Day 7: Beautiful Saturday.

I love Saturday morning class. I always have. The early Saturday classes are often not as crowded, which helps too. This morning Arnie taught. It was a fantastic class. Perfect heat, good focus, good energy. I stood beside Daren, one of my favorite people to practice beside. I felt really really strong. Probably the strongest I have felt all week.

Today’s class was the kind that reminds me why I want to go to training, why I want to teach, and why I love this yoga. I found so much space in my body today. In Ardha-Chandrasana, I found the deepest backbend I have had in weeks. I just relaxed, letting go of the tension I have been holding for so long. It felt healing, and I felt a release that left me dizzy (this is GOOD!) during Pada-Hastasana. And since we’re on the subject of Pada-Hastasana, HELLO does this posture really kick my butt. It looks so deceptively easy. But it ramps up my heart rate right off.

The rest of the class was great. Again, grabbing my foot in Dandayamana-Janushirasana and using proper form in Dhaunrasana. I also feel much more confident with my balancing postures. Space, much more space. The Spine Strengthening Series is getting easier for me and I am finding Salabasana to me much less of a problem as my shoulders get stronger.

I left the studio today feeling SO good. I drank less than a quarter of my water, which is HUGE for me. And I am inspired to see how this new approach is going to affect my Challenge. Tomorrow I will do a lot of yoga with regular class and Advanced class earning me 3 more on my way.

I am going to try to take pictures in Advanced tomorrow to post here for you all to see..

Happy Saturday!

Day 6: Early morning sweat

Today’s early early class was wonderful. I got up with very little resistance despite the (still horrifying) early hour. I used to think that I had better classes in the afternoon or evening. Which, I guess, is sometimes true. But lately I am finding that the earlier I get on my mat, the better. Even when early means, yeah.. 5:30 am. early.

I am really going to miss Cynthia when she leaves. Her classes have totally changed the way I practice. I find her really encouraging and very detailed. I appreciate the fact, too, that she seems to know just when to give direct instruction.

Last night I mentioned breakthroughs and I wanted to expound on that a bit. Yesterday evening was the very first time I have held my foot in Dandayamana Janushirasana – Standing Forehead to Knee. Isn’t Joseph lovely?? Anyway, I’ve had some ummm.. issues even reaching my foot to do the set up for the ENTIRE two plus years I have been practicing. But last night and also this morning, I was able to pick it up. Now, I know for a LOT of people that’s not a big deal. But for me, it was monumental, I wanted to cry. I was so happy, I almost stopped and started laughing. I’ve only gotten the right one so far and it’s a struggle to hold it with the left leg locked. But dammit if it didn’t feel good to see such a breakthrough after all this TIME! My other exciting news was that I am now able to hold my Floor Bow in the right position!!! That means my thighs are UP off the floor and my knees are much closer together. This is HUGE for me since not even five days ago my thighs were flat on the floor. I feel like I am having major “lightbulb” moments with these postures. Seems my stubborn body can change afterall.

This weekend is going to be FULL of yoga. I’ve got class tomorrow morning then a double on Sunday including Advanced with Cynthia. I haven’t had Advanced in a few months. But I am excited to see where my body is now. I’ve been practicing some of the Advanced postures before and after class and I am anxious to see how it goes in actual class. Plus, the bonus?? Advanced counts as 2 classes on the challenge! Yay!

I made a conscious effort today to lay off the water. WOW what a difference it made. I had ZERO nausea and felt actually MUCH better when class was over. I’m still not ready to give it up for good, but I am taking steps.

Almost a full week in. Can’t believe!

See you again soon!

Day 2: in which I start bitching about the heat.. already.

Day two.. Oh God, I am in hell. All over again, I am feeling toooo hooooottt.. Too hot.

I am sitting here listening to Kenna and sucking down Metromint and thanking God above for the sweet blissful breeze I feel from the A/C vent above my desk. And no, this isn’t an Ad Blog, I just like to share. I’ve had Kenna in my head for days and had the song “Sun Red Sky Blue” in my head in the past two classes I have taken. It’s a great song, you should check it out.

But this blog is about yoga. More importantly, this blog is about Day TWO of my Challenge and the unREAL heat I felt today. Day two, only day TWO and I feel like I am in hell again. Before I start whining about the heat, I should say I had an OK class today. I actually felt awesome for the majority of the standing series. And even had an awesome hold on my Standing Bow. So those are all good things. But I was sweating literally, and I know this is silly, LIKE A PIG.. Sweating and sweating and sweating and sweating and OH GOD is that my sweat on the carpet?? YUP it is, and HELLO, yes Jen I will gladly pay to have the studio carpet cleaned because really OMG did a man just stand here and do that?? Nope, that was me, and OH GOD the sweat today. I was sweating so much, in fact, that I reached under the stage and got another towel because my Yogitoes was so soaked I had puddles – OH MY GOD – puddles under my shoulder blades. Puddles that I had created, by the way by the FOURTH posture. I even went so far as to move Jen’s tea (I was right next to the stage) over so as to not sweat into it during Triangle. I’m a giver, what can I say?

Yes, it was hot. I tried not to think about it. I really did. I tried to Zen out and imagine myself at the beach. That didn’t go so well. I did keep my sense of humor, however, when Jen decided she’d help me find that rotation I needed in Floor Bow. I laughed through the whole second set, which is way better than the crying I usually want to do in the second set of Floor Bow. So, I did have fun, even in my pool of.. yeah.. ew.. I managed a pretty amazing Ustrasana, where I almost saw the back of my mat. But I was hot. Really really hot. I could have been a bit dehydrated, I guess. I mean, it IS Summer and even as much water as I tried to consume yesterday I wonder if I had enough.

And then there’s the issue of that detox. That ugly little word I try to ignore when I am pouring water off of my body. Bikram didn’t design the series, and the heat, and all that sweating for nothing. He knew what he was doing. And apparently my body got on board today with the detox party.

So, tomorrow’s another day. And I am sure it will be different. The good news is that I felt awesome and empty and wrung out after class. I didn’t cry, or whine (OK I did whine a little) to Jen after class. Just to Dave. And he said I wasn’t allowed to whine again. So, tomorrow will be all positives, I promise.

I’m off to drink more water.