I was talking to my friend today, who was griping about how she had to pay a fee to change her plane ticket, and she was ANGRY. Later in the day, I was shopping at Trader Joe’s and some woman yelled at me in the parking lot for and almost drove her car into my car because I apparently cut her off. This made me ANNOYED. These situations happen almost every day; some people yell, some cry, some complain, and some even try to run you over. Believe me, I’m not one to stay calm and deal with every situation in the most mature way all the time, but when something doesn’t go your way, it’s important to find a way to channel your negative energy into something positive. If you get mad or upset, who are you helping?

How do you release tension and rid yourself of unhealthy thoughts?

With my personal training test coming up, I’ve been studying intensely over the last few weeks to get those last few chapters finished, and yoga has been my good friend. When I want to turn off my brain and relax, I head over to Sol Yoga, my favorite hot yoga studio in San Diego’s La Jolla area. I have taken a couple different classes, but I love Power1 because it’s a combination of Vinyasa flow (different poses each class) with Bikram (the same 26 poses every class). The class is 60 minutes and the room is heated to 95 degrees, whereas traditional Bikram is 90 minutes and heated to around 105.

If you love regular yoga, you will really love hot yoga…once you get accustomed to the intensity and sweat dripping out of your pores onto your towel and the floor (literally). I do a lot of weight lifting outside of yoga, so I love coming to class a day after a tough workout at the gym because I get to really stretch my body and relax the tight muscles. Also, a lot of people don’t realize that yoga is a full body, conditioning workout, so if you don’t believe me, try it and let me know!

One of the most important parts of yoga is breathing. In our respiration process, we breathe in oxygen, which goes through our systems in a form of energy to charge our different body parts; we then exhale carbon dioxide and all toxic wastes from our body. Through the practice of yoga breathing, the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide is attained, so with your breath as your guide, poses become easier and more fluid. I have always had issues with breathing (I’m a chest breather, rather than a stomach breather), and yoga has been instrumental in improving my technique and reducing anxiety. Other benefits of yoga are listed below (from Sol’s website).

Sol is great because most of the teachers will adjust your form to make sure your body is in ideal alignment. You want to make sure each posture is correct to reduce the chance of an injury, and when you leave class, you will be more aware of how you move in other situations. One of my favorite instructors is Chaise, because she makes a point to correct and help students achieve the best postures. In addition, she makes yoga approachable.

One of my favorite poses is Ardha-Kurmasana (half tortoise pose). Half tortoise is great for tense necks and shoulders, increases blood flow to the brain, which enhances memory and mental clarity, and this posture also stretches the lower part of the lungs, which is therapeutic for asthma, and counter indigestion, flatulence, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. If you type all day on a computer, you will love this pose, too! I’m sorry about the picture—it’s the best I could find.

BENEFITS OF YOGA
Physiological
Weight control
Increase strength and flexibility
Strengthen and tone the body
Increase energy
Improve circulation and complexion
Posture and alignment improvement

Psychological
Relieve mild depression, anxiety, and fatigue
Improve sense of well being
Improved sleep
Personal growth and self awareness
Promotes peace and relaxation
Better mental function and focus

Biochemical
Detoxify and stimulate organs and glands
Improve metabolism
Stimulate central nervous system
Improved immune response

I have tried many types of yoga; from Vinyasa (and other variations) at the gym to Bikram at a studio to a yoga on a rooftop in India. Sivananda is where you will find the most well-trained and committed instructors, in my opinion, and in an environment that makes you feel relaxed and at peace. I’m raving about the quality of this studio, however, I’m really not a big yoga person, so me talking about Sivananda says a lot. The yoga here is slow moving and more laid-back than I’d like in a workout; nonetheless, I like coming every few months to balance out my system and meditate (or something).

I took the open yoga session, which goes for an hour and a half and includes Pranayama (breathing exercises), a regular series of Asanas including sun salutations, and relaxation. You can choose from beginner, gentle, advanced, prenatal, Satsang (group meditation) and open classes. Because the poses are slow-paced, this class gives you a chance to work on balance and technique.

This is not only a yoga studio, there are cooking workshops and other courses, and they have a wide selection of yoga supplies including books, mats, etc. If you’re lucky to come to one of the open houses, you will be able to stay for one of the most delicious vegetarian meals of your life. If you are a member, you may get free meals (?), but I highly recommend that you check this place out at least once.

Classes are priced from $8 (gentle) to $12 or you can buy an unlimited month class pass for $125. With the prices for working out around the city, Sivananda is very reasonable and, when I go once every three months, I don’t mind the $12 entrance fee.

The 26 Poses of Bikram

About three years 3 ago I tried Bikram Yoga, but I figured it was time I actually tried it for a few weeks at a time to really get a grasp on whether I like it or not. Yesterday was day one at Bikram Yoga Manhattan in Soho (one of their 3 locations). The Spring Street studio is pretty basic: a small waiting room with a water cooler and coat rack and two changing rooms with showers that I probably won’t ever shower in. The instructor, Byron, who was wearing a very small piece of clothing (his almost shorts) was also the receptionist. I paid $20 for 7 days of practice — a typical first-time Bikram fee.

Because it’s hotter than a tropical country, you need very little clothing; I only wore a sports bra and short shorts because anything else would have been too much…meanwhile it was 32 degrees and snowing outside. The class started out with Pranayama Breathing where you should be inhaling six pounds of oxygen in six seconds, but I apparently need some practice because I could only go for maybe three seconds. This pose has been proven to not only increase oxygen content to the bloodstream and quadruple lung capacity, but it strengthens leg and abdominal muscles, among other things.

I was literally dripping sweat (I hate the word literally, but it’s completely appropriate in this context) from every part of my body, even from the bottom of my feet. At one point we were doing the pose Dandayamana Janushirasana where I had to interlock my fingers around my right foot while trying to straighten my right leg and lock my knee while keeping my left leg locked – the problem was that my hands kept slipping off my foot. As the class progressed each pose became a little more invigorating and difficult, but each was in preparation for the next. Toward the end of class, we lay in Savasana (dead body pose) in order to return circulation to normal and sustain concentration before progressing. Savasana is also a great way to improve hypertension, nervousness, anxiety, and irritability and generally just feels good at the end of any workout.

Indeed Bikram is a challenge, but I learned that it’s not whether you can do the pose to its full extent, but that you concentrate and use the will power to hold that pose for one minute or more without losing focus. I like this concept and can incorporate the inspiration into my day-to-day routine, in both business and personal situations.

I don’t want to go to class on Thursday morning at 7am for 90 minutes (the class is offered at many different times), but I know that once 8:31 rolls around, I will be more than thrilled that I made that decision. I will keep you posted on the next days of my practice.