Bikram Yoga (aka Hot Yoga)

[CubsWinCubsWin 108]

So at what point after surgery can you do things like Yoga again, particularly hot yoga? One of the only reasons I did the Bikram Yoga was because the hot room was the only way I could truly stretch. I don't want to tear out any stitches going into a full locust pose.

[Carlotta1 401]

After 5 weeks I was given the ok to do any exercise.. Be careful not to dehydrate yourself in the hot room ..also u may experience some dizziness. I still do a little when I exercise . Even though I am drinking plenty of Water. Body has to get used to exercising again.

[Tate777 84]

I have been practicing for almost a year. I just got sleeved this past Monday. My surgeon said I needed to wait 2-4 weeks. The biggest concern he had was dehydration--not the stretching so much. I am going to err on the side of caution and give myself 4 weeks.

[CBT 450]

I practice and what is offer is GO! Just be really okay and mentally prepared to stay half the class or doing modified poses. You might get really tired building all that heat on so few calories. If you get dizzy you are probably dehydrated so just hydrate really well before and after. Namaste.

[feedyoureye 3,087]

I was told 8 weeks. I would not "Just go". I would call your Docs office for their advice, talk to the yoga instructor about your operation before class, and really listen to your body. Yoga stretches and massages the internal organs as well as the muscles, and I'm sure is great because of this, but with a weakness in the staple line until it is fully healed, I would say take care. My Dance teacher is also a yoga teacher, has a lot of physical therapy training, and she has been very helpful in adding specific warm ups and drills to address my bone spurs, and others different needs.

[CBT 450]

Our bodies can so so much more than we think they can. I believe you are already conditioned to Birkham because you said "again". That being the case, you are resuming a practice that is familiar. Go. But by all mean, follow your doctors orders. Duh.

[reading mom 85]

I attended my first yoga class on day 8 post op with my dr's blessing. I was a fast healer. My incisions were completely healed by day 10. Now I was not doing hot yoga, but a gentler style. My advice is go slow and modify modify modify! Listen to your body and be gentle with yourself. I resumed my practice about 5 months pre op to meet my goal of going into my surgery being as healthy as possible. And I think my practice pre and post op has been crucial to the whole weight loss process. Go but go slow. Namaste

[CubsWinCubsWin 108]

I was more asking about ripping stitches and staples but I did not consider the hydration. I did Bikram Yoga for several years until I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The cancer and its treatment is one of the main reasons I gained so much weight so quickly and it won't come off. I'm also hoping to get back into marathon running and hockey, all things I had to quit as I battled this weird fatigue issue that ultimately turned out to be cancer. I'm all better now but the weight is like an anchor I cannot cast away. I'm looking forward to practicing again once my doctor gives me the ok. Thanks

[feedyoureye 3,087]

Best of luck to you on achieving your goals!

[CBT 450]

I was more asking about ripping stitches and staples but I did not consider the hydration. I did Bikram Yoga for several years until I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The cancer and its treatment is one of the main reasons I gained so much weight so quickly and it won't come off. I'm also hoping to get back into marathon running and hockey, all things I had to quit as I battled this weird fatigue issue that ultimately turned out to be cancer. I'm all better now but the weight is like an anchor I cannot cast away. I'm looking forward to practicing again once my doctor gives me the ok. Thanks

Wow! What a journey. I'm sorry to read about the cancer diagnosis. The treatments can be so harsh even though they are so advanced and saving lives everyday!

Can you say how your yoga practice helped you in your cancer recovery?

For what it's worth, my surgeon released me at 4 weeks. But that's me and my profile. Always with the disclaimers on this site. Gah. Anyway, we talked in depth about what I do to move my body. She said with a smirk, "you aren't gonna pop a stitch. You will be very sore though and you won't over do it again." Her main trauma concern is falling while in motion or car accidents. Things like that. Blunt external force like falling on a treadmill.

[LuminousLife 145]

I do Bikram 4x a week. I was able to start a month after surgery. I make sure to drink Water all day long, as much as I can before, during and after. So far so good and its helping my skin stay firm.