Issue No.7 - January 2009

From January 2nd - January 16th, 1 Year Unlimited memberships will be on sale for only $799 (regular $1199). This is a limited time offer.

Thank you all for your recommendations and input regarding the new class schedule. It is certainly not easy to make everyone happy but we truly hope the new schedule works for each individual as much as possible. We are not through adding new classes so if you don't see your preferred class time yet, we will still be making new additions over the next couple of months.

The new schedule starts January 5th!

BYCV is proud to introduce two new instructors to our yoga family; Tara and Laurel. Please make these lovely ladies feel welcome with all your smiling, happy faces!

A new Bikram Yoga Teacher Training session begins in April of 2009. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a certified Bikram Yoga instructor, check out: www.BikramAcapulco.com for all the information.

BYCV is very excited to announce the dates for our first ever 30 Day Challenge. A 30 Day Challenge is exactly what you think it is: 30 consecutive Bikram Yoga classes in 30 days. This is an ongoing tradition in the Bikram Yoga world and if you're looking to make a big impact on your body and your health for the new year, there is no better way. Some may find this challenge a little daunting but if you think there is a chance, no matter how slight, that you could possibly complete the challenge, then it is worth a try. There will be plenty of support around the studio to get you through your challenge and aside from transforming your yoga practice, BYCV T-shirts will be rewarded to all the students who complete the challenge! What a great way to kick start your New Year's resolutions.

The challenge begins Thursday, January 15th and goes until Saturday, February 14th. Talk to the front desk for rules and to sign up.

This is great opportunity to get your friends and family in to try hot yoga!

When? Saturday, January 10th
Times? 10:00am, 1:00pm & 4:00pm

No pre-registration required, all classes are first come, first serve. Yoga mat rental is free but don't forget to bring your own towels. For membership holders, classes taken during free day do not count towards your membership. Free classes are always busy so if you'd like to attend, plan to arrive quite early as there are no guarantees for spots in the class. It's always helpful to have experienced practitioners in the room during free days so that the new students have people to follow...don't let the busy class size during free day keep you away!

If any of your loved ones miss the free day and would still like to try hot yoga our 2-in-5 New Student Intro (2 Classes in 5 days for $20) is always available.

We all know how great Bikram's Yoga is for fighting and dealing with stress, but if you miss a couple of classes and are looking for a quick pick me up try one of the suggestions below.

Stress the silent killer. It's a wonder why Western Medicine doesn't give it the credit it deserves. We have blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar numbers that we equate to health. We don't however have a number for stress. It isn't quantifiable or easily measurable so Western Medicine has little place for it. We do however have barbiturates, anti-depressants and the like which put serious chemical stress on our body's systems. Stress and stressful situations are difficult to avoid so instead of running from it or adding fuel to the flames with medications, use these Quick Stress Busters to help deal with overload and increase your clarity. I think you'll find other pieces of your health and life will benefit as well.

1. Quick Sprints (30 seconds)- Studies in Men show that a quick 30 second sprint lowers stress levels for almost 80 minutes after. You can use the stairs at work or spin on a stationary bike or simply run all out for a quick 30 secs every hour  to calm down your emotions and ramp up your nervous system. Do it at work to increase productivity.
2. Chiropractic (3 minutes)- The average adjustment is under 3 minutes and has been shown in countless studies to decrease cortisol levels and calm down tired, overworked nerves while decreasing fatigue. So visit your local wellness Doctor of Chiropractic for a baseline examination of your nervous system and get on a plan to wellness and increased calm in your life.
3. Cool Off (15 minutes)- Take an ice pack and place it on your shoulders for 15-30 minutes. The shoulders are where cortisol (the stress hormone) can tense muscles that attach to your skull. This causes compression of nerves in the upper neck leading to headaches, eye pain and countless other serious health conditions. The longer you ice the longer and more profound the benefit. If you are using a gel ice pack (which I recommend) be sure to put a piece of cotton cloth in between you and the ice pack.
4. Laugh (1 minute)- Find an excuse to laugh more. Click on www.youtube.com and type in your favorite comedian for a few minutes during your lunch hour or on a break to get you giggling. Read The Amazing Healing Power of Humour: Laughter Medicine for more information. The great thing about laughter is that you can do it anywhere and always find an excuse and occasion for it. Try it at your next board meeting and see if it really is contagious!
5. BREATHE (1 minute)- We are shallow breathers. Take a second on the hour to take at least 5 super deep inspirations and you'll immediatley find clarity. Take it to the next level and go outside by yourself and breathe in some fresh air. This is the simplest and most common sense advice I've ever written but ask yourself: When was the last time I really breathed deeply? Inspire and you'll be inspired.