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Do you have the winter blues? You are absolutely NOT alone!

December 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment

This is a topic that not many people want to talk about or even feel comfortable talking about. Depression. It really effects so many people and I am beginning to think it is mostly caused by all of the pressures that we all endure in this crazy world. For 40 million Americans, anxiety disorders are debilitating and omnipresent, and women are twice as likely to suffer as men, according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.

I find myself feeling more blue and down once September is over… Those shorter days and 4:00PM sun settings can really take a toll after so long. I wasn’t going to blog about this topic because I was afraid that too many people would judge me and think I’m crazy, {You might already think that and that’s OK, because we’re all a little nuts!}, but I just ultimately want to be able to help anyone else out there that is feeling sad or depressed. There is nothing wrong with you and it isn’t anything that cannot be fixed. Try to always remember that. Our minds are so extremely powerful and I couldn’t agree more with people that say that they wish they could just shut their brain off and RELAX!

Depression should not be something that we are so sensitive in talking about because 40 million women is not a small number! It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you, your brain just may be wired a little different, but there is help for that! Spring and summer are definitely my favorite times of the year and I am always jealous of those that absolutely LOVE winter and the snow. I am already counting down the days until spring… For real!

However, we can’t change the seasons but we can change our attitude about how we approach the winter blues. This time of year with the holidays has got to be the most stressful time of the year… Wouldn’t you agree?

I have found that for myself, yoga has been a lifesaver! If you have never tried it, please do… There are so many advantages physically and mentally and right now I’d just like to focus on those things that are going to make you happy and feel good about yourself. Getting outside and going for a walk, visiting with a neighbor or friend and doing things that you know will keep you busy may help to reduce the stress and anxiety.

If it is work that is stressing you out… Don’t let it. It’s not worth your health. It just isn’t. And unless you are a doctor, no one is going to die if you aren’t running a marathon at work trying to get everything and then some done just so that you don’t disappoint anyone.

The power of positive thinking is amazing… As long as you can force yourself to do it. Counseling and therapy as well as some natural remedies have helped me… Especially that Vitamin D… That’s my happy pill in the winter! :)

Don’t worry, be happy! :)

Filed Under: Health & Fitness, Self Help, Uncategorized, Winter, Yoga · Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Why I Love Bikram Yoga

June 15, 2011 by 1 Comment

If we are friends chances are you have heard me talk about Bikram Yoga and I have probably tried to get you to come to class with me. It’s an amazing experience that some may associate with “hell” [amateurs!], but I like to think of it as the ultimate mind and body challenge. And, well that’s exactly what it is. About a year and a half ago I went to my first Bikram yoga class and I was absolutely amazed at what it did to my body [I have an old back injury from high school] and how it made me feel [depending on your weight you will burn between 500 - 800 calories per class!] I have even gotten my fiance Nate to go class with me several times, pushing through the mental and physical challenge, and feeling like a million bucks at the end of the 90 minute class.

Bikram Yoga is HOTTTTT yoga, the room is usually at about 101 degrees Farenheit. The class is 90 minutes long and you go through an intense, 26 postures, each done twice. But don’t freak out because anyone can do it. My biggest advice is to make sure you hydrate enough before class and only breathe through your nose [with the exception of the first set of standing deep breathing exercises, called pranayama].  Once you start breathing through your mouth you throw your nervous system all out of whack and that’s when you start to panic and hyperventilate, feeling like you won’t make it through. You need to remain CALM! And as long as you do that, you will eventually train yourself to flow through the postures and they will become easier each and every time.

I love Bikram Yoga because it is a complete body workout. I also love to sweat and if you love to sweat out all the yucky toxins in your body, you want to come to this class.

If you are a runner, you NEED to try this yoga practice. There are many reasons why runners love Bikram:

  • You sweat! Remember that 90% of your body is made up of water, so flushing out toxins and re-hydrating with fresh water will keep your body very happy and healthy. Your skin will love you for it too!
  • You can practice with an injury! If you are a runner, chances are you have had injuries over the years. Get to Bikram! It will cure your injuries [even the old ones that you didn't realize were holding you back in your performance] and keep you in shape. The postures will help to flush out old scar tissue and other yucky toxins leaving your body flushed and back to its natural state [Think for a second of all of the toxins and chemicals in everything... Yeah, wicked scary!]
  • You will build tremendous lung capacity! 90 minutes of Bikram is equivalent to 90 minutes of running as far as your cardiovascular system is concerned.
  • It was improve your posture and give you an incredible spine! After you have been practicing for a while you will notice a wonderful improvement in your back and the way you feel sitting at your desk for eight hours a day. ;)
  • You will sleep better than ever! Make healthier food choices and overall I guarantee that you will feel so much better about yourself, inside and out. Yoga also is responsible for making your body much more immune to disease and sickness.
  • Bikram Yoga will give you the mental push you need that will help you realize that as humans, we have the potential to do absolutely anything we want to do. If you can dream it, you can do it. We all can agree and say “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yoga is great for you…” but this mental and physical challenge will change your life for the better. I guarantee it!

