Last Class of my 30 day Challenge (aka my first 30 days of Bikram yoga EVER)

I am about to go to my 30th class in about an hour. I hope it's a good class. I feel like celebrating!! I'll let you know how it goes!

Class #27 with...Bikram

Okay...so my 30-day challenge is almost up. I've been going strong here for quite some time, and I now find Bikram yoga an irreplaceable part of my routine. I need it in my life.

Today was an interesting class. We had a bit of a snowfall this morning (I live in Michigan..) and only 5 people including myself showed up to yoga. The instructor, Ernie, I guess wanted to do yoga today so he put on the audio CD of Bikram. It was kind of weird at first. I'm used to a live instructor but I really enjoyed his dialogue during the floor series. Bikram is a funny guy, that's for sure. I would love to attend one of his classes in person... I'm sure I will at some point.

So, during triangle pose, which as of late has been my nemesis, Ernie whispered to me something about turning my straightened leg in more. I don't know if I was doing it complelely right, but after that adjustment I looked amazing in triangle!! (only on the one side though ;P ) I felt super strong. Hopefully, this is just the progress I needed in this pose.

I was supposed to do a double on Sunday, but I just couldn't. I had the worst class EVER and it was the first time I had to sit out a couple rounds. I was disappointed in myself, but I was not feeling well. 2 EmergenC packets and a good night's sleep later, I felt better, but in no condition for a double :( I will have to make it up Tuesday or Wednesday. ERR. I didn't want to wait until the last minute, but alas... Anyway, I'm probably going to make this a 60-day challenge anyway. And I'm going to bank a few doubles just in case. My only fear is I won't be able to practice every day next week while I'm in North Carolina for my spring break (visiting my boyfriend). But... I will make it work.

#22 with Suzanne (one of my favs!)

Today was a good class. I made sure to drink enough water before class this time, because last time I was a little dehydrated. I need to be concentrating on the poses and not the next sip of water I'll be getting. I did so much better than yesterday. My mind was so focused on my body and breathing. I hardly thought about things outside of the class. It was probably just as hot as yesterday but my mental focus made all the difference.

I think I am ready to kick out in standing head to knee finally. I'll give it one more class or two, but before this 30 day challenge is up, I'm going to kick out! My standing bow pulling pose is getting really deep when standing on my left leg. I defintely want to be able to master this one. And my hamstings are starting to loosen up again after being sore for the last 5 days or so. I like going to the afternoon classes because my body is not as tense as it is in the morning. But I like waking up to good ol' Bikram yoga class as well. I guess it's good that I mix it up then.

Toe stand is getting better. Almost got one hand up. Oh and I almost forgot! I really struggled with rabbit at first because I was rolling onto the back of my neck with pressure (wrong!!!) but I finally figured it out a little while ago and I even got a compliment from Suzanne on it! Looks like I'm on the right track with that one now. I read in someone's blog somewhere that through rabbit pose they actually increased their height. I always think this when going into the pose. Extenndddd that spine...

Lastly, in hands to feet pose, I read in Bikram's book that the only way to make progress is day in, day out determination. I try to remember this when stretching and it just feels so uncomfortable!! The only way I'll get better is by pushing...pulling through. Making progress feels good. I wish I could measure in some tangible way how far I've come. But I guess just knowing that I am will have to do :)

Class #21 with Catherine

Well, this was the first class I had that I thought I might just pass out. I didn't of course. Today was the hottest it has ever been for me. It was difficult to try and relax in savasana and not daydream of ice cubes, diving into pools, and cold showers. Those fantasies wouldn't help me necessarily, but breathing did.

My triangle poses have been sucking lately. I had a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I was horrified. Not very beautiful, that's for sure. On the bended right knee side, I think I just am not bringing my elbow in low enough to my knee and on the other side it's just a mess. I have a real hard time bringing my thigh bicep parallel to the floor and my chest alignment is crooked somehow. Ugh. Always something new going wrong, or that I am noticing going wrong.

I am balancing better on my fingertips in toe stand. I am almost ready to bring up a hand. I am unsure if I am supposed to be sitting on my heel or not. I hear in the dialogue something about coming off the heel. If that is the case, then I got something to work on here for sure!

I am amazed/annoyed at the difference in the body when switching sides in the asanas. In one side of standing bow pulling pose, I am doing well and then when I switch it's like hitting the brakes. Every pose is like that. And each time, it's a different side that is better than the other. Very interesting.

