Due to the current downs of my relationship, I've been able to complete the three day a week goal I have for myself for my Bikram Yoga practice.
I've done incredibly well since I've came back and find myself more flexible and stronger than ever.
Last night after class Jenny actually told me that I was doing good.
This may not seem like a big deal, except Jenny hardly tells you that. The last time she told me something like that was maybe back in Spring.
I feel good about my recent practice and it felt good to hear that from her. Any positive reinforcement helps.
As far as the relationship and it's downs... I feel that if it wasn't for Bikram Yoga, I may be in a pshych ward by now. LOL.
No, seriously. It's true... it has made me have more patience than ever before. It truly is amazing.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Wow!
Last night was my 1st day back to yoga since December 18th.
On December 18th, I had had the most amazing class to date. Everything was flowing with my postures, breathing and concentration.
Due to the Holidays and then the suicide of my man's Dad on NYE, things got crazy and I was not able to make it to yoga til last night. Of course I was extremely worried and scared I would have a rough class, but I was pleasantly surprised!
During 2nd part of awkward, I fell on my butt (first time it's ever happened) and was completely embarrassed! However, I got up and kept going. The class went very well and I was amazed at how my body just remembered and knew what it was supposed to do. My leg got the most parallel to the floor during triangle... I think I'm close to moving the arms for the full position. I was even able to do camel, but in the 2nd set, I wasn't able to hold it the full time... and I sat out the first rabbit, due to being so dizzy from camel. Overall, it was really good!
My man also tells me that it's possible that with all the growing I've done and all emotional stuff that has happened these past two weeks, that I may be mentally stronger than ever and that maybe that's why. I didn't even think about this!
Jenny was amazing and told me what I needed to hear. She always has the perfect thing to say. Pretty much said everything I already knew; that I when things get hard and I don't feel like I have the energy or will to do it, to just come in and do it, even if I struggle. She is always kind. After class she told me I did good and I told her how amazed I was at how well I did. I said, "It really is all in your mind" and she agreed. She gave me her # and told me to call her if I need to have her help me get in there.
I get so mad at myself when I don't do yoga for long periods of time. My excuses are that I'm tired, or busy or just don't have the energy, even though I KNOW FULL WELL I'll feel better just getting in there.
Just gotta keep going back... over and over.
On December 18th, I had had the most amazing class to date. Everything was flowing with my postures, breathing and concentration.
Due to the Holidays and then the suicide of my man's Dad on NYE, things got crazy and I was not able to make it to yoga til last night. Of course I was extremely worried and scared I would have a rough class, but I was pleasantly surprised!
During 2nd part of awkward, I fell on my butt (first time it's ever happened) and was completely embarrassed! However, I got up and kept going. The class went very well and I was amazed at how my body just remembered and knew what it was supposed to do. My leg got the most parallel to the floor during triangle... I think I'm close to moving the arms for the full position. I was even able to do camel, but in the 2nd set, I wasn't able to hold it the full time... and I sat out the first rabbit, due to being so dizzy from camel. Overall, it was really good!
My man also tells me that it's possible that with all the growing I've done and all emotional stuff that has happened these past two weeks, that I may be mentally stronger than ever and that maybe that's why. I didn't even think about this!
Jenny was amazing and told me what I needed to hear. She always has the perfect thing to say. Pretty much said everything I already knew; that I when things get hard and I don't feel like I have the energy or will to do it, to just come in and do it, even if I struggle. She is always kind. After class she told me I did good and I told her how amazed I was at how well I did. I said, "It really is all in your mind" and she agreed. She gave me her # and told me to call her if I need to have her help me get in there.
I get so mad at myself when I don't do yoga for long periods of time. My excuses are that I'm tired, or busy or just don't have the energy, even though I KNOW FULL WELL I'll feel better just getting in there.
Just gotta keep going back... over and over.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Holding elbows in Wind Removing Pose.. finally!
I've been to class twice this week... both classes went amazingly well considering I only did one class last month.
During Wind Removing Pose on Wednesday's class, I was able to hold my elbows for the first time ever! It amazes me how from time to time, I'll just be able to do something during a pose that I've never been able to do something before.
Crazy having people still ask me to this VERY day how much weight I've lost or what size I'm 'down' to. When that happens it reminds me of how amazing the Bikram Yoga is...and reminds me how I need to keep doing it for the rest of my life!
YeeYahhh!!!
During Wind Removing Pose on Wednesday's class, I was able to hold my elbows for the first time ever! It amazes me how from time to time, I'll just be able to do something during a pose that I've never been able to do something before.
