Hot Yoga Experiences > Emotional Reactions to Hot Yoga

Sometimes I experience emotional reactions after camel. Almost involuntarily, I'll start tearing on the mat up even when nothing is bothering me at all. I heard that this is normal and even maybe a block being lifted? Eureka. Any thoughts?

November 15, 2012 | Registered CommenterAlexandriaS

Most teachers, as well as Bikram, mention that camel can bring on strong emotional reaction for many reasons, one being that the complete openness of the pose brings on feelings of vulnerability.While I have not had the strong reactions in camel I have felt overwhelmed at the end of class in final savasana.

November 18, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterJune Spinelli

I have felt emotional reactions in almost all the poses. And Camel, being a heart opener and exposing the whole front body, leaves us vulnerable. I have had the sensations of dizziness, light headedness, nauseousness, extreme heaviness in muscles (like I can no longer hold my arms in "T" position) to tears in my eyes (at those times I am thankful for the sweat). The science of yoga in assisting us in 'clearing' out the 'junk' held in our bodies is profound. I am always amazed at how ancient peoples without today's technology figured this out. And Bikram condensed it to just 26 poses for a complete full body work out (inside and out).

November 18, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterJaneC

So many reasons for the emotional release of Camel pose - it is extremely heart-opening as you push your chest further up and apart than in any other pose. The chest and shoulders are exactly people concave their posture to "protect" the heart and stay closed. No matter what your mind says (I am calm, I am over it, I don't care, I am beyond being hurt) your body can't lie. Maybe you'll never know why you're crying in Camel - be happy about those tears; it means this old pain has finally found a way out.

November 19, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterRhonda

I used to get the chills after doing camel pose. I feel like I've been stuck in the same state for a while now, since no more chills, yet I'm unable to properly reach my heels. I feel good after camel, but no chills. Rabbit, however, I think I've started tapping into that pose more and feel the greatest feeling of release, afterwards, in savasana.

November 21, 2012 | Registered CommenterLaura

I get the camel dizziness too, but I feel the most heart racing feeling during stick- tuladandasana. Still working on learing to relax and breath...

November 23, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterAmy A

Any pose that makes your heart race will "quicken" your emotions, too. One reason for the dizzy feeling when your heart opens: heart and your mind are often disconnected (the heart is calling but the mind reasons you out of it), but in these heart openers, they sync up. (The most important journey of your life is six inches long: the distance between the heart and the mind). Rabbit is also heart opening, pulling apart those sneaky little side-channels that loop around your heart chakra and squeeze, closing you down. Rabbit will open your heart in a big way.

November 24, 2012 | Registered CommenterRhonda Uretzky, E-RYT

I thought I posted this yesterday, but didn't see it pop up! So if I'm repeating this after accidentally posting it somewhere else, I'm sorry...

But the coolest emotional reaction I've ever had was during final savasana. Quite frequently, I woud experience a wave of joy flowing over me like a wave of yellow light, and it concentrated in a ball right above my pelvis/lower abdoment--in the area I now know as the second chakra.

I could visualize it so clearly that I almost wanted to open my eyes to see if it was really there.

This doesn't happen anymore, sadly--not quite like this, anyway. But in its place is a remarkable feeling of well-being.

November 27, 2012 | Registered CommenterMary-Rush

Mary-Rush - SO cool! Did you know about Chakras before this experience? They are described as "balls" wheels or disks of light. You seemed to be tapping in intuitively. I wouldnt be sad to have that replaced with a feeling of peace; seems that your Chakra is now balanced. That's what 26 hot yoga poses are meant to do!

November 28, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterRhonda

What's so cool is that I had NO idea at all about chakras when that happened--it was early on in my practice, when I'd been doing hot yoga for a little over a year, and the sensation only lasted for a few weeks.

I described the experience here and then saw the yellow ball of light over the second chakra in the anatomy book and recognized it immediately. It was one of those amazing moments where you have proof (even if it's subjective) of something that others may initially be incredulous about. I was like, "Holy s*$%!!!"

November 30, 2012 | Registered CommenterMary-Rush

That is amazing to feel the yellow light over you! While I never had that experience, what I have had were 2 emotional moments in yoga (so far) and neither were in Camel! One was many years ago in the old Riverflow barn. It was during final savasana. I laid there, eyes closed, knowing those beautiful wood beams were above me. Rhonda left the room and put on a song for us to relax into. I remember: it was a Cat Stevens song (if only I knew which one!). And all of the sudden, the tears began to melt out of the corners of my eyes. It was not sadness at all. It was good and felt like an incredible release. Ironically, I think of that moment often when I need to get to a happy place! The second time was recently in Standing Bow. I started crying then and it didn't subside much the rest of the class.

April 14, 2014 | Registered CommenterHeatherS

That's lovely Heather.... Tears are always the announcement that your authentic self has shown up. That Cat Stevens song is called The Wind.

April 14, 2014 | Registered CommenterRhonda Uretzky, E-RYT

I'm going to iTunes right now to get that song! Thanks Rhonda.

April 14, 2014 | Registered CommenterHeatherS

I am working through a back injury right now and tear up constantly through out class. It's not due to pain (as I know not to push my body there)--it's the overwhelming feeling of the added layer of complexity the poses present as some of my movements are limited right now--an overwhelmingness of "i can't do it". Fortunately, savasana helps reset this feeling each time. Never give up.

April 17, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterLaura

Let the tears come, Laura - they are part of your healing. All "dis-ease" of the body starts with discomfort of the heart and mind. Yes, you are experiencing real pain in your back, but that pain represents the fruits of you manifestation: the roots go way deeper and they are always planted in emotional pain. Let go the frustration about the "I can't do it," and rejoice: as a teacher, you are getting a beautiful lesson in what it feels like to be a beginner thus re-engaging your compassion for the newbies in your class. It's all good.

April 19, 2014 | Registered CommenterRhonda Uretzky, E-RYT