Category Archives: fat loss

How Many Calories Get Burned During Bikram Yoga?

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Today I was curious about how many calories I burn daily doing 90 minutes of Bikram Yoga… so did a little research. I read several articles and got various numbers so I won’t quote any in particular, but I did like this particular article I read and thought I’d pass it along. This article is written by Benna Crawford.

Hot yoga classes are hot exercise choices for increasing numbers of fitness buffs. The combination of challenging sequences and serious sweating makes them an attractive option for a weight-loss program.

Bikram yoga is synonymous with the style of yoga practiced in a heated, humidity-controlled studio designed to induce sweating while focusing on a standard asana routine. But weight loss equals calories expended, so it’s worth knowing just how Bikram stacks up against other calorie-burning exercise programs.

Counting Calories

Weight loss follows a simple algorithm: fewer calories consumed than calories expended. The Mayo Clinic points out that each pound is worth about 3,500 calories, so if you carry a calorie deficit of 500 calories a day, you can lose a pound a week.

Burning those calories is where it gets complicated. Aerobic activity that challenges the cardiovascular system is the number one calorie burner.

Low- to moderate-intensity aerobic activity, like most yoga routines, burns a high percentage of fat as fuel. Increase intensity with exercise like sprinting — or a demanding yoga routine — and you draw on greater amounts of carbs and protein for fuel. But high-intensity exercise burns more calories overall, so the tougher your workout, the more you lose. Building muscle mass through strength training also cuts calories because even resting muscle burns fuel for energy.

High-intensity yoga provides a vigorous cardio and resistance workout.

Bikram Protocols

Bikram’s hot yoga requires a series of 26 fixed poses, performed under the guidance of a trained instructor in a heated studio.

The poses are traditional Hatha yoga moves, but the performance is a kind of yoga boot camp. The room is heated to approximately 104 to 105 degrees F with a constant 40-percent humidity. During the 90-minute class, participants typically run through the routine twice. Bikram’s website claims that the heated studios quickly warm muscles and increase flexibility so you can work safely with a greater range of motion. You will sweat, so you will notice a water weight loss which does not translate directly to fat calories burned. But you work hard — a Bikram class is challenging enough to be an aerobic workout — and yoga poses use body weight for resistance, so you do some muscle building and high-intensity calorie burning.

Bikram Calorie Burn

Bikram yoga burns more calories than many other forms of exercise and yoga styles. According to Everyday Health’s Yoga Calorie Counter, a 160-pound person performing Bikram yoga for one hour uses 726 calories, compared to 508 calories for Ashtanga and Power yoga classes.

Most Bikram classes are 90 minutes, so the calories burned per session are 1,089 for Bikram versus 762 for other intense yogas. The Mayo Clinic calculates the caloric cost to a 160-pound individual for one hour of high-impact aerobics at 533 calories. For singles tennis, the cost is 584 calories, for swimming laps 423 calories and for stair treadmill 657 calories. As a bonus, yoga’s ability to reduce stress and increase fitness improves your chances of sticking to a diet.

Precautions

Bikram yoga is not for everyone. Hypertension, glaucoma, pregnancy, some forms of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease are all reasons to check in with your doctor before signing up for a hot yoga class.

If you do add Bikram to your calorie-burning strategies, drink plenty of water to counter the effects of vigorous exercise in a hot room. As the exercise boosts your metabolism you sweat more to maintain a healthy core temperature. In a hot studio with other sweaty bodies, your evaporation system has to work harder to release the extra heat. If you experience weakness, fatigue, dizziness or headache in a hot yoga class, you could be in danger of heat exhaustion or heat stroke and you should seek immediate medical attention. end of article.

So there you go. What I gained from this article for ME is Bikram Yoga good for me at this stage in my life. Today was day 12 doing Bikram in a row.

They say give Bikram 30-days will change your body and 60-days will change your life! Two weeks ago I was nursing a tennis elbow. I couldn’t play tennis due to the pain and working out at the gym had its limitations as well.

I sat quietly and asked my body what it needed and heard a rather loud “Whisper” : “Bikram Yoga”. Really???? I don’t even like yoga. But I listened and here I am enjoying the many benefits of Bikram Yoga.

