E-mail Kelley here.
Here is the story of my journey to Bikram Yoga and what it has done for me.In the fall of 2002, I began to experience pain in my shoulders, particularly the right one. I went to an orthopedic surgeon who did an MRI of my shoulder and concluded that I had bursitis. It caused a painful "click" when I raised my arms above chest height. To make matters worse, the following spring, I injured my lower back while removing seats from my van. I felt something shift in my lower back and the pain brought me to my knees. I was unable to straighten up until I visited my chiropractor. My activity was limited for many weeks, I had a great deal of pain and a spine that felt unstable. I was treated by chiropractic care and massage therapy and finally went for physical therapy throughout 2003. I did the exercises faithfully and did gain some improvement, but I still had a lot of pain. My massage therapist and friend, Beki Auclair, is a student of Bikram and recommended that I try it. I took my first class in November of 2004. Throughout the winter, I attended 5 to 6 classes per week. By the spring of 2005, my shoulders were working properly and my back was nearly pain free. By fall, I considered my back healed. I am now reaping the rewards after two years of regular yoga practice. I find that 3 to 4 classes per week maintain my gains. I am 53 and am making major changes to my skeletal structure and soft tissue. My posture has improved noticeably. My chest has opened up moving my shoulders back. The tilt of my pelvis is better, decreasing the curvature of my lower spine. My knees that used to crack all the time when I squatted are now quiet and pain free. This letter could be many pages long to describe how well I feel, and that has increased my desire to continue my practice. I have recommended Bikram yoga to others who have back pain. I have found the teaching staff at Bikram Yoga Burlington to be very helpful, supportive and inspiring. I appreciate their consistent quality no matter whose class I take and each one offers valuable feedback and tips on postures.
Thank you to everyone.
Brian
Williston, Vt.
Hi Kelly!
Ever the scientist, I weighed my towel, sweat band, shorts and face towel before and after Bikram Yoga this weekend. The weight gain was about 2.6 pounds, or the equivalent of about one and a half bottles of the "smart water" you sell.
WOW!
Happy New Year!
Arnie