It Never Ceases To Amaze Me...

...this yoga. My recent sporadic practice has got me feeling like I'm starting from scratch over and over and over again. I get my momentum, then I stall. My biggest challenge is getting myself motivated to prepare before class. Hydrating well, not eating a couple of hours before class, 2 hours spent in total getting there/the 90-minute class/the showering after vs. 2 hours of getting chores done are the biggest obstacles. I missed the 9:00AM class, and luckily there is an 11:00AM class for me to go to.

I was dripping in sweat right at Pranayama, a sure sign that it was going to be a very hot class. My Standing Series wasn't at all bad, considering that I haven't been practicing as often as I should. I was very surprised and amazed that I was able to bend my elbows down to "hug" my leg in Standing Head to Knee. My Floor Series has always been consistently good, but I've noticed that my left knee has been a little rusty during Fixed Firm. I always nail Fixed Firm, but these past couple of months, it hasn't been as flexible as before. I'm not at all worried; it's just my body grounding me.

This yoga never ceases to amaze me. I've been coming to the hot room with a little trepidation, quite fearful of not being able to perform as well as I should. But as I leave it after 90 minutes, I feel rejuvenated, grounded, and peaceful.

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

Yoga Glow

Who needs plastic surgery when you can attain so much more with Bikram Yoga? I PVR'd today's Dr. Phil show. It featured brides-to-be who were after the ultimate prize of a dream wedding AND plastic surgery to augment their breasts, lipo-suck their thighs, ankles, legs, and other "problem" areas that exercise and dieting apparently cannot take away, botox here and there, etc. Just to have the "perfect" wedding day, at the cost of thousands of dollars. I cannot help but shake my head at how these women have upped the ante. I've heard of Bridezillas, but Bridal Plasty???

It made me realize how down-to-earth, natural, and accepting this yoga is. I don't have the perfect body. I have stretch marks (the medal of pregnancy and motherhood), I don't sport six-pack abs, I can only fill A-cups, the list goes on...When I was a newbie more than a year ago, I was self-conscious. I looked around and I saw toned, lithe, bodies. But I noticed too that there were also bodies that looked and were shaped like mine. I realised later on that no one in the hot room really LOOKS at you, long enough to see your imperfections. Everyone is trying hard to focus on themselves, and their practice.

I don't know about you, but I practice because I want to do it for me, first and foremost. I feel like a million bucks, and when this happens everyone in my orbits sees it, notices it, comments about it. Just the other day a colleague of mine said that I looked so relaxed. I just smile and think of what brought me there. I have that yoga glow, not just physically, but mentally too. I try not to let anyone steal my peace. Instead, I'd rather share mine. Namaste.

Good night, Mommy. I love you.