Bikram Yoga!!

Photo by ponsuwan

I've been looking for a workout routine that is more than just jogging around the lake or just lifting weights. I wanted something I could do long term perhaps for the rest of my life. I wanted this workout routine to be fun, challenging, and something I could receive maximum benefits. I found it: Bikram Yoga! Bikram Yoga was founded by Bikram Choudhury in the 1970s and has taken the world by storm. I'm obsessed with Bikram Yoga. It has changed my life. Not only does this tone your muscles and improve flexibility but it also improves mental focus, detoxifies the body, and improves the body's internal organs.

Photo by ponsuwan

Bikram Yoga is comprised of 26 poses. The sessions are 90 minutes long and are conducted in a room heated at 105 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity of 40%. Yes, it's super hot!! The heat helps the body to be more elastic and flexible while also aiding the body in sweating out toxins. The first session was rough as I was new to Yoga and within minutes I was exhausted. This was due, in part, to the heat. The second session was even rougher as I knew what to expect the second time around. As I attempted to do all 26 poses I exhausted myself even more because I was really paying attention to my form and breathing.  I felt nauseous and light headed but the instructor said this was normal. By the third session I had surpassed that feeling of wanting to die during the sessions. Early on, there were times when I said to myself, "Why are you here? What are you doing to yourself?" However, after the third session, I found myself craving Bikram Yoga.

Benefits of Bikram Yoga:

1. Relieves stress
2. Good for strength training
3. Improves the condition of the skin
4. Decreases insomnia
5. Flushes toxins out of the body
6. Improves flexibility
7. Reduces appetite
8. Improves circulation
9. Speeds up metabolism
10. Decreases risk of injury and hastens recovery
11. Improves digestive system

There are many more benefits but check out Bikram Choudhury's website for more detailed information as he explains what each pose does for your body.  If you are looking for a routine that will detox your body, improve flexibility, and provide cardio, I highly recommend Bikram Yoga. Find a center in your area and try it out. You will regret it the first time but keep going; after the third session you, too, will be addicted!

Photo by ponsuwan

Lose Weight DURING the Holiday Season: Part II

Photo by Ambro

Ten days until Christmas!!! Woohoo!!! If you've followed the rules in Part I, you still ate a lot of junk food during the holiday season. You can most certainly do a light detox between the day after Christmas and New Year's Eve. You can pick any three days (or more) within that time period and do the following detox. I also follow this regimen on New Year's day.

Step 1: On Christmas night, I usually drink a detox tea called Ballerina Tea. It's gentle and it will definitely clean you out.

Step 2: The morning after and each day following I drink cold distilled water with a wedge of lemon. I also drink one packet of Emergen-C dissolved in water. Emergen-C is amazing and tastes like soda! This will prevent colds while packing your body full of vitamins and nutrients. It comes in many different flavors and specializations like Bone Health , Heart Health , Immune Defense , ect. My favorite flavors are the Ruby Lemon Honey and Cranberry Pomegranate. Throughout the day I drink pure distilled water to make sure I stay hydrated.

Step 3: Because this is a detox, your intestines need a break from digesting food so I only eat once a day during a short detox like this. I know, society wants you to think you must be eating three square meals or eat every three hours but there really is no need. Whatever I eat, I make sure it's no larger than the size of my hand and it only consists of vegetables or fruits (no potatoes). I make sure to eat no earlier than 1pm and no later than 3pm.

Step 4: You may be hungry at around 6pm. This is when I drink a lot of water with lemon or unsweetened green tea. When you're hungry like this, distraction will help. Watch a funny movie, turn the channel when a commercial about food comes on, clean the bathroom, go shopping, etc.

Step 5: You will experience headaches and little body aches. These are withdrawal symptoms from the toxins and poisons your body loves like junk food packed with high fructose corn syrup. Yes, your body is addicted to junk food but don't give in and intake junk food just to subside the headaches. Push through and you will set the right foundation for starting the New Year with a clean and refreshed body.


This is not a substitute for a regimen already prescribed by your doctor. Always consult a doctor or nutritionist before engaging in any dietary regimen to ensure it is suitable to your needs.