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