It's alive!! (week 1 done)

Well actually it should be "it's still alive".  May I be the first to say "holy Budda"?!  (My room mate says to create balance in the universe for the all the times Bikram says "Jesus Christ" we should pick another deity to use their name in vain)

The room is now a lot hotter (since yesterday morning's class).  I would guess the temp is between 105F/31C and 120F/50C in there.  It is also a lot more humid so we are getting nice and hot n sweaty.  The weather here has cooled off a little to 85F/29C.  It's a nice dry warmth, so not as difficult as wet sweltering heat.  We may as well enjoy it, because as summer rolls in, things here is the desert will get pretty darn toasty.

We have more folks now needing to take a knee or lie down in class. With so many factors in play it is inevitable.  There was a lot of excitement and nerves for most of us, add the physical demands, the sleep deprivation (did I mention we stayed up until 4am on Thursday nite?), the change in diet, etc etc and it is no surprise that some people end up feeling severely faint or nauseous in class.  We had Rajashree teaching all the morning classes except this morning (Taught by Mike Winter out of Houston), and Bikram taught all the evening classes except the one Jim Kallett (from San Diego) taught.  We're all feeling a little worse for wear (so where do you ache?!), but spirits are high.  Whooohooo we survived one week!  Emmy comes next week.

Human traction... bones to skin... fingers to toes :)

Advice from the veterans club

Here is a collection of the advice that has been handed to me with regards preparation for teacher training (in no particular order):

• In the weeks leading up to TT maintain a consistent practice (don't assume that stepping it up will prepare you for TT any better)
• Pack a few meal replacement type bars and/or protein powder even if you hate them. There will be times when you simply need something to eat and you're all run out.
• Jerky (biltong for us South Africans) is a great snack to have on hand.  As is any other easy to store protein source you may prefer.
• Honey is a great energy source and can be put into your water to carry you.  
• Medications.  Don't just take your normal daily meds, also take supplies you infrequently need (such as antihistamines which you don't typically take, immodium (better to have a 2 pill pack you never use than to be one of the many that find a need for them and not have them on hand!),  a small tube of neosporin, some anti-inflamatory pills, decongestant (let's hope we don't catch the flu, but if we do let's be prepared),  a couple of antacids (for indigestion), and meds for any other issue you may occasionally be prone to. 
• Under NO circumstances take painkillers, you could end up injuring yourself in class due to not getting the proper bio-feedback.
• No expectations. This includes EVERYTHING.  Vegetarians have been known to hit the double cheeseburger in their first week.  Don't plan your meals in advance, your body is going to change, as will your carvings.  Just go with it.  Calm centered individuals have been reduced to tears.  Accept the emotions as they come.  Most of all, don't plan what you'll be doing or improving with regards to your practice. I got told this over and over.  As told, many a yogi has held some ideal in mind and ended up with an injury.  There are enough physical demands that expectations should probably not be added to the mix.  One of the bendiest yogis I know explains that during her TT she was at her least bendy ever.  She was building so much muscle that her easily-come-by flexibility took a vacation.  Which brings me to another point.  Don't set any expectations as to what will happen with your body.  Yes, on average men tend to burn off their spare fat and women tend to pack on muscle, but put that all aside and focus on surviving Bikram's bootcamp! =D

16 days till Cali

It really is hard to imagine that it's only 16 days.  It seems so far away and obscure, yet right here (and I feel I am so ill prepared!)

Although I am most peeved at this cold I have been battling this cold (I blame the cold-hot-col weather swings we had last week) it has served 2 good purposes.  One is to remind me I can survive yoga when I feel like a truck hit me (yesterday it felt like the truck backed up for another go at me).  Good thing to be reminded of, we could all bear that in mind (rumor has it that every TT session has its bout of flu that runs rampant through the vulnerable yogis)  I have had my fair share of yoga classes with the flu and although it may knock you on your bee-hind it will help you work through the snot if nothing else ;) The second thing it reminded me was to pack some of the items one cannot wait for (Mucinex, Abreva, and other medications that "tomorrow" is not soon enough for)

roommate

I spent the last 2 days doing research into apartments.  Now I am seriously considering finding a roommate to share a 2 bedroom/ 2 bathroom apartment 2.5 miles away from the TT resort (in another golf resort).  The accommodation cast would be HALF if shared, not to mention the whole washer/dryer/kitchen allure... alternatively I could go with ye olde 1 bedroom all to myself.  

