I slept in and missed class this morning. Oddly, I don't really feel bad about it. I think I am just super excited for vacation! Josh has the truck all ready to roll, we are cruising to Myrtle Beach in black betty, since my car doesn't want to cooperate lately.
I am psyched to be traveling with my mat. I am looking forward to some morning beach yoga practices. I am so grateful to be able to get away for a while and it seems like an appropriate 'reward' for myself after almost 30 days of Bikram yoga.
While I will miss it a little, I am looking forward to what comes next and how my practice will develop from here.
Namaste ya'll :)
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Day Twentysix
I cannot believe I have made it this long, the practice is feeling like second nature. It will be strange to change things up again for the month of July. I am excited though to be getting back to my mat, in my little yoga room to dive deeper into my personal practice. I will certainly visit the Bikram yoga studio from time to time, to sweat it out and to recharge.
I can feel the vacation daydreams coming on strong now, I don't even feel like blogging!
One day to go!!!
I can feel the vacation daydreams coming on strong now, I don't even feel like blogging!
One day to go!!!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Day Twentyfour and Twentyfive
Day Twentyfour, I counted down the minutes until I could get away from the computer and go to class. I have been worried about finishing my current work load before I leave for vacation Saturday.
It was really good, and I needed to sweat so badly. My knees are still a little sore, but nothing that a week at the beach wont fix.
Today (day twentyfive) is a whole nother story.
I am skipping class.
I know! Part of me spent a good ten minutes berating myself for skipping, the majority of me decided that I am about spent myself and I still have to teach a class tonight. I don't think the rainy day helps. Didn't Milli Vanilli sing that song, blame it on the rain, yeah, yeah? (I know some of you sang it in your head as you read the words.)
Anyway, Ive decided I need to chill, maybe do a few yoga poses to get ready for class tonight and it feels pretty good.
I may be easing into vacation mode fairly easily after all.
It was really good, and I needed to sweat so badly. My knees are still a little sore, but nothing that a week at the beach wont fix.
Today (day twentyfive) is a whole nother story.
I am skipping class.
I know! Part of me spent a good ten minutes berating myself for skipping, the majority of me decided that I am about spent myself and I still have to teach a class tonight. I don't think the rainy day helps. Didn't Milli Vanilli sing that song, blame it on the rain, yeah, yeah? (I know some of you sang it in your head as you read the words.)
Anyway, Ive decided I need to chill, maybe do a few yoga poses to get ready for class tonight and it feels pretty good.
I may be easing into vacation mode fairly easily after all.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Day Twentythree
Oh the list of what not to do in Bikram has grown.
I spent the first half of the entire standing series in pain, a very strange pain that I was having difficulty deciphering. I noticed that throughout the first few minutes of class my knees were filling with a sort of burning sensation. As you know, my knees have been sore the past few days, so I was left thinking, "Oh my god, what have I done now." These types of thoughts continued for what seemed like hours and I kept returning my awareness to my breath, breathing through the sensation. The sensations were different from most joint pain I have ever felt. It was a hot burning feeling, like boiling water hot, flowing through my knee joint.
By the time we got to eagle pose, around 25 minutes in, it dawned on me. I had rubbed badger balm all over my knees this morning to soothe the ache. Well, badger balm it turns out, burns the crap out of your skin when you are sweating in an extremely hot room!
So I spent the remaining 90 minutes praying that the badger balm would sweat off and that I wouldn't accidentally rub it in my eye during all the head to knee postures!
It's pretty funny now, but I have realized that rule #2 of what not to do in Bikram Yoga is: Do not put badger balm on your skin even six hours before class. Rule #1 of course still being: Do not forget to do laundry before class, because you may end up with no pants on.
I spent the first half of the entire standing series in pain, a very strange pain that I was having difficulty deciphering. I noticed that throughout the first few minutes of class my knees were filling with a sort of burning sensation. As you know, my knees have been sore the past few days, so I was left thinking, "Oh my god, what have I done now." These types of thoughts continued for what seemed like hours and I kept returning my awareness to my breath, breathing through the sensation. The sensations were different from most joint pain I have ever felt. It was a hot burning feeling, like boiling water hot, flowing through my knee joint.
