adding Hot Yoga

[Craig Murray]

In my brief time training JJ I've come to the conclusion that I'm in terrible shape. I'm 42 years old and have not been doing enough to stay in shape over the last... 20 years. I want to improve this, so I've been considering and experimenting with a number of options.. traditional gym, crossfit, at-home kettlebells, and so on.

Finally I've come back to something I've had luck with in the past, hot yoga. I've never been terribly dedicated to it, but I've done a good bit of it. I enjoy it, and it seems to really work well for my body.

There are some things I don't particularly care for: There is no competitive aspect to it, no belts, ranks, or other methods of measuring progress. And aside from all the healthy ladies in class, I have trouble staying motivated. I think these things have contributed to my lack of dedication to it. But now I have good reason, it supports my JJ training.

Of all the hot yoga studios I've been to, my favorite is Bikram. At 105 degress and 90 minutes long, it's the most intense and challenging form I've found. Sadly it's a bit of a drive to the nearest Bikram school, so I'll have to settle for the more typical 90-ish degree Vinyassa flow, set to pop-music, and completely devoid of the spiritual aspects of yoga. That's ok though, I'm only there to improve my cardio, strength, flexibility, and balance.

Lovato's is closed all weekend because most of the coaches are in Houston for the IBJJF competition on Sat. So instead of JJ I'll get to spend my weekend sweating like crazy in a room full of beautiful women who make me look like the sad and pathetic out-of-shape middle aged dude that I am.

If anyone has considered trying hot yoga, I highly recommend it. Especially if you can find a nearby Bikram class. 105 degrees for 90 minutes will challenge even the most physically fit.

Anyone else experiment with hot yoga?

[Sammy Jones]

Yes, been doing Bikram semi-consistently for over 6 years. Love it, swear by it for my knee health. I squeeze in a session whenever I can between JJ training and find it very complementary.

As you say there is no obvious system in Bikram to measure progress beyond good up the front, noobs at the back, but I think there are plenty of ways to measure progress. Unless you can hold the full expression of every posture for the full time, both sets, you've got plenty of room for improvement. I think a great goal to set is to make it through a class no rests, staying in every posture the whole time, not matter what level of the posture you're at. Set that as an intention and try not to bitch out, work on pacing yourself, breathing.

[Craig Murray]

I think a great goal to set is to make it through a class no rests, staying in every posture the whole time, not matter what level of the posture you're at. Set that as an intention and try not to bitch out, work on pacing yourself, breathing.

I'm sooo bad at the pacing. I inevitably try to do a posture as correctly as I can, exerting far too much effort in a single pose, and then I'm fucksville... heart-rate and breathing get away from me and my back's on the mat. Add to that how difficult it is to not bitch-out.

It's not uncommon for me to tell someone I do yoga, and have them look at me like I'm some kind of sissy-boy. "Yoga's for chicks" or some other thing comes out of their pie-hole. I just laugh. They have no clue.

[Ric]

I did hot yoga at a place called "Yoga to the People" in NYC for quite some time. I liked it better than Bikram for several reasons. They offer 60 minute classes rather than 90 minute classes, and the room isn't as hot as the Bikram room -although it is super hot and you're covered with sweat a few minutes into class. Best of all, classes are only $8 per class. That is amazing for NYC. For a time, they had a space located right next door to Marcelo's academy. Same building. Same floor. Just one door away. I would take class at hot yoga and show at Marcelo's afterwards. I started taking my daughter with me and we tried our best to attend once per week. The class was the most difficult thing I would do each week.

However, when the Yoga place moved from next door to Marcelo's, and I started attending only with my daughter, I eventually grew tired of traveling from Brooklyn to Manhattan just for the class. To get there on time, I had to leave about 75 minutes before class. i looked for a yoga school closer to my house. We eventually settled on Third Root yoga, about 10 minutes from my home. The class we take each week is much easier than the hot yoga class and it has a ton of variety each in week in terms of what they teach. My daughter likes this class much better. I like Third Root but I do wish I could attend hot yoga once a month or so. They both have a lot to offer.

[Nick Tiganis]

I have been considering yoga , I need to get more flexible . Even Eddie Bravo told me himself, at the first seminar he did here in Vancouver , that I should consider yoga .

[Arman Fathi]

I did bikram yoga for about a month in November. It really improved my flexibility and though I haven't gone back, I feel I got the hang of it near the end. The only thing I didn't like was being the clumsy dude around a bunch of people, drinking water every other pose. This serves you in the sense that it gives you a zone to concentrate your mind in and gives you greater body control. It's why break dancers, gymnasts, or ballerinas would all probably have huge legs up in jiu jitsu, just by physically having a refined control over their muscular movements. But yea it was only for jiu jitsu. It was beneficial and probably won't be the last time I do it.

[Nick Tiganis]

Well , I did my first class of Bikram Yoga today , and I feel like I got hit by a truck .

[Craig Murray]

Well , I did my first class of Bikram Yoga today , and I feel like I got hit by a truck .

Yes it can be brutal at first. It's extremely important to be fully hydrated. And you cannot just chug water before you go (see weight cutting). You must be fully hydrated well in advance. Start the night before.

Congrats on surviving! Keep it up. Not only is it incredibly good for you, but eventually it will FEEL good after you do it. I know that sounds preposterous based on how you felt the first time. But it's true.

[Nick Tiganis]

Yes it can be brutal at first. It's extremely important to be fully hydrated. And you cannot just chug water before you go (see weight cutting). You must be fully hydrated well in advance. Start the night before.

Congrats on surviving! Keep it up. Not only is it incredibly good for you, but eventually it will FEEL good after you do it. I know that sounds preposterous based on how you felt the first time. But it's true.

I definitely feel good the day after , body feels great ! But yeah , the day of , I was so wiped out . I can definitely see how it will benefit me in training and with everyday life

[Kyle Spalla]

I did hot yoga at a place called "Yoga to the People" in NYC for quite some time. I liked it better than Bikram for several reasons. They offer 60 minute classes rather than 90 minute classes, and the room isn't as hot as the Bikram room -although it is super hot and you're covered with sweat a few minutes into class. Best of all, classes are only $8 per class. That is amazing for NYC. For a time, they had a space located right next door to Marcelo's academy. Same building. Same floor. Just one door away. I would take class at hot yoga and show at Marcelo's afterwards. I started taking my daughter with me and we tried our best to attend once per week. The class was the most difficult thing I would do each week.

However, when the Yoga place moved from next door to Marcelo's, and I started attending only with my daughter, I eventually grew tired of traveling from Brooklyn to Manhattan just for the class. To get there on time, I had to leave about 75 minutes before class. i looked for a yoga school closer to my house. We eventually settled on Third Root yoga, about 10 minutes from my home. The class we take each week is much easier than the hot yoga class and it has a ton of variety each in week in terms of what they teach. My daughter likes this class much better. I like Third Root but I do wish I could attend hot yoga once a month or so. They both have a lot to offer.

Yeah Ric, I go to Yoga to the People in Berkeley but I haven't done the hot yoga yet. It is really awesome that they are donation based and a non profit. Makes yoga accessible for everyone.