Day 8: Standing Bow
Dandayamana-Dhanurasana, Standing Bow Pose
Perhaps once of the most fun postures to practice, Standing Bow is another powerful posture where you will practice all of your yoga skills - concentration, determination, patience, faith, strength, balance, and flexibility. You hear us say it all the time: this is a balancing posture, a spine twist, and can eventually be a standing split. Our best advice for this one is to slow down. We use the instruction “charge your body forward” which can be interpreted as “go quickly”. However, you should always move slowly and mindfully into and out of all of the postures. Focus your eye gaze one spot on yourself in the mirror, breathe normally, stretch your front arm forward as you simultaneously kick back and up, and slowly start to come down. You might even try smiling :-)
Benefits of Standing Bow include:
Stimulates the cardiovascular system.
Increases circulation to the heart and lungs.
Opens diaphragm.
Opens the shoulder joints.
Helps with frozen shoulder conditions.
Improves the elasticity of the spine.
Improves strength and balance firming the abdominal wall and upper thighs while also tightening the upper arms, hips and booty.
Increases the size and elasticity of the rib cage and lungs and improves the flexibility and strength of the lower spine.
Helps to reduce abdominal fat.
Day 7: Standing Head to Knee
Dandayamana-Janushirasana, Standing Head to Knee
This posture will test all of your yoga skills - concentration, determination, patience, faith, balance, strength, and flexibility. The most important thing to remember is DON’T GIVE UP! As a beginner, it can be challenging to simply grab your foot, so you start there. Once you have your foot in your hands then you practice “locking your knee”. Remember, we never mean hyper-extension when we say lock the knee. Lock the knee simply means that your leg is completely straight, your kneecap is lifted (thigh muscle contracted) and your body weight is equally distributed all over your foot. Once your leg is truly locked, you will begin to unlock all sorts of new depths of your yoga practice. Start where you are, work the posture step-by-step, and you get 100% benefti!
Benefits of Standing Head to Knee include:
Raises heart rate to improve cardiovascular fitness.
Tones legs muscles, especially inner thighs and quadriceps.
Stretches hamstrings, shoulders lower back.
Improves abdominal strength.
Interlocked finger grip strengthens fingers and hands.
Locking the knee strengthens the muscles which support the knee joint.
Teaches self discipline, determination, concentration, patience and faith.
Day 6: Eagle Pose
Garudasana, Eagle Pose
The first time you try this pose you might be thinking to yourself, you want me to put my what where?! You are literally twisting your limbs together and it can feel nearly impossible in the beginning. But with practice, you will be able to twist your arms and legs “like ropes”. Remember to move slowly and mindfully - small movements are always better than big movements when you are attempting to balance.
Benefits of Eagle Pose:
Opens up the major joints of the skeletal system: Ankles, knees, hips, elbows, wrists, and shoulders.
Firms and tones your calves, thighs, hips, abdomen, upper arms and back muscles.
Improves your coordination!
Relieves tension in the neck and shoulders.
Brings fresh blood to the sexual organs and kidneys. Can increases sexual vitality and helps with reproductive problems.
Helps reduce varicose veins.
Day 5: Awkward Pose
Utkatasana, Awkward Pose
This one can be… Awkward!
First part:
Watch those feet! Your feet will have a tendency to move around in this one. Your heels should be invisible behind your toes for all 3 parts. As you sit your hips “into the chair”, move mindfully so that you can keep your feet aligned. Your upper body will want to lean forward as you sit, so you have to really concentrate on arching your upper body back to create a backward bend.
Second part:
You must concentrate in order to keep your balance in 2nd part! In the beginning you might not be able to get very high on your toes, and that’s OK. This one is great for your ankles and toes (when is the last time you thought, I should take care of my toes today?). Get as high on your toes as you can, and then sit your hips into the chair, not below the chair. “The chair” means thighs about parallel to the floor. Your spine should stay straight here, and it might feel like you are leaning back a little bit to achieve a straight spine.
Third part:
The challenge in this part for most of us is to go in and out of it slowly. Over time, you are trying to take 10 seconds to go in and out of the posture! Go as slowly as you can on the way down and make sure you are not resting on your ankles or your calves (that’s cheating!).
Benefits of Awkward pose:
Helps treat and prevent arthritis of the knees, ankles, and hips.
Develops incredible strength in your legs, abs, hips, ankles, and toes.
Strengthens and firms your upper arms.
