Yoga News April 2010 Vol. 4, Issue 4

Pace Yourself!

The biggest challenge for most new students is to just get used to the heat. It is normal to feel dizzy and nauseous, particularly during the first class, and to have to sit down to recover from time to time. After the first class, students have a better idea of what to expect and can begin to pace themselves better in order to be able to work harder in the class. The objective is to progress over a period of time to the place where one can do all of the poses to some degree, and then to improve endurance and stamina over time.

The issue of pacing oneself is not limited to beginners, however. I regularly observe students who have been coming to class for quite a while who expend all of their energy in the first four poses, after which they end up spending the rest of the class just surviving, and sometimes laying down, for considerable amounts of time.

One way to know if you are over-exerting is to be mindful of your breath. If you are breathing out of control, you need to pull back until you are able to take deep, controlled breaths through your nose. It really is better to do less throughout the entire class than it is to go all out for 5 poses out of 26 and be exhausted for the rest of class. Don't get discouraged if you need to make adjustments in your efforts in class; yoga is a highly variable experience, and some days are better than others. Be patient with yourself.

I thought I'd answer some commonly asked questions in this issue...

How much yoga is too much yoga? How often should I be coming to class?

The answer to this question is varied and complicated. The most important thing for getting benefits from yoga is consistency. I would rather see students consistently take one class per week for years than to take class 6 times per week for 60 days and never come back again.

Yoga should not displace regular aerobic exercise or weight training. This statement might surprise some of you since we are in the yoga business, but yoga is a great component of a well-structured exercise program, not a substitute for all other exercise. So some time needs to be allotted to these other activities.

One last consideration is the ability to work hard in the classes that you do attend. I've watched students attend 4 classes in two days, and by the third class they are barely able to get through the standing series. This is counterproductive; better to attend one class per day and work hard than two per day and lay down for most of the class.

The best advice is to come to class as often as possible given the above considerations. This will vary from person to person an even from time to time. Keep coming and don't quit and you'll benefit from the experience.

You're Invited to Dinner at the Wellness Forum

Thursday, April 29 - 6:00 p.m. Free!

Enjoy a delicious, gourmet vegan meal and participate in an interactive discussion about diet, lifestyle and healthcare. You'll become informed about the latest and best scientific information about health that will allow you to make the most informed decisions for you and your family.

You're welcome to bring friends too! RSVP by calling 614 841-7700 or sign up at the desk when you come to class!

Upcoming VERY Special Event!

The Wellness Forum's Spring Conference is scheduled for May 14-16, and will feature fabulous speakers, amazing food and the chance to get to know some awesome people. But this conference will be different than all of the others because participants will be able to attend the Columbus premiere of the new film Forks Over Knives. This is the film that features Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. Doug Lisle, Dr. John McDougall, and me! The film will not open in theaters until Fall, so this is a rare opportunity to see it early.

The conference will also feature special guests Dr. Alan Goldhamer, owner of True North Health in Santa Rosa and author of The Pleasure Trap and Anya Todd, R.D., who will talk about optimal diets for pregnancy and early childhood.

For ticket information you can go to www.wellnessforum.com or call the office at 614 841-7700.

Meet Betty David-Ross
Yoga Student Since June 2005

Occupation: Teacher (ESL)

What part of town do you live in? Worthington Hills

Hobbies: Neo-science, anything that engages cognitive thinking, audio books

How did you find out about Wellness Forum Hot Yoga? My goddaughter introduced me to a bikram yoga class the day before her wedding in Colorado...I was actually wearing dungarees and a t-shirt...I didn't know any better.

Why did you decide to start attending classes? I fell in love with it just from the first class in Colorado. I looked for a hot yoga studio in Columbus and found The Wellness Forum.

Describe your first few classes. I thought it was great! I love working hard and movement so this class was perfect.

What motivated you to keep coming? It has helped me work through and correct an injury. It has helped me sleep without pain, as well as stand.

How often do you come to class? Between four and seven times a week

What positive changes have you noticed since you started coming to class? I have noticed a better body image; my posture has improved, as well as sleeping better.

What is your least favorite pose and why? It varies to be what is the most difficult pose for me at that time.

What is your favorite pose and why? Whatever posture I am working on improving at the time.

What advice would you give to new yoga students? Concentrate on the basics.

A small request please...

You can help us greatly by PRINTING your name on the class roster so we can read it. Please do this BEFORE going to the dressing rooms, placing your mat in the room etc. A little more organization during class check-in will make life a lot easier for us!