Straighten your wrist

Went to 7:30AM class this morning with Tanya. I lover her classes! During half moon, she said to "straighten your wrist" and I didn't think much about it. She then came and corrected me when my hands were over my head. I didn't realize that my wrists were bent. When she helped realign them, it felt strange. They didn't feel straight, but when I looked in the mirror, they were straight. I've been doing the posture wrong this whole time. It made me really appreciate the dialog that much more....like a church steeple.

Classes have been somewhat strong the past week. They continue to feel HOT, but I am learning to really concentrate on my breath and to try to eliminate motions that are not required. Don't think, just do. The past two days have been a bit of a struggle with eliminating with motions that are not required as I got a hair cut and am still trying to figure out the best way to tie it/manage it for yoga. I use to have really long hair and it was easy to just tie it back for yoga. But I've cut it to a length that is not easy to tie back. I think in a few days I will get us to it and not really notice it anymore.

I had a yoga dream last night. I was dreamt that I was a teacher's training and that Bikram was being really hard on me. I think I do want to go to TT one day, but not in the near future. I can't imagine 9 weeks away from the husband and kids. I know they'd be fine, but I don't think I'd be fine.

Catching up

At one point I was down 9 classes and never thought I'd be able to make it up. Many times I contemplated quitting the challenge. I got behind due to two reasons: laziness, and another spur of the moment vacation with the family to Mt. Washington for some skiing.

But I'm happy to say, I am now only down 4 classes!!!! I've did two doubles last week, and three doubles this week (and it is on Thursday). Last night I only did one class and felt kinda guilty for not doing a double. Richard and I have found a good time for doubles - 6AM and 9:15AM. It gives us about an hour and a half between classes for some food and coffee at Starbucks. The 9:15AM class is usually the stronger class for me as I find the coolest spot in the room and I am more bendy (even though it is a morning class) due to it being my second class. Today after 9:15, I felt so strong, that I even contemplated another class, but didn't have any gear. But three classes in a row is a bit crazy! With all the doubles, I've been doing laundry everyday this week. Between laundry, yoga and family, there doesn't seem to time for much else.

The challenge is coming to an end. We only have 17 days left. I can't believe there is little over two weeks left. It feels like its been a really looooooong challenge, but on the other hand, it feels like it's gone by quick. I'm planning for doubles on Monday & Tuesday. And maybe another double before the weeks out. If I can do that, it'll be coasting until the end of the challenge. The Husband is away for a week, so I will most likely be heading to Victoria so I can get some help with the kids in order to get to class.

The crazies

So many people have been talking about the crazies during the second 30 days of the challenge and I thought to myself, "I don't think I'll get them". Was I WRONG!!!! It hit me big time the past two days. So much so that it caused me to miss class yesterday. After a full morning of being in tears, I was too drained and dehydrated to attempt class. A headache stayed with me all day until I went to bed. I was a bit of a mess today too, but I made myself go to the last class of the day (9:30) even though it meant I would miss watching The Great One (Wayne Gretzky) light the olympic cauldron.

At first I didn't like the crazies! I didn't like all the emotions that were coming up. But when I listened to them, I realized why I felt that way and where it stemmed from. After that, I felt a whole lot better. I felt that growing up, a lot of responsibilities were put on my to take care of my siblings. Now I feel I have a big responsibility to take care of my kids and husband. I feel that I am always taking care of everyone and that no one is taking care of me - not even myself. I also felt that when I made yoga a priority, that it affected my kids/husband and I felt guilty. After letting the emotions out, I realize that I have to make yoga a priority, I have to take care of me, and I have to NOT feel guilty about it because if I do all those things, it makes me a better mom/wife. I just need to let the guilty go. I am amazed each day what this yoga can do!

Today is the first day of Olympics. Vancouver is crazy!!! The energy and buzz around town is so thick, you could almost reach into the air and grab it. There were only 7 people in tonights class. I've never seen it so quiet. I'm sure people were either at the opening ceremonies, or downtown or at home watching it on tv. I'm excited for the next two weeks. I just have to remember to get yoga in.

Lost track

I've lost track of what day I'm on with my challenge. All I know is that I am once again down 4. After my triple the other day to make it down 2, I got sick and skipped yoga on the weekend. I was congested and tired so I spent most of the weekend in bed when my family didn't need my attention. I felt guilty about skipping yoga but didn't want to push myself and get more sick. I took class on Monday. I decided to find a spot in the back and take it easy on myself. I didn't want to be there but felt amazing afterwards. During class, the forward bends made my congested head feel like it was gonna explode. After class, I felt great. I think it was the right thing to go to class and sweat it out. I am not 100% yet, but getting there and I truly feel that the yoga helps, even though I don't want to go.

For today's class, I took it easy again in the back row. I did all the postures and felt great after class. Lately, I have been finding the challenge difficult. So difficult, that I want to throw in the towel. But, my friend Richard convinced me to keep at it. So, I am just gonna plug away at it. I just need to get back into a groove and slowly work away at my 4 class deficit.

The next two weeks are really going to be a challenge. It is my husband's birthday, my oldest son's birthday, and the olympics which I have some tickets to.  I just have to do one class a day to not get more in the hole. It will be a crazy time!