Good for digestion.
Develops your concentration power.
Day 2-4: Half Moon Pose with Hands to Feet Pose
Ardha Chandrasana with Padahastasana, Half Moon Pose with Hands to Feet
The challenge of half moon pose (side bend and back bend) is to keep your arms and your legs straight throughout the entirety of the posture. This might not be possible when you first start practicing, but keep at it! The object is to only bend your spine.
For Hands to Feet, you will probably need to bend your legs in order to touch your upper body to your lower body. There should be NO GAP between your stomach and your thighs. Once you have glued your upper body to your lower body, then you can start to straighten your legs without losing the contact of your upper and lower body. Eventually you will achieve total body stretching throughout your legs and spine.
Benefits of Half Moon Pose and Hands to Feet Pose:
Increases the flexibility of your entire spine
You stretch all of the muscles in the side of your body, the front of your body and then the back of your body - the perfect start to class!
Can reduce and eventually eliminate lower back pain
Improves and strengthens all of your body’s central muscles
Gives quick energy and vitality by improving circulation throughout your body
Back bending teaches you to overcome fear, anxiety, and dive into the unknown!
Day 1: Standing Deep Breathing
Pranayama, Standing Deep Breathing
Good for your lungs and respiratory system!
The first thing that we ask you to do before the breathing exercise is put your feet together. This can feel incredibly hard! Try to place your feet truly together with heels and big toes (or bunions) touching. This can feel weird and unsteady, but with a little practice and patience, you will soon be standing with feet together no problem.
Here are just some of the benefits of Pranayama:
Increases circulation of oxygenated blood throughout the body
Helps lungs reach their maximum expansion capacity
Loosens shoulders and neck
Relieves irritability and relaxes the mind
Helps to treat and prevent asthma, shortness of breath, bronchitis, emphysema
Builds concentration and focus
Additionally, this slow and synchronized breathing is important because sometimes we are quite literally running into class. Breathing slowly and deeply, matching the length of your inhales and exhales, you will calm down your own nervous system. How cool!
February Instagram Challenge
For each of the the 28 days in February, we will focus on one of the 26 & 2 breathing postures and breathing exercises from the Bikram sequence.
How it works:
Every day, post a photo of yourself in the posture of the day (Day 1: Pranayama, Day 2 Half Moon Side Bend, Day 3 Half Moon Backbend, etc.). If don’t want to be on social media every single day, we get it, you can post a few postures at a time! With each photo, tag us and use the hashtags #Hotyogarichmond #HYRFebChallenge so we see the posts. At the end of the challenge, we will choose a winner who has posted all 26 & 2 to receive a free month of yoga!
Don't have Instagram? You can post to Facebook, or if you prefer not to share photos, you can follow along here all month long for inspiration!
See the posture of the day for the entire month HERE
Visit our Instagram page HERE
Visit our Facebook page HERE
31 Days of Self-Care
We recently read an article that said 1 in 3 adults in the US feels depressed this year as opposed to 1 in 10 adults from this same time last year. Reading this made us feel a mix of emotions and an urge to do something, no matter how small and insignificant it might feel. Thus, the self-care challenge was created. When we think of self-care, we often imagine a woman lounging in a bath robe, with a hydrating face mask on, cucumbers over her eyes, and candles lit all over the place. But this is not what self-care has to be, and it is of course something that ALL people should partake in. We have come up with 31 days of self-care activities that are very simple. If you can’t complete an activity one day (i.e. watch the sunset), just switch that activity for another one (i.e. go to bed early) that you can complete. This is meant to be a fun experiment to help you discover what makes YOU feel good. We know life is a bit nuts right now, so rather than make this a 30-day yoga challenge, we highly encourage you to not only practice yoga when you can, but try meditation and walking. October is one of the most beautiful months here in Virginia, so get out there and admire those gorgeous changing leaves! If you are interested in meditation, we recommend downloading the app Insight Timer. It has some great guided meditations, as well as a simple timer that you can set for yourself. Remember, just like no one is “bad” at yoga, no one is “bad” at meditating. You either do it, or you don’t. Start small and go slow — even meditating for 5-10 minutes everyday can change your life. If you have any questions along the way, we are here for you! We need this challenge just as bad as everyone else, and we’re excited to practice some extra self-love with you all!
Love,
Rachel and Stephanie
Yoga for Improved Health and Wellbeing
Meet Lauren!
