Shopping

This is for those attending future TT's at the locale!

There is a Ralphs and a Rite Aid really really close.  Shuttle is supposed to be up and running starting this weekend, but really it's just across the street so it's no big deal to walk. These 2 are VERY well stocked with just about anything you can think of which will make packing easy regardless of where you come from.  

Ralphs not only has a fair selection of fresh fruits, vegetables and juices they also have a fair selection of pre-made foods.  They have a pretty okay selection of foods also.  Yes, if you need Spanish Almonds picked by blind monks on a full moon then you'll have to bring your own, but is common almonds will suffice you'll be okay ;)  The Rite Aid has more stationary supplies (journals, notebooks, pens, pencils, etc) than you could ever wish for.  Again, if you insist on a Moleskin or specific pen brand you may want to bring your own. They have TONs of first aid supplies, hygiene products, ear plugs (if you forget this and your room mate snores you'll regret it day 1.  In addition the movies are DEAFENINGLY loud so I put my ear plugs in and i can hear everything clearly (the added bonus is you block out the people blabbering constantly during the movie).  The Rite Aid has an impressive selection of sun block but it does only carry the SPF30 Blue Lizard sport (if you have no idea why I mention this you can tan and thus are not subject to the nuances of the finer sunblocks ;) )  Hair supplies vary from Pantene to Paul Mitchell, so the selection is better than we would expect. Heck they have Matrix, Biolage, Nizoral, Fekkai, Redken, you name it, so no problems there. Neither with hair, nail and face accouterments. Water bottles may leave some to be desired for most.  The selection of protein bars and Protein powders (and similar delicacies) nearby is very limited (half a smidge above non existent).

The hotel itself has several shops where one could buy clothing, swim suits, cover ups, shoes, one (actually a good brand) of protein bar, spa essentials, and a handful of first aid supplies (nice to be able to get mootie when needed!)

In short, day to day supplies can be gotten across the street at any time; with certain other essentials being on hand on-site.

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 :)

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 -