Day 12...Class 12

7:15am...Toni Jo

"Every posture is a lifetime journey unto itself. Our bodies change and our lives change. We gain confidence using all of our faith, determination, will, self-discipline and concentration in each posture. After a class in Bikram Hot Yoga, our cells vibrate at a higher level, and we KNOW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, we are more alive!"

Toni Jo rocks. She is motivating and pushes you, but also keeps it light and funny at the same time. Practice was great today.The vibe in there was awesome and all my yogi friends showed up:) It's funny because you get used to the people who practice around you and when they're not there it's different. Not sure if they feel the same way when I'm not there, Haha! I like how all of our vibes feed off each other. There's little pokes, smiles, and laughs.. And yes, even sometimes looks of  misery and despair! ;)
Fun class today!

As far as my food regimen is going, I'm still not sure what works the best for me yet.. Obviously eating healthy is the best. But I did eat some snacks way later than I should have last night and thought it would affect me in class today, but it didn't. Maybe it's better..Getting some fuel into my body since I usually go to class first thing in the morning. So, I'm still working on my food theory and what works best for me and my body. However, I think my Coconut Water 45min-an hour before class is working better than Emergen-C.. I used to do Coconut Water when I first started then I just strayed away from it for some reason and started trying Emergen-C. I'll still use both and maybe switch it up a little now and then. I love Whole Foods.. Time to make a trip there this week for more!

Everyone I know who hasn't tried Bikram Yoga ask me if our studio has beginners classes, because they've never done it before. I tell them it IS beginners postures in a heated room.. It's like they don't believe me though. I tell them that if you're advanced you just go farther into the postures. The class is basically a different challenge and journey for everyone. I tell them that it doesn't matter if they get into the posture 10% of the way or 100% of the way, they will still gain the same benefits if it's is done with correct form. I couldn't touch my toes before last year when I started Bikram! I wish they would all try it.. And I wish they would try it a few days in a row and stay hydrated. That's the only way you get the real feel for it. You can't go once and say "I hate it." I hear that a lot. I think when people are ready they'll try it. It really is mind over matter and all about the breath.. I think I was almost a year into it before I actually realized how much the breath helps! So, it's a learning process, an awesome journey!

Postures I was complimented on:
Pranayama Breathing, Standing Bow, Kapalbhati Breathing

Corrections:
Half Moon(Rt. side-come down farther, more of a push I guess than a correction)

Day 11..Class 11

7:15...Cindy

Todays practice was the exact opposite of a Snickers bar..
UN-satisfying on so many levels. Even though I feel great now(like always), I was bored to tears during class.. I don't know what was happening with the vibe in there, but I couldn't wait to leave. I was cursing in my head, going through the motions, and wondering when it was going to end. I wasn't listening, for some reason I was trying to tune the teacher out actually. The more I listened the more I cursed in my head. I don't know what it was, but today I was as bored as a midget in a theme park..

My arms/shoulders were super sore today. Holding them up and keeping locked elbows was difficult. Other than that, I felt pretty good.

Postures I was complimented on:
Tree alignment(rt side), Half Moon(left side)

Corrections:
Stretching Pose(pull toes back more), Standing Bow(chin to shoulder, head straight), Half Moon(lock elbows out even more)

Day 10...Class 10

7:15am...Jennifer

Now it's time to try and tune out the moaning girl in the back...

I've been OK at the "Concentrate" part.. The "Meditate" part I'm still working on! I guess you've totally mastered the meditation aspect of class when you can focus and tune out the heat, the pain, the sweat, your costume having to be adjusted, the people falling out of postures around you, YOU falling out of postures, the heavy breathing when the new students are erratically breathing out of their mouths and they can't catch their breath, whether the fans are on or not, what you have to do that day, and I guess now to add one more thing... The moaning girl in the back.

I ate white flour and sugar last night... It was just a little side of rigatoni with our Sunday Italian dinner at Dad's and a small slice of homemade orange, honey, ricotta cheesecake(tell me you wouldn't have eaten it;)... But it's SO crazy how it makes you feel when you're not used to it! I had a slight headache and my stomach wasn't feeling quite right this morning, but when I got into class I felt a little better..

