I got started on a yoga kick with the Wii. The Wii Fit Program 
eases you into yoga in the comfort and privacy of your own living room so that no one is there to see you fall off the Wii Fit Board attempting to do the Tree or the Downward Facing Dog for the first time. Yoga (once you get past the basics) gives you flexibility and range of motion, defines your muscles and if you don't try and speed through it (as I'm known to do) can calm you down and center you.
eases you into yoga in the comfort and privacy of your own living room so that no one is there to see you fall off the Wii Fit Board attempting to do the Tree or the Downward Facing Dog for the first time. Yoga (once you get past the basics) gives you flexibility and range of motion, defines your muscles and if you don't try and speed through it (as I'm known to do) can calm you down and center you.Armed with my fourteen months of Wii yoga, I decided to drop in on a class at a small club up the street. I walked in all smiles and asked when the next beginners' class was. The perky and pony-tailed woman behind the counter smiled and pointed, "They are starting a Bikram class in five minutes in Studio A." I paid my little money, tucked my purple yoga mat and water under my arm and strode over to kick this classes' ass. Never occured to me to ask what or who Bikram was.
I walked in the room and noticed it was quite warm. [<~~I'll take "understatement" for $1000, Alex] As I unfurled my mat and set down my water bottle, the woman closest to me pointed at the bottle and laughed, "That's perfect for this class." My eco-conscious H2O carrier (don't judge me, that's how the package read) looks like this:
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| Sorry for the blur. Blackberry pic at midnight. You get the point. |
I smiled but still didn't really get it. It wasn't until the instructor came in and started talking that I knew I was in trouble. She bounced in a teeny-tiny top and a whisper thin short-shorts. I should have known something was up right then.
"Welcome newbies, how many of you have done Bikram yoga before?" A few people put up their hands. She smiled and nodded, "Bikram yoga is a specialized version of Hot yoga which is done in rooms ranging from 95 to 105 degrees. There are 26 yoga poses involved. The body gets very warm and allows increased flexibility and release of toxins. You will LOVE it! Let's go!"
95°? Did she just say 95° - 105°? Aw hell no! People who know me (very) well know that I always say... there's only a few good reasons to really work up a sweat. Hot yoga ain't one of them. But I had paid my money and didn't want to appear wimpy (though I really am) so I stayed. We started with some basic standing postures, okay - these I could nail. They were holding poses a little longer than the Wii program but so far, so good. Then she moved into a toe touch pose and a easy balance pose, still good. Then to the Eagle pose where you squat and balance on your tip toes?
Okay, I may have said this somewhere else on this blog: I'm a top heavy chick with no butt and small ankles - gravity defying activites are not my friend. Skating? No ma'am. Snow skiing? No sir. Walking down stairs at more than a leisurely pace? Uh-uh, not gonna happen. Now if you require buoyancy - swimming, water-skiing, bouncing - I'm your girl. But the tippy-toe squat? With sweat already rolling? (Did I mention it was hell-like hot?) Not pretty but I managed it.
The next pose was called Standing Head to Knee:
Yeah so... hell no. The instructor called me out, "You're wobbling, steady your right leg and tighten your core muscles for balance." Uh - if my core muscles were tight, I wouldn't be here - okay? You remember the toy Weebles
? They had the catchy commercial: "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down?" Here's how that worked out for me -
? They had the catchy commercial: "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down?" Here's how that worked out for me -
When they moved into the next poses, I was out of there. Back to my Wii
, where the instructor gets a little snarky ("Come back every day so you can do better") but I don't sweat out all my cute in two minutes or fear blacking out in public. I don't do heat. Mr. Bikram can miss me with that. I will have to achieve my Zen state at seventy-six degrees or less.
, where the instructor gets a little snarky ("Come back every day so you can do better") but I don't sweat out all my cute in two minutes or fear blacking out in public. I don't do heat. Mr. Bikram can miss me with that. I will have to achieve my Zen state at seventy-six degrees or less. For those of you getting your giggle on (yes, I see you); peep the pose chart for this class here. Now imagine holding each pose (twice) for over four minutes each in one hundred degrees. Uh-huh.
