Day 7: End of week1

Phew! So I made it through one whole week without missing a beat.  I thought it might get a little monotonous and tiring to wake up every morning at 4AM and go off to do the same routine all over again.  I could not have been more wrong.  I think, sleeping early in the morning helped, as did the knowledge that Erin was going to be there too.  The fact that I could wake up two hours late on Sat and Sun was an added bonus. 

I feel great, the need for naps in the afternoon is not as much and I can already feel improvement in my asanas.  I realize I prefer the front row, in spite of the heat and the proximity to the mirror. And, I can see some muscles and I didn’t even have to lift any weights!

So far, one week down, 8 more weeks to go. Wish me luck.

Day 6: Minh says bye, kind of

Not that anyone is reading, but if you happen to come back later and check, I want to clarify that I did make it to Bikram yesterday. It being a Saturday and all, I had a busy day and never got around to updating the space.
Today, Minh was in charge of the class. He makes the class so much fun and always manages to push one or the other of my pose a little bit deeper than I think I can. This time it was the sitting head to knee. He made me flex my toes and I could feel the burn down my thighs. Thanks Minh.
At the end of the class, he announced he won't be taking too many classes since he got a new job. It was a sad and at the same time happy day for all of us. We all wish him the best.
Today, I will be doing the 3.00 PM class because T goes to the Hindu Temple yoga in the morning. Will try to update by the end of the day.

Day 5: Drifting off

So far, It looks like I may be able to do the first 30 days without a hitch. I have been getting up at the stroke of 4AM for a couple of days now and so far there is no urge to hit the snooze button. 
Itwas Jorina's turn to coach today and she was her usual competent self.  I drifted off into my dream world at some point during floor series and blocked out her voice. If I am in the second or third row, it doesn't matter because I have students in front of me for visual guidance. But being in the front row (yes, I seem to like it) makes you the visual guide. 
I snapped out of my reverie when Jorina reminded me we were doing cobra pose and not locust. I have done this sort of thing before and it is an indication for me to stay more present in class and less in my mind. 
I have a ton of chores to finish today, so I will log off for now. Catch you later. 

Day 4: Student to teacher with a smiling, happy face

Last night, I decided to get up at 4AM and hoped my body will respond to the alarm. I am happy to say, it did. I was up by 4.03 and ready and on the road with five minutes to five o clock. I reached with enough time to spare.
Set up my mat at the top of the class (surprised myself) and went out to use the restroom. Ran into Erin and decided to chat with her for a few minutes. We haven't had a chance to talk since we started. She is already on class when I reach and she has to leave immediately after class. Erin has been feeling sore and drowsy during the day. She doesn't have the luxury to take a nap in the day like I do. But she is not ready to give up yet and I promise to keep up with the wake-up call in the morning.
Today Julie greeted me at the front desk. She was the coach for the class. I feel a special connection to Julie. The two of us started Bikram about the same time. Then I took a medical break for four months and when I came back Julie was an instructor! She is as good an instructor as she was a student. As always she led a great class and I left feeling full of energy.
Yesterday, a discussion on fb left me feeling assured that I was not the only one who took an hour and a half of naps. Today's goal will be to cut the napmdown to an hour and may be eat less of the candied pinnaple.

Day 3: Reaching on time

Last night, I set the alarm for 4.10 instead of 4.15. Don't think it helped me leave the house by 5.00. But, on his suggestion I took the highway instead of the straight road and going at 70miles an hour certainly helped me reach the class five minutes earlier. Got a good spot, even though it was right at the front. As a beginner, I had to be in the front once and I hated it. It was hot, I could see the whole room and I couldn't concentrate. I kept seeing people falling off, making mistakes and that made me loose my  balance.
 A year into Bikram, I am able to concentrate better if I have to take the first row but I still prefer my middle of the room, second or third row position. That is the best place to be if one of the instructors takes pity on the sweating, panting class and decides to open the door for a few seconds. The cold air that rushes in the hot room is relief for a sore body. There is no relief when you are up front.
Today, we had a first time student in the class and she was right behind me. It is especially hard for me to concentrate with a new student in class. I keep checking on them, trying to smile an encouraging smile or sneak in an occasional thumbs up. I remember my first day at Bikram and how nice everyone was to me afterwards. I like to pass it on.
Apart from seeking an occasional glance at the newbie, I managed to concentrate. I still need working on a few poses and I need to be able to stay longer in some of the poses or go deeper in others.
I will talk about some of it in the days to come. Right now, I am tired and need a nap. It is just my body, detoxifying and needing a rest. Catch you tomorrow.

