Laura McIntosh - HER LIFE Magazine

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herlife spotlightBikram YogaBy Ann E. ButenasPhotos by Bre Baszl er"Abody in motion cannot be depressed.” Wow!That is a truly powerful statement, and itcomes directly from a source who is wellacquaintedwith the overall benefits of physical activity on alllevels: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.Meet Helena Monica. For the past decade, she has beenan avid practitioner of Bikram Yoga, introduced to the artaccidentally on purpose. Helena has led a very fit and activelifestyle most of her adult years. All throughout high school, shewas an avid swimmer and spent summers as a lifeguard. Shetook up running at age 27, but chronic back pain forced her toquit pursuing that endeavor by age 35.Compromised over the years by severe scoliosis, Helenaloved the benefits of exercise, and when she was no longerable to run, she knew she had to find something to replace thatactivity. As such, she purchased a cornucopia of yoga DVDs andstarted focusing on the discipline every day, mainly engaging inVinyasa Flow yoga.another modality of exercise.After a while, her dedication to this practice reduced theappearance of the hump in her back. She was feeling stronger,healthier and more energetic. She even noticed an appreciablechange in her body as it began to take on a beautiful shape.Realizing she had found something that created positivechanges in her life, she decided to open her own hot yogastudio—Bikram Yoga, located at 2341 Pacific Avenue in Stockton,so that others could enjoy all of the exciting benefits it hasto offer.“The science of yoga can remold the body and bring itback to its original blueprint, physically, mentally and spiritually,”she stressed. “However, this particular type of yoga has tobe done in a heated environment.”Bikram Yoga, developed by Indian yoga guru BikramChoudhury in the early 1970s, is comprised of a series of 26postures. These postures work together to benefit every part ofthe body, giving all of the internal organs, the veins, ligaments"A body in motion cannot be depressed."Shortly thereafter, a friend of hers encouraged her toattend a hot yoga class. Confident and ambitious to experiencethis twist on her newfound routine, Helena soon realized thatthis was no ordinary workout. “I literally had my butt handed tome that first class,” she laughed. “In fact, I couldn’t even finishthe class.”However, she did not give up. She continued to pursue herlove of yoga, most notably hot yoga, for 90 minutes a day, fivedays a week. It soon became a way of life for her, and not justand muscles everything they require to maintain optimumhealth and peak performance.A certified Bikram Yoga instructor, Helena has a studiothat has been designed to always obtain the proper temperature,which is 105F. It is at this level that clients can optimallyengage in the postures. “When the muscles are heated, it allowsthe bones to take shape,” explained Helena. “The musclesand bones work as a group. Each position must be held for atleast ten seconds for the benefits to take place. This is what48 HERLIFEmagazine.com
allows the muscles and bones to reform and reshapethemselves.”For those who don’t think Bikram yoga allowsfor any cardiovascular benefits, think again! Bikramyoga is quite the cardiovascular workout. It causesthe blood to thin and travel to parts of the body neverbefore reached through typical forms of cardiovascularactivities. “This type of yoga builds beautiful bodies,”"Bikram yoga is quite thecardiovascular workout."noted Helena. “It also serves to heal joints, supportthe immune system, relieve allergies, contribute to ahealthier state of mind and essentially bring your bodyto its optimum level of health and performance.”As Helena previously noted, yoga is life. “At its core, itis self-realization,” she said. “It separates the soul fromthe ego and allows you to surrender and listen.”Helena has worked daily on her own self, eradicatingthe ego and setting the stage for her to become, inessence, a spiritual teacher to her students. “I havelearned so many lessons of spirituality through yogathat I want to pass on to my students,” she noted.While Bikram yoga is strenuous, Helena indicated thatone does not have to be good to get started, but continued, “Youdo have to get started to become good at it.”As one of 1,000 certified Bikram yoga instructors in thenation, Helena has many opportunities for people to come toher studio and discover not only a great form of fitness, but todiscover their authentic selves, as well.For more information, class schedules, and fees, visitHelena’s studio on the web at www.bikramyogastockton.com orcall at 209-948-9642. Voted the #1 Yoga Studio by KCRA votersand San Joaquin Valley Magazine, Bikram Yoga in Stockton isdefinitely the place to discover!HERLIFEmagazine.com 49
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Laura McIntosh - HER LIFE Magazine

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