TMJ surgery avoided, numbness resolved...
In Aikido class several years ago, we were practicing hip throws and I kept repeatedly screwing up how to land and did several belly flops on my side. That evening my neck started twitching, then my shoulder, then my chest. Not knowing I had a pinched nerve I tried to treat it with aspirin, massage, and a heating pad. It quickly became EXTREMELY painful and serious. Conventional medicine was a joke. Because it was a pain in my left arm and shoulder my doctor was convinced I was having a heart attack. (Which I never believed for a minute.) After weeks of pain and sleepless nights, frequent visits to doctors and physical therapists, and lots of x-rays, neck traction, and ultrasound treatments, I eventually found a good chiropractor that was able to turn things around. His main point was "imagine a hot dog in a metal pipe" what happens if you cook it? "That's what you're doing to your spinal chord with heat." When I started icing my neck injury I quickly recovered, but never completely. For nearly 3 years the pinky and ring fingers on my left hand were tingling and numb and I had reduced strength in my left tricep. (I could measure the strength difference between my arms with a bathroom scale.)

I've also had TMJ jaw problems for years. That also got EXTREMELY serious. I was in constant pain. I couldn't open my mouth more than 2 fingers wide unless I pulled my jaw forward with my fingers to dislocate the joint. I couldn't chew solid food like an apple or a well done steak. I saw a TMJ specialist and he said I was so far gone the only possible solution is surgery to rebuild the cartilage. Because the clinical results have been inconclusive, most health plans will not cover surgery for TMJ so it would mean $8,000 out of pocket for the surgery (not including follow-up visits), wiring my jaw shut for several weeks, and one year of recovery time. I didn't think I had any choice but either cut my food into small bites (or use a blender) for the rest of my life or roll the dice and hope for a successful surgery. Health oriented websites I visited all agreed that TMJ surgery doesn't always work out favorably and because surgery is irreversible it should always be the last resort when all other treatment options have failed.

About 6 months ago I was still going to Aikido but would keep having concerns over my safety whenever I'd have to practice with inexperienced students using muscle instead of technique. I remembered reading an article about Bikram Choudhury and "Hot Yoga" in the local paper (The Oregonian). One afternoon, instead of going to Aikido class, I went to investigate the Bikram Yoga studio on Hall Street. I've attended Hatha Yoga classes before but what's different with this studio is it's done in a room heated to at least 105 degrees. They had an intro offer at that time of unlimited classes for a week for $10 bucks, so I figured I had little to lose by giving it a try. I'll never forget that first class. I hated every moment of it. I was dizzy, nauseous, sweating buckets, and while I did as many of the postures as I could, I spent quite a bit of the class lying down. After class I was sitting on a bench cooling down and was totally blown away when the realization hit me that the fingers on my left hand felt "normal," and after years of being numb, how weird that felt. The following weekend, the pain in my left arm and shoulder started coming back in short, sharp stabs. I went again on Monday and the same thing happened. I hated it, but the results were undeniable. Complete, 100%, instant recovery after class. What took a bit longer that I never expected is my jaw started getting better. Nothing else has changed so I can only conclude it's the result of these workouts helping to strengthen my neck and jaw muscles. My jaw is almost 100% cured now. I can open it 4 fingers wide without popping or clicking. I can eat an apple by biting into it. I can chew the toughest steak. I can eat a big sub sandwich without having to cut it with a knife into tiny bites. It's like I never had any problem. I was also starting to have some minor pain and stiffness in my knees and that's gone now. I've become more accustomed to the heat and the workouts are a lot easier now. - Ken Root

Consequently, I never felt I was progressing with my level of fitness. At the same time, the gym itself was increasingly bothering me: the noise, the lights and the numbers of people waiting for equipment, not to mention sharing a congested space became an impediment to my progress.

I decided to stop in and inquire at Bikram's Yoga College of India Hall Street, and was impressed with the pleasant environment and how comfortable I was made to feel. I was treated so nicely that I did not feel any anxiety or uncertainty about starting something I knew nothing about or hesitation of what I might not be able to achieve.

It was not until I returned to attend the first class that I began to feel fear! I was so anxious about not knowing if I could last in a room heated to 105 degrees for 90 minutes. My first instructor was Meredith and she was wonderful because she demonstrated such patience and made many efforts throughout the lesson to make me feel comfortable.

I think sometimes knowing less is better. If I had any idea of what challenges lay ahead, I probably would not have felt confident in my fitness level to continue and return to the next class. It probably took at least four classes before I realized I had found something that I loved. With each class, I heard more details of each posture and slowly felt progress.

Now, after four months of coming to yoga, I feel such a difference in myself mentally and physically. I realized I am just at the very beginning, but the difference for me is monumental. I was in a head-on car collision 19 years ago and since then, always felt a continual subtle ache in my neck. That feeling has vanished. The strength in my legs is very noticeable in everyday activities. The clarity of my skin has improved. My muscles are firmer and more toned. In addition, my ability to focus has improved. When I am working, my concentration is better and best of all, is the sense of calm that I feel.

Coming to yoga has become a necessity for me. I schedule it in to my daily life with the same importance as eating, sleeping and spending time with my family. For the first time, I have found an exercise routine that has made a difference in how I look, makes me feel wonderful, and does not hurt or injure me. The sense of well being I experience after practicing yoga is both mental and physical. No other exercise I've found comes close to providing these benefits.

I attribute the majority of my willingness and desire to return to class to the instructors. Each instructor I have had has been excellent. Mostly, I have had the pleasure of being led by Meredith, Sallie and Desiree. Each one has such fine teaching and communication skills and brings their wonderful, unique personalities to the class. Because of their kindness, patience, humor, encouragement, and knowledge.

I feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful studio so close to my home. I am thankful for the great staff and appreciate the efforts you constantly make to provide yoga in a clean, calm, friendly, pleasant, and professional atmosphere.