Are you open to trying Bikram Yoga? The 1st step is to have an open mind and the confidence that you can do it! If you live in or around the Portland, Maine area you need to go visit Michael & Angela at their studio, Maine Bikram Yoga. They are both amazing teachers! Your first class is free and they have free childcare [Ages 4 months and up!] Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:30AM and on Saturday’s at 2:00PM, so no excuses!

If you already practice Bikram Yoga, what is biggest benefit or difference that is has made in your body and/or mind?!

 

Legal disclaimer – I am clearly NOT a doctor so don’t listen to what I just said until  you check with your doctor to make sure it is OK for you to practice Bikram Yoga. :)

 

Photos courtesy of Maine Bikram Yoga

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Back to Bikram Yoga After 148 Days Off

October 11, 2010 by 5 Comments

It had been 148 days since my last Bikram yoga class. It was just too hot this summer for me to stay committed to my Bikram yoga practice (Plus it really does get expensive, so I have to limit myself during the year). My local yoga studio, Bikram’s Yoga College of India in Portland, Maine, just got a brand new carpet. I know most of you are thinking “Carpet? Ewww!” Yeah, yeah, the old one did have a funkstank smell, but whatever… it’s sweat…. What do you expect? I am sure those floors get hell-a expensive, depending on what man made material you decide to go with. This new carpet is a soft, velvety material that feels like it is absorbent? I liked it! So, 9:30AM… Here we go. I had mixed feelings about it. It is such an intense 90 minutes, that just getting your butt hydrated, in your car, and off to the studio is an accomplishment in itself. I work in an office and sit at a computer for the majority of the day, everyday and I struggle with sitting up straight!!! When I went to my first Bikram class last December, I immediately noticed how great my back felt. I was in a car accident 10 years ago in high school and did some muscle damage, so anything I can do… I will do it. I cannot say enough about how great it is for everything about you and your body.

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They survived Bikram Yoga…

February 8, 2010 by 8 Comments

But as they said…”BARELY!” On Superbowl Sunday, I brought 3 friends, one of which was my boyfriend Nate & challenged them to the 90 minutes of what they may now consider to be hell. I have been going to Bikram Yoga classes since December 29th & I am hooked. Almost everyone that asks what exactly it is and what they should expect, wants to try it. I would tell someone that hasn’t done it before that it is probably the most intense workout they have ever had. Seriously. I didn’t sugarcoat it at all, except letting them know that the benefits from this practice are nothing short of amazing.

We went to the 2PM class at Bikram’s Yoga College of India in Portland, Maine. We ate about 3 hours prior to class & made sure to drink plenty of water. I know from my own experience, that the first class is quite nerve wracking. You have no idea what to REALLY expect & all the anxious feelings do not help. I realized that there is a class full of about 30 other people that are there for the same reason you are & it really does not matter if you can or cannot do all of the postures. The important thing is that you got in your car, drove your butt to class & made the commitment to be there. The important thing is to just stay in the room which at times feels like your worst enemy at about 100 degrees Fahrenheit (but no more than 105 degrees Fahrenheit). All 3 of my friends achieved that goal & stayed in the class. There were a couple close calls when I thought I was going to lose them to the cool locker room, but I didn’t. They did an excellent job & maintained a positive attitude throughout the entire 90 minutes. I told Nate that if he remembers one thing to do throughout the practice, it is to be mindful of your breathing. You should breathe in through your nose and out through your nose & try to keep a  CALM mind. I made sure to let him know that when you start breathing through your mouth, your nervous systems freaks the heck out & that is when you lose the mental concentration that you need to be successful in getting through the class without panting like a dog. I hope that everyone that tries one class, comes back! Don’t give up! It really gets easier the more you do it & the harder it is for you, the more your body NEEDS it! I think that my 3 friends were very proud of themselves for doing it, as they should be, but the question of the day is…Will they go back?

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Bikram Yoga! I love it!

January 29, 2010 by 4 Comments

Check out this short video on Bikram Yoga. It gives a great little overview of just what the heck this yoga practice is all about. It definitely takes some getting used to, but if you are persistent and push through the suffering (literally, during the 1st class I kinda hated it…I could barely breathe half way through!) But you need to build endurance and strength and BREATHE through your nose only! That is the key to keeping a calm mind & remain positive and tell yourself that you can do it! Keeping calm when sweat is water falling off of you and into your eyes is a challenge but it is well worth it!  By the time class is done you can ring out your clothes, so if you don’t like to sweat I wouldn’t recommend this class to you. But have an open mind & give it a shot, you won’t die, well it’s not likely. You never know, you may actually like it. It can & will change your life if you practice regularly. Oh and to top it off, I have slept better than I have slept in a LONG time since starting this yoga practice at the end of December. :)

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