Crazy having people still ask me to this VERY day how much weight I've lost or what size I'm 'down' to. When that happens it reminds me of how amazing the Bikram Yoga is...and reminds me how I need to keep doing it for the rest of my life!
YeeYahhh!!!
Monday, December 1, 2008
1 Yoga class for November... on to December...
November was not a good month for me at all and the Bikram!
I was sick the first two weeks of the month. The third week I only went one class as I was coming out of the sick funk and then the last week was the Holiday and Madonna week... so no yoga.
I have not had a month since I started yoga (back in January 2nd of 2007) where I only did one class a month. I'm ashamed and sad, but ready to get back into it!
Today's the day! Woo Hoo!!
I was sick the first two weeks of the month. The third week I only went one class as I was coming out of the sick funk and then the last week was the Holiday and Madonna week... so no yoga.
I have not had a month since I started yoga (back in January 2nd of 2007) where I only did one class a month. I'm ashamed and sad, but ready to get back into it!
Today's the day! Woo Hoo!!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Wonder that is Bikram Yoga - and Jason Winn Seminar
I've been wanting to blog about my Bikram practice for a while now... so here I am... finally!
Too much has happened in the 10 months I've started Bikram to write about in this specific blog - still, a good starting point. Not only has my personal life changed dramatically, but so has my health. I sleep better, I've lost 50 lbs, I eat better, I am more patient and I handle stress a lot better than I used to (no more panic attacks and my anxiety has gone down quite considerably) and my chronic back pain has gone away. Colonics go hand in hand with the yoga... but that's a completely different blog for another time.
When I started yoga, my instructor told me I would go through 'phases' with classess and poses. I didn't know what she meant until October. When I first discored Bikram I was completely addicted. I slept, ate, breathed and dreamed Bikram Yoga. After 5 months and 40 lbs later, I slowed down a bit. (Meeting my boyfriend also got me away from Bikram - as now I had special someone to spend my time with and we went through that 'discovery mode' where we were together all the time!) Anyways, I went through slow times with the Bikram Yoga, but a month or so later, I would hit it back harder than ever. Each time, I was more flexible and more able to do the postures to the best I'd ever been able to do them.
In September, our studio teacher and owner, Jenny, was awesome enough to get Jason Winn (yoga god who has studied -and still studies- with Bikram) to come to a beginner's seminar at our studio. (Scheduled for October 18th.) This was very exciting. We all had so many questions for him on technique... we anticipated his visit like crazy! All we knew from what Jenny had told us is that we would have class with Jason then lunch, then posture clinic.
Jenny knew that I was a photographer, so she offered to pay my seminar fee if I photographed the day events. I was way excited, but a little skeptic of how I would be able to do the class AT THE SAME time I took pictures. After weeks of debating how I would handle this, I decided I would do the Pranayama warm up breathing, a few standing postures to get me warmed up and after Standing Bow Pulling Pose I would photograph for one set, and do the posture on the next set.
Things did not go as planned. The photographer took over in me and I was unable to focus and concentrate on the class. So I shot away... it was very interesting. After all the classes I've done I've never looked much at other people's practice (well - I did when I first started, but after I always concentrated on my posture, alignment and technique.) So being able to photograph my fellow yogis, working their butts off, seeing their practice, alignment and technique was too cool!
Things did not go as planned. The photographer took over in me and I was unable to focus and concentrate on the class. So I shot away... it was very interesting. After all the classes I've done I've never looked much at other people's practice (well - I did when I first started, but after I always concentrated on my posture, alignment and technique.) So being able to photograph my fellow yogis, working their butts off, seeing their practice, alignment and technique was too cool!
Here are some pics from the actual class:
Some pictures from posture clinic:
Menah's kick butt Half Moon...
Rebecca's sweet Backbend....
Jason & James helping get my foot behind my leg for Eagle...
All in all, it was an amazing learning experience on so many levels. I learned more about Bikram Yoga technique and correct posture and alignment. I got to see Jason Winn kick butt... I learned that I'm able to take pictures under crazy hot, sweaty and 'extreme' circumstances.
It was truly awesome!
If you want to learn more about Jason, visit his website at http://www.yogajasonwinn.com/.
Jason showing off with Jenny....
Jason's effortless and perfect Standing Head to Knee...
All in all, it was an amazing learning experience on so many levels. I learned more about Bikram Yoga technique and correct posture and alignment. I got to see Jason Winn kick butt... I learned that I'm able to take pictures under crazy hot, sweaty and 'extreme' circumstances.
It was truly awesome!
If you want to learn more about Jason, visit his website at http://www.yogajasonwinn.com/.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
