Tip of the Week: Feeling Nauseous or Dizzy in Class?

Feeling really exhausted after class, or nauseous and dizzy during class? According to the official Bikram Yoga website:
 It is not unusual to feel nauseous or dizzy during your first class.  Practicing yoga in a heated room reveals to us our present condition, and inspires us take much better care of ourselves.
Usually the problem is that we do not drink enough water for daily living, let alone for exercising in a heated room. Nutritionists tell us that we need 64-80 ounces of water a day to help the body function properly.

In the heated yoga room, your body needs adequate fund of water to allow perspiration to release heat from the body as you practice. So we estimate you need another 64-80 ounces (sometime during the day) to allow for your 90 minutes in the room.  Once you are drinking enough water your body will tolerate the heat better and you will actually enjoy the heat.

If you feel disoriented or like you need a good nap after your first few classes, this is likely because your body has begun to cleanse itself as a result of the yoga practice. Don't be scared. After the first few classes this sensation will pass. The more you can relax as you give your 110% honest effort during class, the more energized you will feel throughout the class and throughout the rest of your day.

Natasha Lee, one of our readers, also suggested: "Hello, I am the executive director of a nutrition company. I was reading on your website that some students can feel sick to their stomach and dizzy during the class. The recommendation is to drink water.

This is incomplete.  Those are specific symptoms of salt and potassium depletion and can easily be remedied by taking salt and potassium tablets before class. The centers should have this available. The uncomfortable feelings one experiences in a sauna or heated room can be avoided completely by simply taking these minerals.

Sea salt and potassium are the least expensive of all minerals and can be obtained anywhere. Nausea, headaches, all of this can be avoided with these 2 minerals."   In addition, it's also a good idea not to eat anything 1-2 hours before class.  Also remember to listen to your body during class, and if at any time you feel you need to lay or sit on your mat because you are too nauseous or dizzy, you are welcome to.