BougieLand - talk to me of your exercise successes (and misses). I have fallen in love with cardio-boxing, given the side-eye to Stripper Aerobics (a whole other post) and want to go back to Zumba. Has anybody tried P90X? Let's get some sharing going people. I know we have one personal trainer (Steve), a marathon runner (Amy Berry), a professional dancer (Joy) and a cyclist (David) - so we should get some excellent fitness tips. The floor is yours...
96 comments:
I would have bounced the minute I heard 95 degrees. Seriously, it's hard enough to work out under normal temperatures.
"Call 911! I weebled I wobbled and now I can't get up!" Funny!
Any of the poses starting with a P, G, U...pretty much about 26 out of the 30 will not be happening here. I am sure that I can hold the Corpse pose for about 20 minutes. And in 95-100 degree heat, I am quite sure it wouldn't just be a pose, it would be a way of life.
I got hooked on Zumba last year before I started school full-time (while working full-time) and I am in love with it. And I was crazy about Step aerobics as well (still have my steps) but this Hot Yoga - can't do it. You probably have to drink about a gallon of water before class and two gallons afterward.
I love my Wii - until I created my little avatar and it asked me to put my height and weight in. Yeah - not so cute and funny after all. But it is still a lot of fun to do when nobody is there watching you play tennis or bowl!
Oh Hot Yoga!!! I was actually going to do a 30 day challenge. It would require going everyday for 30 straight days. Mind you I have not worked out in over a year and cannot touch my toes. When I found a yoga studio close to my apt that offered a 90 day challenge I was all in!!! I was really going to do this and do an intense morning workout, then my landlady/friend shed some much needed insight, "So you want to do TurboFire (p90x's cousin) and a Hot Yoga 90 day challenge and you have not worked out in how long, why don't you just take it slow and do one thing at a time?" So glad I listened. TurboFire alone is whipping my arss!!!!!! I have a really bad tendency of biting off way more than I can chew and I end up either choking or throwing up!!! BTW TurboFire is crazy and I am still on week 1, I bought it in august, I keep on stopping and starting. I know a few people who LOVE p90x, it is definitely no joke.
Oh yeah, I also had never taken a yoga class and though I could do a 90 day Bikram yoga challenge just like that. What the H was I on!!!!!
I got turned onto hot yoga about a decade ago at a studio across the street f/ my then-job. I actually prefer it to stretching in normal temperatures, as I’m chronically inflexible. I haven’t been consistent—months on, years off—but I’ve got the basics. That said, when I tried a Bikram class a couple years back, I nearly fainted twice, and rolled out about 30 minutes in. It’s the ultramarathon of yoga.
Kudos to you for at least attempting it Chele. A girlfriend of mine has been trying to get me to go with her for about three months now. She love it (minus the funky few, as she calls them) but I'm with you...the devil can have the heat.
Now, I DO love P90X. The hubby is currently triathalon training, so when he isn't in the gym, he does P90X with me. It is pretty intense, but there are phases and regimens for every fitness level; oh and did I mention that after moving a couch or two and hooking up the dvd player, you can do it in the comfort of your own home? WIN!
Instead of Bikram, find a studio that does a heated Power or Vinyasa Yoga. Bikram heats the room to a specific temp, while Power or Vinyasa simply closes all the windows/doors, turns off the fans & allows the body heat in the room to multiply. Its a more natural heating. You still work up quite a sweat (I find it very cleansing) but its not as jarring to the body.
You also need to drink a lot of water before you do any heated yoga & drink plenty afterwards. If I know I'm going to yoga practice I will start upping my water intake 12-24 hours before the class.
Don't give up on heated yoga, just try a different studio & a style other than Bikram.
Can P90Xwork with bad knees? After 20 years in the military, my knees and lower back are shot, but I want to try something new...
I run, I lift, I'm done.