I was reading in Bikram's book about how yoga is good for the mind. And it never occurred how when I come to class, I am almost the entire time thinking about what's going on in the here and now. It's wonderful. There are flashes during savasana of course about what other things I am thinking about on a daily basis but I always exhale those thoughts away. It's a good practice...meaning I am working on it ;)

So, my 21st class, I thought I was going to pass out but I managed to stick it out, sweat it out, and attempt all of the postures (even though some of them were way below par). I did it. And I'm proud of that.

Day 20 with Walter

I really like Walter for the morning classes, but sometimes I think he's too easy on me. I feel like I need personal attention for some of the poses and he hardly corrects anybody. But that's okay... Catherine can be strict enough to make up for it...

My hamstrings are still crazy sore! When is it going to go away? I overheard Walter talking with someone this morning about how yoga treats him. He says that every couple days something else will be sore and it just rotates throughout his body. I can totally relate to that! At first everything was sore. And then my lower back was sore for what felt like at least a week. And now my back seems to finally be better and now my hamstrings are pissed at me! Garrhhh. I can't wait for them to be better so I can stretch furthur instead of being stuck with a bent knee in my face.

I think I'm almost ready to kick out my leg in standing head to knee. I think next week I'll give it a try.

It's amazing how much yoga is affecting my life now. I am so glad I got into this and I am so excited to see how my body and soul are going to change in this process :)

Easy does it.. 18th and 19th class

So I retract my statement in a previous entry about "going to my max" in the poses. Today it was about just getting through it. I did my first double today, back to back. The first class was pretty mellow and not very hot either (disappointed!) but it worked to my advantage because the next class I was DRENCHED almost immediately. It sounded like it was raining on my mat and I was proud of it!

My hamstrings felt soooo tight these last two days. I must have really stretched them out or something because they are super sore too. This made it difficult in the first 8 am class for me because it wasn't hot enough to really stretch them out, it just hurt! And when it was time to really stretch them out for the 10 am class, I was so damn tired! I did every pose though. This is defintely more motivation not to skip classes. I only have one left but danggg, that is intense!

Still no kicking out in standing head to knee but I can feel the muscles strengthening. My knee is totally lamp post strong is tree pose. And my standing bow pulling pose is getting more and more beautiful every day.

Today is all about replenishing my body and mind. I need to study and drink water. Just r e l a x. I'm glad I didn't split up the classes because now I can just concentrate on my studies. Yay me.

HAPPY YEAR OF THE TIGER!!!! RAWRRRR

Still going strong. Day 15!!!

I went to yoga the past 3 days without posting! Oops! I was disappointed with Tuesday's yoga. It just was not hot enough at all. I was trying to work extra hard to work up a sweat but it was disappointing. I crave that sweat so much. So of course the last 2 days have been the absolute hottest in there! And let me just say, that it was AWESOME. Of course, all I could think at certain points was about someone leaving the room so we could get a little breeze but I really pushed myself these last 2 days.

I am becoming so much more flexible. It's amazing. It has only been 15 days of this yoga and my body is feeling great. I am becoming more in tune with my body's needs and breathing and trying to remain in that relaxed state of mind all day. I sort've feel like a zombie right now because I'm so dog tired, but I am proud of myself for working so hard today. DAy 15 :) I am going to do a double this Sunday. That should be fun. I don't think I'll mind too much because a few hours after I leave the class, I am craving it again. Wanting to push my body further.

While I am becoming more and more used to the whole experience, I am able to mentally push myself further. For example, I know I will be disappointed if I don't push myself to my max in a pose because it only lasts a few moments. The whole point of me coming to this class is push my body's flexibility and improve it and if I'm half-assing a pose, or not pushing until it hurts enough, then I feel as if I've wasted my time. I'm so hard core.

I friggin love Bikram yoga. And I'm still considering this instructor thing. I think it would be a great path for me. Maybe I'll end up making this a 60-day challenge. I am going to see my boyfriend in North Carolina in 2 weeks. I know there is a studio out there I can go to while he is at work, so hopefully I can utilize those conveniences. I don't want a day without Bikram yoga! But he does Bikram yoga too, so I can always go along with him <3 Talk about strengthening a relationship... Doing Bikram yoga next to him (he was in town 2 weekends ago) was nerve racking at first but after a couple classes with him, I loved having him sweat next to me <3

I don't know if anyone thinks this is gross but I love this in tree pose. So everyone brings their leg up and and stands on one leg, and you can hear everyone' s sweat dripping and it sounds like rain falling. I love it. haha.