Day 11 31.01.13

6.30pm (CJ)

Tonight I got to practice with Miss Seema - good for a change! There weren't much people in tonight, I think a lot more come for the 60min classes. Last night there was 46 and tonight wasn't even 20. 

On that note, there have been 3 classes so far that Ive taken that are 60mins so Ive been keeping track that way I make up what I have lost. 3 classes @ 60mins = I owe one day with a double. 

Tonights class wasn't as hard as I would of liked. I didn't feel warm enough and didn't sweat much...I'm not sure if it's cause I didn't push myself hard enough or if it was the teacher? 

One thing that Brooke noted to me which I agree with is, some teachers who don't utilise the name tags we have in front of our mats could give off a vibe of "not connecting" with the practitioners. When they point something out to someone who needs a tip it can really encourage the person to push harder in the correct form. Hope that makes sense. 

Locust Pose - Im still hurting my pelvis when lifting both legs and feeling the difference between length of my arms more, its kind of getting to me now.  

It was a good class but just don't feel motivational as normal. Good thing about this challenge is, I know that tomorrow is a new day and I will have a different class all over again. Love it!

ps: today....well in 4hours my bestie and her hubbie fly to Europe for 5weeks (I think)..Wishing you both a safe and happy trip - cant wait to hear and see all about it via Skype!

Until tomorrow x

ALix x

Day 10 30.01.13

5.00pm (Rachel CAN)

Good evening to all my lovely yogi and yoginis.

I'm sitting here at Greenbank RSL watching my friends sing, feeling slightly tired after class tonight.

BREAKING NEWS: I HAVE POWER!!

I didn't plan to do the 5pm class so I went and had some sushi for an arvo snack but then when I got into the studio I thought I might as well head in. Considering I had just eaten I did well. 

One thing I realise after coming in each day is; my spine always feels warmed up, my concentration and focus is a lot sharper and I am dripping sweat sooooooooooo much more than I used to.

Seema has been kind enough to share with me some tips on Floor Bow and it's crazy how after 2 years I FINALLY understand how I am meant to hold my feet to ensure my wrists are straight and learnt a technique to keep my knees close when kicking up.
Balancing Stick: This is another posture that I learnt something in. When you are stretching forward and stretching back you're meant to look forward keeping your chin away from the chest. In the dialogue they say it all the time, every single class, every teacher, ALL THE TIME "Chin away from the chest" and you would think I would know what that means...but no, not until now. So tonight in the posture I looked forward and I was able I balance better and see the alignment of my hips. 

Two thirds of the way through and I really want to attempt a 60 day challenge next. This is too fun.

I seen Brooke go in for her class so it's all full steam ahead. Yay.

Until tomorrow x

ALix x

Day 9 29.01.13

6.30pm (SM)

So right now Im laying on the floor in my room with 6 candles. Our power is still not on after 3 days and hot water is just about finished. I don’t mind not having power - I can live without but with not having a fan can make it hard to sleep.

Day nine….damn its going quick. Tonight Miss Brooke joined me for her first class of her 30 day challenge YAY! Tonights class was well packed with no newbies at all – where are they all? and very humid...I had my massive puddle of sweat going by Standing Bow.

I was speaking with Seema yesterday and she explained Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose to me because I was wondering why we need to bring the weight to our toes. Well what it does is enables your hip joints / flexes to let you go down, chin up back straight, and create an intense stretch at the hips and back of the thighs (I need to add more info here about what happens if you dont put weight into your toes, Ill talk to my Yoga teacher). It is definitely one of my favourite postures because you can see the ground in front of you and want to touch it with your forehead so you end up using all your bicep strength …..ouchhh......making for a challenging second set that’s for sure.

Spine Twisting Pose – I can finally get my other hand around to touch (just) in inside of my thigh. When I started this yoga I NEVER thought I would be able to wrap my arm around to touch the thigh, it just seemed impossible. That’s what makes this yoga so addictive cause in each class you can progress in a posture millimetre by millimetre.

I am learning to love my spine more so now than I ever have because of all the knowledge I’ve gained from my chiro and yoga teachers and now understand the saying “Healthy Spine Healthy Life”.

Locust Pose Salabhasana – I got tips on this posture because I found I was always hurting my pelvis when I would lift my two legs. I need to bring my hands closer towards my knees, grip onto the floor with open fingers and bring the weight into my shoulders, goodness knows how I am meant to do that, but it is one posture I am working on.

Well I am falling asleep so best to rest and be geared up for day 10! Woooooo! (fingers crossed for power tomorrow).

