I’m the first to admit that I am the last to step into class on many an occasion. This means, I am usually standing in the hottest spot in the room as it is the only spot available! Faced with this slight disadvantage (it’s not my favourite thing to feel flushed and slightly dizzy from the heat), I lose more water because I’m pretty sure I sweat more.
This hot spot in the room stresses to me the importance of that vital natural element, water, as well as the conscious act of hydrating.
Standing in this spot, I’ve learned to keep an eagle eye on the water level of the H2O bottle; if I’m not careful, I could chug back 1L in the first part of class. And, we all know what that would mean — belly flopping through pretty much all of the Spine Series.
This spot also highlights my ill-skill in hydrating properly before class. I try and drink water and herbal teas throughout the day but I know it’s not enough. Anyone have any tips?
As my skin has a tendency to shrivel like that of a prune, another thing I am reminded of with all that sweating is the importance of nutrition. Silver lining: knowing I must replenish the valuable salts and minerals lost in the sweat drippings means I get to enjoy a delicious post-Bikram snack — avocado on toast with sea salt. There’s truly nothing more satisfying after a sweaty class than this (apart from cubes of juicy sweet watermelon!)
Luckily, I love to eat so getting into a routine of enjoying a snack like this one isn’t hard. I’m getting pretty good at buying a bag of avocados every week.
Last but not least — hydration, hydration, hydration of the skin. Flushed from the heat, and looking slightly ‘raisin’ in the face is not the way I want to be caught when the wind changes. So, these ultra hot classes remind me that I have to stick to a skincare routine. After class and before bed (on most days as I alternate with an oil) I use a Hydrating Gel that contains hyaluronic acid — this is the body’s natural hydrator and binds moisture to the skin to keep it plump. Getting into the habit of applying this gel daily means that the skin has less chance of becoming dehydrated because the skin is constantly being hydrated from the outside. While it’s recommended to smooth moisturize over the top, I tend to follow that routine in the day (with SPF), but lighten the load in the evenings (a facialist told me to use it as a standalone based on my skin so this is different for everyone).
My skin has changed so much since moving from New York to Los Angeles that looking after it daily is a necessity for me, and I hardly let a day go by without replenishing it.
So, while I might grumble about standing in the hottest spot of the room — the fact that I am writing about it on this blog is indication enough of that — it is a sign that I should get to class earlier. Otherwise, I can continue this positive stance about making the hot(ter) experience a reminder to keep up with well-intentioned actions.
Filed under: Bikram Yoga, Fitness, Food, Health, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, Musings, Spirituality Tagged: avocado on toast, bikram, hydration, Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, water