So one day last year my daughter says, "Mommy, let's try Bikram Yoga - they have a place in Harlem - see?" Since I was all into my exercise & get my weight loss on, I said "why not?" When we walk in the building, she turns around & says, "oh yeah, the room is like 100 degrees - i didn't tell you before cuz I knew you wouldn't come!" :-)
So I was there & I did it & I bought a pass for about a week & went maybe 3 or 4 times. I actually enjoyed it. Of course I couldn't do all the poses but I did my best. At some points I got dizzy & nauseous - but the instructor said just be still & stay in the room til it passed, which I did. I could see the benefit to this - I would certainly lose weight & it would help with my low level flexibility (my partner pointed that out to me). However, I just couldn't commit to the time needed for me to reap benefis. They said I should go a few times a week - there is no studio near my home - I think the session was 90 minutes & it takes me a good 30 minutes (at least) to cool down & shower & be able to move again.
I don't know - your description was hilarious & yes I was one you caught giggling - no really laughing at you! :-) I may try it again. Also - I have a strip aerobics DVD that I kinda liked - don't give me the side eye - & my belly dancing dvd is fun too!
I don't know what kind of Yoga I went to - probably went to an advanced one by mistake but I was lost. I knew none of the poses and they didn't stop to show you and apparently how you breathe is important. I tried Spinning, that kicked my ass. Right now, I'm leaning heavily on good genes and metabolism.
I was a mixed martial arts pro for a little while so tai chi, cardio, boxing and lifting were all day every day. I was good but not great. Only took me getting beat down once for me to say - business school? I have brains, let me use them before they ended up scrambled. But I digress, the point is cardio mixed with resistance training (which the Wii has several programs for) is a great way to get and stay fit. I laughed at the Wii when my girl bought it but EA fitness is the truth.
One of the workouts on the P90x dvds is Plyometrics. That workout is no good if you have bad knees. Substitute the Cardio X workout for that one. You may also have to modify the chest and back workout as well. The whole workout is no joke though. Even the Yoga workout is intense.
Um-hmm, the gene pool/metabolism workout was my plan until I passed 40 and then everything slowed down and shifted south. The Lord giveth and the Lord most definitely taketh away - I was walking for a while but now Chele has me hooked on the Wii. I didn't have thighs like this when I was 25. Amen.
Doing p90x now - it's no joke! Great muscle definition but you definitely work for it.
I don't really work out at all. I have ridiculous metabolism that runs in the family. I watch what I eat but... that about it. Feel free to hate.
ha ha ha ha ha!! i LOVE bikram yoga! but it's INTENSE - they needed to have given you a proper warning before you got stuck in! when i first started, i HATED it, but they warned me i might, and encouraged me to give it a 10 day trial, which i did...and it worked like a charm... to the point that two years after starting, i actually did the 90 day challenge once - it was fantastic, but HEEEECTIC - espesh coz the only classes i could practically attend are at 5h30am...but it did amazing things for my body and meditation! not to mention my skin....
anyhoo, thanks for sharing your HILAR experience! keep them coming!
We are laughing with you! You with the purple yoga mat and bougie H2O carrier - LOL!
I do Step Aerobics and the Nautilus circuit at my gym. When I have time, I swim.
I love Zumba - it's fun but works! Regular sweat, not dying in the Sahara sweat ;-)
You are too funny! I feel you though, Bikram isn't something you just spring on yourself. You plan for that! Surprisingly (to myself), I love Bikram. It's not the only thing I do though. Lately a friend and I have been trying a silks & ropes acrobatics class. It's fun, something different than the gym and that blasted stepmill that hates me. I also do vinyasa yoga which I LOVE!
I LOVE hot yoga. My "light and warm" class was about 95 degrees, I stayed out of the 105 degree class. I like the sweat ... it made me feel like I was actually doing something. However, because of the heat I don't feel all zen and centered, I feel like I just worked out. My regular workout routine consists of cardio on the treadmill and strength training with a stability ball.
I'm not going to lie - the laughing started at the '95 to 105 degrees' line. >:D
This right here ----> "I will have to achieve my Zen state at seventy-six degrees or less."