Triple to make it down 2

Did my first triple today. I was behind 4 classes (3 from my trip and one from yesterday) and wanted to make some of them up.  I shouldn't have skipped class yesterday. I didn't really have a good excuse except for watching 'Grey's Anatomy' and eating chips.

Went to 9:15 this morning, 7:45 and 9:30 tonight. The morning class was surprisingly strong. I was flexible - quite unusual for the mornings. The 7:45 class wasn't too bad either. By 9:30 though, I found it quite challenging. More mentally them physically. The room was on the cooler side - just the way I like it. I just kept pushing through. I only sat out one side of balancing stick. The teacher encouraged us to just keep with the dialogue and not to stop. It helped.

I am now only down 2 classes. I am beginning to find the second 30 days more challenging then the first. I remember that from my last 60 day challenge. The second 30 is more mental. I'm just going to keep plugging away one day at a time.

Stiff

I am finding morning classes difficult as I am much stiffer. However I like getting my yoga class outta the way before I start my day. What I have realized is that I must work harder in the morning classes and I like that. Morning classes humble me and makes me appreciate the flexible evening classes.

I have yet to do a double to make up the 3 I am down. Maybe a more attainable goal is to try to do one double a week for the next three weeks.

I intended on going to a morning class today but didn't make it. So it'll be 9:30 tonight. I will enjoy the late evening class. But I find the evening classes make me full of energy and I am up until 1am.


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Day 31 Keeping at it...

Well, today was 2:30 class. It was HUMID in the torture chamber today. So humid that I was dripping during the first set of breathing. The weather has been unusually warm around here and it has been raining a lot. I am sure that contributes to the high humidity. I find it difficult to focus on my breath when the humidity is so high. I had a decent class. Sat out one set of locus. I made the mistake of eating lunch at 1. All the pressure on my stomach made me want to vomit.  I find that I can't eat a meal 2.5 - 3 hours before class.


Now that I am almost 30 days into my challenge, this might be a good time to review my goals and see how the progress is coming.....


Be in the moment, no fidgeting, or wiping. Completely focus. Right now, I find myself in a bad habit of being kinda 'lazy' in my triangle set-up. I put my arms down, don't get my thigh completely parallel...etc.
My focus has gotten a lot better.  I find that if I just focus on the dialogue and not anticipate, that class goes by much quicker. I have really been working on triangle. After a tip/demonstration from an instructor to put more weight on the front heel, turn the back foot slightly, bend the thigh to parallel and then only twist the arms - triangle has almost gotten easier. The first day after the demo, I got a compliment in triangle. I rarely receive compliments in that posture. With the new knowledge, coupled with a nice compliment, triangle might be one of my new favorite postures :)

Standing head to knee: by the end of the challenge, I would love to be able to get my forehead to my knee and hold it. Right now I can kick out, bend my elbows, tuck my chin in, but the forehead just won't touch my knee.
My forehead is slowly but surely getting closer to my knee. I am really making an effort to get my forehead to knee and elbows down during the sit ups and I think it is paying off.

Standing separate leg head to knee: I struggle with this posture a lot. I find it one of my toughest. By the end of the challenge I would like to be able to consistently get my forehead to knee with my hands in prayer.
I have been really trying hard in this posture. On my right side, I am able to get my forehead to knee and get my hands in prayer for half the time. I realize that my hips are aligned and that is what I am really concentrating on right now. As for the left side, I am able to get my forehead to knee, but not with my hands in prayer. In time....


Standing Bow: hold the posture for one minute. On a good day, I fall out of it twice.
I am finding the most progress in this posture. Some days I am able to hold at least one side for the full minute. I started not bring my body down so much and work on the endurance first. 

Locust: I struggle with lifting both legs up. I hesitate often in this posture. I would like to be more consistent and give it 100% each time.
This is the one posture that I am not really making progress. When I lie on my elbows, I have sharp pains in my right elbow. It feels very strained. I know I am suppose to feel pain in my elbows during this posture, but if I push it, the pain persists outside of class. When I first started practicing, the pain wasn't as severe and never lasted after the posture. So most days, I barely lift both legs. 


Rabbit: I want to be able to get my forehead to touch my knee and lift, lift, lift! Compression postures are very difficult for me.
Happy to say that I am making some progress in this posture. Before the challenge I find myself making all sorts of excuses NOT to get into this posture and if I did get in, I wouldn't really try to get my forehead to touch my knees. Now, I am happy to say I am consistently getting in the posture and consistently getting my forehead to touch my knees. I rarely get the cramp in the abdomen so I know I need to suck it in more and lift more.
Spine twist: to be able to grab my inner thigh.
Still a ways to go in this. Sometimes I think my arms are too short to be able to grab my inner thigh. It just doesn't reach. 


Water intake: cut down my water intake to two times a class (after standing series and before fixed firm)
I am still consuming a lot of water. It has just been so humid. I have water during party time, after standing series, fixed firm and sometimes after rabbit. The next 30 days, I am gonna try to take out the water after rabbit.


Now I just need to keep going to class, knock out some doubles, and things should just keep progressing....