Class #58!

I'm over half way there! It hardly seems like it's been 60 days since I've started this challenge...time has flown by. my 50th class was on a relaxing Saturday afternoon and I was excited the entire time! When I was reading about the 100 day challenge and considering doing it, I heard that days 1-30 were the hardest physically and 30-60 were the toughest mentally and emotionally. I've heard that after your body is accustomed to a daily practice, the emotional and mental cleansing process begins. Many people reported feeling intense emotions throughout class during this period on a regular basis. More or less my practice has been stable and emotion free- I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. I have always been someone to bury emotions deep within so maybe they'll take a little more time to shake free.

I love practicing bikram during the winter time, and especially the holiday season. There is something so special about waking up on a cold winter day when you don't have work/school and knowing that your only plan for the day is to go to yoga. My family basically all got me gifts related to yoga which I LOVE! I'm wearing my lululemon jacket right now as I sip on my new obsession- kombucha. I also got a pair of zebra print sidestring shatki shorts, mat strap, yoga bag, and Bikram's book! The book has been a pretty interesting read and is making me understand a lot more about Bikram as a person and where his outlook stems from. He started practicing as a very young boy in what sounds like a live in school/temple where they studied academics, philosophy, asanas, and did a lot of hard work for their 'guru'. Bikram's mantra that was given to him is "Serve your Self: you are here to give, not to receive". Self with a capital S refers to his karma yoga- ie his greater purpose in life. I wish I had a guru to give me a mantra but I may try to pick one for the upcoming year!

The only bad side effect of this challenge so far is that I've gotten a skin fungus called ringworm. Yuuuuup, pretty damn disgusting. There is one bad splotch on my left calf and a couple of smaller ones on my arms. Mom and I had to laugh when reading the wiki page about it because its causes pretty much exactly described the conditions of a bikram room- hot, wet, humid places with dirty carpets/mats. Hopefully the cream I got will cure it pretty soon, but it's certainly not stopping me!

Today my sister in-law came with me to not only her first bikram class, but her first yoga class ever. She stuck it out and had a great attitude, but I don't think she'll be rushing to come back anytime soon. Coming with a first timer is always a fun experience and really puts how far I've come with my practice into perspective. I have ALOT more improvements to make, but when I think back to how much I struggled during my first class i feel pretty accomplished for sticking with it so long. Now if only I could apply those gains to other areas of my life...

Through class 46

There are only 13 days till Christmas?! Time has certainly been flying by but I have also had a lot of time to reflect on the past few years of my life. I got a few (erm, 5) classes behind due to going out of town to visit friends for a few weekends in a row which turned out to be a bit of a setback in multiple ways. Already being almost 30 days in though, I wasn't going to throw in the very sweaty towel, and now I've caught up to only being 2 classes behind! In reality, the timing of this challenge couldn't be better. It is helping me remain calm while I'm riding out a low point in life that has already started to bring positive change.

About those pesky doubles...I had a ridiculously frustrating experience when TRYING to do a double a few weeks back. It was a sunday and I had already practiced at 9:45 and was geared up and in the car headed to the 4:30 class. I knew it was a possibility that the SARA phone would ring, but I didn't expect it to be one of the most awkward 30 minute phone calls ever. Needless to say I tried to help my incestuous and difficult to understand caller instead of adding another number to my yoga tally. I also did a back to back double since the last time I wrote on a Thursday night. The first class went well enough so I decided to suck it up and stay for the 6:30. As luck would have it, the guy next to me was also doing a double so I felt some solidarity there. I actually think I prefer to do back to back doubles as your body doesn't really have to spend energy cooling down then warming back up. It's like a really long savasana between two very long sets of yoga. I felt extremely bendy during the first part of class and had enough energy right up until the last 15 minutes or so where I fell flat. I realized that I hadn't really eaten anything since my afternoon snack of almonds...5 hours earlier so that probably had something to do with it.

I did another double last Wednesday when I stayed after the 6:30 class for the advanced class. I was unsure if I was going to make it for a while because I was sweating buckets and feeling pushed to my limits during the first class. BUT I was fully prepared this time and had coconut water and an apple so I cooled off and got energized very quickly. Today there were a total of 5 of us- The teacher, me and three other women. It was the most crowded advanced class I had been to! The sun salutation series was exhausting as usual but I did well on the lotus series and the other hip stretching poses. The teacher mentioned that he thought I had what it took to compete in the Bishnu Ghosh Cup! This is an annual yoga competition where you do routines that last 3 minutes and include 5 poses from the beginning series and 2 from the advanced. He said that I would need to work on my back bends for floor bow, but otherwise I was in good shape. WOW! What a compliment! I would definitely have a long way to go but given my competitive nature it's something to keep in mind when I need extra motivation.