By the time we got to eagle pose, around 25 minutes in, it dawned on me. I had rubbed badger balm all over my knees this morning to soothe the ache. Well, badger balm it turns out, burns the crap out of your skin when you are sweating in an extremely hot room!
So I spent the remaining 90 minutes praying that the badger balm would sweat off and that I wouldn't accidentally rub it in my eye during all the head to knee postures!
It's pretty funny now, but I have realized that rule #2 of what not to do in Bikram Yoga is: Do not put badger balm on your skin even six hours before class. Rule #1 of course still being: Do not forget to do laundry before class, because you may end up with no pants on.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Day Twentyone and Twentytwo
Oh man, I had a glimmer of hope in the back of my mind that it wouldn't happen, that I could easily push myself to the limit for 30 days without any negative repercussions.
My knees are a little bit mad at me, they are sore, inflamed, and tired.
They say to kill yourself for 90 minutes instead of 90 years. Maybe I took the 'killing' part a little too literally.
On the other hand, my back feels better, stronger, longer than it has in a while. Maybe my knee comfort was sacrificed for my back, who knows, but I know it is time to slow down.
I am going to continue with my Bikram yoga journey, but it will not be for a full 30 days. I am not going to quit due to my sore knees, and actually Im not quitting at all.
Josh and I leave for vacation on Saturday which intersects my 30 day challenge (I obviously didn't think that far ahead when I planned this latest adventure.) It looks like when I finish this week it will be 25 days of Bikram- minus the two that I skipped while in Asheville, so 23 days of Bikram. Who does a 23 day challenge?
I guess I do, and it sure has been a challenge. The true Bikram challenge is 60 days, I don't think I would have the balls of steel needed to complete it, though I have met two inspiring ladies who have done it or nearly finished.
I have decided that I am super proud of my 23 days in total challenge and I am starting to think I will really miss it everyday! My downdog, shoulderstand, handstand, arm balancing self has gotten accustomed to the same 26 poses every day, none of the above included.
I have to admit that I did the first headstand in a while in the middle of my day today and it was awesome; I could have held it FOREVER!
Mmmmm headstand, downdog, handstand, crow....
My knees are a little bit mad at me, they are sore, inflamed, and tired.
They say to kill yourself for 90 minutes instead of 90 years. Maybe I took the 'killing' part a little too literally.
On the other hand, my back feels better, stronger, longer than it has in a while. Maybe my knee comfort was sacrificed for my back, who knows, but I know it is time to slow down.
I am going to continue with my Bikram yoga journey, but it will not be for a full 30 days. I am not going to quit due to my sore knees, and actually Im not quitting at all.
Josh and I leave for vacation on Saturday which intersects my 30 day challenge (I obviously didn't think that far ahead when I planned this latest adventure.) It looks like when I finish this week it will be 25 days of Bikram- minus the two that I skipped while in Asheville, so 23 days of Bikram. Who does a 23 day challenge?
I guess I do, and it sure has been a challenge. The true Bikram challenge is 60 days, I don't think I would have the balls of steel needed to complete it, though I have met two inspiring ladies who have done it or nearly finished.
I have decided that I am super proud of my 23 days in total challenge and I am starting to think I will really miss it everyday! My downdog, shoulderstand, handstand, arm balancing self has gotten accustomed to the same 26 poses every day, none of the above included.
I have to admit that I did the first headstand in a while in the middle of my day today and it was awesome; I could have held it FOREVER!
Mmmmm headstand, downdog, handstand, crow....
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Day Twenty
By far the funniest practice ever.
Warning: Do not forget to wash your yoga clothes the night before or you may end up wearing no pants.
Well, not quite. I did forget to wash my yoga clothes and was left with very few options: Bathing suit, or board shorts and yoga top. I opted for bathing suit bottoms under board shorts and white yoga top (which I now know becomes see through when you soak it in a gallon of sweat, oops.)
During the Bikram yoga sequence there is a time 25 minutes into the practice that some call party time. Jamie, one of our teachers, says it's the saddest party in the world; a few deep breaths and a sip of water. (You refrain from water the first 25 minutes to warm up, and yeah I know, it's already 104 degrees, but ok.)
So the first 25 minutes for me was borderline miserable, mostly because of the board shorts. They were too hot, too long, to wrong for practice. So, I thought to myself, you have a bathing suit on just get over it and take off your pants!
