Meet Sarah Cook, 34, of St. John’s, Michigan. Sarah started practicing Bikram Yoga with us in the spring of 2014, upon a recommendation from her sister. As of this writing, Sarah has practiced exactly 365 classes! Sarah has had some exciting updates recently, but her whole history of benefits is very diverse, and quite exciting!
Year 1:
“Before I started yoga, I had gotten a bone bruise (near-fracture) close to my knee, and after 4 weeks on crutches, I was supposed to do physical therapy. Instead, with permission of my specialist, I practiced Bikram Yoga 3 times a week for 6 weeks. After that, the specialist said I was completely healed, I did not need any physical therapy, and she would not need to see me anymore.
“In my first year of yoga I lost 30 pounds….and I have kept it off! I used to gain about 5 pounds every winter, but now it doesn’t stick with me anymore.
“I had several previous wrist sprains and injuries and had so much pain I could not use scissors. Within a few months of practicing, I could use scissors again and the pain was gone.
Year 2:
“My need for asthma medication was drastically reduced. Before Bikram Yoga I was taking a daily inhaler at 220 mcg every day – sometimes twice a day. As of Spring 2017 I was taking half of that dose, and I only needed it an average of once a week!
“My sciatica also went away. My dad walks with a cane because of similar issues, and it was starting to develop in me. Before yoga I could hardly carry my toddler for a minute without intense pain. After practicing regularly, I was able to carry her an entire mile without pain.”
Year 3:
“I recently went through a Candida overgrowth and hormone imbalance. I treated it with a massive change in my diet, and that was very difficult. I had a lot of anxiety and depression as a result of making these changes so quickly. Practicing Bikram Yoga not only helped my hormones balance out quicker, but it made it possible for me to take a complete break from the stress and cost of meal planning and preparation.
“Despite my asthma, my lung capacity has always been slightly above average (111% before yoga). But now, 3 years into yoga, it has increased to 116%.”
September 2017:
“As an adult I have always been 5 foot 3 and 3/4. At my check-up last week I was 5 foot 4 and 1/2 inch. At my check-up this month, the nurses looked at my chart and could not figure out what was going on!”
All we are doing is the not-at-all-secret secret of a regular Bikram Yoga practice. Feel free to share the goodness and healing with anyone who might need a little boost.