During this challenge I have decided that I want to go to bikram yoga teacher training. I have dreamed about it since spring of 09, read BYTT blogs and had the idea bouncing around my head on a more regular basis. The funny thing is, I thought that I would have to convince my family that it was a good choice for me and they were the ones who ended up making it obvious to me. My uncle has thought it was a cool idea from the beginning- to make money doing something you like is a treasure that few people have. My parents have seen my emotions positively correlate with the amount of this yoga that I do and truly are proud of me for committing myself to something I love. My dad finally said to me on the way to yoga this past weekend- Kathleen...I think you need to do this training. He had even looked into it on the website and offered to help make me a budget to save the money I need! It is feasible that I can save enough money by next fall!!

I look forward to yoga every day...and I don't think I will even want to lessen the amount that I go when I am done with my challenge. (Wellll maybe one day off a week...) I feel my upper back crackling and aligning, both legs firmly locked in standing head to knee, and only my belly button touching the floor in bow pose. My arms are starting to look toned and my work clothes are fitting more loosely. I feel my mind clearing and my path unfolding.

17-21...Several doubles are in my future...

Last Wednesday night (17) was another steamy-hot class that was a rough one for me as I wasn't entirely recovered from my double on Tuesday. Typically after I have a terrible class one day I tend to bounce back and have a great class the following day, but it didn't work out like that Wed. Also, I can't remember if it was during Wednesday or Thursday's class, but I tweaked a really weird muscle in my back that's still bothering me. I think I was going too deeply into half-moon pose before I was entirely warmed up, but I started feeling this kind of sharp pain underneath the right side of my rib cage in my back. It's an odd sensation and occasionally bothers me slightly inside/outside of class but it always feels better after class. It's the first time I've really had anything happen to me physically in a negative way from Bikram yoga but I don't think I'm agitating it worse by sticking with it and if anything it's improving. It's a definite reminder that I really have to stay in tune with the messages my body is sending though.

Friday my practice felt back to normal as far as not being bothered by the heat and I actually had a really great and flexible class. I got compliments in a few postures that I haven't been called out in before like cobra and balancing stick. I got a bit off track this weekend and missed TWO days of class because I went to DC to visit my best friend. It was a great trip and a much needed mental break from the work week, but nonetheless I am going to have to double up two days in the coming week or so to make up for it. Monday's class was a bit of a de-tox from the weekend but my body was craving it so badly after a mere two day break. It was an extremely crowded class (as mondays tend to be...I'm not the only one who has to get back on track after the weekend evidently) so I definitely sweat plenty of my weekend sins out. They say that after camel pose (the deepest backbend in the series) people feel an intense variety of emotions. Monday I definitely felt ANGRY afterwards and felt like the teacher was nonstop blabbering "relaxing" yoga talk and holding us in postures and savasanas longer than necessary.

Yesterday I was having a pretty good class but I sort of ran out of steam by the end and the last 20 minutes or so of class were a struggle. After camel pose I felt this odd anxious energy pulsing through me to the point that it was even making me twitch a little bit. The highlight of class for me was probably feeling/seeing how much higher I could lift my legs and hips during floor bow pose. Since the spine strengthening series is definitely my weakest series in class, any progress is a huge morale boost and lets me know I'm making progress. 21 classes down and only...80 more to go! I'm planning on doubling up on thursday and then hopefully again one day on the weekend. If that doesn't work then I have a few days off for Thanksgiving so I can definitely catch up by then!

Days 12-16; The Tuesday Curse Continues

After a day of recuperating from a double on Wednesday including the advanced class, I was eager to get back in the hot room on Friday. It was not a really noteworthy class in any way, but nonetheless it was a good way to round out the week. I did feel that the front sides of my hips felt like they had opened up a bit from the advanced class and I was able to get a little deeper in both standing bow and floor bow. Saturday's noon class was number 13 and it was a relatively cool and calm class. I guess when I'm used to practicing at 6:30 on weekdays anything else seems less crowded by comparison. Except that 9:45 classes on Sunday are usually wicked crowded... evidently Bikram yogis are not a church going crowd.