So, if anyone if reading this before the end of March 2009 and knows of someone wanting to rent a room, email me and they can share an apartment instead!

7 weeks and counting...

My paperwork has been completed and is ready to be mailed (I had to wait till my medical on Thursday).  I have some preparations to do now I guess.  My friend Heather may not be going to Spring TT, which is sad.  I was excited for her to be going, as well as having a familiar face.  I am sure things will work out for her though :)  When it's time to go it will always work out, no? =D

I have been doing yoga almost every day (less than my 8 or 9 times a week I did during my 60day challenge)  Soon I will be trying to memorize the dialog.  Oh joy...

The dialogue

I bet you are wondering why learning the dialog was not on my preparation list.  Well, it's not really something you can always chose to start early.  You get your copy of Bikram's dialogue after you have registered (and paid).  You may have heard that it is 43 pages long (those I asked confirmed its length but assured me only 28 pages would need to be memorized for TT - obviously all 43 pages are required for teaching).  Yes, general consensus is that one should learn as much of the dialog as humanly possible prior.  Most did not get that far (best was "most of the standing series"), but all managed even though they had not learnt as much.  So it boils down to "if you can, get as much of the Bikram's teachers dialog in prior to going to TT."

Preparing for TT

So I have been reading as well as polling teachers... the topic is "how does one prepare for Bikram yoga teacher training?"  The results were actually pretty much the same.  To a person everyone included the top item of my list. I have tried to put this in what I have ascertained to be priority order:

1. Maintain a consistent practice (opinions varied but no answer was less than 4 times a week and no one felt one should be doing too many classes too close to TT - i.e. solid and consistent) This also includes doing every pose every time.
2. Solid practice - form over depth remember?  It's okay not to be one of the bendo dolls in class sucking on your ankles and elbows simultaneously. Being able to focus, remain still and retain your inner calm matter most.
3. Do at least one 60 day challenge prior, but not just immediately prior.
4. Do some doubles in the 3 months prior to TT.
5. Do not make any drastic changes to your diet, body, etc prior to TT
6. Have realistic expectations.  Know what it is you are willing to give and what you expect back.
7. Being of sound mind and body.  TT is demanding enough without taking mental and physical health issues to training expecting a miracle cure.
8. Be ready and eager to teach (unless you're just doing TT as like an advanced seminar to further your practice) 

It really all seems simple enough. Strong consistent practice, don't overdo the exercise or anything else that could wear you out physically.  Be good to yourself.

day 5 into the challenge

Classes don't seem to be getting easier.  I really have to start eating better. The urge to toss my cookies in class is less than ideal.  I think most food tastes better going down than coming back up!  EW :( Food and eating in general is an aspect of yoga and TT that is unavoidable. When I first started I quickly realized that there are certain meals one does not want to follow with a yoga class the next day. Partly due to potential nausea and partly because... well frankly yoga detoxes all your sins and being detoxed isn't always pleasant (for those not in the know... imagine a nice elegant bathroom; picture yourself perched unceremoniously atop the porcelain throne; picture your face all screwed up as you "detox" your sins and think to yourself "NO more pierogies fried with sausages within 24 hors of a class!"  It is not a big surprise that I have not had a pierogi since. Everyone has their tale of detoxing.  Apparently Big Macs yield a similar experience, and here I thought only food poisoning provided an instantaneous colon cleanse!)

So, there are 17 weeks left till TT begins.  I know there are a lot of people that would like to go.  Of those I have spoken to, money and jobs are the primary deterrents. These are significant considerations. Many take loans.  TT effectively costs USD$10,500 (sharing a room).  Although, with the current economy, now would be a good time for those with Euros to enjoy "discount opportunities" :) The cost includes classes, accommodations, and one meal (brunch) a day.  Additional expenses come in the form of dinner, laundry, sundries (toiletries, supplements, etc) and indulgences (massage, pedicure, recreational trips on Sundays, whatever). Then there is the cost of getting to TT.  Last, but not least is the loss of income that would be suffered during this time.  Although this will differ by person and circumstance it is no small thing.  Even the fear of "having to do without" can deter someone who has been gainfully employed. There are mortgages, utilities, standard monthly bills, not to forget periodic bills (such as insurance) that need to be borne in mind when computing the amount of money this will cost/ one needs to save.

