I felt so much better a few months after being gluten free, and then I started doing bikram yoga and I feel even better! If I ever have any digestion/stomach issues, bikram yoga whips me right back into shape again--its amazing.

Good to know Anna, thanks! I've been wanting to take a Bikram class for quite some time now, and now I have good reason to.

Have you done any non-bikram yoga? I'm curious if kripalu, or any other types may have the same effect.

I started practicing anusara yoga (vinyasa flow/heart opening) about a month after my diagnosis three years ago. It has made an amazing difference in my life. The physical practice is great- twisting helps regulate intestinal flow, etc... , but the mental influence has helped a lot, also- it helps me accept and make the best of each and every day.
I would recommend yoga - any style - for everyone to try.

Nameste,
Pam

I had always kind of stuck my nose up at yoga, but a couple of months ago I did too many consecutive days of skiing and ended up with back spasms....horrendous, the most painful thing I've ever experienced short of childbirth! Anyway, my chiropractor suggested some yoga moves, and then I bought a few Yoga Zone tapes (which I LOVE), and I can't tell you how wonderful I have found yoga to be...it totally rehabbed my back and strengthened it, and it's relaxing, and it is now my favorite thing (although I still do my cardio and weights at the gym 5 to 6x a week). I try to do the yoga every day....and I'm also kind of curious about the Bikram yoga although I haven't done it yet. But I totally recommend yoga in general. If you're just starting, the yoga zone tapes are great....some of them are filmed right on the beach in Jamaica and they're wonderful and relaxing to look at, too. Good instruction, nothing extreme in the positions, but it all feels great and you can progress with it.

I'm a fan of yoga - I've been doing it for over six years now, and am still looking towards starting to teach at some point. I would strongly encourage anyone who starts up yoga to take a few classes with a qualified instructor. If you do tapes on your own every day, and just see a real teacher once a month, even that's something. A tape can never correct misalignment (that you can't see on yourself, in particular) or help tune a pose to something that won't injure you or will help you more.

I've tried "regular" yoga classes before, and wasn't a big fan...though I loved the pregnancy yoga class I took in Vancouver with Janice Clarfield...it was amazing. In general, I much prefer pilates.

However, I've been doing Bikram Yoga (hot yoga) now for a couple of months (started at the end of January) and am hooked! I love having the heat for increasing my flexibility and the thorough sweating is good for removing toxins from the system. The room is kept at around 105 degrees (though one class I attended was 110!), and is humid. The class is 90 minutes long, consisting of 26 postures.

I'm going a couple of times per week now, went to class this morning, and can't wait for the next class on Tuesday night.

Michelle