Although I have NO IDEA if I have lost a pound on the scale, I do know that already my clothes are fitting better AND my flexibility and balance have improved a lot!

If you are stuck in a fitness routine that may no longer be serving you like I was consider sitting quiet and asking your body what it needs to keep you healthy and fit. You may be surprised that it is a new exercise program that you never would have imagined on your own.

Two products that seem to be supporting my new fitness activity are electrolytes to replenish the minerals I lose in sweat, and Quantum Relief Strips for balance, chi, energy to my body.

I’d love to hear from you. Do YOU like Bikram Yoga? Have you ever done 30 days in a row? Did you get fit, more flexible and lose body fat doing Bikram Yoga?

Joy Edgerton

802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com

www.DaveandJoy.com

Joy’s Journey, day 9 Bikram and other ‘Insights’ for the Day!

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Today I enjoyed a little more time than usual before getting out of bed. My body needed the additional rest and we had decided to do our Bikram Yoga class at noon, rather than 9 am. Luckily I looked at my cell phone around 8 am and saw a message from the owner of the yoga studio. “There are only noon classes on MWF.”

“Oh, Okay”. We quickly adjusted our mindset and our plans and decided to go to the 9 am class. Isn’t it nice to be flexible in your thinking and in your schedule?

Isn’t it terrific to be your own boss and have flex time to go and workout and do things when you want without asking for time off? or living someone else’s schedule?

I can’t even imagine having a boss other than myself. Time flexibility is important in my life and has been for decades.

So, one of the ways we enjoy our early morning time is by visualizing, meditating, journal writing and setting the stage for a powerful day. When we take the time to do those things it ALWAYS helps bring out the best that any day can offer. We always begin our days with Gratitude as well. Gratitude IS the best Attitude!

One thing we watched this morning before Bikram was Oprah Winfrey’s inspiring words. It is worth watching, I guarantee!

 

Day 9 for me (Day 2 for Dave)- doing Bikram yoga… so proud I haven’t missed a day since joining. I’m proud of myself because it takes time and lots of energy to do a 90-min. yoga workout in 105 degree heat…. and have the energy and stamina to go on and also have an impactful day helping others on our team.

Each day, like anything else, seems to get a little easier. Still hard, because doing it the RIGHT WAY is the challenge. No short cuts with Bikram and doing it correctly yields the best therapeutic benefits.

Body image….hmmmm, I have to work on this one. When I had a tight, lean body with 12-17% body fat I was proud to show my mid-section but since menopause I have been embarrassed as I literally grew a ‘men-o-pot’. I know I need to get over it and will. I have promised myself…. especially after today, as the cotton tank top that I was wearing was drenched to the core and just weighed me down.

I read in the Bikram book to stay off the scale and I think it is a good idea. But, you think I listened? I rarely weigh myself but thought with all the sweating I’d certainly drop at least a pound or two a day. Not necessarily! Day 2 I was down 2 lbs. and then today up 3. So no scale for me. I did however try on my one and only pair of jeans that I call my “tester jeans” and noticed that not only can I zip them up, they are ‘wearable’. Good sign.

My reasons to begin BIKRAM YOGA: #1 reason is Therapeutic exercise for flexibility and longevity in life. (avoid injuries and stiffness as I age)

My #2 reason is to get in ‘shape’…. both mentally and physically. Yes, this means improved focus and drive in life but I really would like to get back to my pre-menopausal size.

Yes, dropping 15 lbs. and leaning out around the belly is HIGH on my list, I won’t lie! Weight lifting, walking and tennis were not working and I have been nursing a tennis elbow, so I am hoping that Bikram will help heal that injury and prevent others.

Once again, armed with the right tools for getting the best results. Electrolytes in my cold water to sip on throughout the session, a full Quantum Relief Strip below the belly button. Those QRS are amazing as they truly do help bring energy to the places needed most in the body. Don’t know where “those places are”- no worries, the body is intelligent and will attract energy to the parts of the body needed most. Similar to Reiki energy.

