Stress in Life Has = So-So Yoga... but Still Practicing

Life has been stressful lately. It's busy time of year for me in my work cycles now (and I'm not even an accountant!) and I feel it in the room & on my mat. I went 3x last week and just felt overwhelmed and that I wasn't doing that great. And that I wanted the session to end every time (usually I just eat it all up!).

But I'm still going and still practicing, which is huge. Work is so busy that I should be spending the extra time I have working. But I know all too well how unbalanced life can feel without yoga & without exercise. So, I keep showing up. It's not pretty. And I feel wiped out on the mat. And I don't stay in my postures as long.

But I'm there. Still practicing. And proud to be doing it.

I'm also re-committing to running a 1/2 marathon in May so I'm going to need to step it up on the running which may take a bit away from the yoga... but my goal is to continue at least 3-4x/week and just work running in addition to yoga. Go me!!

Anyone else running & doing bik.ram?

Happy Birthday to Me with Bikram Yoga Today!

I have taken my birthday day off for the first time ever! And I can't wait to go to the 12pm class for the first time ever too!

Happy Birthday to Me!

I actually turn 35 today and not loving the number but whatever... I love how I feel when I do yoga and am excited to feel that aliveness today with one of my favorite energetic teachers (I usually go to her Monday at 6:15am, so maybe she'll be even more energetic at noon??)

Last week was good but didn't really feel like there was much to report. I went Tues, Thurs and Fri 6pm classes. That was good for last week.

Went further in tow stand. That one is very hard for me. I can actually barely do it and am just trying to get to touch the floor, which I can only do with my left hand... and on my tippy tip of my fingers. Progress, though, and that's good!

What a better present to myself than celebrating my life by practicing yoga today. It's going to be great! :)

Too Hot Tuesday & Looking for a Retreat

It was just too hot in the room. And I didn't eat much in the afternoon so I felt hungry & low energy. But it wasn't just me. Many people were sitting out the 2nd series.

And I was so excited because I hadn't gone all weekend (I'm more a weekday warrior than weekend warrior!) and skipped Monday morning because it was just too difficult to get up after daylight savings time changed.

So I was bummed when I had to sit out some/a lot of the 2nd series because I had been looking forward to a great workout & practice. But oh well. That's the way it goes sometimes. At least I was there. And gave it my all when I did do the poses.

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On another note, I'm looking for bik.ram retreats... anyone know of any that are in the country and on the east coast? I'm not looking to make a huge vacation out of it. My husband isn't into trying this out... (yet). So, I'm looking for a few days away somewhere. Anyone have ideas on this?

Another Friday Night Front Row & Toe Stand Furtherings

Tonight was great - but hot, really hot. So hot that I had to sit out a few of the 2nd of the poses. Our teacher finally acknowledged that it was hotter than normal at the 1/2 way point and turned it down.

It could also be that I had french fries at lunch and that this is my 2nd in 24 hrs, which I'm not used to - I usually go 36 to 48 hours in between.

Anyway, Fri night teacher sings and sings so well - like he should've been on Broadway or something. I love it. Tonight he sang "I'm leaving on a jet plane" during full locust. Many of us loved it!

And... I went further in toe stand. I basically can't do it. I have tight hips or knees or something and usually have to hold my leg and just bend over. Well, this time on the left side, I actually was able to touch my one hand to the ground! Whew! I couldnt't believe it. It's so amazing when you feel like you'll never 'get' a pose and then you start seeing small improvements. And almost every class I have a small improvement somewhere.

My standing bow pulling poses were pretty good tonight too. I think the front row spot really helps with that.

So, once again, I started out the week with a 6:15am class and ended my week with a 6pm class. Love those weeks!

She Knew My Name!

Thurs night's teacher knew my name!!! I walked up to the window to sign in and she said "Hi Cheryl!" - Yay! That felt so good.

She didn't have many Buddhist thoughts today but I still really enjoy her. She's also got great energy. Tues night's teacher does too - I really enjoyed that class too!

Tonight, we had the most yummy first timer in the room. Oh, such eye candy. It was amazing. Yum!!! I was feeling self-conscious thinking these thoughts but then Bikram Yoga Chick posted something along these lines for her motivation in this post. So, I thought I could too :)

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Update: Forgot to add that not only did this teacher recognize me and knew me but after class I went to a nearby smoothie place for my walk home and as I got up to order, the woman said "mangofest?" - she knew my drink! love it!! :)

Finally - Tuesday's Class!

I can't waaaaaaaait for tonight's class. This teacher only teaches on Tuesdays and I LOVE her. I LOVE her energy. It's contagious. And I haven't been able to go to her 6pm Tues class in 3 weeks so I've missed her A LOT.