The temp was great today, hot enough to stretch and pull safely and still push myself. I felt like today was a great class. I felt a little nausea in Camel and I didn't do the second set.. Normally I love Camel. I couldn't get as far back today either because of my lower spine being so sore. I'm still trying to push, I want to get passed it and be able to engage my middle and upper back more and go deeper into the posture. I've been working on stretching my achilles tendon.. It's a challenge for me to pull my toes back in Standing Head to Knee, so I've been really trying to mimic that and work on it in Head to Knee with Stretching since we're on the floor. My Half Moon(going to the left) feels SO much more loose than it was and I can push my hips out farther, especially in second set. Being the first posture of the series, first set is a little tight.

I swear I'm completely deaf in my left ear at the moment from the sweat dripping into my ears:(... I'm going to get swimmer's ear drops that people recommended. Please work!

I felt like I deserved new yoga shorts today. They are cute as can be. It motivates me when I get new yoga gear:) Although, I might go broke and get fat after my challenge... I've been saying "Oh I deserve it because of my challenge!" Haha! I think I've committed myself to 3 or 4 dinners at Italian and Mexican places right after and things I want to get or do for myself! I crack myself up...

Corrections:
Tree(hips more forward)

"Don't take life too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway."

Day 9...Class 9

7am...Summer

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' ...You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
~Eleanor Roosevelt

Guess who rocked every posture today.. THIS GIRL!
My heart and lungs were married FOUR, yes count em, FOUR times today! That barely ever happens! Ha!! Oh, how my Brooklynne would be SO proud of me;) XOXO

Todays class was fabulous! I even ran into a friend from Elementary school!! So funny! She just started and is doing the challenge also! Was it great because I went less than 24 hrs between classes this time? Was it because Summer has an great vibe? Was it because it was the first class of the day? Who knows, I'm just going to go with it! You can never really explain what happens in that room anyway.. There's no explanation, it's a grey area. For me, I was so used to wanting everything in life in black and white that I think it helps me to practice being OK with that grey area. I swear, yoga teaches you not only asanas, strength, stamina, flexibility, but discipline, motivation, inspiration. It's challenging mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. It teaches you to have a more open mind and let love and light in, embrace uncertainty, and release attachment! Let's face it, that's life right?! Nothing is ever certain.. And you can't control anyone or anything but YOU.

 It wasn't overly hot.. It felt just right, well... in the beginning I was a little cold(never thought I'd say that) and stiff("That's what she said!").. Took me a while to loosen up today, but I felt like I could push myself and work SO hard in there today to go back, lean back, fall back and look up, come up, go up! It was awesome! My balance this morning was alright, nothing to brag about. I was able to hold postures longer though.. Like the dreaded Utkatasana and Trikonasana.. In Eagle, I can get my alignment pretty good, working on getting that upper body back more though. It hurts my knee on the standing leg, I'm thinking it's because my upper body is too far forward putting pressure on my knee. In the afternoon class yesterday I got my fingertips almost below the nose because my shoulders were more flexible than they are in the morning. Having boobs is overrated, just gets in the way! Ha!! Oh, and I was able to sleep fine last night. Thought the energy from my later class would keep me up, nope!

Today my lower back is screaming!!! So, my backbends weren't that great..especially the standing one. I felt like it was going to snap:). It's interesting to see and feel how your body changes through this process. Everyday is something new to embrace.. Whether it's good or bad. A new ache or soreness, new flexibility or strength, new mindset, or how it affects your daily life even outside the room. I noticed when I was going through that initial detox at about day 6-7 I was SO irritable I wanted to run people over:P... At this time, my mind is more calm and I'm taking in all the benefits of this practice. Like I said, everyday is different. And people should not be scared of different.. Even if you can't explain it.
Namaste >^..^<

Corrections today:
Push right knee back more and twist in Triangle (first set)

Day 8...Class 8

3pm...Jennifer

-Morning VS Afternoon-

Will I be able to sleep with all this Bikram energy??.....
I always practice in the morning. I had to work this morning, so I had to do the 3pm class. I'm hoping I can get into chill mode soon because I usually have lots of energy after class.

WOW, very different vibe in the afternoon class! Good and bad.. Bad in the fact that I was a little distracted. There was lots of chatter in the room right before class and even some during, people were looking around while they were practicing, I even found myself doing it. I think we are so much more mellow in the morning, still working hard, but just in a different way. People were leaving the room. I know for a fact one of the people who left was new and not sure about the other one. It was Doug's first day, he was doing really good. A little more than half way through class he left..We all clapped telling him he did a good job:) I love Yogi's:) And good in the fact that there was good energy in the room, even though some was distracting.. There was laughter and we were all pushing so hard to stay standing and keep going! All in all a different vibe, but a great class!