I went to an Aerobics class with my last girlfriend on a dare - y'all on that extra with that. That was work. I go to a regular old school boxing gym. Work out with jump rope, weight ball, sparring. Some running but I jacked up my knee last year and it's still angry.
The Lord also giveth, then shifts it and expands it...
I went a hot yoga class earlier tis year.. I had to leave.. All that hot air makes me feel like I'm not getting any oxygen. The air was thick!
My local yoga store holds classes for free on Sunday mornings, the magical word is "free." That's a good look. I like yoga though, when I was on it faithfully, my muscles were the most defined they'd ever been..
I do that cardio stuff.. my only issue is that i like working outside.. I don't like my living room. I like dance classes actually. It doesn't feel like working out and I'm actually happy about it. But until I find some classes for free, that ain't gonna happen..
Do that easy yoga! Although I want to rush through mine too because there's no reason for that many sun salutations! My arms hurt. .
Dancers dig yoga. It regulates digestion, breathing and mood when done regularly. The thing with Bikram is that you have to stay with and hydrate. If you don't like heat though... might not be for you. Basic Hatha or Vinyasa yoga still gets it done. I do multiple forms of Yoga and Pilates targeting specific muscle groups. And I run 5 miles a day. Not to mention teaching dance and performing. But, this is what I do for a living :-)
Go head girl - that's... ambitious.
I was taking some hip hop dance classes for a while but it was hard on my old ass knees. Plus they changed instructors and the new girl that came in was crazy. Like "twirl, twirl, jump, split in the air, drop, kick, land on one foot and hold!" <~~No ma'am.
I cut back to skim milk and grilled chicken vs. fried. And no white foods (bread, rice, pasta) - I went all whole/multi grain. How's that for a plan?
I do either 10 or 20 laps a day when I'm not on call. Life of a medical resident is bad for your health. No sleep, quick food on the go, stress. I catch your blog from the lounge between rounds. I'm in Phoenix so I can pretty much swim year round. If only I had the time.
Yeah - I keep rolling off the ball. I have a small weight ball for arms and ab work though.
My younger brother is like that. Eats anything all day and it never catches up with him. I do hate.
Yep. I have EA Fitness and EA More Workouts. I had Dude Formerly Known as New doing the workouts and he couldn't believe how intense they got. They are coming out with an EA NFL Training Camp workout in November.
The Strip Aerobics I tried involved pole work - I. CAN. NOT.
I've agreed to continue to try ;-)
HI-Larious!
I have yet to try Bikram or any other form of Hot Yoga, but regular old warm yoga...I'm a big, big fan! I agree, don't give up on yoga Chele, its definitely worth it, but takes some getting used to...and you definitely shouldn't start with the most intense, try yoga101!
I have fallen off the fitness wagon and have committed to jumping back on the past few weeks. I'm back in the gym 4 days a week with a friend for structure and accountability, or I'd be right on the couch!
I've re-started (for the 4th time) the couch to 5k running program, which is a great baby steps running program for a non-runner such as myself. You work up to running a 5k, 3+ miles, in intervals that increase weekly. Running is also the only thing that I've found to give me consistent weight loss results - add some strength training, and YOGA, and I'm good to go!
It's not for the faint of heart.
P.S. I almost died when I saw your water bottle...in a Bikram class!!!
Finally - a topic I can speak to without getting a bougie side-eye. Basically, if you are maintaining - 30 to 45 minutes three times a week of any cardio/muscle activity is fine. If you are trying to lose, something 30 minutes a day plus calorie reduction is the key for long-term sustainable weight-loss. There's also targeted exercise, quick weight loss, muscle/strength building - it's all completely customizable. Long story short, to look and feel your best - you have to do something. BougieLand can hit me up if they have questions. Advice is free ;-)
It's all that twirl, jump, kick, and hold that let my knees know that they were in their forties and not up to that task. Plus - I have no rhythm and all the wrong things shake. Imma stick with Zumba.
Are you at least lactose-intolerant? Something?!?!?
I think about exercising and then... I sit back down.