“Two years ago, I walked out of my career in the mortgage business to align myself better with my belief system and spirituality. I chase my passions today, and not a paycheck. I have a wonderful, full life, and am super duper active in our community. I’m a published author/writer, recently having been published in ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul.’ I’m CEO of a dog-walking company, River City Dog Excursion. I’m also a volunteer at Richmond Animal League, and formerly a member of their Board of Directors. I’m currently training one of my personal dogs as a Certified Therapy Dog, in order to help children.
My husband Max and I have benefited incredibly from HYR and our daily practice. I attended class every day for my first 5 weeks, with the exception of 3 days when I had the flu.
I had a skin condition diagnosed after a biopsy for which there was no cure/treatment. It was called “Sterile Folliculitis.” After attending HYR for a week, that has since disappeared. I have IBS, which made daily activities sometimes unpredictable. That has remedied itself. I have historically required 9 hours of sleep to feel rested. I am now restored after 6-7 hours. I’m a true believer in the healing effects of hot yoga, and I know it’s just the beginning!”
I’ve Never had a Home Yoga Practice, How do I Start?
A lot of us have never had a home yoga practice and are wondering, how do I go about starting one?
You just start.
This whole social distancing thing is very challenging both physically and emotionally for everyone. Humans are meant to interact, and we are also meant to move. Below are our tips for starting and nurturing a home yoga practice:
Find your space - not everyone has the luxury of having an extra room to create a yoga oasis in their home, but luckily that doesn’t matter. As long as you can fit your yoga mat in the space, that’s all you need. When it’s warm enough, we highly suggest practicing outside for an extra bonus of VitaminD! If you are in desperate need of a sweat, it is possible to create a make-shift hot yoga room in your bathroom. Yes, that’s right, in your bathroom (if it’s large enough). Turn that shower on HOT, and in a few minutes you’ll have a nice steamy space to get a little sweat on while you move. If you have a space heater, you can also utilize that in your new temporary yoga room. But remember, safety first! No setting your toes ablaze!
Make the time - you were already setting time aside to come to the studio, so now set that time aside to move at home. It doesn’t matter if it’s 10 minutes a day, or 2 hours a day, you will feel better if you continue to make time for your yoga practice. There can be added distractions at home, so set an alarm if need be. Let your roommates, family, dogs, and cats know that this is your time for yourself and it’s necessary if everyone wants you to remain happy. If you need an accountability partner, reach out to us! Shoot us an email and we’d be happy to peacefully harass you everyday and remind you to practice :-)
Take it easy - remember that your body is incredibly mobil in the hot room compared to what it will be at home at room temperature. Take it SLOW. The last thing you need right now is a pulled muscle.
If you are listening to a class on your phone, put your phone on “Do not disturb” for the duration of your practice. It is way too easy to pause your practice for mindless scrolling on your phone when you are practicing alone with no teacher and no accountability partner. So do yourself a favor, and put that phone on do not disturb!
STAY POSITIVE! In addition to continuing your yoga practice at home, make sure that you keep drinking plenty of water and eating good foods. Proper exercise and nutrition will help you maintain a healthy body and positive attitude during this time of turbulence. If you are in need of some human connection, do not hesitate to give us a shout! We are first and foremost a COMMUNITY, and we will continue to support you in any way that we can even though we can’t physically be together right now. Keep your chin up buttercup, everything is going to be OK!
-Rachel Mzhickteno
Hot Yoga Richmond Co-Owner
Here are some of our teachers’ yoga spaces at home:
Summer Hydration for Hot Yoga
Hey yogis!
It’s getting HOT outside. Does that mean you should quit your hot yoga practice and join us again in the fall? Of course it doesn’t. It just means you need to be extra mindful outside of the room and be sure that you are taking care of yourself. How are you suppose to maintain your healthy body and happy mind if you stop coming to yoga?!
When a student has a tough class, we typically ask them if they are properly hydrating before class. 9 times out of 10 the answer is "No". Every single cell in your body needs water to function properly. In Bikram Yoga we sweat A LOT, so it is very important to replenish after class and even more important to hydrate BEFORE CLASS. We all know once you're in that hot room, it's too late ;-)
Simply drinking a lot of plain water is not going to do the trick for how much we are sweating in Bikram Yoga (especially during the summer!). You need to be replacing your electrolytes. One of the simplest and most cost effective electrolyte mixes that you can make at home is to take purified water, add lemon juice, a little Himalayan pink salt or Celtic Sea salt, and raw honey or maple syrup. Shake it up and BAM - delicious hydration in a cup. HERE is a recipe with exact measurements. You can also take advantage of the beverages we have at the studios - Lumi juices are packed with nutrients, coconut water is one of the fastest ways to get a lot of potassium back in your body, and the Ultima electrolyte packets are a delicious addition to your hydration routine (with no added sugar!).
