Why?...

A lot of people ask "Why a 30 Day Challenge?".."Why Bikram Yoga?".. "What's in it for you to complete the challenge?"...

Hmm, let's start with the "What's in it for you??"..
I would say the t-shirt, bag, or water bottle they sometimes choose to give you;).. But REALLY? That's nice and all, however I would think it would be the satisfaction of knowing you completed it..the amazing way you feel after taking your body apart and putting it back together in that hot room 90 min a day for 30 days..the accomplishment of setting yet another goal in life, working towards it, and achieving it..the way you detox and how much energy you have at the end..and maybe even during, who knows? I've obviously never done this before.. But all of that would be much more satisfying to me than a material item.. Although I'd rock one of those Bikram bags or shirts anyday;)

So, as for the "Why a 30 Day Challenge" and "Why Bikram?"...
I have NEVER felt this good in my life.. Any other exercise I've done, I've never had results so fast, always felt tight and sore, and you just don't see an improvement in your workout and your body and mind like you get to experience with Yoga! *I'm definitely not knocking any other workouts or other yoga, I'm just saying, it works for ME*..I have never naturally been a flexible person, before I started I couldn't touch my toes! With Bikram Yoga, you detox, the heat is there to help you go deeper into the postures.. It's amazing what you can do in that "torture chamber" as Bikram himself calls it.. You work your muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, even organs, as well as your mind! Aches and pains go away! This yoga has healed people, literally. If you need to lose any weight, it drops like crazy, you see muscle tone fast, you make healthier food choices, your skin glows from the detoxing, you live a completely different, fulfilled life. The more days you go in a row, the better you feel and the more acclimated you get to the heat and the more results you see. Right now, I go an average of 4 times a week I'd say..This is going to be a major challenge for me.. I've only gone 6 consecutive days before I felt like I've needed a break and I've only averaged about 16 days in one month.. I've been practicing for a little over a year now. So for me to go 30 days in a row will be a big accomplishment..It leaves me excited, yet anxious and nervous all at once. But I intend to take it one day at a time, one class at a time, one breath at a time.. I'm not going to expect anything or anticipate how I'm going to feel or what I'll be able to do. So, WHY the challenge? I feel like I'm ready for a new step, a new challenge with my practice. I want to advance in the postures and I want to do this for ME:)

As one of my many "mentors" told me.. This one happens to be a "Hair Mentor"(at work).. My good friend Stephanie once said to me, "To really feel alive, you must do one thing a day that makes you uncomfortable!".. Makes SO much sense. After it's over you feel alive right?! Whether it's a challenging client or customer, an uncomfortable confrontation with someone, OR even a 90 min sweat fest while you work your ass off... Makes complete and total sense:)..