Until tomorrow x

ALix x

Day 8 28.01.13

9.30am (SM)

Summers Day of rain and ummmmm no power!

Day 8 has me at the studio nice and early for our Australia day weekend and a morning class with a close friend of mine all the way from Toronto.

Paul from our team here at Bonfire thought it would be a good idea to put everyone on the right side of the class as there was only a small amount of people practicing and it worked out really well. We only had one newbie and he will great considering the heat was bonkers!

I felt dizzy coming out the second set of Standing Separate Leg Stretching so I had to take a knee but that posture is one of my favourite cause I love the intense stretching in the back of my thighs. One thing I need to do is buy new yoga crop tops because at the moment Im wearing cheapo crop tops from Kmart or something and they dont soak up sweat well it just ends up becoming too wet and when Im doing a posture like Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee pose the sweat just drips into my nose and I feel like I am drowning haha silly I know but I cant quite work pass the drowning part of my practice :)
I have on and off days and today was slightly off for my forward bends. Standing Head to Knee on my right side is always a struggle in the first set and in the second thats when I like to kick out. Today I felt tight on both sides which is strange cause my left side I can normally kick out on the first set right away. Thing to do is, is to always listen to the body and just go to where your body can take you. There is Good Pain and Bad Pain - so just LISTEN and Breathe - there is no ego in Yoga !

Tips on Standing Bow

I am feeling a bit tired right now (5.50pm) which could have to do with the lack of sleep (no power = no fan) and we still dont have power so I am enjoying being here at the studio and being able to charge my phone.

I am grateful that this yoga has opened up a new world for me and that it has taught me so much. If there was one thing I could share with a newbie is, if you stick it out you will gain so much from this both physically but more so mentally.

Until tomorrow x

ALix

Day 7 - Master Class

8.00am (AT)

One week done and dusted! Wahoooooooo Party Time....the yoga way! (which means water haha)

Wow what a fun week it has been! I seriously didn't think I would feel this good after a 7 days straight, it actually makes me think I could possibly do a 60 day challenge after this one (Ill revisit this after 30days).

So its still raining here in Brisbane which is great cause we definitely need it but somehow it makes the room super humid. Today we had a 2hour Master Class with the great Dr A. Back in December we did the first half of this Master Class which was going into detail about the standing series postures and then smashing out the floor series. Today was opposite - we smashed the standing series and chose two postures from the floor series to discuss in length.

In the standing series I didn't feel as warm as normal and my lower back felt a bit strained so my back bend in Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon pose) felt like nothing but I still squeezed tight and attempted it anyways.
One thing that always sticks in the back of my mind is "Its human to fall out but its yogi to try again" so when I have fallen out of that posture (mostly Triangle) I say this to myself as a kick in my own butt! Actually that reminds me, today in Triangle I did both sides and didn't fall out..holy crap! How did I forget that? After all these classes I am finally learning to concentrate on turning my hip more to be able to sit in my bent leg. Work in progress......

I have just remembered some pain I used to experience that I don't get anymore. A year into this practice I would always without fail get a cramp feeling on the outside of my feet after Eagle and it would last until Tree, so doing Separate Leg Head to Knee I would always come out cause of the pain in my feet. I just realised recently that I haven't had that cramping feeling in my feet - I wonder when it stopped? Happy its not there anymore thou!

CAMEL USTRASANA - a lot of people don't particularly like this posture but I think after a while you begin to love it. I personally love it for a number of reasons:
1) we don't bend backwards enough in our every day lives
2) its a HUGE challenge to calm the breath when you're backwards with your head below your heart and
3) once you come out and lay in savasana I feel my body melt below ground level and its feels sooo bloody awesome!

Today Dr A gave me and Hollie (soon to be in teacher training and an inspiring young lady I only met today) a Hot Yoga MasterClass book by Gabrielle Raiz who does Hot Yoga teacher training in South America. This is now my new bible. I don't know when I will be able to do teacher training but I know it is definitely something I want to pursue. I am at my happiest when at the studio more so than my own work place.

I got in a little quick practice of my headstands and back bends and they are feeling good at the moment.

I have my friend Brooke joining me on her 30 day Challenge from Tuesday so Im looking forward to seeing her around.

Looking forward to tomorrow already.

Until tomorrow x

ALix x

Day 6 26.01.13

~ must remember this ~

6.00am (SM)

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY ALL!

Best way to start the weekend off is with a nice sweaty yoga class.

