Denis Marion is the male winner of our Bikram testimonial contest. He scored an unlimited 3 months membership at SSHY. Congrats Denis on your incredible progress. We appreciate you sharing your journey!

Bikram yoga testimonial - Denis Marion

I’m guessing you have all heard the saying, “Never judge a book by its cover.” Not that I like comparing myself to a book; however, this saying is very accurate when it comes to my physical story. On the outside the story looks pretty darn good; however, once you get past the cover, the inside tells you a very different story. All the abuse my body had been through over the past three decades; bodybuilding for over 30 years and employed as a Winnipeg Firefighter for 20 plus years, had finally taken its toll on me.

In October, 2009 on my way back home from a chiropractor’s appointment, for some reason I decided to drive down Stafford Street. Sitting in traffic, I happened to look over to my right and I saw the sign for Stafford Street Hot Yoga. Living with daily, chronic pain can leave a person feeling beaten, tired and frustrated and that is exactly how I felt when I made the decision to turn into the parking lot to check this yoga place out. I had tried just about everything else, so why not Bikram yoga?

I was greeted at the front desk by two gentlemen, Todd and Kevin, who took the time to explain what SSHY was about and what I could expect by attending classes. After Kevin gave me a tour of the facility, I immediately made the decision to try it out for a week before committing to anything long term. The next day, I showed up and as a matter of fact, I ended up going 5 days out of 7 in that very first week.
It was very difficult in the beginning, but at the same time something inside of me was telling me this was the right thing to do. I decided to start buying 10 and 20 visit packages, only because I was not sure how many days per month I could commit to attending regular classes. I started to arrive early before my class, read the books in the lounge area and would often get tips from Amanda and all the Bikram instructors to help me with areas I was struggling with.

When I started taking classes my body was like a board. No flexibility and barely any range of motion. I was in a lot of pain from head to toe. Past injuries included dislocated shoulders, broken bones, torn ligaments and tendons everywhere in my body. Doctors have said that had it not been for all the muscles I had built up over the years, I should have been seriously injured or dead by now.  To heal both mind and body I have tried everything from therapies, massage, reading, chiropractors, and herbalists. With trying all of these different methods I would only receive temporary relief; however, since doing hot yoga my visits to these practitioners have become less and less.

My overall health, just like for most us, is very important to me. There are many other things I do to ensure I live a healthy lifestyle, but since introducing yoga into my routine I have a new lease on life. When I think back to how I felt physically and emotionally when I first walked through the doors of SSHY the transformation has been unbelievable. I can proudly say for the first time in over 20 years, I’m living a pain-free life. I feel younger, energized and ALIVE!

I have been with SSHY for over two years and the journey has not been easy. I had to endure a lot of pain in order to heal my old injuries just like Amanda said I would experience. She kept my hope alive by encouraging me to work and push past the pain in order to heal the deep-rooted injuries. I know there are other yoga studios throughout our city, but making that decision to drive down Stafford was the best decision I could have ever made for myself and for my overall well-being. Why would I want to go anywhere else? The staff and studio are first rate. The people who attend are great. The location is ideal. Yoga is not only great for your body, but it does wonders for your mind and soul. To be able to release the stress from our everyday lives, I believe that if more people gave yoga an honest and committed effort there would be a lot less people dealing with serious health issues. Take it from me. I’m living proof of that.

Namaste ~ Denis Marion

Standing Bow Pulling Pose - Dandayamana-Dhanurasana

Standing Bow Pulling pose is the sixth posture in the Bikram Yoga series. It is directly after Standing Head to Knee Pose, so before you set up, breathe deeply to recover and prepare for the demands of this posture.

The set up is vital in all the Bikram postures but in Bow the set up is often the most challenging aspect. Many students have difficulty reaching their foot and bringing the knees together to start. This is most often due to tight hip flexors and/or quadriceps. These muscles are commonly tight on athletes and non-athletes alike; so don’t be discouraged if you have difficulty. Remember that you should “never build a house on a weak foundation”. Be patient and set the posture up properly.

