Here is some info, btw, that might help you understand my point of view:
Noun: conservationism: A movement that supports conservation, especially that of natural resources
Citation: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/conservationism
From Wikipedia:
“Conservation is the act of preserving, guarding or protecting; wise use. Conservation may refer to: Main usage: Conservation (ethic) of biodiversity, environment, and natural resources, including protection and management.”
“The only people affected would be the practitioners of Hot Yoga, who would soon discover that, indeed, ridiculously high temperatures are not needed to practice and enjoy yoga.”
You’re telling me what I enjoy and how I should enjoy it?
“The advent of the hybrid car and the use of solar energy are two outcomes of this movement.”
Both are essentially failed movements. Sure it may make you feel good, because in your mind you are saving the enviorment driving a hybrid, which is nonsense. Time will tell.
I am very conservative with my resources. When Al Gore sells his five mansions and his private jets I’ll drive a Hybrid. Meanwhile I have a hot yoga class to lead and must practice, in the heat thankyou.
Until then I have freedom of choice and will do everything and anything to maintain my freedom from your world order.
“You’re telling me what I enjoy and how I should enjoy it?”
There’s no logical connection between what I said and the statement above. I was merely illustrating the point that extreme temperatures are not needed for yoga practice.
As for hybrid cars, etc. or any aspect of conservationism, their success or failure is very hard to determine. But we should all do everything possible to conserve energy. For example, we shouldn’t heat yoga studios or homes to preposterous levels.
I’m not telling you what to do. I’m asking you to consider the ramifications of your behavior. I do hope that in the future, however, someone will tell you what to do; namely: the government. Outrageously selfish conduct like that of the Hot Yoga business should be controlled and legislated, like any industry that abuses the environment. You can argue all day about what you want to do and whine about how other people are wasteful too, but at the end of the day the choices you make have impact. The choice you make to practice and promote and spread Hot Yoga is wrong, and you know it.
Interesting discussion guys. For me, I sweat so profusely during my regular vinyasa flow that I cannot imagine doing yoga at high temps. I did yoga in China and Hong Kong where people don’t seem to need AC and that about did me in. So not for conservation but for self preservation I will probably never do hot yoga.
Great point, Shu. I do Ashtanga, and I also sweat unbelievably during my practice, even in cold rooms in the winter. Which is why I say again, high ambient temperatures are unnecessary for yoga, even if you want to sweat profusely. Heat should come from vinyasa and breath, not coal and crude oil. That’s the beauty of yoga.
Andy, What about A/C in hot climates. Probably the studios that use that should stop and open windows instead.
That sounds good to me, Dave. But in general, I recommend doing whatever is reasonable by any normal precedents of human behavior. If you live in a place where temperatures get so high that they, like temperatures in a Hot Yoga studio, become dangerous to your health, then by all means use an air-conditioner, but set it to a reasonable level. If you live in a very cold place, use a heater at a reasonable level. The key here, as in all things, is moderation. That’s the whole point, Dave. It’s not an all or nothing-at-all proposition, as you have tried repeatedly to argue. It’s a plea for moderation against a dangerous societal trend toward absurdly unreasonable consumption, of which Hot Yoga is only the latest symptom.
Well guys, I did a very quick Google search on Bikram. Pros and Cons. Sorry to say yogandy, no one seemed to have your concern for the environment. However, there seemed to be lots of questions about the dangers of exercising at these high temps. One person explaining the PROS stated that if you begin to feel sick and nauseous that’s normal. Just relax and take a little water. So for me, any activity where it is normal to feel like you want to barf is just not one I’d like to partake of. I used to be a long distance runner. Marathons, etc. Once training on a humid day I experienced heat exhaustion. Nausea, chills, aches and pains. And this was I would say an accident. Not planned. So high heat and exercise that is part of the program is not for me, maybe because of that experience too. It hurt.
Conversely I am a huge fan of taking a sauna. I spent lots of time in the far east and saunas are all over the place and in most hotels.Probably lots and lots more common than Bikram studios. Not sure yogandy if this affects the environment as the heat comes from throwing water on super hot stones but it takes electricity to heat the rocks up.Course they’re all over Scandanavia too.
In this you are usually reclining and not exerting yourself and you can exit at any time. This I like . ^-^. I’ve even done it AFTER a yoga session. Much better for me.
“The heat also helps you sweat. Sweating is one of the most important mechanisms of natural healing, since it enables the body to release toxins, metabolic debris, and excess fluids. It also gives the kidneys an dliver some much needed rest because their usual burden of detoxifying and purifying the blood is lessened. The skin is the largest elimination organ of the human body, and the more you sweat, the more toxins you release. Besides,it feels so good to just let the sweat pour out of you!” Baron Baptiste
Hey daves007. Whatever floats your boat. For me I’ll do a cool Vinyasa and sweat like crazy. I had to experiment with several mats before I found one where i didn’t slip all over the place from sweating. So I get it. It feels good and I sweat out lots of impurities. But I think there’s a point of diminishing returns. From what I’ve read and what friends have told me it’s “normal” to maybe get a little dizzy or nauseous during Bikram. You see that has no appeal to me.Like I said, if I really really want an intense sweat I’ll jump in a sauna. My humble opinion.