I didn't go to class on Sunday as I had been out with friends on Saturday, and a good friend was only in town for the day on Sunday. I figured that with my relaxed work schedule for Monday and Tuesday would allow time for a double so I wasn't too concerned. I went to a 4:30 class on Monday and I was in the zone and felt amazing. I had also bought a few huge cartons of Zico coconut water at Whole Foods over the weekend that were $3 each (as compared to the tiny cartons of an inferior brand of coconut water that they sell at the studio for $3.50) and that has been a good after class treat. I was in a state of total euphoria as I left, and couldn't help but think how lucky I am that I stumbled upon a habit that I enjoy so much and keeps me healthy.

Today, Tuesday the 8th, I had off from work for election day so I decided to make up for my slacking Sunday and rock out a double. More like, rock out the first class and barely survive the second class. I really enjoyed practicing at 9:45! There was more of an older crowd with a calm energy as opposed to the energetic young professionals/ college students that tend to frequent the later classes. Plus, it was taught by my favorite teacher who has a contagious positive vibe. After showering, eating a healthy lunch, finishing my paperwork, hydrating a lot, and voting I thought I was ready for class again at 4:30. It was one of those sweltering hot classes that had me drenched in sweat by the second posture. I felt extremely flexible at first so I went really deep into the postures. I'm proud of how my body held out during the standing series, but after savasana I my body decided that it had enough yoga for the day. I kept control of my breathing but fell under the same Tuesday curse of overheating to the point where I lost feeling in my finger tips and toes, so I took it easy and only did selected postures.

As always, I felt amazing after class even if it was a challenging experience. So far I have really enjoyed the motivation that a 101 day challenge has given me. They say that the first 30 days of a challenge are all about physically adjusting to the regular yoga and the next 30 are about mental adjustment. I can feel parts of my spine tweaking and moving around, so hopefully that's realigning things as they should be. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night with a pretty dull ache in my lower back. My ankles have been cracking nonstop and I have had a little bit of odd soreness in my wrists and elbows. As they say with Bikram yoga, you just have to "trust the process". So far it seems to be working out. I've lost 5.5 lbs already without changing my diet at all, I've had absolutely no trouble falling asleep, and I actually feel more energized throughout the day. Can't wait to see what the next 85 days bring!

Days 6-11

I have officially made it into double digits! Class on Saturday morning was great as it was one of the first frosty cold days that made me really crave the hot room. My spine was pretty stiff at first partially because of the cold maybe but mostly because I don't really practice in the mornings. I warmed up after the first few postures and had a normal practice from then on. The studio owner was teaching class which was a great treat because she doesn't teach incredibly often but she's a phenomenal teacher with such positive energy. She is also very good at suggesting adjustments for people who are not beginners and gave me a few helpful tips for better form. Sunday I was dreading the 4:30 class a bit because my brother was home for the weekend and as we went out to lunch to celebrate, I ate heavier than usual and thought I would pay for it in class. Surprisingly it went alright and I didn't even feel like puking during the floor series!

Monday (Day 8) was Halloween and I rushed out of work so I could make the 4:30 class and be home earlier to help hand out candy to the trick-or treaters! In celebration, the studio encouraged people to practice in costumes and offered a free month pass to the best costume in each class. I racked my brain for something creative and hilarious to wear, but I gave up and decided on black adidas spandex and a cut up argentina soccer jersey that I had worn for a previous costume party. I was glad that I hadn't gone all out because it was extremely comfortable and only about 5-6 others in the class were dressed up. The girl who won was in a scandalous Eve costume that basically consisted of a beige thong with leaves on it and a green bikini tops with leaves and a beanie baby snake wrapped around. Another girl managed to survive practice in a long sleeved kimono, and a sweat drenched snow white also made it through. Another girl wore a HUGE afro wig with normal yoga clothes and said that her neck had never gotten such a workout during class, haha. I think they may have had the heat down slightly lower than usual so people in costumes would still have fun because it felt relatively cool and I wasn't even drenched in sweat by the end of the class.

Tuesday was quite a different story (last Tuesday was hellish too...maybe it's my unlucky day). My towel was completely soaked by the middle of the standing series and it took some serious focusing on my breath to complete the class without skipping anything. As always though, I made it through and felt incredible afterwards. Wednesday turned out to be class 10 & 11 as I stayed for the 8:30pm advanced class after the 6:30. I had no idea they were offering advanced that night as it's kind of sporadic but the teacher mentioned it to me while I was signing in.

I figured that I would play it by ear to see if I had enough steam for an advanced class after 10 days of consecutive practice, but I was really hoping I would as I knew that I would have to miss class Thursday due to babysitting after work. Doing a double during the weekend to make it up would have been fine also, but I knew I'd feel better if I had made it up in advanced. I'm really glad that I stayed for advanced because it turned out to be a very encouraging experience! There were only 3 of us practicing including the teacher. The first part of advanced class is kind of like a sped up version of the postures in the beginners class and then it moves into some crazier bendy postures. In some ways I'm better at the advanced class than the beginners class because it requires freakish joint flexibility that I have. The teacher was extremely complimentary of my practice and said that I should become a bikram advanced series teacher! Maybe one day...

