This week we received this picture from one of our students: Below you'll find some answeers to some questions that I send Azzam after he send me this picture.

Did you actually start yoga to lose weight?
That was part of it.  I needed to become more active above and beyond the walking I was doing.  Before I started Yoga, I started to have problems with Carpel Tunnel because of the amount of typing I would do at work.  It came on so fast and started to cause pain not only in the wrists, but elbows and shoulders.  Prior to Yoga, I was a workaholic who put in about 70 hours a week.  Now I'm doing about 50 per week.  Before joining Be Hot Yoga, I did a home DVD based off of a suggestion from a friend.  I did that everyday for 3 weeks straight and I started to love it.  I was probably like a lot of people in realizing Yoga was good for me, but there were so many stereotypes attached to it like "You have to be flexible to do it", etc.

Did you think you would lose weight?
After doing three weeks of Yoga on home DVD and not changing my diet, I lost about six pounds which shocked me so I figured if I joined a studio and started getting proper instruction, it would help the process even further.  So yes, I at least was hopeful that it would happen :-).

How much weight have you lost so far?
Including the three weeks of home dvd instruction and 15 months of attending Be Hot Yoga, I've lost a total of 63 lbs.

Did you change your eating habits and if so, what motivated you to do so?
The eating habits sort of came naturally as a result of practicing Hot Yoga because you realize quickly how certain foods can have an adverse affect on you while in class.  I despised water, but quickly realized I needed to change that if I was going to be able to make it the 90 minutes and practice frequently.  My eating habits have gotten better over time.  Its similar to practicing the series, the more you try and get educated as to what you're doing, then the easier it becomes to adjust as long as you're patient and keep trying.  I became more educated over time about proper nutrition so as a result it improved eventually.  There was a light bulb moment in class when Tara was reciting the dialogue.  I remember it vividly..We were in 'Wind removing pose' (and my knee was killing me this particular day) when she stated "nutrient rich blood will flow back around your knees".  Well that made me wonder if my blood was actually nutrient rich or not.  That prompted me to do more research on nutrition and I quickly came to the realization that we are a nutrient deficient society based on the way we eat (processed or overcooked foods, etc.)

Have you noticed any other physical changes besides the weight loss?
Definitely.  Besides feeling great because I'm not carrying the extra weight, I feel a lot stronger, balanced, flexible (open) and light.  My eye doctor asked me what I had been doing as my vision even improved to the point where he was able to lower my prescription for both contacts and lenses.  I can handle the stress of my job a lot better as I've learned not only my stress triggers and points in my body where I tend to hold stress, but I'm able to recover a lot quicker through proper breathing throughout the day.  I can feel it the stress come on right away and adjust.

Have you notice any other changes in the way you relate to the world that you feel that are in direct relation to practicing hot yoga?
I'm a lot more patient and let petty things go a lot easier than before that's for sure.  Also, I don't judge situations or people as quickly as I did before.  I'm human, so we're going to be judgmental at times, but I probably look to myself and what I'm doing a lot more than I did before.  Practicing this form of yoga in particular I think helps with that.  Its hard to look in the mirror for 90 minutes and not develop a habit of acknowledging the truth about yourself.  Like during my first class, I remember saying to myself "Dude, you're fat.  You need to lose weight."  Looking at myself in the mirror from day 1 caused me to be more reflective, perhaps not judgmental of myself and improvements I need to make.  Its given me a tool to acknowledge things about myself without beating myself up over them, but instead working to improve.  Practicing this yoga and realizing how much our bodies can change day to day allows for that acknowledgement in my opinion.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Yes.  Great studio, great instructors and a great community of practitioners, some of which have become great friends. One of the best decisions I've made was joining your studio!

Thanks,

Azzam (aka Azzamsito or the other dozen names Cristina has given me over time) :-)