Do I really have to go back to work tomorrow? Urgh... after 2 weeks off I really don't want to go back.  It will be nice to hang with some of the folks again, but I can do without the stress and political bru-ha-ha.  On the bright side it is my job that will pay for TT.  Thus I return to work tomorrow to earn the mullah to feed one of my addictions. Yay capitalism! 

New year!

Here we are in 2009. Plans are still underway for me to attend TT in the spring. Still no word from my director abut that leave of absence, but for all intents and purposes I have not yet been derailed. This week's debate is drive or fly. The drive is i mere 3656km/2285miles straight shot (not counting detours for petrol, food, or dare I say sleep?) The major disadvantage is of course the time consumption.  Best case scenario is three 12 hour driving days (each way of course).  Ouch.  Of course the up-side is having a vehicle to get around with, as well as of course not having to deal with packing for a plane flight.

Yoga is the same as ever... i.e. different every time.  I recently procured bra-tops (for sweating n class with - going to need a slew what with the sweating in class twice a day), also some yoga pants (not yoga shorts which I wear in class). If you have not already tried them, check out the Beyond Yoga stuff (I know, I know, forget the whole celeb-endorseocity, it's good!).

On another note, I have started my 60 day challenge. my last day will be 2/28/2009. I will have 60 days to do my 60 classes. I plan on getting some doubles in (I need the practice of doing 2 classes in a day ;) ), and by doubles I don't only mean when I do a beginner's and an advanced class in one day.

Bikram yoga in Miami

This past weekend we went to Miami. I went to 6am yoga class as per usual (hey, we had dropped from 12/14 to 10/11 people in class… Friday we had 16! Not bad. PS 4:40 and 6:30pm classes are more like 26/30 per class). Worked from home till the afternoon and then took off for the airport. What is a girl to do in a foreign town? Look up the local Bikram yoga studios of course! DUH! Sunday’s earliest class was 10am, and with an 11am flight that wasn’t going to work. Thus all we got was our Saturday class. It is so good when one gets to go. I did feel like I could not goof-off in class because I was representing my home studios. Can’t be having other folks thinking my local studios have been lacking in their kicking of my voluptuous ass! The North Miami studio is very nice. The practice room in long and narrow, giving maximum usage of the gargantuan mirror to all of the students. I also like the fact they have the podium at the back of the class (I am not a huge proponent of the big ass podium in the front).

Many of the folks that I spoke to in the class only go once a week. While I am sure there are many individuals at my local studios that do this I typically talk to the folks I see most often (i.e. 3 or more times per week). It was odd to think of only going once a week. One gent viewed it as his weekly stretching amidst his gym and running routine. He was complaining her hurt for a few days afterward every time. That’s the sad thing about muscles… leave them for too long and they return to their old ways. Throw in some weight lifting to shorten the muscles… and that “long period” turns into a week. So many folks think they have to run for hours a week to “get their cardio” and this is so wrong. They don’t have time for a second yoga class because they have to go jog for an hour.

Many of the general public believes that you have to perform lots of cardiovascular exercise to achieve health and/or weight loss. However, this is not true. In fact, greater benefits can be achieved with shorter duration higher intensity exercise. One study compared the one-minute bout of intense exercise with twenty minutes of moderate intensity exercise, it was discovered that only four one-minute bouts of intense exercise would be required to exceed the total oxygen consumption of a twenty-minute bout of moderate (60% maxHR) intensity exercise. The research data showed that the one-minute bouts of intense stepping on the X-iser Machine™ used an average of 46.7 Cals/min compared to only 9.3 Cals/min for a twenty-minute bout of typical aerobic exercise. In addition, when you perform extended periods of cardiovascular exercise, you raise levels of Glucocorticoids, which are tissue destroying hormones. To maintain health and optimum weight you need to keep as much muscle tissue as possible. This probably explains why my personal trainer has me doing cardio for 10 min (5 peaks) 3 to 6 times per week. Of course this being said… when they talk about higher intensity they literally mean pushing with everything you have for the full minute. Staggering on the treadmill for the recovery minute is permitted. I see why 1hour jogs seem more alluring.