I didn't get home till almost 10:45 after double-yoga but it was totally worth it. It was great that I took yesterday off because I was SORE in muscles that I didn't even know existed. I feel better and more energetic today (Friday) and I'm ready to knock out number 12 tonight!

Day 5 and still thriving

Day 2, Tuesday, was literally the worst day of yoga I've had other than times when I've come into practice sick or just started back up after a long time off. I was hydrated and ate well all day, but sometimes the yoga truck rolls over you anyways. It was a pretty crowded 6:30 class that got so ridiculously hot that 3-4 people left the room and 1/2 the class was sitting out at any given time, including another teacher that was taking class. Normally if I sit out at all, it will be for one set of one posture, I'll catch my breath and feel my heartbeat return to normal, and be good to go. This time I made it through the standing series and only sat out a posture but my body decided that it had too much during the floor series. I was down for more than half of it with my heart pounding through my chest, my brain boiling, my skin on fire, and there was a period when I had to keep wiggling my fingers and toes because I felt they were starting to lose sensation.

Nonetheless, as soon as I walked out of the room after class and chugged a bottle of water standing in front of the fan, I felt better. They say that the classes that are more difficult, and the postures that are more difficult are the ones your body needs the most. Often, I feel more accomplished after a class I struggle with as opposed to one I glide through. Day 3 was one of those days where I found myself enjoying the postures and breezing through the class. It's hilarious that your experience can be so different from one day to the next. Day 4 was more of a mental challenge because I forgot my water bottle and I'm used to drinking at the same exact points in every class. I made it through without water but certainly felt it during the last 15 minutes or so of class and stopped to get a HUGE blue gatorade on the way home. mmmm, electrolytes. Day 5 was a calm 6:30pm practice with lots of space and tolerable heat. My balance was not on point at all- it's hard for me to figure out if it's a matter of focus or a matter of strength.

So far the best benefit is that I have really started to LOVE rabbit pose which I used to hate, and I feel my upper back really craving that stretch every class. Off to day 6 now,- 9:45 on a Saturday

101 Day Bikram Yoga Challenge

That's 101 yoga classes in 101 days. 9,090 minutes in 26 postures, 2 breathing exercises, in a room heated to 105-110 degrees with raised humidity. That's a LOT of sweat! I completed a 30 day challenge in winter 2010 when I literally had nothing to do for a month before going to Argentina while my friends were beginning second semester at W&M. Granted, I was also doing a pretty intense south beach diet, but I lost about 12 pounds in a month and felt physically lean, tight, flexible and ready to conquer the southern hemisphere. It will definitely be a bit tougher fitting in daily practice with a full time job and volunteer work, but I'm determined. When I did the other challenge, I would literally base my entire day around what time I wanted to practice. I figured out exactly how hydrated I need to be and when/what I needed to eat, or I suffered the consequences of feeling nauseous or dizzy during class.

I think I will be happier in the short term if I start to base my day around yoga again as opposed to getting caught in the daily grind of adjusting to the "real world" of 40 hour work weeks fresh out of an undergraduate education. I know that I'm lucky to have landed a job where I get to use what I learned in school and make a difference in a few lives while crashing with the parents and saving $$ for the next adventure. I've always been motivated to succeed academically, and my social life and athletics fell into place. Now that I don't have the safeguard of being a student, I find myself asking myself a lot of important questions that I hadn't fully considered in the past.

I cannot think of a better place to contemplate life than my yoga mat. Oh wait, isn't that practically the opposite of meditation? Isn't the point to gain transient wisdom via detaching yourself from your thoughts?For me at least, sometimes my brain works best when I don't overanalyze and just do what feels right. All I know is that the best few minutes of my day is frequently my final savasana and walking out of the sweaty yoga room into the air conditioned lobby. That is something worth pursuing...for 101 days and beyond.

Today, Mon Oct 24th was DAY ONE. I asked my mom to take a few pictures of my postures after class today so I can compare for progress throughout the process. I hope that I'll drop a few pounds during the challenge, but that's definitely not the main goal. I want to renew my faith in myself to set and achieve goals. I want to gain some clarity about where I see my life going. I also want to lock my leg out in standing bow, wrap my foot around my calf in eagle, and get a lot more air during full locust pose :)