When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going

This pretty much sums up my last couple of practice days. This morning, I was resigned to the idea that I may not do well today as I did yesterday. But, I was wrong. I had an awesome practice today. I thought the room temperature was just right. For me, it was hot enough. I know that some yogis want it really hot, but I believe that if it is stifling hot, what good will that do you? You're already sweating, so it is really necessary to be hotter to achieve what??? It's all about balance. I believe that if you are already hot enough that you are sweating, your muscles and joints are already pliable enough to do the postures. 'Nuff said.

Back to my practice today. My balance was off. I kept falling out of Standing Bow more often than usual. Awkward Pose has been just that. Awkward. Especially during the first part. I simply could not hold the posture the whole time. I do, however, pay attention to the proper form. And when I fall out, I do get back in again. I believe this indicates that I am a yogi. Apparently, to fall out of a posture is being human. To get back into the posture is being a yogi. 'Nuff said.

Tomorrow marks three straight days of practice. We will see if the tough will still be going...

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

Super Wednesday...Great Practice and A Win For The 'Nucks

I woke up this morning feeling heavy all around. I have gained quite a bit of weight, despite a regular Bikram practice. What happens is that I eat a lot after class, as I do not eat before class. But I think the main culprit is that I have not lost my love of rice, that carbilicious vehicle with which to transport my Filipino favourites like adobo, pork giniling, callos, etc. So I thought I'd curb that heavy eating after class by having fruit a good two hours before class, as well as a glass of water. The latter as an insurance for my (still) no-water-during-class regimen.

We had Mr. Suggestion at the helm today. Nope, I didn't cringe when I saw his truck parked in the studio lot. I welcomed the anticipated great workout that he always serves his students. But boy, what a Speedy Gonzales of a Pranayama Breathing we had! I had a great one today, and almost always, how I do at Pranayama will dictate how my practice will pan out.

Most of the time, it's a seesaw "battle" between the Standing and the Floor. It's either one or the other. I start strong, then I finish weak. I start weak, then I finish strong. But today, I was strong from start to finish. Despite the heavy feeling that I woke up with this morning. I stuck it out the whole time for Mr. S's famous second (extended) set of the Camel Pose. Great advice on focusing on the breath while in the posture, and just allowing yourself to push beyond your edge a little bit.

And for the cherry on top, the Vancouver Canucks took the first game of the Stanley Cup finals. GO CANUCKS GO!!!

Good night, Mommy. I love you. And wasn't that a great game?

Just Plain...Fantastic.

Sunday. 8:00AM. Beautiful Spring day in the capital city. I'm in the hot room. I took yesterday off, reluctantly. I worked until 3:15, and making the trip home to retrieve the car to drive the 10 minutes to the studio was a bit of a stretch. However, it would have been a different story if I were doing the 30 Day Challenge. I would have made the extra effort to show up for class.

Today's practice was just plain...fantastic. Did I touch my forehead at last during Standing Head to Knee? Nope. Did I hold Standing Bow Pulling the whole time? Nope. Was my Half Moon a true half moon? Nope. And the list goes on. So why, you may ask, was my practice fantastic? Well, it's because I felt that I had given it my 110% effort today. I yoga-tried, not just yoga-did. I felt great. The room was hot, but not stifling or unbearable or crippling. The class had fantastic energy. Sure, the joints and limbs were not at their most flexible this time of the day, but at the end of the 90 minutes, nothing can describe the feeling of accomplishment and how much our bodies are thanking us all for giving it the workout it so terribly needs to function the way it was created for. Lungs expanded, muscles stretched, joints moved, monkey minds controlled with meditation, what could be a better way to start the day?

It is my practice. On my terms. In my time. Namaste.

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

Hot Rants

A few of us have been venting (no pun intended) about how hot it has been at our studio. A couple of teachers do open the doors from time to time to cool the room down a tinge and believe me, a few seconds of this does help us a lot. The fans don't really help much. It has been so hot lately that I have been tempted by monkey mind to retrieve that water bottle from the change room.