 

 

 

Are you practicing Bikram or are you involved in a form of exercised that is feeding your body and your soul? If so, I’d love to hear about it. When we take care of our physical body we also fill up our ’emotional and spiritual’ body which I call the ultimate Self-Care!!!!

Sweat is FAT CRYING. I feel like I am cleaning out the old and breathing in the new. Thank God I listened to my body 10 days ago when I heard the ‘whisper’ to do Bikram Yoga.

Interested in learning about the TAVALA TRIM or Quantum Relief Strips? Go to www.TryOurSamples.com

 

Joy Edgerton

802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com

www.DaveandJoy.com

Joy’s Journey, Bikram Yoga and more….YOU’ll NEVER BELIEVE IT….

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Never in a million years did I expect this to happen! I made a decision to do Bikram Yoga based on my intuition. A week ago I spoke to my body and soul, asked what it needed -as clearly things were not going in my favor (injuries, fatigue) and I HEARD BIKRAM YOGA loud and clear. I wanted to ignore it but I could not. Besides, what sense is it for you to ask- get a clear answer- and then ignore it?

Dave and I work together- we have a business together in network marketing….we are husband and wife and have a very satisfying and easy relationship. It is not work- it comes with ‘ease’. We have created an amazing business with TAVALA that is surpassing my wildest dreams with successes- we are ‘in the flow’.

6 years ago we decided to do P90X together. That is a 90 day commitment to push play with a DVD series and give our all with that Beach Body program. 6 days a week, weights, cardio and 1 day of yoga. (The only day we didn’t like was Thursdays as that was 90-minute of yoga ‘hell’ as Dave called it.)

We did it, and it was very gratifying program doing together. At that time we were both personal trainers and it felt terrific to be trained by someone else and simply follow instruction and give it our all…doing the best we could each and every workout. In that program our instructor was the famous “Beach Body icon” Mr. Tony Horton.

This past week has been a strange week on one hand as Dave and I usually go to the gym and workout with weights together or play tennis.

This past week we did our ‘own thing’….and here is where it gets crazy! I did mention to Dave that he may want to consider doing Bikram with me to experience what I am experiencing. Detox, Stretching, Balance, Strength- both inner and outer, and functional fitness for the body, the mind and the spirit.

HE WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH IT…..but on his own, going a full 360 degrees, today August 28th, Dave DeBerardinis CHOSE to begin Bikram Yoga. I had seen him pick up my Bikram book and start reading it but I NEVER expected this to happen.

So….. today was day 8 for me and day 1 for Dave.

It was FUN to experience this together. For day ONE, he rocked it and endured the 90-minute experience in 105 heated room with 40% humidity.

It’s fun to push yourself both physically and spiritually.

Heck with a bottle of TRIM drink for energy and Quantum Relief Strips for any ‘pain’ or discomfort you may have, anything is possible. They are our ‘go to products of choice’.

Are you ready to push YOUR body to another level? Looking for health related products, a business opportunity, or an experience that may lead you to the person you were destined to be? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

By the way, did you know that sweat is just fat crying? With every drop of sweat I experience while doing Bikram I feel more cleansed and clear. I have also begun to notice my body shape shifting, especially in the abs, buttocks and thighs. Hallelujah. (Who knows? Maybe tomorrow I’ll actually forgo the tank top shirt and wear just a jog bra like the majority of other women do in class. yikes!) That would mean I’m definitely on the right track on improving my self image!

Joy Edgerton

802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com

www.DaveandJoy.com

 

Listening to Inner Guidance Led Joy to Bikram Yoga…Check out her First 3 Days

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Have you ever spoken to your BODY, your SPIRIT/SOUL, without your MIND getting in the way and dictating what you should or shouldn’t do? Ever ignore the answer that you hear back? If not, give it a try sometime.

It’s often said that if PRAYER is you talking to GOD (and God is within all of us) and that your intuition or ‘quiet voice back to you’ is God talking to you.

I have two incidences I recall vividly where I asked and received my inner guidance.

#1 In December Dave and I were stuck with our careers within the network marketing companies we were affiliated with. We prayed…got clear on what we wanted, right down to the soul of the matter…..and asked for guidance. We promised to be open and walk through any open doors that felt ‘right’…. and soon an email came to us, that led to a phone conversation and we said YES and our lives have been positively changed since then.