The most common error I see in Bow is students allowing their ego to get the best of them. Leave your ego at the door and do the posture with your best form and alignment; depth will come with time.  Bikram says, “Take the time to get yourself firmly grounded and set on your standing leg before you bring your body forward and down. When you begin to move, take your time and stay in control. The most important advice I can give you here is don’t be in a hurry to dive into this position.”

When you enter the posture, stretch forward and kick back equally and simultaneously 50/50. “In one solid piece from the hips to the fingertips, roll forward like a wheel until your abdomen is parallel to the floor.”  Lock your standing knee and “let the power of the kick do the work”. Watch for your bent knee in the mirror. If you see it peek out to the side of your body, bring it back into alignment, straight back and up. Do not let your knee “wing” out to the side. If you can see your knee it should be above your head in the mirror. Most humans will be happy to see their foot above their head but make sure it is in the centre of your head when you see it. Stretch your fingers forward toward the mirror and try to “touch your eyebrow, not your chin, not your nose”. Encouraging words from Craig Villani.

If you fall out of Bow (and sometimes you will), try to get back into the posture, but be sure to set it up again from the beginning. Don’t rush! Personally, I use the first set for endurance, adjustments and alignment, so I don’t try for my “edge” in the first set. In the second set, I push myself to that “edge” and work on greater depth.

Benefits of the Bikram Standing Bow Pose:

•    Standing Bow moves the blood from one side of the body to the other, then back again.
•    It develops balance, increases the size and elasticity of the rib cage and firms the abdominal wall and upper thighs.
•    It improves the flexibility and strength of the lower spine.
•    Standing Bow builds patience, determination and concentration.

Enjoy Bow Pulling Pose! ~Todd

Giselle Aviles is the grand prize winner of the testimonial contest, taking home a 3 months unlimited Bikram pass. Giselle just completed our latest 30 day challenge - her 3rd challenge at SSHY! Way to go!

My Bikram journey of healing and growth began when my physician asked me if I had heard of hot yoga.  I had been having challenges maintaining my blood pressure.  In fact, I had been diagnosed with anemia as a child.  I had been practicing other types of yoga for a few months, had been a runner, and did light weights at the gym, but I had always felt that "something" was missing.  I pondered his idea for a few months, not only challenged by my fear of heat, but also my fear of being in a smaller room full of people.  Finally, with a few deep breaths, I entered the hot room for the first time in 2007.

I began to practice at Stafford Street Hot Yoga in 2009, and entered my first 30-day Bikram challenge.  I didn’t know if I could really survive, but I did!  I felt amazing support and determination from my fellow challengers. There was such an array of emotions – we laughed, we cried, we suffered, and we conquered.  And following the challenge, I took my practice to a new level; doing the hot yoga so consistently had helped me let go of the anxiety and shyness that had plagued me.  My practice was no longer defined by how others perceived me, but by how I saw myself.  In the hot room, it was my time.

In February 2010, I had stumbled on a rock along my Bikram hot yoga path when I severly injured my right hamstring.  I went through a month of intense physiotherapy on crutches before returning to the hot room.  I was reluctant, but I knew that I needed to. 

My first class back was the most difficult class that I had ever taken.  I was thinking about how I was starting all over when I heard one of Bikram’s mantras called out by the instructor: "You're never too old, never too bad, never too late and never too sick to start from the scratch once again."  My injury had created an opportunity to change my focus in my practice – to really listen to my body and mind!  I realized that depth wasn't the key, but my energy towards the postures!  And despite the setback, I became stronger than before, completed my second 30-day challenge that year, and a third in 2011!    

~ Giselle

This is a testimonial from Paul who won an honourable mention for his creativity (a dozen love buns from Ume's Kitchen)...

A farmer parked his combine behind his barn after the fall harvest.  However, he quit farming and moved away that winter, renting out the land to another farmer.  The combine was left there and forgotten. 
 
