead with rounded backs, level shoulders and hands cupped around the ball of the foot. Those folks can then flex their right foot up off of the ground.
If, at this point, you feel compelled to look around, make sure it is to see how others may be doing it better so that you can improve, but never to compare yourself. That is also the ego, and comparisons are always devastating to self esteem.
As you move to the other side, again bring your two arms straight over head as a ballerina would, stretch your intercostal muscles (those muscles between the ribs) interlocking your hands and then cup your left foot with your basket hands. This is an extraordinary way to build core and back strength, don't cheat yourself out of the opportunity.
Then repeat the same things on the left side. Compress your abdomen as much as possible; bring your head closer to your stomach, if you can. If you were unable to straighten your legs during these poses, make sure to straighten them quickly at the end of each set. It may pull or hurt, but that will be momentary. This is how you create muscle memory and make it easier every class to push your knee down while your forehead is still in contact with your knee and hands are interlocked around the ball of your foot. You may feel a wonderful pull under your ribs.
Then both legs forward, after a lovely sit up. Don't use momentum to sit up - use your belly, or whatever muscles it takes for you to sit up properly. Reach forward and grab your toes. Don't grab the sides of your feet. That is easier, yes. That is why we grab our toes. Use only your peace fingers, meaning your first 2 fingers, not thumbs, ring fingers or pinkies. It is tempting to put your head down and look at your belly. Frankly, it feels good to get that stretch to the back of the neck. You can do it for a minute. However, the point is to build strength in your neck, traps and shoulder girdle - so look at your eyes in the mirror and never look away until the Instructor says to.
Now the Instructor will say walk your hips back, right and left. Back in the day, the Instructor used to say that if you wanted to grab the fleshy part of your buttocks and pull it out from under you, then do so. They don't say that any more, but it does give a clear pictorial about what is supposed to happen, which is that those pointy bones in your butt should be pointing behind you, not digging into the floor. Your legs are so absolutely flat to the ground now since you actually used each buttock to literally walk backwards. I mean cover some ground here. Once you walk back with each cheek you should be inches away from where you started out. This is correct. Again, make the effort. Only then you will be in correct form. Sometimes this is the place to stop because it may be tough. Your body will tell you. Sometimes belly fat gets in the way or your hips, back or hamstrings are just too tight to bend any further. No worries. This is the perfect place to stop. If you can, continue with a FLAT back (as this is a stretching posture not a compression posture). Try to touch your elbows to the floor next to your legs while still holding your flexed big toes with peace fingers. If your back isn't flat but you are still limber enough to keep your legs completely straight and stretch forward from your hips and lower back towards your toes then work on flattening your back 50% of the time and then stretching the other 50% of the time. Eventually, you will be able to touch your head to your toes. This is the only time you should not be looking at yourself in the mirror, but rather down into your legs.
Then release. Your back is very stretched out now so be careful to give all of your vertebrae time to come back together before spinning around to lay down.
The keys are first we do two compressions (one on each leg) and then a full body extension - always use full motion of your body in order to improve musculature. And as in everything in class and out, breathe. Namaste.
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