I was right up on the mirror today.. No hiding from yourself there! Hello lady! This is another thing that I've learned about afternoon classes. I got there early to set up and stretch.. Everyone set up on my side right on top of eachother! I was like, um...what's everybody doing? I guess the sun comes in the other side where the window is in the afternoon! Ha!! I always try to remember the etiquette of the room.. Don't set up in front of someone, keep a good distance if there's room in there, don't wear smelly perfumes, take a shower. Not that hard. I was going to move to the other side, but by that time the teacher came in and class was beginning. And yet another thing.. In the morning I've noticed that when the teacher comes in, we all stand. So, I stood up when Jennifer walked in and nobody stood, they just sat on their mats until she told them to stand. Just different. Oh..and it smells in there in the afternoon...

I've also noticed I eat way less when I go in the afternoon.. I ate a big breakfast, egg white burrito, veggies, turkey bacon, in an ezekiel tortilla. Then I got to work and had a banana and yogurt, and two hrs before class I had a couple small clementine oranges. You're not supposed to eat heavy couple hours before class. It was perfect for class, I felt good. But I realized I really didn't get to eat a lunch.. Because now after class I'm eating dinner pretty much.

A great thing about going in the afternoon is I was SO much more flexible. First thing in the morning, it's just not there! That's why I get there early to get in that heat and stretch out. I really didn't have to do all that today. My half moon was the bomb today!!


So each has it's pros and cons. I'm more of a morning Yogi and will still go mostly mornings, but I am going to try switch it up and throw in an afternoon practice every once in a while.. I hear that's good;)

Day 7...Class 7

7:15am...Cindy

NEW AND IMPROVED CAT...CAT 6.0!

YES! Finally...A great class after the few day slump! My first week is officially complete..The temp in the room was perfect today. I felt like I could push myself and work really hard! I only took a knee once today briefly and I didn't get that light headed, dizzy feeling through the entire class like yesterday! I hope I'm nearing the end of this initial detox. Drew and I even had some laughs in class.

My "blogger" friend suggested that in Triangle I act as if I'm squeezing my heels towards eachother to activate my inner thigh strength to stay in the posture.. Great suggestion, thanks!! It really does help! I'm thinking of  practicing Triangle at home every night to get better at staying in it.. I feel like my alignment is correct, but it's hard to hold.. Especially now that I'm practicing everyday and my legs muscles are screaming! It will get better. I'm so glad I had a great practice today. It's a roller coaster ride with this yoga, especially during the challenge.. It's expected to have good and bad days, but no matter what you ALWAYS feel good after.. Inside out, bones to skin! I needed this today:)

One of the coolest things about this practice and this challenge is I get to eat ALL the time:)... Good food, not junk of course.. But my goal is NOT to lose weight. I know it will fluctuate a little and I will tone and tighten, etc. I'm not worried about 2-3 lbs. However, I want to maintain my weight as much as possible. I'm happy with where it's at. So, because this yoga is so intense, detoxifying, and even aerobic at certain points you do lose weight(which is great if that is your goal).. So, it's pretty sweet.. I love food, and I get to eat a bunch of it;)

Postures I was complimented on:
Alignment in Standing Bow and Eagle, Entrance into Locust, Fixed Firm

PS.. Does anyone know how to get water out of your ears?? Well, sweat!! Geez, I think I'm deaf in my left ear from sweat constantly dripping into my ears. I tried a few drops of hydrogen peroxide and that helped a little, but any other suggestions?....

Day 6...Class 6

7:15am...Chasity

"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right!" ~Henry Ford

Starting to get frustrating.. This whole detox process. Feels like I'm going backwards sometimes.. After class today I had a talk with Chasity. I asked her if there's anything I can do different to make my class go easier or make sure that I'm being safe about it now that I'm going every day. She asked what I was eating, when I come to class, if I've been doing anything different since I started. She said it's completely normal, I'm approaching it correct, and I know my body and when to take it easy. Chasity and Oleg said to keep strong you just go to class every day, do what you can do, and you will get better and better. They also said that at about Day 10 is when that initial detox process is over and it gets easier to be in the room and push yourself harder. Makes sense.. She said in the meantime, do all you can do and take a break when you need to. She also said, eat what you crave. I totally believe in that! Your body needs it for a reason, that's why you're craving it. It's so funny how even practicing regularly, it's NOTHING at all like going daily! I'm hoping they're right and in a few days i'll feel more renewed. I'm sure I'm detoxing all the Holiday crap out too, didn't really think about that!