Yes, we resigned from the company we had been with for over 10 years – leaving income $ on the table- as well as a company we had dabbled with for approximately 6 months- also leaving $-(Sometimes I wonder how many things we miss out in the past by not paying attention enough to ‘hear’ that inner voice & wisdom!)

#2 Very recently- within the past week- I was asking my body what it needed from me as I was experiencing aches and pains that I normally do not experience and had lost some ‘zest’ for fully living life. My enthusiasm for fitness was not at its peak and it seemed like I was requiring more sleep.

One day I asked my body quietly what I needed to do and what I immediately heard back was “BIKRAM YOGA”. You mean that HOT YOGA done in 105 degrees of heat and 40% humidity? No way, was my first reaction …. but….then I thought how silly it is to ASK and then NOT LISTEN!

Truly, I wanted to ignore the message but how could I when it was so clearly shown to me? I was to begin Bikram Yoga. Yes, I initially fought the thought in my mind as I know what a discipline any yoga practice is, and I don’t ‘like’ yoga…. but in honor of my body and spirits wisdom, I agreed.

I pulled out my old Bikram’s Beginning Yoga Class book and read it. I was nervous- or more like PETRIFIED as I hadn’t done Bikram for almost 15 years and back then my body was younger, much more flexible and I was 20 pounds lighter.

I checked out a couple of studios, found one I really liked near our house and decided to start an intro pack of 30 classes in 30 days. Yes, I was serious and to entice us ‘newbies’ it was all for only $30. Wow! Talk about commitment!

I emailed the owner of the studio who is also an instructor so she knew she would have a new student the following day, who incidentally was petrified to the core!

Somehow I knew that this is going to lead to a turn around in many areas of my life. I then went to T.J. Max, bought 3 pair of ‘bootie’ shorts with built in shorts under them so that I would have the right attire. I NEVER wear shorts, let alone bootie shorts but knew my yoga pants or yoga capri pants would be far too hot!

Sunday night, August 20th, I could hardly sleep. I was nervous and kept thinking of the class the next morning. It felt silly to be so nervous but I was.

I also came to the realization that at age 60 I don’t care about the good opinion of other people- or at least not to the degree I have my in my younger years. So I agreed to have MYSELF be my own judge.

I decided I would be open and vulnerable and be OK with my ‘yoga’ abilities. For someone who is very athletic and plays tennis, lifts weights, plays sports with ease- this feeling was foreign. I have come to realize, in just 3 days practicing Bikram Yoga, that no matter what stage you are in with your yoga, it is YOUR OWN PRACTICE… It is not a competition and that gave me relief!

Day 1: I got to the studio early. Queen City Bikram Yoga. I introduced myself to Marla, the lady who owns the studio and that I had sent my email to the day before. She welcomed me and I followed others into the studio who clearly knew where they were going and what to do. I was still nervous!

LUCKILY I love the heat. Three weeks prior to this class I had done my first sweat lodge and it confirmed how much I love to sweat and how cleansing and therapeutic it feels.

Even though I had done Bikram Yoga a handful of times in Florida, today felt very different. I was here on my own for me, and my own reasons.

I promised my body and soul to give it my best…because that is all we can do. I had read in the Bikram book to do everything you CAN do, to perfection….meaning do it ‘the right way’…. so this is what I did. If I could only do the pose 10% (and many times that is about how far I could ‘bend’ or hold) but I did it exactly the way to get the maximum benefits. I promised myself I would give it my all, to get the full benefits- or why come at all?

The instructor in Florida was very ‘militant’ and barked instructions at people. I recall being yelled at when I used my towel to wipe the sweat from my eyes, during a time when apparently it was not allowed.

Thankfully, not the case here at Queen City Bikram Yoga. First of all, Marla is a great teacher and offered great instruction. She didn’t care if I had to wipe my body or face the entire 90 minutes due to the waterfalls of sweat dripping off my body. She also offered ‘helpful’ and ‘useful’ advice that would help each and every student get the most from the poses.