I don’t do Bikram, I have but don’t. I think 105 is a bit too hot but I did really enjoy the bikram yoga but choose a Vinyasa style for myself. We heat our studio to 90/95 degrees. I love it and would always choose a heated class over a non heated class. From October thru May it is dry here and feels really good. The summer months we sweat way more but due to the humidity.
[QUOTE=daves007;87218]“The heat also helps you sweat. Sweating is one of the most important mechanisms of natural healing, since it enables the body to release toxins, metabolic debris, and excess fluids. It also gives the kidneys an dliver some much needed rest because their usual burden of detoxifying and purifying the blood is lessened. The skin is the largest elimination organ of the human body, and the more you sweat, the more toxins you release. Besides,it feels so good to just let the sweat pour out of you!” Baron Baptiste[/QUOTE]
Sorry, Dave, and sorry Baron, but sweating does not detoxify the body. Here are links to several articles that debunk this myth. First some quotes to get you started. Links follow:
"Myth 1. Yoga helps you sweat out toxins.
The problem with the phrase “sweating out toxins” is that our bodies sweat to help keep us cool, not to eliminate waste (that’s the job of your kidneys, liver and digestive tract). When you sweat, you release water, salt and electrolytes, not toxins. As Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN, CNS, HuffPost blogger, told The Huffington Post in a previous article, “The best way to help your body get the toxins out is to put fewer in.”
“your sweat glands are not part of your body’s primary and very capable detox system”
“After being broken down by your liver, toxins are excreted as either blood or bile, which are ultimately filtered by your kidneys and intestines, respectively, and leave the body in urine and feces, respectively. [B]Sweat really isn’t part of this equation[/B].”
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-hot-yoga-myths-debunked.html
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-6013/Hot-or-Not-Untangling-Fact-From-Fiction-in-Hot-Yoga.html
http://www.fitnessadvisory.org/2013/06/14/dont-get-burned-by-hot-yoga-myths/
Lot’s more if you just google “Hot Yoga myths”
[QUOTE=shumanfoo;87217]Well guys, I did a very quick Google search on Bikram. Pros and Cons. Sorry to say yogandy, no one seemed to have your concern for the environment.[/QUOTE]
No need to say sorry, Shu. I know there is very little awareness of this issue. That’s why I’m trying to bring it up. I’m appalled more people haven’t discussed it. I’m starting a campaign to boycott Hot Yoga classes and all yoga classes that unnecessarily overheat the practice rooms. I’m sure I’ll get some movement before long. Any sensible people with concern for our environment will be concerned once what is happening is brought to their attention. Anyhow, I’m not so worried; Hot Yoga is a fad, nothing more. There is already so much negative press about it’s bad effects on the body that before long it will fade out; ten years from now people won’t believe they used to do such a silly thing. But I’ll do my best to hasten its demise.
In the meantime, I’m not entirely alone. Here’s a great article by another concerned yogi, or yogini, actually. Her article is aptly entitled “Hot Yoga: Polluting the Planet One Class at a Time.”
And here’s another that looks at Hot Yoga from the point of view of the traditional ethics of the Yamas as a form of hoarding, which is certainly is. The ethical aspect of Hot Yoga is something that seems to be utterly lost on its proponents and practitioners. Maybe this article will help to clear that up:
Stopping hot yoga isn’t going to do anything for the enviorment. The earth heats and cools. Science. I think you should go after air conditioning.
[QUOTE=daves007;87226]The earth heats and cools. Science.[/QUOTE]
Sorry, Dave, I’m not quite sure I follow. Are you suggesting that global warming is a natural effect of the normal heating and cooling of the earth? And is your one world follow up, “science,” a suggestion that this is a scientific fact? It’s hard to understand if you don’t speak in full sentences. In any case, if that is what you mean, I guess I’d have to point out that the preponderance of environmental scientists seem to believe that global warming is caused by the burning of fossil fuels. The practice of Hot Yoga will naturally increase the burning of fossil fuels. Stopping it will reduce the burning of fossil fuels, and hence will be good for the environment.
As for air conditioning, I’m afraid that, like automobiles, it is to entrenched a part of our society to do much about. Hot Yoga, on the other hand, is a relatively new phenomenon and will not be missed, except by its practitioners, who can quickly replace it with other, less injurious, equally enjoyable forms of yoga.
Yes you understood me perfectly. Brievity is the sole of wit. I will continue to enjoy the freedom of hot yoga. Good luck on your endeavor albeit a waste of time.
Alas, this is a situation that calls for communication, not wit. In any case, I’m not surprised you deny the impact of human activity on climate change. Flagrant energy wasters are the main members of that group: mining concerns, big oil, nuclear energy, SUV makers, etc. all of whom keep right-wing politicians neatly in their pockets. You should feel good. You’re in with a nice bunch. And the best part is that believing a well-packaged lie helps you sleep at night, while during the day, you and your students help kill the Earth. And all in the name of yoga! Isn’t that nice.
BTW: I think you mean “soul” not “sole,” unless you’re making some obscure pun. Spelling helps keep that old wit maker in top shape.
Bye!
I’m not one to let someone tell me where to set my thermostat. What’s next? I can’t fly to Florida for vacation? And you are welcome to call me anything you want, “energy waster”, you don’t know anything about me! Why don’t you do what you want to do and let people do what they want. It’s called freedom. F’off
You know I’m right.
That’s why you’re so angry.
Best of luck to you, Dave.