Postures I was complimented on:
Chair(on tip-toes), Standing Bow, Tree(left bent knee in alignment with right)

Corrections:
Standing backbend(weight in heels, hips more forward)

Day 5...Class 5

7:15am...Marie

Try to ignore the crying baby in the lobby during Savasana. Concentrate..Meditate..:)

I tried to get up and go to the 5:30am to switch it up a little.. Yea, didn't happen. Usually if I sleep through the night I can do it, but of course I woke up at 1:30am and stayed awake for about an hour and a half.. Which surprised me, I sleep so well when I practice regularly..I was really tired when I woke up. I did have weird dreams about "The Office" Ha!!!

I can tell my lungs are expanding and I can take it and release more air in Pranayama Breathing(the first breathing exercise). They say you only normally use 10% of your lung capacity on a daily basis, this helps you to use 100%! It's amazing, because your lungs really do expand and you can take it so much air from practicing this posture! And you know it really does work, because if you take any time off from practicing, the breathing exercise is hard when you get back! I had a great class up until after Balancing Stick posture.. I got light headed and had to sit, I tried to get back up and join class after a minute, but had to sit back down again. I tried to just stand but, I had that tunnel vision thing.. Which I normally don't get much anymore, but today it was definitely there! It's funny how your body is different each day.. And you can never tell what you're capable of until you do it! Once we got into the Spine Strengthening series, I was better and I finished strong with the floor series. Had to rest right after class, but I'm feeling great now!

After class I asked Marie her opinion on how to keep going and stay strong through the challenge.. Since everyone has their own theory I like to know what they do, then find what's right for me. She said eat lots of veggies, salads, and lean protein(which I do).. I usually take an Emergen-C packet an hour before class, I'm going to try Coconut Water for a few days instead to see if there's any difference.

Postures I got complimented on:
Standing Bow, Cobra

Corrections:
Left hip down, leg up more in first set Balancing Stick

Day 4...Class 4

7:15am...Summer

Summer is fantastic, soft spoken yet challenging and motivating! I always enjoy her class.Today was challenging, but nothing like  yesterday. My muscles are sore, I realize my inner thigh strength sucks.. But if I'm sore and I go everyday, it only means I'm going to get stronger. That's what I need to work on now. Before this challenge I was going just enough to stay stagnant, to gain only a little flexibility and strength every week.. Now, during this challenge, I'm hoping to advance quite a bit. It's exciting to see what happens! I also like circling each day I go at the studio.. Kind of motivating:)

Today my flexibility was good, but my strength(because I'm starting to get sore) and my balance was kind of off.. For instance, my Standing Bow was good as far as alignment and I was even able to kick my leg straighter than normal. I fell out pretty quick each time though. Triangle is SO hard to do when your legs are sore! It's basically all inner thigh strength. Ugh..

Got home and had a little headache and felt like I had to relax for a moment after my shower. Had to get out of that room.. I kind of felt as if I was still in there. Ate some breakfast and I'm all good!

PS...Those Emergen-C Electro-Mix packets are awesome for replenishing electrolytes for anyone who does hot yoga or other rigorous exercise! Not sure if they have them in the store, but I got them online!

I also hear that Ren Soriano, a Bikram Senior Teacher passed away last week.. I didn't know him but heard a lot about him. RIP.

Peace All..

Day 3...Class 3

7:15am...Misha

"Somebody call 911..Shorty fire burnin on the yoga mat! Whaaooooo!"

Ok..Todays class was TERRIBLE...
I'm not sayin, but I'm just sayin..Some teachers you just don't feel like you mesh with and their teaching style is not the style that suits you. And that is completely fine..That could be good and/or bad. Good in the sense that it's nice to have a variety of teaching styles as you practice, you learn different things from everyone. Bad in the sense that I really let it affect me today(which I'm normally better at controlling). And I am making a disclaimer by saying it's not that the teacher was not a good teacher, a lot of people love this teacher. It was also my first time having her. I know she's amazing. I hear a lot about her. Today was just terrible and most of it was probably something going on with ME...

I like when teachers push, but today was a little overboard. ESPECIALLY when 8-10 people were droppin like flies in the standing series, and dropping extremely early in class.. The room was TOO hot. I know that the temp fluctuates a few degrees, it's impossible to keep it exactly at 105 and 40% humidity. And I'm not one to complain "Oh it's so hot in here!" Duh, it's Bikram HOT Yoga.. It's supposed to be. But when it's SO disgustingly hot that my face was red the ENTIRE class, my water was not just warm when I took a sip, it was HOT, and when you lay in Savasana the sweat that was already on your mat is pretty much boiling, making it even hotter when you laid down, and when quite a few people who normally don't sit are sitting more than once?  Yea, NO.. I cannot comment on how I did in class today, because the temperature wasn't controlled like it's supposed to be. Disappointing class really..