This morning another 10 people got out of their comfy warm beds and drove in the rain to come and give them selfs 90mins of meditation. There were no newbies so we got straight into a strong class. 

Im finding my shoulder blades are a bit sore so I think Im giving them a great workout - hopefully I have nice back muscles at the end of this. Which reminds me I need to take photos!

I havent done a 6am class in over a year but I do remember that it is always a tough one because your body is still waking up and you can be super hungry. 

Postures:

Standing Bow Pose - Dandayamana Dhannurasana - Today the teacher told us in the second set to take it slow and hold the posture and in the last 10 seconds to push it to the edge. I moved slowly into this posture while making sure my facial expressions were relaxed and in the last 20 seconds I started to  realign my shoulders in one line and relax to make my hips to parallel and as the last10 seconds came I was able to kick harder into my hand with my right foot right above my head. Sometimes I wish we could film ourselves to see what we look like going in and out of postures, it would help me alot...maybe a GoPro? haha!

Anyways, I will need to work on this pose with my left foot because I seem to be more tight in the hips of the left? 

Triangle - Trikanasana - WILL BE THE DEATH OF ME!! Inner Thigh strength I will get you ONE DAY!! 

I felt very heavy in class with my sit ups moving slowly which I can only guess is not a good thing. During the spine series I felt a panic attack for cool air coming on but I quickly concentrated on breath and I was ok and carried on but it was a scary feeling. I was 4th row back on the right which was a different change, there weren't any distractions in class so it was ok. 

Ive started taking Hydalight to keep my hydration up - seems to be working well - I havent had any head aches or anything. 

Tomorrow is a big Master Class with Dr A so I best be off to sleep.

Until tomorrow x 

ALix x 

Day 5

530pm (SM) 

HAPPY FRIDAY my sweaty Yoginis!

Day 5....omg where has the week gone. Since starting this challenge the days have gone so fast. Work has been a drag but the thing that makes me happy is knowing Ill be at yoga in the evening where I just feel at home. I love it! 

Tonight was a real nice class, once again I couldn't feel the heat but I still sweated like a mofo. As I said I would I set up in different spots in the room and tonight I was in the third row left next to a newbie - I think the universe put her there to test my strength and boy she did. 

Postures I felt I progressed in:

Half Moon - Ardha-Chandrasana - This felt amazing tonight. At the end of the  dialogue when the teacher says to go deeper into the posture I felt I did that tonight without turning my hips and just stood there breathing, it felt awesome. 

Balancing Stick - Tuladandasana - Oh boy...this is 10seconds of my life I die in. Who would think 10seconds standing like a "Standing T like Tom, not a broken umbrella" would bring your heart rate up sooooo much. Works magic! 

Well not too much to report on tonight but it was a great class with alot of regular faces. 

Im off to the 6am class tomorrow so I can have the whole day to rest. Its raining so we know tomorrow after class Ill be on the couch all day resting :) 

Until tomorrow x 

ALix x

 

Day 4 - Dancing Camel

Thursday 630pm (Rachel CAN)

What a beautiful day to do Yoga...it's been raining all day and it's nice and dark-ish outside - reminds me a bit of home (NZ).

Tonight out teacher is all the way from Canada, Miss Rachel. She was amazing. She ran a super hot class. I find the new teachers who don't know how to use the heaters in our room end up leaving it to run all class making it for a great challenge. Humidity got to 68degrees and temp was around 35.

I felt I really pushed hard tonight in Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose so I could get my forehead to the ground whilst holding my heels rather than the outside of my feet and at the last second of second set I got it..Rachel said I was close ad to push..and Boom!! Imaginary Hi-5 to myself happened!!
I am having problems with my 2nd part of Awkward..I can't seem to balance right and go down - so work needs to be done on that.
One posture I felt so relaxing in was Spine Twist! I got my supporting hand around to my inner thigh which was a first - felt great.

At the start of class Rachel said "If you find yourself too comfortable in a posture you need to push harder to get outside your comfort zone" and in hearing that I pushed more in my stand series and almost died and "If it feels tough and you can't bare it you need to learn to dance with it" I think that can be interpreted in different ways for everyone which makes it beautiful.

Oh, I almost forgot. Paul and Jaylee Balch visited the studio tonight to see the chiro guys and I was so happy to see them. They are a couple who travel the world teaching what they have learnt from the Tibetan Master along with Hatha Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Meditation and so much more. I've done one of their seminars and learnt so much about the emotional side of this practice. When you think of "yoga pros" - we would normally think of small slender people but Paul and Jaylee are nice and tall..it's matches their BIG BIG knowledge base. I would recommend everyone to sit and listen to them talk if they ever get a chance.