We're not in the business of telling anyone what to eat, but a healthy diet obviously helps with hydration and overall wellbeing. Here is a list of the top ten hydrating fruits and veggies:
-Cucumbers -Watermelon -Pineapple -Celery
-Blueberries -Lettuce -Tomatoes -Pears
-Grapefruit -Cantaloupe
The beautiful thing is that the more you practice, you will naturally start to crave healthier foods and drink more water. That's how amazing your body is - it's always telling you what it needs, and when we practice yoga, we take the time to listen.
Drink up ( and eat your fruits and veggies) yogis!
This Yoga Class is All you Need
I took my 1st Bikram yoga class in Ft Lauderdale Florida in 1998. I hadn’t really worked out in about 8 years and I was eager to get back into shape. I had always been in good health thanks to dance and running throughout my life and I gave it all up when I was 18 because quite frankly, I was sick of it. I needed a break.
Well my break was over and that was evident during my first Bikram yoga class. My heart was racing, I was sweating profusely and I was working harder then I had in a very long time. I knew this was exactly what I needed.
After class I was trying to decide how often I should be coming to class with the other workouts I was interested in and the instructor told me, “Well, you can do whatever you want, but if you don’t feel like doing anything else, this class is all you’ll need. Just do it 5 days a week for 2 months and you will change your life”. And that, is exactly what I did.
20 years later, I am running my 2nd and 3rd yoga studio, I am in the best shape mentally, physically, and spiritually that I have ever been in, and I am extremely content with the lifestyle this yoga has provided me. I firmly believe in this practice. The therapeutic healing benefits are worth every minute, every dollar and every drop of sweat.
Give it a try. You’ll see.
-Stephanie Greis
Yoga for True Health and Happiness
Meet Rachel:
I started practicing Bikram Yoga in May of 2011 when I was 21 years old. I had seen a news segment about the many benefits of Bikram Yoga and I decided to give it a try. What I experienced in that first class is what I can only describe as death and then rebirth. I had no idea just how intense the class was going to be - I felt like my heart was pounding out of my chest, I had never in my life sweat so much, and I was unbelievably uncomfortable. What’s more, the 70-something year old woman in front of me seemed to be having no issues whatsoever with the postures nor the heat. I left that first class somehow feeling both exhausted and invigorated, and I was inspired to go back and improve. Thus began my love affair with Bikram Yoga. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
You see, I thought that I was in good health and great shape. Before yoga, I regularly went on 3+ mile runs, ate what I thought was healthy food ( low fat and low calorie foods), and I looked as though I was “in shape”. What I’ve learned so far on my 10 year yoga journey is that health is not just about the size and shape of your body, it’s about the total package - how are you emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually? In college (when I began my practice) I was under a lot of stress, I regularly experienced anxiety, and I wasn’t sleeping enough. What’s more, I was actually eating crap - I ate a lot of processed foods, and I drank my fair share of alcohol. Bikram yoga brought all of that to the surface. In the beginning months of my practice, I would have great classes but I also experienced classes where I felt nauseated, angry, sad, tired, and/or weak. Once I started to make my way through some of the emotional and physical blockages that I was dealing with (and trust me, there are still plenty there), I began to feel truly amazing. I felt better than I even knew I could feel.
Now that I am a teacher, I often see students dealing with their own barriers, and some of them end up quitting. It’s easier to blame things outside of ourselves for how we feel, but yoga teaches us to look within. If you are having a rough class where you don’t feel well, there is nothing wrong with the yoga. The yoga is asking you to take a closer look and ask yourself “How am I eating? Did I drink enough water today? Am I under a lot of stress? Am I sleeping enough?” It’s not an easy task, but your health and wellbeing are worth the time and effort.
Let’s get really honest about our health and wellbeing. We deserve to feel amazing, and this yoga can bring you true health and happiness!
Yoga is a Vital Necessity!
Meet Laura!
I’ve been doing yoga on and off for 8+ years! Now I can gladly say I’m over the moon in love with it and Bikram yoga has evolved into not only a joy, but a vital necessity!!