Back to TT talk! The other thing of note is that I am vacillating a LOT less than I used to. I used to go through these periods of “what the heck am I thinking; I don’t need to go to TT. I should just focus on my practice?!” and “I can’t go to TT! We can’t afford this!” that used to occur more often than I care to admit, now I am finding them less frequent. I am more at peace with the idea that if TT is meant to be then things will occur such it can happen. You know, things such as winning the lotto or Master P continuing to be employed in order to pay said mortgage. Although… these days the lotto winning is seeming to be the more likely (what with him working for Chrysler (today at least) and all).

Pictures from the retreat

View to the conference centre (where classes are held)

Martha (Minneapolis studio owner and part event organizer) and Rajashree (Bikram's wife - a remarkable woman in her own right) up on stage before a class
Me and Rajashree (half the reason I went to the event!)

For those not in the know go to http://www.bikramyoga.com/Rajashree.htm

(the five-time winner of the All-India Yoga Championship and probably knows more about yoga than Bikram, but we can't say that to him)

Me and Emmy(the other half of the reason I went to the event!)

For those not in the know Google Emmy Cleaves

If you have not already done TT and you EVER get a chance to do a seminar with Rajashree or Emmy, take it. I don't care if you have to beg, borrow or steal the money, it will be well worth it. These are remarkable, inspirational and amazing women. You will learn so very much!

Moving forward

I've been talking to more people about the logistics and this is feeling like more of a reality.  Spring training runs from 12 April till 14 June 2009.  Monday to Friday one wakes up to an early class (for those of you do not know Bikram yoga, this is 90min in a 105F/41C room)  then we get brunch served.  After brunch there are lectures (anatomy, posture clinics and the like). Then in the evening there is another yoga class.  We get a dinner break (find your own food) followed by more lectures (that typically end between 11pm and 4am). ALL classes and lectures are mandatory. Saturday has one mandatory class in the morning. All other yoga classes over the weekend are optional. If my math is right it's 98 mandatory yoga classes in 62 days. That's 147hours of yoga (assuming you only get 90min classes, and Bikram is notorious for his 2hr evening classes). I'm thinking I may as well make it an even 100 by picking up some optional classes.  but I can see about that when I'm suffering day in and day out :)

I will have to pack and take certain supplies to ensure I have them.  Acapulco apparently only has granola bars and no energy or protein bars. Also, I will need electrolytes out the yin yang! I was thinking in yoga class today that I shall take a weekly reward.  End of week one I can open my jar of power butter.  End of week 2 I can get a fresh set of yoga togs, yes?  Ah the things we do for a little inspiration.

The big decision

This weekend brought a significant change for me.  I have decided to attend Bikram Yoga Teacher Training next spring. That is 6 months out.  This is a significant decision for anyone who takes this step, whether they know it at the time or not. I have been telling folks about this since my decision on Saturday morning. Each time I tell someone I am faced with new emotions.  The initial excitement was quickly replaced with trepidation.  Don't get me wrong, I am still VERY enthusiastic, but this decision is like stepping out in front of the cavern mouth brandishing a sword and yelling "Hey!  Whatever demons and dragons are in there come out and face me!" at the top of your lungs. Now I'm standing there thinking to myself "how the heck do I wield this friggin sword?!"

I'm still undecided as to whether i should post my journey over the next 6 months (emotionally and logistically that is).  Figuring out what to pack is one thing, figuring out how to fit it all in your bags is another. I do not know how some folks afford this.  I am thinking of those that become full time yoga instructors.  It's not like they get paid handsomely. Unless one had the money prior, one would spend an inordinate amount of time repaying said debt. better to focus on the plight on others rather than the amount of money I will be using out of our funds. yes, yes, I know once in a lifetime experience.  I pretty much get that or I would not be going :) One of the logistical experience I am not so worried about is being able to handle yoga, yoga, yoga.  I have already done a 60 day challenge (one does 60 yoga classes in 60 days).  I have done some doubles (2 classes in one day), which also alleviates that fear. In fact I did a double last Sunday.  Yoga for breakfast and advanced yoga for dinner. I will ensure I prepare myself physically for the challenge.  

The truth is of course that I'm just doing this so I can say "been there, done that, I have the t-shirt." specifically I think the t-shirt I will be talking about will be this one...