Long story short, I survived Day 1 of Bikram and felt like my own hero! I was BEAT RED and drenched when I left the class but I felt on top of the world. I did it….and I decided, or course, I’d return the following day.

By the way, my body was exhausted from a different kind of fatigue. One of stretching my muscles, organs, tendons and the blood flowing rapidly through my body. I hydrated my body throughout the day, feasted on veggies and fresh fruit and went to bed around 8 pm. 🙂

Day 2: I felt slightly more confident going to class on day 2 and was excited to see a woman who I had met weeks before at the sweat lodge I mentioned before. It was nice to see a familiar face and also to learn that Cara also teaches there on Tuesdays at 6:30 am. (Doubt I’ll experience an early AM class but who knows?)

One of my main reasons for agreeing to doing this introduction of 30-days of Bikram is I truly believe it will help me in the aging process.

I want to be full of vitality and healthy for my next 20, 30 or even 40 years.

It was my body that knew what I needed- more flexibility, more functional abilities, deeper lung capacity … and I listened. Perhaps reluctantly, but I also moved into action as I promised myself I would.

On day 2 I was equally as sweaty and red-faced as Day 1. My body was exhausted on one hand, but rejuvenated on the other hand. Last night I slept sounder than I had in a long time and I expected it would be the same this night.

I consciously ate healthy foods, and kept hydrated. I was beginning to feel like perhaps this ‘yoga thing’ could be good for me. I also knew with Bikram Yoga that my body would continuously rid toxins due to sweating. Hydration was a key. Reducing alcohol and increasing water, was my new medicine.

Day 3: Today. I had more pep in my step. I am by no means cocky. My poses do NOT look anything like they are supposed to but my body is becoming more flexible in just 3 days. Today I could actually do several poses that I could not do before. My tennis elbow pain had slightly more pain today but that was because I forgot to wear my Quantum Relief Strip….. (These strips help with areas of discomfort as well as energy & balance …but are also great to place in areas on the body that need energy.)

Interestingly enough, the one pose I knew I could do with relative ease – the TREE POSE- is one I have not been able to do on my left side. What the heck is that all about?

I am so right side dominant and so sweaty that my foot slides and I find myself literally hopping around on one foot just trying to get and stay in balance. Crazy but true. I think I need to find that spot ahead of me to concentrate on so I can keep my focus…even if it only means standing on one foot and doing nothing else.

I imagine I’ll line up each day, every day, along the back wall in the back of the class so I can learn from others who have done Bikram yoga for months or years or longer. It is good to have someone to watch so you can learn the poses correctly. If not, no worries, the instructor is there to help you.

Interestingly enough, there are both men and women in the class- clearly FAR MORE WOMEN, and they are women of all ages and body shapes. I have noticed that most of the people are comfortable in their bodies no matter their size or physical conditioning. Many women bare their ‘less tan or toned’ bellies, and don’t seem conscious that their bellies were whiter and softer than the rest of their body. This to me is refreshing- especially coming from the ‘gym scene’ and Jane Fonda days where there is a look and competition on how ‘tight and toned’ the body is and what fashion one is wearing.

Maybe I’ll bare my belly in my jog bra ‘some day’, but I doubt it. At least no time soon. My ultimate goal is to become more flexible in 30 days, increase my stamina, my focus, to drop some ‘bloat weight’ and reduce alcohol consumption.

Clearly going to Bikram yoga the next day has curbed any discussion or craving for cocktails at night. There is no way one could tolerate Bikram being tired or hung over!

If you are humored by my story….keep reading my blogs over the next several weeks. No doubt there are some funny stories to share ahead!

If this inspires YOU to talk quietly to YOUR body & soul and listen to what it tells you it needs, fantastic. I would be delighted to have that positive influence.

Our business seems to be booming even more now that my focus remains intuitive in nature. When I tune into others needs or who can use a call for product or business support- it is always the right action.

Good luck on YOUR journey in life. Be true to yourself. Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.

I’d love to hear your stories of how you made a change when you listened to YOUR inner wisdom. 802-846-7530, email me at joyedgerton@gmail.com or www.DaveandJoy.com

Joy Edgerton