Time is starting to fly

Here is a shot up to our room (behind the trees).

Thursday morning classes remain dedicated to the Lovely M. You go girl!

7 classes down (we have 3 more this week). It was 91F/33C here today and the room we take lectures in is very susceptible to outside heat. The net result is that walking to the loo (the route to and from the lecture/yoga room is outside in the sun) one gets to really enjoy the cool 91F/33C temp! (that was NOT sarcasm, that was sincere... it is like a breath of fresh cool air stepping out of the sweltering room.)  Last night it got pretty darn cold in there!

One cute thing with both Rajashree and Bikram.  The way they say Palm Desert makes it sound like Palm Dessert.  Makes it sound like a much better place to have a hellish 9 week yoga bootcamp, no? ;)

People are starting to get achy (which is to be expected).  Today a small number of people got some pedialite/Gatorade to help them through a rough patch in class.  For our 4th day of yoga I think we are doing well.  It may be due to the preparation some students have done.  Unlike me many (most?) students seem to have been prepared by their local studio.  I confess I have clique envy of all the students that came in groups.  Speaking of groups, don't visit British Columbia as all of the studios there must be closed due to every last student in BC being here at TT ;)  There are also a LOT of Aussies and New Zealanders.  Many of the Americans are like me and have another mother country.  Nice bunch indeed, and very attractive!

on to today

Last night was our first movie night.  I will not ruin it for others, so I will confine myself to saying we had our first true "lecture" from Bikram (2hrs) and then watched a movie for 3.5hrs.  The class really seemed to enjoy it and for today at least we all stayed awake for the whole movie.

5 classes down

How time flies ;)

Our room is a minimum of a 10min walk at a brisk pace from the yoga/lecture rooms) opposite ends of the resort.  Working out logistics still.  Figured out I like to wash my gear while in the shower.  I then hang it on the back of the chair outside and it dries in a jiffy. The kitchen my roomie and I have set up is working really well for us.  While some may have thought my overpacking (over the weight limit) was excessive I have come to appreciate many of the items I packed (when you need a flashlight you need a flashlight ;))  The fridge is tiny so I suppose that tiny fridge I had in Paris for two weeks served as good training (you cannot bring your own fridge in).

My fellow students have been nailing their half moon poses in the dialog clinics with Bikram.  They are all going to make fabulous teachers, and I look forward to a chance to take some of their classes some day in the future.  Jim Kallett taught our 5th class this evening and it was AWESOME!  I found my inner-mirror while in class and I think it was due in a great part to Jim's pearls of wisdom.

Off to evening lecture i go.  I'll post a couple of pictures tomorrow.

 

Class 2

The new setup is working very well so far.  The airflow is good, heat is good, and we are all okay with the humidity not being set to "death" setting.  The hotel is great and offers us 2 lunch options to select from per day.  One or both will be vegetarian and are always nutritious.  Roasted veggies with bulgar anyone?

 

Day 2 - Class one

I am on a yoga high!

I truly needed that class, as I think did most of us. Bikram was truly enjoying himself today and seems to be delighted with the biggest class ever, and being back in California where he can be joined by his children, movie star friends, and long-time mostest-senior Bikram teachers.We will apparently be seeing more of Emmy, Bikram and Rajashee than the last 4.  We also get Dr Anne Marie Bennstrom back this cycle.  There was a general sense of elation as we all left class today.  I think there was much trepidation which has now passed that helped.  In addition we were super duper lucky that class was not super hot and not humid, meaning we really had it easy.  In return we all stayed in class and enjoyed the yoga to our fullest.  Did I mention Bikram was on top form (yes, you can laugh and hold a pose... and hold it... and hold it...).  It was only a 118min class mind you. Tomorrow may not be as easy so tonight we revel in our luck!

Clarity for non-yogis

If you are a friend or family (or simply a non-yogi) reading this I would like to add a note for you about what might follow.  Emotions are simply emotions.  Events occur, emotions arise, I acknowledge them, and (with any luck) move on.  I think of this experience being like childbirth.  It is terrible and painful during the process, but once it is all done the pain is immediately gone as one basks in the glow of new life.  In this case my new life. 300 people going through a torturous rebirth is likely to lead to some venting ;)  Accept it as a perspective for that moment.  A man at the bottom of a mountain cannot describe the view from the top, sometimes he can't even see the top.

Today's thought:

"Everyone and everything around you is your teacher."

- Ken Keyes Jr -

And so it begins...

We're off to a racing start... no wait... where did my other bag go?  Lost luggage claim?  Breath in, breathe out, it will all be okay. The flights themselves were uneventful.  It was nice to sit and talk to another students on one of the legs.  Okay, I almost got asked to move out of the exit row.  Apparently one must refrain from crying in the exit row. Other than that it was good trip.

We have gotten our course materials and had our orientation.  The most important lesson learned today was that it’s a LOT hotter in the sun.  I’ll be playing the cartoon version of dash shade to shade.

Rajashree told us how happy they were to have TT back in Cali.  The belief is that this will allow us to get more of Emmy, Raj and Bikram.  This is good no? ;) We are getting back some folks who have not been to the last 4 TTs. On the flip side, it is a new locale, so we will no doubt have some issues to iron out with the resort.

 My focus now?

“Learn to be silent. Let your quiet mind listen and absorb.” 

– Pythagoras –

packed...

If those of you that know me are thinking I have packed everything but the kitchen sink, I am here to tell you that you are dead wrong!  Ha!  Take that.  I honestly did NOT pack everything but the kitchen sink.  You'd better believe I packed that sink.  Heck, I packed it, the cabinet it was set in, I even threw in the pot of parsley standing next to the sink!

I fly out first thing in the morning... let's see what I forget! ;)