To sum tonight up, it was slightly emotional and challenging. Teacher said I had a beautiful practice so that makes me feel good. I am still so very grateful to have discovered this yoga!

Good night and Until Tomorrow x

Day 2 & 3 - 22-23.01.13

Tuesday 630pm (SB)Wednesday 700pm (SM)

Oh goodness....I have too much energy tonight. Im going to start showing what time I do class and the teachers initials so when I look back on this blog I will know who I had. 

So I missed out last night on my blog cause I wanted to sleep instead. So DAY 2 class was a burner and such a challenge. It wasnt as packed at Monday night but the heat was definitely there to kick my butt. 

I had the same teacher as Monday night which was great because I seemed to enjoy her class more so that night. Her story of how she got into yoga is very interesting and how she got into teaching is an emotional one..Im really glad I asked her cause it inspired me even more to want to become a teacher of this yoga..Ohhh one day!!

I dont remember how I went on postures which is why I need to blog right after class :(. 

I chose to be at the front row left corner Tuesday night and feel the heat on that side of the room is double to the left or that could just be a silly thought in my head. 

• Supta - Vajrasana posture is one I want to learn more on is as I dont feel much happening in this so I need to talk to my teachers to see what I need to improve on. 
• Trikonasana is still a weak one for me but still working on my inner thigh strength. 
• Ardha Candrasana with Pada-Hastasana backbend is still a work in progress. I just need to remember to always push my chest up with the backbend part.

Day 3 - 700pm (SM)

Happy Hump Day - Hip Hip Hoorayy!!

Today was kind of long - I had my PT sesh at the gym at 545am - work then Yoga. I had a full on day at work with meetings and minutes so coming to class tonight was going to be interesting, I didnt know if my body would smash out the class or crumble to the ground....turned out to be a fun class. I had a friend who I will call Mama; (haha if she reads this) who set me right up in front of the teachers podium next to her. Maybe a bad idea but it was fun. In Full Locust Pose we were trying to push each other to the ground when we were meant to be "flying"..great times. 

Anyways..the room wasnt as hot, I couldnt feel the heat but I still ended up having a nice sweat puddle under my feet. I need to work on my floor bow - my knees and ankles are not staying in line and it seems super hard to bring them in line...what am I doing wrong?

Newbies....Ohhhhh Newbiesss....I absolutely love them. All the newbies we've had this week, every one of them have come out with a smile on their face and it was good to talk to them to see their reasons for trying this yoga out and how they found class. A few have had previous injuries and Im so glad they have discovered this yoga because they will soon see how it can heal your body in ways you didnt know would be possible. 

One thing people dont really know is that it is a cardio workout. Your heart rate goes like so quick and you end up burning maybe 500-700 calories per class (approx). 

All I want to do is have all my friends try this at least once...its so addictive and good for your Mind Body and Soul. 

Im sorry I dont have much information as yet...I am strapped for time at nights now but on weekends I will write more. 

Until tomorrow x

ALix  

My fellow Yoginis (Day 1)

Day 1 - Monday 21.01.13

Ohhhh boy am I pumped and excited to finally say DAY ONE wahoooo! 

This marks the first time Ive ever started a challenge to better myself for greater health. 

So after my class on Saturday afternoon where I didnt do a single thing after the water break and throwing up (I wont blame the eclipse breath-mint I took before class) I didnt know how I was going to go tonight but as always I surprsingly had a fantastic class. There were some challenges though - there was a new teacher I'd never had before and she spoke too quick which is Ok for me but I felt the newbies would of been a bit frazzled, people were talking before class and during postures.  

There were all the regular Monday crowd which made for good entertainment after class but I love how during class we are all so in our zones and just each working through our own challenges and come out of class sharing jokes and laughing. I really love seeing their faces.

I didnt find the room too hot tonight but I overheard others saying it was crazy hot so Im guessing my position in the room made a difference - I will play around with different spots in the room over these next 29 classes and let you know. I am going to attempt to not have coffee over the course of this challenge also and just drink tea for now (oh goodness help me).

I spoke to Jodi who is 15days into her 30day challenge and she said she is feeling run down and drained but she is having such great progress with cutting her smoking right down, no coffee and no sugar so its interesting to hear how she is going. 

"Yoga isnt about touching your toes, its about what you learn on the way down there" 

Until tomorrow :)

ALix x

Let the Sweat Scratch your Itch

Class 4 for the week...