Today I practiced at 6:00AM. It was really nice to have a chit-chat in the change room with the other ladies before class. So the hot topic of the morning was the hot room. It was raining outside, and one of the ladies commented how the rain increases the humidity. Oh boy, here we go. When Pranayama breathing started, I started feeling this very hot draft from the ceiling. I started to feel a bit anxious. I took it easy as I want to finish strong. After a few breaths, the hot sensation started to fade. Relief.

My Floor Series has been at its strongest today compared to what it has been during the last few practices. What kick-started it was the Cobra Pose. I made up my mind to give it 100%. After that, everything fell into place. I had a little anxious moment in Camel, but after focusing on my breath, I was able to hold it a little longer. Relief.

Today the hot room was just right. The doors weren't opened, the fans were turned on and off, but the temperature was just right. All is well. Relief.

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

2011 May 25 = Second Coming

Not of Christ, but of this yogini. Didn't feel like going to the 9:00AM, and was ready to chill out at home on a gloomy day like today, but lo behold! The hot room beckons. Or more so, it was that million dollar feeling AFTERWARDS that got me going. Luckily for me, there was an 11:00AM class. It is usually quieter, but lo and behold again! It was quite a busy class! And a very hot one to boot! I thought I was going to strike this one out as a write-off yet again. But surprisingly, although I took it really easy, I was happy to finish strong. My Sit-ups were strong, with strong exhales.

Thank goodness, teacher J. kept opening the doors to let those cool drafts waft in. She said she didn't want to fry her students! There is no shame in opening the doors, teachers.

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

Today was (Sort of) a Write-Off

I say this with a double-meaning. Today's practice...sucked. All the more so because I was so pumped, so looking forward for today. I was up front, I was wearing a favourite outfit, I have my Yogitoes. I didn't have to rush at all. I had an amazing start. Pranayama was strong, the Standing Series was strong. Until I got to Toe Stand.

I always rock at Toe Stand. I can balance well, holding the posture properly, no flat tires. But today, well, my feet quit before it was due. I had my two minute Savasana. Usually I start the Floor Series strong, and finish strong. But today, well, the heat got to me. Big time. The arms started to feel heavy, like I was carrying a ton of bricks. I looked at my face. It was red. I was hot, very, very hot. The fans were going, but the doors were kept shut the whole time. It would have been nice to have some cool drafts wafting in from time to time. I was very tempted to leave the room. But instead I hung on, and I tried to do at least a set of each of the postures, but I was so drained that I couldn't even finish ONE set at all.

I was so relieved to leave that hot room. My mat was soaked so much that there were little puddles around it. I've never sweated so much until today. I think I must not have hydrated enough. Or maybe I just had an OFF day. Maybe, maybe...So why the "sort of a write-off"? In my books it was. But in yoga, no. I was there, I practiced. I sweated, I de-toxified. I stretched. Only good things happened, despite the discomforts.

So that was today. No practice tomorrow. But there's Wednesday...

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

All Better Now

I have a 60 Day Challenge sticker sheet on the board at my yoga studio. I completed my 35 days, was feeling great and gungho, then all of a sudden my body suddenly crashed. I got stricken with a cold which totally drained me of energy. I didn't feel well enough to go to my beloved 6:00AM classes. What really grounded me was a 3:45PM class last Sunday. It was brutal. It was so hot and crowded, that I sat out a set of each of the Floor Series postures. After that class, I took a couple of days off. All the while, even when I was feeling crappy, I totally missed my practice. It felt like missing my husband when he's away, or my daughter when she's at a sleepover. I couldn't wait for my day off, when I can take it easy and practice at 9:00AM. During this time, I could feel my body slowly getting better. I felt well enough to go to the 6:00AM class last Friday. It was so nice to be back and see my early morning yoga peeps again.

This weekend is a long one, being the Victoria Day long weekend. Three straight days off means an extra three straight days of practice. Woohoo! I am giddy with excitement. I was very pleased with my practice yesterday and today especially in that albeit a slow start I finished strong during the latter part of the Floor Series. My Sit-ups were executed well with very strong exhales, and I managed to bring my elbows down beside my calf muscles during the Stretching Pose. I am slowly getting back to my normal self. I do appreciate the times when I take it easy though, and having a reason to do so :)

Good night, Mommy. I love you.