PS: Oh, the instructor today was Stacy who not only teaches but owns two Bikram studio in our city. Her boundless energy and smiling, happy face in the morning is enough to brighten your day. The yoga is the added bonus.

Day 2: Almost on time and two pregnant ladies

Yesterday was a little tiring with the kids' activities and running errands but I survived. Managed to go to bed by 10PM and wake up on time at the alarm. But I left just a couple of minutes after 5.05 and that made me drive a little faster than  I should have. I almost jumped a red light in order to reach on time. Not good. I have to wake up at 4.00AM from tomorrow.
I reached just in time and the class was full. I hate reaching at the last minute and rushing in to set up the mat, taking off my finger rings and wrapping my water bottle in a hand towel. A quick trip to the bathroom and by the time I came back Suzann was already in the room, getting everybody ready for Pranayama breathing.
My husband T, also a Bikram yogi, has suggested taking the highway rather than the road to be able to reach early. I am going to try it tomorrow and see if it helps me get to class early.
There are two pregnant ladies in my class and one of them is scheduled to go into labor today. I am in awe of both of them. They look amazingly fit for full term pregnancies and attempt most of the postures with a few variations on some of the asanas.
Suzann without fail managed to correct one of my flaws. This time, it was in the sit ups during floor exercises. My hands and elbows were a little bit higher than they should have been. Lowering them made my situp so much better. Love you Suzann.
My partner in crime, Erin has been there both days. I hope she is there with me all the way.  Will update Day 3 and Day 4 tomorrow. Namsate.

Day 1: Here we go...

As I zip through the deserted roads at five in the morning I feel exhilarated. I am on my way to a 5.30AM Bikram yoga class. I have been practicing Bikram for over a year now, with a four month break in between due to medical reasons.
Ever since I started Bikram, I have always wanted to do a 60-day challenge. A typical Bikram routine involves doing 26 Hatha yoga postures and two breathing exercises for an hour and a half, in 104 degree heat, everyday for 60 days. It is an intense, head to toe body workout which targets each and every joint, muscle and internal organ of the body.
I have been hooked on it since day one. But try as I may, I have not been able to do it for even ten days straight. Sixty days seem so far away.
Last week, when my preschooler finished his last day at preschool, it seemed I would have to postpone practicing Bikram for another three months. Thanks to social media, I found out a friend was checking herself in at 5.30AM at the gym every morning. I hadn't thought about doing the very early morning class at Bikram because I have never been an early riser. To do the 5.30AM class, I would have to get up at least at 4.15 and leave the house by 5.00 in order to reach ten minutes before the class.
Was I really up to taking on not one but two challenges at the same time? Well, as Bikram says, "You are never too late, it's never too bad, and you're never too old or too sick to start from scratch once again".
So, here I am this Monday morning, driving through green lights and empty streets to a Bikram studio closest to me.
It helps that my friend Erin has agreed to do the challenge with me. I am supposed to give her a wake up call everyday at 4.30 because it takes her just 10 mins to reach the studio and she can afford to wake up late.
Today, I leave at 5.05 and reach a few minutes before the class is about to start. It is crowded and I get a place right in front of the instructor's platform. Jorina, who incidentally was also my instructor the  day I started Bikram, is coaching today. I hope this is a lucky omen or a good sign that I just may be able to complete the challenge. Wish me luck!