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I have been hearing about the health benefits of Bikram Yoga for MS. It just seems odd to me that 'hot yoga' would help the symptoms of a disease that can be triggered by heat. I know that everyone is different, but during the Summer my symptoms are much worse.

Has anyone tried Bikram Yoga? If so, were your symptoms better, worse, the same???

no, haven't tried it, but would be interested in responses...also about Iyengar yoga...

I don't think I am the best person to answer this because as it stands, I am basically symptom free and haven't had any heat sensitivity related to MS since being dx. But, the teacher in the class made a comment that struck me - she said that she had turned down the heat and if we wanted to heat it up, to do the more difficult versions of the poses and it would heat up our core.

maybe it's not necessarily the temperature of the room that will affect you but your internal temp. So you could perhaps do the easier versions of the poses?

In any case, I think a non-heated yoga class would be a great place to start and you could work your way up to heated if that's what you'd really like to do.

I do Bikram at least 2x weekly, as I have since 2000. I don't take baclofen or anything else for spasticity. It's a part of my personal program, my neuro says if you think it makes you feel better, keep doing it. I've had MS since '81, diagnosed in 2011, currently take Rituxan. I'm having visible trouble walking and am on disability. Didn't take meds for years, now kind of regret that decision, but onward, ever onward.

Hi

I haven't done Bikram but I have used dry saunas. Dry heat doesn't trouble me but humidity can be a problem. Heat sensitivity is really all about how our heat shock proteins behave. You won't know till you try it. Heat does help tight muscles but the response will be a very individual issue.
When I have used a sauna it can get me warm right to the bone and that is helpful. If it doesn't agree with you then don't push it.

Regards,

heat doesn't worsen MS per se. This is a myth. in fact, multiple sclerosis is more common further from the equator. Heat just worsens symptoms of multiple sclerosis in some individuals. This is thought to be due to temporary decompensation of axonal action potentials in an abnormally myelinated nervous system.

If the heat doesn't bother you, there is no need to worry about it.