"Hot Chocolateing" (see how I used your words, not mine) is aerobic activity. That. is. All.
If it's done correctly.
Ooo-wee. Can a bruh get bougie post on that?
I walk. 20 minutes. Every day. That's it. No fancy.
Thanks for making me smile. The water bottle is beyond cute. I've thought about trying yoga and made some attempts on my own but that is as far as it has gone. The stretches I do to keep my bones and muscles in the right place and keep me from pulling muscles while running are based on the Egoscue Method. I think some of them are yoga based. I've been inventing exercises with these 3 lb hand held weights to try and increase the strength in my arms. I run almost every day, but I'm not really interested in the structure that comes from going to the gym or attending classes. My 2 cents on the after 40 weight gain is that for me it is about what I eat. I've always gained weight easily and lost it slowly. I had friends tell me how much harder it was to lose weight after 40, but for me, it is about the same. It turns out my body doesn't like grains, dairy, and sugar and some of the more starchy and fibrous fruits. If I eat foods my body has no problem digesting then I lose weight without having to pay attention to exactly how much I've eaten. I've almost lost the 30 lbs I gained during the recent disastrous relationship. Consider how much angst occurred during weight loss attempts when I was younger, it is a quiet victory to do it this time with no fuss. Depending on how much it snows this winter and how much I run, I'll probably have it all off by the spring. Good luck with your adventures.
I feel I need you on my Trivial Pursuit/Jeopardy team. You seem to know a little something about everything.
Depending on weather I either swim or jog for 40 minutes about three times a week. I don't do as much lifting/Nautilus as I should. I'm not obsessed with getting a six-pack. 2 or 4 will do.
I've always wanted to try Hot Yoga, and now i know that I might need a home session before i step foot in anyone's studio..so for now...
My exercise consists of Brazilian Samba dance...yes like them chicks in Rio...no joke..now i know why Brazilian women have azzes like whoa and legs like boom pow..i love it...it burns 700 calories in an hour.
"The Lord giveth and the Lord most definitely taketh away"...So true! I want my high metabolism back! LOL
That should be good! I've done a couple of football workouts and they are no joke!
Yeah my cousin who's been working out since Hector was a pup said the same thing!
Let me just add that proper form and breathing are essential to a healthy and successful workout.
LMAO!!!
And often...
I'm currently working through the Jillian Michael 30 Day Shred. Love this DVD (even though I can't complete it yet). 20 minutes work out that you feel immediate results from...
I have the Jillian Michael Wii package. I work out because I eat what I want (mexican food!) when I want it.
I'll have to try it - I'm half Brazilian ;-)
a 2 or 4 pack completely exceeds my expectations!
Look at Riley - keep it classy!
I'm on day five - this is real.
Medical resident in Phoenix *locks it in for future reference*
Just looked at it - Dayum!
LOL at split in the air!
Oh Chele - you crack me up.
I do hate!
Doesn't she though?
I'm 27 - how long do I have?
I'll pay for the YouTube. Who's with me?
Just read something last month that said we should be breaking a sweat every time we work out - and all kinds of salutes to the Bikram enthusiasts here! Get the workout in every day - yoga or whatever works in your life. After two heart surgeries last year, I made myself accountable with a nine-pound, four-legged 'trainer' who is loaded with testosterone and loves the 2.1 miles we do five days a week, and the .5 mile we do on Saturday and Sunday (he has to share his training expertise with his family on weekends). Today was no bueno because it was raining and he does not. do. rain. and refused to walk two feet! I also use the trusty exercise ball and cut the bread, fried food and a lot of meat consumption; I'm finding that I can do 4 or 5 servings of meat in a month and survive. Reconstructed knee, nicely repaired heart and all, I'm determined to be *that woman* living long and healthy!
Get it!
Hard core - I see you!
I looked at it but haven't purchased yet.
Whoa - 700 calories an hour. That's worth a look. I have to trick myself with things are don't necessarily seem like exercise. Samba works.
Yes, the post break up weight loss. Didn't game a lot with Dude Formerly Known as New but S.o> before that - wow! Still taking it off.
