SWEAT

Finally, I have my laptop back and am able to comfortably return to blogging.  This is been an interesting week, very busy and very challenging.  Healing, it turns out, is a full time commitment. When I am not soaking seeds, planting seeds, watering seeds, harvesting sprouts, blending, chopping, dehydrating, juicing, or washing dishes, I have other "things" that need to get done.  Trivial things such as laundry, meeting with contractors, running to Whole Foods, running to Sprouts, planning birthday parties, picking up dry cleaning, going to doctor's appointments, etc.  Oh, and did I mention that I have a family that likes to spend time with me?  Drama Club meetings? Friends to see?  My life is infinitely busier (yet more fulfilling) than when I was working full time. I am at the very least passionate about what I am doing. I have felt a bit overwhelmed and exhausted by this enormous lifestyle shift and yet I realize what a tremendous blessing it is to be able to have the time, resources, and family support to take the time necessary to heal. Why am I so tired?  Is it detox?  The heat? The amount I am trying to take on? Am I not eating enough? Is it because I can't do wheatgrass?  Why has my skin lost the radiance that it had while at HHI. Lack of humidity?  I am trying to think about what I was doing while at Hippocrates that I am not doing diligently now.  What it boiled down to is this.  SWEAT.  I am not sweating!

Hippocrates focuses on healing.  Healing and detoxification of the body, the mind, and the spirit.  The body cannot heal completely without the mind and the spirit coming into balance.   Apart from the nutritional component at Hippocrates, there is a huge focus on exercise, sweating and detoxing through the skin (the body's largest organ).  They have classes throughout the day and it is emphasized that one should participate in vigorous exercise daily. Vigorous to the point of sweating profusely. Additional ways to detox are to soak in the mineral pool, take salt baths, far infrared saunas, and steam baths.  The only problem is, I have not been able to sweat as much as necessary doing my normal yoga classes, nor have I had access to the mineral pools, saunas, or steams.

Bikram Yoga to the rescue.  I have been fighting the strong messages that I have been receiving for years about this practice. I have made many excuses to not attend such a practice.  I have told myself that it would be too strenuous an activity while healing, that I could not tolerate the heat and it would make me ill, that it does not incorporate the meditation and chanting that I so love, that it is too far from my home, etc. The only thing I did not continually tell myself is how gosh darn good it would be for me!

I woke up 2 Saturdays ago at 6:30am, sat up in bed, got dressed and drove 25 minutes to the nearest Bikram Yoga studio.  I have NO IDEA what compelled me to do this.  I was truly terrified about what was in-store, and perplexed and my determination to go. I was just following this rather intense urge to do it. I had heard stories of people trying it and thinking they would either pass out or vomit. One lady I know did vomit, every class, for the first three classes.  Hence the terror of what I was about to embark on.  Why was I so compelled to do this?  I guess I just knew somewhere deep inside that if I was fighting this so much, that it was something I needed to do.

My first class was BRUTAL.  I made it through about 85% of the poses and the class but I was indeed dizzy, nauseous, exhausted and holy crap, I have NEVER sweat so much.  The room is heated to 104 degrees and the class is 90 minutes long.  I could barely stand up to leave the room, even though I wanted to leave after the first 25 minutes.  I actually parked myself close to the door incase I wanted to bolt. After class, in the lobby, I questioned why anyone would ever return for a second class?  Am I the only one who felt this way?  Clearly not, the room was packed with people who had been doing this for years. So what did I do?  I went back the next day (largely because i was terrified of not being able to move for a week if I did not), and the next and the next ... I have now done 8 classes in 10 days. Is it getting easier?  Yes and no.  I am equally exhausted and fighting my way through every class. Postures that were easy in the beginning are now hard and visa versa. I still can't wait to leave the room after class and get into some cooler air. I have had some strong detox symptoms after class including severe exhaustion where i literally have to nap because I cannot keep my eyes open. What benefits am I seeing?  My stamina is better and I am calmer.  I am toning up very quickly, my face and skin have returned to being radiant and I believe I have clearer thoughts - I actually crave returning to the torture chamber for another round of detox.

Now where does the mind and spirit relation come into play you may ask?  This practice definitely forces you to dig deep and push yourself past any limits you thought you were capable of.  The mind reels and it is deeply apparent what your though system is at any given moment.  You have to battle your way past the voices, constantly re-adjusting the mind set.  I have been brought to tears on a few occasions, not entirely sure if it is an emotional purge from deep within my tissues or if I am just so frustrated at my inability to just enjoy the process! Spiritually, I have had to force myself outside of me.  I have had to reach out to my higher power, call out to God, and whoever else is out there listening just to get through this.  Why is this so hard and is it worth it?  I guess I have to say YES cuz I keep going back.  Here are some benefits of Bikram Yoga:

BENEFITS OF BIKRAM YOGA:

• Reshapes your body
• Restores flexibility
• Tones, strengthens, and lengthens your muscles
• Strengthens your spine
• Improves circulation
• Reduces risk of sports injury and heals injuries
• Achieves relief from pain
• Reduces your weight – lose pounds by balancing your metabolism
• Raises energy level
• Diminishes the effects of stress
• Increases balance, coordination, focus and discipline
• Clears your mind
• Calms your soul
• Ensures healthy and balanced functioning of the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, nervous, digestive, elimination, respiratory, endocrine, and mental systems of the body

BENEFITS OF THE HEAT:

• Warms the muscles for greater flexibility
• Helps achieve a deeper stretch 
• Flushes toxins from the body
• Improves efficiency of the immune system
• Creates a cardiovascular workout
• Burns calories (roughly 800 calories)
• Builds endurance

If anyone local (Phoenix Area) wishes to try out a class, I have free guest passes ... be brave, and sweat yourself to perfect health!  

Namaste.