The machine sat there unnoticed for a very long time.
 
The farmer came back to the land to farm again after many years later and found the combine exactly where he had left it.  It was in bad shape.  The machine had sat through many dry, hot summers and cold, harsh winters without being used or maintained.  It had been pelted by rain and hail and had endured gale force winds.  Most of the gears and sprockets on the machine had become rusted and would not turn.  The motor would start but the machine struggled to move even an inch.  In fact, none of the parts seemed to move at all.
 
It seemed hopeless that the combine would ever work or run properly. The farmer wondered if he should even bother trying to fix it.  But the machine had worked well before so he decided to give it a shot.

The farmer set to work on combine.  Everyday, he added oil and grease all the gears and sprockets that would not move.  He used a wrench with as much force as he could muster to try and turn them, but they would not loosen.  The farmer was dismayed but kept at it.
 
One week went by and the farmer went out to add oil and grease to the gears and sprockets.  He used a wrench to turn one of the sprockets and lo and behold it began to move, ever so slightly.  He tried the same thing with one of the gears and it too turned, just a tiny bit.  The same thing happened with all the other the gears and sprockets.
 
The next day, the farmer added oil and grease and all the gears and sprockets and again, they all turned a little bit more.
 
After a few months, most of the gears and sprockets were turning.  Mind you, they were all not working at full capacity, so the farmer kept oiling and greasing the parts everyday.  

Finally, fall arrived and it was time to harvest the grain. The farmer oiled and greased the machine.  He started the motor and slowly put the combine into action.  Sure enough, the gears and sprockets began to turn and the combine moved through the field, harvesting the grain with ease.  The combine never broke down again and  farmer was able to use it for harvest every year after that. Of course, he kept oiling and greasing all the moving parts everyday (almost)!
 
Definitions: 
Farmer - mind
Combine - body
Gears and sprockets – arms, legs, neck, spine, ankles, knees, toes, arms, elbows, fingers, calves, thighs, skin, back, front, bottom, top, side and all other parts of the body
Wrench, Oil and Grease - Bikram's Hot Yoga
Harvest the Grain – Being able to move body parts with ease and live a healthy life

~ Paul
 

How easy it is. Develop your abdominal muscles in Bikram Yoga!

Happy Holidays fellow yogis and yoginis!  Along with the holidays comes delicious over indulgence…sweets, goodies and libations abound!  So, let us take notes on how we can all continue to feel good through the holidays!

It’s often our bellies that take a hit, so I will share with you some Bikram yoga tips!

Starting with Pranayama breathing exercise- You must work extra hard and when inhaling, SUCK your stomach IN.  You try your best to see your rib cage in the mirror.  For those who have extra inches, even if you cannot see your ribs, the more you try to do it, you will start to feel it, then eventually, it WILL happen!

Try being aware of this all of the 20 breaths, and your abdominals should be sore the next day.

In Awkward Pose- Very important to use your abs.  In all 3 parts, keep your stomach sucked in, and do your best to breathe slow and normal as possible.  Again, try to see your rib cage in the mirror.  This use of the stomach muscles will also prevent and help heal your back pain.

In Eagle Pose- same thing, keep that belly sucked in.  Rib cage visible, upper body arched like backward bending.

There are many other Bikram poses where you can use your abdominals more.  Standing forehead to knee requires the use of these muscles to help you touch your forehead to knee. Try this awareness from now on in your Bikram practice, and look forward to amazing results! 

To keep inches off and stay trim through the eating of 3 xmas dinners:

...CHEW your food...

This is the most profound way to improve digestion, to keep from over eating, and to improve your bodies’ ability of actually absorbing nutrients.  You want to try and chew your food minimum 30x per bite.  No joke, you will lose weight if you do this.  And it’s absolutely free!  Just think of it - by chewing you will also enjoy more flavours, more satisfaction, more joy! 

Happy eating!              

xox Amanda