Years ago, I was suffering from hormonal stuff (ugh- getting old.... yikes)... every month- no joke, my symptoms included, fatigue (slept for 12 hours) weight gain, joints hurt, swelling in the body. I tried to find solutions. I hated how I felt!
I tried everything!!! I even started bio- identical hormone therapy to help regulate and I was told I have estrogen dominance. It helped.. some. But I started to gain a little weight after about a year of this refining. I finally went back to Bikram yoga full-time. Seriously, within the first month of yoga, I was almost symptom free. Yep- seriously!! Within 2 months I decided to stop the bio- identical therapy. I realized that the yoga was my answer. Years of trying to figure out an answer to all this pain... and I found my rainbow.
Yoga for a Long and Healthy Spine
Meet Diane:
Several years before I started this fabulous yoga whenever I saw my doctor for my physical I discovered I was gradually losing height, as most of us do as we age. It bothered me but I figured it was a normal part of aging.
Then 10-1/2 years ago I discovered hot yoga and over a few months decided this was something I love and began practicing 3-5 times a week. This was a gradual process because I'll never forget my first class when I thought the teacher was trying to cook me! I'm not sure what drew me into this because I HATE summers and the heat and humidity! My friends thought I'd lost my mind.
Here I am 10-1/2 years in and going strong, I schedule my week around yoga (please don't tell anyone!) I'd be in that hot room more if I could! One day...
A couple weeks ago I saw my doctor who measured me and low and behold, I've stopped shrinking! I haven't regained what I've lost but perhaps as I keep practicing I just might - this yoga has also taught me to have patience and a positive attitude!
I love these positive changes and did I mention the wonderful folks who practice with me. I have met some super people and friends and will continue to practice this wonderful hot yoga.
Namaste,
Diane
Yogi for Life
Meet David!
I started practicing Bikram Hot Yoga in July 2015 at the recommendation of my doctor. At first I was skeptical but decided to give it a try. It was the absolute best decision I have made as far as taking care of my body and mind. In 2012 I had a complete hip replacement at the age of 46. Even though I was pain free from the hip replacement, I noticed I had lost quite a bit of flexibility as far doing routine chores around the house. Yoga has not only helped me regain the flexibility I lost with the hip replacement, but it has helped me sleep better and helped me deal with stress that we all have from work, etc. Every time I practice, I know it will be a challenge but just knowing how good it makes me feel afterwards keeps me wanting more! Regardless of where you are physically in your life, do yourself a favor and try Bikram Hot Yoga! I never imagined I could like something so much! All of the instructors are AWESOME and they make you feel so welcome all the time. I’m a Yogie for life!!!
Releasing Physical and Emotional Tightness with Yin Yoga
Meet long-time Bikram practitioner turned Yin lover Lucy!
Yin yoga has been such an unexpected gem to find at Hot Yoga Richmond. As a former ballet dancer, runner, and swimmer, I started yoga as a means to continue my athletic journey but in a safer, less impactful environment as well as to heal some injuries that have plagued me for decades. The 26&2 series immediately appealed to my inner athlete and Type A personality — challenging, , sweaty, lots of cardio, and a feeling of accomplishment at the end of every class. but when I attended the Yin teacher training with Ida Ripley, I learned a whole new benefit to slow, intentional, and mindful stretching. Yin uses gentle poses for long periods of time — the depth of the posture is not the goal, but instead you use the long holds in postures to move and stretch rarely protracted fascia. The 26&2 class is very yang, which means you use your muscles to stretch your ligaments and tendons. The goal of yin is to NOT use your muscles — may the hardest part for me to learn! At the end of a 60 or 75min warm Yin class I feel restored (rather than depleted) and my joints and ligaments feel realigned and open without feeling painful or tight. And without sounding completely off my rocker, I’ve even had emotional releases from these types of postures, which I understand is a common reaction in Yin practitioners. Releasing physical and emotional tightness is now a benefit that my body craves. Yin is the perfect compliment to a 26&2 practice as well as a wonderful yoga for first-timers or athletes trying to find new ways to improve the function of their bodies.
Lucy Homiller
Yoga to Thrive
Originally posted on June 19, 2018
Meet Holly!
