Things you should know before reading this blog:

Things you should know before reading this blog:
Bikram yoga is hard. I know I'm weakling and whine about everything but this is seriously not some girly cop-out excuse for exercising. Its not for the faint of heart! Bikram yoga, commonly known as hot yoga, earned it's name. Over the course of 90 minutes there are 26 postures (each is done twice) that are practiced in 105-110 degree studios with speaking instruction from a certified Bikram teacher. If you weigh yourself before and after a class, you're likely to see a 3-5 pound difference. Granted, its just water weight, but still that's a lot of sweat. By the end of class, you'll look like you just took a shower. Not only is it extremely hot in the room but the postures themselves are hard. When I begin my first class, there will probably only be 5 or 6 postures I can hold correctly without taking "beginners shortcuts" (bent knees, unlocked elbows, shortened stretches, etc). It takes so much strength, endurance, and patience to do things like kick your foot over your head and hold it there for thirty seconds without falling & knocking everyone in the room down like a domino. I'll get there... hopefully. In the meantime I'll be the tall brunette laying flat on the mat like a dead man, sweating my ass off.

So what's a 30 day challenge?
A 30 day challenge is the Iron Man of Bikram. Basically it entails daily practice, every single day, consecutively, for thirty days. By agreeing to a 30 day, you're agreeing to never miss a class. Ever. Now, the yoga community is pretty understanding that maybe there might be something during your 30 days that comes between you and your yoga class. Miss a class? Fine. Take 2 the next day to make up for the one you missed. Good luck with that. My 30 day starts Jan 31 and ends on Mar 1.

Why am I documenting this?
Well I wanted a way to see how much progress I'll make by the end. I dont think my fellow yoga do-ers would appreciate me bringing a friend into yoga to take pictures for me... Nor do I particularly want my picture taken in the hot room (talk about unflattering) so I'll keep track of everything via this blog. But of course its also just so you, my lovely family and friends, can follow me through the ups, downs, bends, and twists of my very own 30 day challenge. Really, I'm so excited to watch my own personal progress through improving the postures and gain all the health benefits that Bikram is so famous for. Yes I'm somewhat forced to keep record of this so I can present my results in June but I'll try my best and keep it interesting despite all the whining and moaning that's bound to happen. Good, bad, and ugly.. What's the worst that can happen in 30 days??

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Day 20

Also, I drank one of these between classes.
Note to self: this is the drink of Satan.
Never, ever again. Barf.
I DID MY FIRST DOUBLE!!!! And lived to tell the tale!! It honestly was not that bad I definitely had set myself up for it to be way worse. I did the 3:00 and the 5:00 so there was a half hour break in between but since I normally get into the hot room a half hour before class starts anyway, it wasn't much of a break. After the first class I left the hot room long enough to get a new towel, change, and sign myself back in for round two. I had so much more energy than I expected! I really didn't mind doing a double and will definitely do another in the future if I have time for it. If you're now wondering if I am crazy and thinking that yoga has sent me completely off the deep end, you are correct.

Besides the pat on the back I gave myself for doing 3 hours of yoga, I also gave myself a high five for my standing back bend. It's another one of those mind postures where you don't think you can go that far back... and then you do. I really think once you release you're entire mind there is not a single posture that is impossible. Easier said than done. But anyway I dropped so far back I could see the carpet behind my ankles! It's a crazy feeling. And beyond awesome. Mike taught the second class and even though I don't play favorites I always want to go to Tuesday night classes if I know he's going to be teaching :).  He's so personable and so helpful! Today during a savasana he talked about the importance of keeping your eyes open the entire time you are in class right up until final savasana. In terms of the mental aspects of practice, its so vital that you don't shut your eyes. Mike gave the example of people who shut their eyes and say "i'm in my happy place" during practice. Even though you may feel relaxed picturing yourself on a sandy beach, what you're actually doing is removing your presence from the room. It is so important to be present in class the entire 90 minutes, not thinking about today, tonight, tomorrow, or yesterday. When you're present in class you're able to accept everything you are feeling, and choose to keep it or release it. This carries over to life outside the studio. Be present in your lives!
A Bikram back bend... yowch
All in all my first double was such a big accomplishment for me. I feel like a proud little peacock. A month ago, I dont think I could stand through an entire class, let alone 3 hours of it! Not to mention I am so stretched out that it feels like I have no bones just spaghetti noodle arms and legs. Quick thanks to everyone at the studio and in my life who were so kind and supportive about my double class day -- you made all my doubts go right out the window :)
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