Well, that is exactly what I did. During 'party' time I whipped off my board shorts leaving myself standing, immediately cooler, in just my bathing suit bottoms.
It's the thing with Bikram, I've noticed that you leave all inhibitions at the door, and you don't care because it is just so hot. I think some people would show up naked if they would let you.
After class, It was pretty funny discussing the pants removal with the teachers. Derek said, "At one point I looked over and you had no pants on." Haha.
Well, I wont make it a habit to show up to parties with no pants on, but if said parties are heated to a staggering 104 degrees, watch out.
Warning: Do not forget to wash your yoga clothes the night before or you may end up wearing no pants.
Well, not quite. I did forget to wash my yoga clothes and was left with very few options: Bathing suit, or board shorts and yoga top. I opted for bathing suit bottoms under board shorts and white yoga top (which I now know becomes see through when you soak it in a gallon of sweat, oops.)
During the Bikram yoga sequence there is a time 25 minutes into the practice that some call party time. Jamie, one of our teachers, says it's the saddest party in the world; a few deep breaths and a sip of water. (You refrain from water the first 25 minutes to warm up, and yeah I know, it's already 104 degrees, but ok.)
So the first 25 minutes for me was borderline miserable, mostly because of the board shorts. They were too hot, too long, to wrong for practice. So, I thought to myself, you have a bathing suit on just get over it and take off your pants!
Well, that is exactly what I did. During 'party' time I whipped off my board shorts leaving myself standing, immediately cooler, in just my bathing suit bottoms.
It's the thing with Bikram, I've noticed that you leave all inhibitions at the door, and you don't care because it is just so hot. I think some people would show up naked if they would let you.
After class, It was pretty funny discussing the pants removal with the teachers. Derek said, "At one point I looked over and you had no pants on." Haha.
Well, I wont make it a habit to show up to parties with no pants on, but if said parties are heated to a staggering 104 degrees, watch out.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Day Eighteen and Nineteen
Bikram yoga day eighteen left me so tired I completely forgot to write about it. I went about what has become my Thursday routine. Wake up, have tea, check email, make a big fuss about all the emails I don't have time to answer, calm myself, go teach to a group of amazing yogis, come home, eat lunch with Josh, check and respond to emails, go to Bikram, proceed to get my ass totally kicked- not that I needed any help on this day, hurry home, shower, go teach to a new group of amazing yogis, return home, check and respond to emails....crash. There wasn't a seamless flow to the moments in between, everything was rushed, and hurried. It was a day full of yoga and a day without yoga in a sense- the in between stuff, the added doses of worry here and there. It was a day that reminded me of how much pressure I put on myself.
A lot. I am admitting here and now that I expect a great deal out of myself, sometimes to my detriment.
So, how did I begin my Bikram yoga day nineteen? By rolling out of bed at 9:00 (late), hurrying to find my yoga clothes and mat, running out the door and down the street to show up in time for my Bikram class. I was greeted at the desk with, "The newspaper is here and they are going to be taking some photos and videos." Oh my gosh are you kidding?!?! Let that go, push my body to the limit for 90 minutes, s l o w i t d o w n, walk calmly back home, take a nice relaxing shower, check new emails, write blog. It is my intention for the rest of the day to focus on the in between yoga, the transitions, the places where the monkey mind takes over. I want those times to be mine too, for them to not get caught up in the whirlwind that I can so easily create around myself.
Maybe take it easy, it is Friday after all.
A lot. I am admitting here and now that I expect a great deal out of myself, sometimes to my detriment.
So, how did I begin my Bikram yoga day nineteen? By rolling out of bed at 9:00 (late), hurrying to find my yoga clothes and mat, running out the door and down the street to show up in time for my Bikram class. I was greeted at the desk with, "The newspaper is here and they are going to be taking some photos and videos." Oh my gosh are you kidding?!?! Let that go, push my body to the limit for 90 minutes, s l o w i t d o w n, walk calmly back home, take a nice relaxing shower, check new emails, write blog. It is my intention for the rest of the day to focus on the in between yoga, the transitions, the places where the monkey mind takes over. I want those times to be mine too, for them to not get caught up in the whirlwind that I can so easily create around myself.
Maybe take it easy, it is Friday after all.
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