Where to begin with the never ending list of gifts this practice has brought to my world? My name is Holly and I began Bikram yoga back in 1999 in Seattle, WA. During that time it wasn't my primary practice, but then nothing really was. you see as a quintessential dabbler at heart, like many of us, it was always difficult to choose. Since moving to RVA in 2001, I continued my dabbler days, always having Bikram yoga as my back pocket yoga "go to" for all of the immediate benefits it offered - joints free of any stiffness or pain, a respiratory system that always got a reboot after reach class, allergy free living, as well as, a general sense of peace in a body at once enervated and relaxed.
Then, an interesting thing occurred many years later. In 2011, I contracted an autoimmune disorder that forced me to reevaluate every physical, emotional, and nutritional step forward. At that point, gone were the days of Zumba, dance, or essentially any aerobic endeavor, and Bikram yoga became a devotional practice which I savored 3 to 4 times per week. Now, 7 years later, with a heart brimming with gratitude and a pain free body, there is a constant skip in my stride. I still joyfully continue this practice, honoring the core principals of a 26 pose series designed to sequentially open each and every part of your body (including its 13 systems!) as they naturally unfold. The benefit of having each pose 2 times per class allows for greater body awareness and intuition, as you scan more in the first, and allow for release in the second. And probably my most favorite principle is the maximum contraction vs. maximum relaxation at play in each pose. Bikram encourages the discovery and understanding of how this active vs. passive discipline assist in creating a body and mind at ease with itself, both in class, and in life.
Did I mention the heat?! Please relieve yourselves of any worry or concern! I'm currently going through my own tropical heat wave as a maturing female, and even then I end up sweating a whole lot less in the outside world than I ever would sans Bikram. The heat is nothing short of an amazing opportunity. Yes! It is an opportunity to extend deeper into the tendinous body, increasing circulation and breath awareness, while slipping into a meditative third eye state. This provides a focus which keeps your mind and eyes from wandering off, as you stare gently and kindly at your own reflection in the mirrors. I, like many other veterans, like to don a smile, regardless of the precision or flailing of the asanas. This always helps me remember to be present and grateful
And the Community! Did I mention how BYRVA feels like a home away from home?! Whether from the students or the teachers, there is a genuine warmth (no pun intended) and kindness that pervades a simple and gorgeously adorned studio. So, get ready to feel like you're in the Caribbean year round! Throw away all the preconceived notions of, 'I've got bad knees' or 'I've got high blood pressure.' Realize THAT is no longer the message you need to carry. After a doctor's diagnosis of knees in stages 3 and 4 arthritis some 20 years ago, my knees are still my greatest teachers and show up to class in ways that make me proud. Heck, I've even known many along my Bikram journey to throw away their need for medicines, and embark on a pain free/symptom free life of enhanced joy and awareness, as a result of a committed practice. Give yourself the gift of at least 3 classes to see and feel your own difference. Like a dear friend, this practice has me 20 years in, and I'm still discovering things about my body and mind and their essential connection to a thriving life. Don't wait, time to THRIVE!
Yoga for Change
Originally posted on April 3, 2018
Meet Debbie!
"Halfway into a 60 day challenge and oh my goodness I couldn't be happier I made this commitment for myself. I've loved Bikram Yoga Richmond for some years, and at times I've been more consistent than others. This challenge is just what I needed to make a big change and it's already made such a difference. My practice has never been better and each session improves on the last. I'm eating better, sleeping better and all around happier. Some may even say nicer too! This isn't going to just be a 60 day challenge but a whole new way of being kind to myself. Thank you Bikram Yoga and each of your fantastic teachers for helping me be kinder to myself.
***Here is a photo of Debbie rocking out her backbend from over a year ago. Stay tuned for "after" picture!***
Yoga for the Family
Originally Posted on May 15, 2018
Hot yoga power couple Mike and Aster have been practicing with us for years! Their kids even practice! Here is a little something they have to say about their practices:
I have worked out in various ways for many years - lifting, running, cross training and martial arts. Bikram Hot Yoga has BY FAR been my most comprehensive, whole body workout by combing balance, stretching, controlled breathing and isometric movements. It is the one routine that I hope to do well into my senior years.
- Mike Herring
Hot yoga has been a healing practice for me and I started back in Dec 2010. It is still a challenge EVERY TIME I show up and I learn something new almost every class.
My favorite thing about taking classes is that it’s a 2+ hours of “me time”...no phones, no dinner questions, ‘just be quiet and do as you are told’ time. I LOVE that.
I also love that it is something I can do for years to come and with my whole family.
-Aster Kidane