I am getting so excited and just a little bit nervous for this challenge. Ive been talking to a lady at Yoga who is currently about 2 weeks into her 30 day challenge and she loves it, she has even stopped coffee for the challenge (that’s something I may have difficulty with). Sometimes think, Pffttt this will be easy but then after doing 4 classes this week already I can feel different parts of my body hurting more than usual.

Last nights class was amazing. I wasn’t planning on doing class because I was super tired but after helping some new students with their mat set up and feeling the warmth of the room, I couldn’t help myself. I told my teacher, who has become a very good friend, that I was heading in and so she insisted I setup right up front (damn it). The room was already pre-heated from the class beforehand so feeling the sweat drip off me in pranayama breathing felt amazing.

Talking about sweat,  last night it was CAH-RAZZZZ-YYY. I am now comfortable to practice in a sports bra and when I was in Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose the sweat was like rain on the floor in front of me, it was dripping off every part of my body, I couldn’t believe it! Come to Rabbit Pose and the sweat was flooding out my nose…it was just uncontrollable last night – but I still enjoyed the class  and all the beginners came out smiling which is always great to see.  

One posture I had fun with last night was Standing Forehead to Knee. This posture has taken me 1.5 years to master and last night for the first time I was able to bring my forehead down knee (left side) and hold it and not fall out. For some reason I find it difficult to kick out on my right side so I tend to try full expression on my left (I think I have one side of my body longer than the other) so that is one thing I want to be able to fix by the end of the challenge. I find this is the best pose to test your balance because holding your foot at 90 degrees for one minute with a locked knee is very challenging.

One Week Out

Good Evening, Its 950pm on a Monday night. I have just got home and ready for bed after an express class tonight. I had such an amazing class tonight that I feel the need to get some words out. 

I am so grateful to be apart of a studio that has so much love. I have made many new friends, from fellow workers, to new teachers that come and go and the best of all the other students who have the same passion as I do and I just LOVE to sit and talk to them to hear their experiences that this yoga has given them. My friends think I am a bit over enthuses when I get on the topic of Yoga so I find it exciting to speak with others about it. 

Some days I don't think I will be alright to do class because I didn't get enough sleep or that I have sore muscles - I have even eaten before class on purpose to try and tell the teacher "I cant do class I just ate", to just get told "you will be fine just push through", turns out I was OK and survived, but no matter what excuses I come up with I always find myself at the studio and having some break through during class (too bad I cant high-five anyone during class because that's what I feel like doing sometimes).

As many teachers will tell you before commencing class "set your intention for your 90 minute open eye meditation", I then tell myself which posture I want to kick-ass in. Today was Triangle because it has been giving me such trouble since before Christmas. I have had a slightly sore back all day at work and I thought for sure I would have a below average class but then my body got in that hot room and just melted with happiness dripping sweat by half moon and I was able to finally get into Triangle and hold the posture on both sides for the full minute. Hallelujah!!!!

I have spoken to a few regulars at the studio trying to get the word around for people to join me on this 30 day challenge and so far I have recruited 3 others so I can imagine the fun we will have. 

"Give me 30 days and I will change your body - Give me 60 days and I will change your life" - Bikram  Choudhury.

 Trikanasana - Triangle Pose

10 days until it begins...

Well it was only last week that a friend of mine (Brooke) said she was interested in doing a 30 Day Bikram Yoga Challenge so it got me thinking instead of doing another term of Aerial Yoga I should jump on-board and challenge myself to a 30day Bikram Yoga Challenge also.

So the date is set...I will begin from 21^st January 2013 through to 19^th February 2013 which is the day before I head to Melbourne for my trip.

I have been practicing this type of yoga on and off for the past 2 years now but more so over the past year. I am very lucky I get my yoga for free so it’s only smart that I make the most of it. I have been reading and watching blogs online to get an idea of what to expect and also talking to my teachers at the studio.

Since speaking about this to others around me surprisingly 2 people from the studio and another friend are also going to take part in the challenge. There will be such great support amongst everyone that it really excites me.

I know we will be pushing each other every day and it will be a great little network to speak to each other about our challenges and to PUSH AND MOTIVATE!!

I will be doing my classes at Bonfire Hot Yoga studios where all the teachers are Bikram trained and teach beautifully.

Yoga is the perfect vehicle for change of yourself. First by creating a strong and powerful body and mind. It is a starting point from which you can begin to realize your human spirit.

— Bikram Choudhury