I just did what I could do today.. I must have taken a knee 4 times, which is unlike me when I practice regularly.. Maybe once in the standing series I do sometimes, but not that many times. So, basically.. My favorite part of class today was leaving it! :)

Day 2..Class 2

7am..Jennifer Boushy

I have never had Jennifer as a teacher before. I believe she just went through the teacher training and just started at our studio. She is great, I really like her class! I was starting to get sad about all the original teachers moving away to teach in different states, and even different countries. Brandy is in India, Heather and Brooklynne are in Washington, Dray has his own studio on the West Side now(all VERY good opportunities for them, but I'm being selfish;).. There's only a few more who have been there since the beginning. Michelle, you better not go anywhere:)..

Today my back and obliques are sore, but in a good way. This yoga works your core so well! I felt good..I didn't need to take a knee in the standing series. I did however, come out of Chair a lil early a couple of times, and in Eagle my knee hurt on the left(which it usually does) so i came out of that early too.. Triangle, of course, was a challenge. I made sure I didn't sit, but I couldn't hold both sets. Camel was great today, I could feel my upper back bending and my hips moving forward.. Rabbit, UGH... I feel like I don't do it right, but I think it's because my spine is learning to stretch in that way. Toe Stand was great today.. Second set, balancing on the right heel.. Jennifer said to come up off my heel(which I was able to do), then meet my gaze in the front mirror(did that too!)..Then tipped over;)
All in all, a good day!

Writing a food journal actually helps.. I never thought writing my food down would make me pick better food choices. It's actually crazy. I wanted cookies the other night, and I said "Hell no, I'm not writing that down yet!" Ha!! I'm not saying I'm going to deprive myself of such yummy indulgences.. Just not going to do it if I don't really want it. Everything is o.k in moderation:)

Day 1..Class 1

7:00a.m.-Oleg

I wrote my name on the 30 day challenge board at the studio and stepped into the room for my 7am class! The first one of my challenge! The class was SO busy.. I'm not used to going on Saturdays, and I know a lot of people are all signed up for the challenge(and still more to come) and it IS the start of the New Year. People have their resolutions to start or continue with their yoga practice. There was someone around me who smelled like fried tortillas, but other than that the class had a good vibe, the teacher was very motivating today. I just moved with his words.

I felt really good today.. I got farther in Standing Head to Knee than i've ever gotten! It was 2nd set.. I had my right leg locked, left leg lifted up straight and elbows coming down. Usually I don't get to the point where my elbows are coming down. I did fall out after that and the posture ended. My ten finger grip was stronger than normal, my balance was there, and my flexibility was better. Good day for that posture and for toe stand.. When we lift the left leg up and balance on the right heel is always my better side with toe stand. However, today both sides were very good, I could keep my balance and back fairly straight as I brought both hands to the center the chest. I even was able to lift up off the heel and stay still today.

There are some postures I would like to make my bitch.. :)
Standing Head to Knee is one.. I want to eventually have an awesome Standing Bow and Floor Bow. My backbends for sure(I'm really happy with where Camel is headed, I'm pretty  good at that one usually)..I LOVE the way Standing Seperate Leg Stretching looks when people can get fully into that one!..And the ever so challenging Triangle! Ugh...Not my favorite, and hard for me to do both sets. Hopefully that will improve. Rabbit is another hard one for me. My upper back isn't that flexible yet. I can't wait for that to improve, I've noticed in my backbends my upper back is able to stretch a little more lately, that's a good sign.

Some postures I love are:
Camel, Fixed Firm(probably my favorite), Seperate Leg Stretching and Standing Seperate Leg Stretching, Half Tortoise, Cobra, Tree... And who doesn't love Savasana:)

Postures I got complimented on today:
Standing Backbend, Standing Head to Knee, Chair pose(on the tip toes), Toe stand

Corrections:
Balancing Stick(left leg raised too high)

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:)..

Focus..Sweat..Breathe..

Smart Water...Check!
Emergen-C...Check!
Coconut Water...Check!
Epsom salts...Check!
Determination and readiness....Check!
Confident yet anxious and slightly terrified...Check:)

My first Bikram 30-Day Challenge to commence in less than a week..Bring it!