Check with you mom, aunt, grandmother. Also depends. If you have no kids or no stress or no lifestyle change or are genetically blessed, you may hold it down for decades.
This is hilarious! People either love or hate Bikram, I have met very few who are in between. I loved Bikram yoga until I reazlied it was wreaking havoc on my sinuses so I had to quit! Hatha yoga is good and has a lot of health benefits as well, my menstrual cramps disappeared when I committed to Hatha yoga everyday.
My fitness routine is subpar right now but I am thinking of two things in the new year: 1) running so I can run a marathon with my brother and 2) training for a triathlon to jolt myself into reality.
The Corpse Pose (number 30) would be the only one I could manage these days......LOL
*dead*
If humor was a deadly weapon, you would be in jail for life! LOL
Yep, all that!
I hat not heard of Hot Yoga or Bikram Yoga so this is eye-opening. 105 degrees?!
What about a no-pack but a dazzling personality?
I was introduced to Bikram Yoga this summer, I was not sure I was going to like it; I'm runner. But after I injured my knee I needed to take easy and a friend suggested I try BY. I did not mind my the heat, but some of the poses are out of this world. Now I go every Sunday and getting the hang of it. However, I have to say I hate the smell, and it could be the facility( it's county subsidized , so you know it's not on the up up. But it's recession proof)I'm using.
So Steve, I can't do squats as I used to due an injury on my right knee, still running but not as intense. What would u suggest I do in place of squats?
Why why laaaawd? ROFLMAO
You sound like me - I told my friend that I dont have to sweat to workout , and she just looked at me like I was stupid. I love zumba , and I want to find another class. Yoga period gets the side eye from me due to the meaning behind some of the movements. And temperatures above 85 ? No maam , chocolate does melt. I do want to try flirty girl fitness though
"I think about exercising and then... I sit back down..." and then I ask to have grapes peeled...
oh my.. is that ur image on the posters advertising the alvin ailey dance company?
saw the show in london last month and i had to stop and pay homage at the poster.
such inspiration.
I did P90 and I was sweating like a slave running to freedom during the warm up yoga. I still do those exercises after lifting weights. I'm in shape but want to take it to the next level. I might Chri'mas myself P90X and see what happens.
Chele, I'm wiping tears out of my eyes...weebles wobble...lmao. seriously! I love yoga girl. love it. I took part in the free yoga in the park this summer, and on occaision during the heat wave, so i think i can handle hot yoga. Currently my most frequent workout is pole dancing. I know you give side eye to the stripperific workouts (please do tell why) but i honestly love it. I started probably 6-7 months ago, and can spin, climb, and hang upside down, and it is challenging. if you want Michelle Obama arms, get friendly with some brass, just go into knowing that pole burn is part of the package, lol. I want to do p90x or the insanity workout, but i know myself too well. I'm not going to bust my own ass after work at home with some dvds. So pole and the occaisional yoga class will have to do for now. I'm still chucking girl...lol...thanks for the laugh.
LOL. That was funny. I'm scared of yoga. I tried kickboxing & pilates; they both kick my butt. LOL. For now, I walk and jog in the park. :)
This is too funny!!
My sister speaks highly of zumba. I'm not a huge fan of having to go to a gym. I keep it simple with running, push-ups and sit-ups.
Ok, You went to Bikram w/o knowing what it was? I'm dying here. It took me 2 years to get the courage to try it. With 1.5 litres of mostly frozen water to make it through, I did it for 2 weeks straight. But it's NO JOKE! I'm surprised they let you leave the class. I've never been to a class in NYC where they allow you to leave. Feeling faint? Sit down. Dehydrated? Sit down. You get the idea. Wow. If you try it again (hahaha) make sure you go to a certified studio.
Hero’s pose is one of my favorite. I love to lay all the way back when I do it. Yoga guru Leeann Carey says that it’s a great one to do after lots of standing poses. She has a great free yoga video on hero’s pose that I thought your readers might like: http://www.planetyoga.com/free-yoga-video-heros-pose/
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