Yaaaaay to Tuesday's 6pm class!!

5 Days is Way Too Long for a Break

I didn't mean to take a 5 day break. I went last Wed, was sick Thurs, husband wanted time together Friday, Saturday's class got cancelled, SO - I went first thing Mon morning... and it was GREAT to be back.

I was so desperate to do yoga. And I almost didn't go.

They switched up the Mon morning teacher who I've come to really, really like to start my week off right. And this one today I was worried about because I've had her once before and she seemed low energy and never walked around the room.

She was good today, so I'm glad I didn't ditch to try to go to 6pm instead. She showed us a lot of nuances. It's amazing how much I learn to refine my poses each and every time.

And I actually wrapped my right foot around my calf for the first time in eagle pose! :)

Plan B - Go For a Run!

It's not the studio's fault, but I waited until the 6pm class on Saturday to practice - one of the only times I could fit in. I invited a friend too. We got to the studio and because of some electrical problem, they had to cancel the 6pm class.

We quickly got on the phone inquiring about other classes at bikram studios nearby, and no later classes unfortunately.

I was so disappointed. I haven't practiced since Wed. I was sick on Thurs and by Friday, even though I wanted to practice, I hadn't seen my husband all week so didn't go. So, Saturday's cancellation was hard to take... And my Sunday is pretty busy, too busy to fit in a class unfortunately.

So, plan B is to go for a run this morning! Weather is gorgeous here so I think I won't be disappointed with this turn of events :)

Wednesday Night's Class - Well Worth the Wait

I meant to write about it yesterday but then had a busy work day and then I must've not eaten well at lunchtime because I felt absolutely terrible last night, skipping a swim workout to go straight home (early) and got in bed at 6pm to wake up at 6am!!!

So... I likely won't be making it to the studio tonight much as I would LOVE to. I'll see how my energy level is...

Wednesday Night: GREAT. Had a front row spot again, and I'm finding that I push myself harder when I'm in the front row, without necessarily feeling the pressure in a bad way of others looking at me. Either that or it helps to have that close of a view on myself and being able to focus on my eyes & reflection which is sometimes hard for us to do, and easier to avoid in the rows further back.

New-ish teacher for me. I've had her only once before. And I liked her. She did a good job of walking around the room. She reminds me of another one of my favorites - just very calm & collected.

We also had an out of town visitor in the room - a super duper yogi. He was doing a loooooong headstand in the room prior to class! So, maybe that inspired me too.

I worked it hard. The heat in the room was on high as I was dripping the entire time. And I needed coconut water at the end. I usually try to make it on just water.

Our studio is having a potluck after the Sat 6pm class this weekend. I look forward to that! Hope you've had a good bik.ram week & have some good practicing plans this weekend!

Bik.ram Slacker

I'm so desperate for a class... and am signed up for tonight's 6pm despite signing up yesterday morning ... and not making it, and signing up this morning ... and not making it.

I was especially annoyed that I missed Tuesday's 6pm for a work meeting. In fact a performance warning for someone who will likely not be with us in the near future (I'm in HR...)

...And I love Tuesday 6pm's teacher - she has amazing energy. I hear her voice in my head a lot! I've had to miss her 2 weeks in a row now... I'm DETERMINED to go not just tonight but NEXT TUESDAY as well. I need her energy!!

Monday Morning Re-cap

It was hard to get up at 5:15am today. I stayed up a little too late & my dog woke me up at 4:30, so I'm sure just when I was falling back asleep I had to get up. The whole time I was getting ready, I was thinking, "I really don't want to go." It's supposed to be 50 degrees today and thought I should save my exercise for a lunchtime run instead.

But somehow I mustered my energy together. It's been the first time in awhile I could bike down to the studio, so that was good. Plus, I'm working from home today so knew that I could just get home, take a shower and not have to 'do' myself up.

Class was... only ok. I love our Monday morning teacher. It took some getting used to initially. She's got somewhat of an aerobic instructor like voice to her, but now I just love starting my week with her. She's energetic and I let that infuse my early Monday morning.

Nothing too signficant to report on poses today:

• Standing bow pulling pose seemed to work better on one side than the other
• I felt like my mind was wandering more than it should
• The room didn't feel as hot... or maybe it was not having as many people in the room as the 6pm class is
• I had a good second row spot with mirror access
• I'm still excited that I can do Camel & Fixed Firm Pose - 2 of which I had only been able to do about a week ago!

Hope you've started your morning & week off right? Any other Monday morning yogis out there?? :)