Almost all ballasts sold today are electronic, and they can range from $12-$200 USD, depending on your light. Use the old ballast to determine the exact wattage of your new one. Ballasts can be found at most major hardware stores. When buying, you'll need to know your light's wattage, the number of bulbs it has, and the wiring system on the old ballast. Make sure your light fixture isn't using LED bulbs since they do not use ballasts. Check that the bulbs you're using are compatible with the ballasts you buy. Magnetic ballasts are not sold anymore, so you may need to change the type of bulb.

Summary: Buy a new electronic ballast suitable for the wattage of your lamp, using the one you removed as a guide.

You can test your oil at home with just these 2 items. Make sure you cover your work surface with wax paper or tin foil to protect it from any oil that might bleed through the paper. If your oil doesn't have a dropper with it or a cap that allows this, you can use the eraser side of a pencil. Just dip the eraser into the bottle and let the oil drip onto the paper from there, or gently touch the eraser to the paper to get the oil to transfer. If you're testing multiple oils, it might help to label each one so you remember where it is on the paper. This will normally take about 30-45 minutes depending on how much oil you have on the paper. Check after 30 minutes, and if there's still some liquid on the paper, allow another 15 minutes to dry. If there is a ring present, that means that the oil has likely been diluted with another substance and is less pure. If you can't see a ring, try touching the paper with your finger lightly. If it's completely dry and you don't feel any oil or grease on your finger, your oil is likely pure and high quality. Some oils that are darker in color will leave a slight tint, but the paper should not be oily or greasy once completely dry. Oils such as sandalwood, patchouli, and German chamomile will leave a tint but not an oily ring. For aromatherapists and naturopaths, it might be worthwhile to send oils to a lab for chemical testing. This will ensure that the chemical makeup of the oil is indeed pure and what is labelled on the bottle. The two means of testing are Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. These tests are often performed together in a lab, and will show whether there are any "adulterants" in the oil.

Summary: Select an oil to test and get a piece of blank paper. Place one drop of the oil on the paper. Allow the oil to dry completely. Check the places where you dropped the oil for a leftover ring of oil or grease. Send your oils to a lab for testing if you will be using them for professional reasons.

There are locations all over the world. Consult the External Links mentioned below. All Bikram Yoga studios are required to have separate locker rooms and showers for men and for women, and an instruction room size of minimum 1,200 sq. feet. with mirrors. Floors are carpeted. Practice room is between 105 F and 110 F degrees Fahrenheit and classes are 90 minutes, so you will be sweating a lot. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, and before and after class. It will be uncomfortable or mildly painful at first and you may feel lightheaded or nauseous during the session. These sensations are often symptoms of detoxification taking place in the body, but be cautious if they are a sign of dehydration. The time of standing postures is 50 minutes, and the floor is 40 minutes. Many teachers run late on the standing postures, but the official time is supposed to be only 50 minutes. You will need to sign up, meet the instructors and receive preliminary instructions. (Consider clothing with a moderate fit, as loose clothing can hinder comfort of movement.)

Summary: Find a studio near you. What to expect: Mentally prepare yourself for heat. Bikram's choice of 26 hatha yoga postures is designed to stretch your muscles, compress your cardiopulmonary system and modulate your circulation. Arrive at the studio early. Wear light clothing in which you are comfortable.

Never skip breakfast because it sets the energy standard for the rest of the day. Make healthy food choices such as wholegrain breads and cereals, fruits, and yogurt, to provide you with sustained energy for the morning. Eating breakfast helps you to feel less tempted to resort to unhealthy food choices at lunchtime and increases your physical and mental well-being throughout the day. Good breakfast choices include: Cereal with skim milk and a piece of fresh fruit. Two slices of whole wheat toast topped with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and a banana. A multigrain bagel topped with a scrambled egg and a slice of low-fat cheese and a glass of orange juice. Most fast food is junk food, packed full of fats, sugars, salts, preservatives, and flavor enhancers. It tastes great on the spot and it feels like an energy boost but it has filled you with calories that lack nutrients, and is a very unhealthy fuel for your body. Choose a bright green salad with lean protein for lunch to avoid severe energy drop in the afternoon. Drink a cup of green tea with a piece of dark chocolate. If you must get your lunch from a fast food place, choose items that are baked or broiled instead of fried and skip the French fries. As delicious as buns, croissants, muffins, and cakes are, as well as a pasta meal, these are all energy slump-inducers in disguise. Gabe Mirkin, MD, recommends avoiding pastries, pasta, and baked goods if you want to stay awake, as their high flour and sugar content will bring on drowsiness. Choosing unprocessed over processed or refined foods is a guaranteed healthier way to feeling better after lunch. Instead of choosing processed foods and starchy sides, make sure that your lunch is balanced and healthy. Opt for a lunch that features veggies as the main attraction, and also includes a serving of whole grains and lean protein. Build high energy lunches with the following food types: Sprouts, green beans, lettuce, mustard greens, radicchio, bok choy, sea vegetables, cabbage, mushrooms, radishes, celery, avocado, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, summer squash, zucchini, bamboo shoots, onions, tomatoes, artichokes, carrots, water chestnuts, pumpkin, etc. Whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat crackers, bulgur wheat, quinoa, etc. Chickpeas, egg, chicken breast, tuna, tofu, turkey breast, etc. A large meal takes more effort to digest, so it is more likely to make you feel drowsy. Instead of eating large lunches, eat a smaller meals throughout the day. Balance a small lunch with mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks so that you get all of your recommended calories throughout the day. If you plan to try eating small meals throughout the day, make sure that you don't go more than three hours without eating. Good snacks to reach for mid-afternoon are those that won't deplete your energy but will boost it. Avoid the temptation to fuel yourself on a chocolate bar and choose a piece of fruit, some crackers with low-fat string cheese, or a handful of almonds instead.
Summary: Eat a good breakfast. Choose healthy lunches over high fat lunches and fast food. Stick to whole grains and avoid processed sugar and flour. Eat a complex-carbohydrate, high-protein lunch. Eat less. Eat healthy mid-afternoon snacks.