My second yoga injury :(

As happy as my advanced bikram class made me, it did give me an injury. My advice, take it slow. I know you got all the bends, the flexibility but still look at your instructor's posture, listen to all the cues instructions properly and then execute the flow.

Its been 2 weeks of my lower back paying the price for my over excitement of showing off. When my class ended, it didn't hurt for 2 more days which just says I should have rested at least 2 days before I resumed my usual yoga. My enthusiasm killed my back. Since then, all the efforts to heal it have been vain. My dreams of getting 2 more perfect classes before I head for 3 weeks vacation are over. Hmm its not that sad. Its healing but timing couldn't be more wrong. This is straight 6 weeks of weak yoga. On top of that, all people who practice with me are going to be far ahead by the time I come back. This sucks.

Its my own doing of course. When you do some pose you have never done, please be careful. Listen to your body, your teacher. Take it in slow perfect motions. It might take 2 classes but at least you will not hurt yourself and loose more practice time. My back can't even take a camel pose now, I know I know. After an advanced class, take a break for at least 2 days. Ohh I wish someone told me this.

Lead with your chest. Don't use lower back in poses when it is not supposed to be. The green side of all this is now when I am in class, my back pain is helping me figure out which poses I was doing wrong. Also, you can't just sit at home. If you stop moving, it will get weaker. So get back in motion swiftly.

My yoga teacher suggested getting epsom salts which were great help too. Soak in them for 15 minutes in around 100 degrees. Be ready to doze off.  She pointed out my posture is wrong most of the time. Use your core archi. Suck it in other wise your lower back will suffer.

 If you get hurt, let it heal, let your body do its work. Just go with the flow. Thats all we can do anyways ;)

NAMASTE

My first advanced bikram class :)

Yay my first advanced bikram class or should I say happiest hours of my life. The feeling of boredom was sinking in. It was like there was this series of poses we did everyday, improvements were less visible. No goal was in sight. I felt like there were another 2 years of a fixed process.

Then out of the blue came this advanced bikram class. When I asked my yoga teacher, he was like you might not be able to do anything but it will be fun. Hmmm not the sort of encouragement you look for, heyy its better than disappointment that creeps up on my face after yang class. He was just trying to keep me grounded.

Finally the day came, my yoga mat arrived. We keep doing camels, spine strengthening religiously. This class is the payback time. Obviously I wasn't perfect in the poses but some of them came to me naturally. My body was ready for the challenging bends. Feeling of accomplishing after a long wait is like the taste of water in a humid desert.

If you ever feel bored in your practice, try pinterest for advanced bikram poses. I think it will cheer you up as you get into these ridiculous looking bends. There is always so much to look forward in yoga especially as a beginner a whole new world awaits. Finding new classes, new practices, new bends is all magic for me. The best part of yoga is people are crossing thresholds of body control. Then there is always calisthenics for the gymnastics in you.

There was another fun class that included cameras. They were shooting for some promotion. Well, show business is demanding. The me me who rests in the first warrior 2 pulled off all the 1 hour moves without fussing sweating. In fact it was my best yoga performance. Whenever you feel like giving up, just say to yourself "If I can do this, I can do anything in life"

NAMASTE