Bikram 101: Day 30

30 days flew by so fast. Brian taught today’s class and even that flew by. I guess when you’re focused, the session just zooms by.

Brian told me that he could see that I’m getting stronger, particularly during standing bow.

These first 30 days are the tip of the iceberg of healing. Lower back pain is gone although my hamstrings are constant work in progress. They are tight and have yet to open up.

With 71 more days to go, I have room for many healing miracle. Cannot wait!

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Etiquette

Class 29 almost didn’t happen in time. I overslept and rushed to class with Kyoko crazed and dazed. Fortunately I made it in time for the first set of pranayama deep breathing. If I had missed it, I would have bee crushed. Of course, I would have gone to a later class at the expense of other plans. Thankfully I didn’t have to.

As I stood outside the class, doing the breathing exercise, I was reminded of the specific rules associated with Bikram studios and how new and sometimes long-term students forget or simply forego them. My near miss isn’t only distressing but distracting to other students. As a courtesy, get to class early to find a spot and side step the anxiety that being late gives you and you’re fellow students.m

The other day I practiced with one of my good friends and at the end of standing series, she grumbled about preferring running to Bikram and in my beaten, sweaty trance, I grunted something in response eliciting the teacher’s disapproving admonishment about not talking in class. Sometimes you can’t help an outburst or the teacher asks something requiring a response. Outside of that, contribute to the meditative state of the session by keeping your words to yourself. Savor and share your comments outside after class.

I would take no speaking even further: save your dramatic grunts anf groans. It’s distracting and disheartening. Besides your discomfort is no more important than anyone else’s. Those sounds don’t make class go faster or increase your flexibility. I would say they make it harder for you and everyone.

Last week a first-time student insisted on practicing the entire 90 minutes in socks which brings me to one of my greatest overarching courtesy you can extend to yourself, your fellow students and new students: take the time to read the studio’s rules. Every studio has them and not all are the same. They’re pretty reasonable, requesting appropriate attire, no perfume or jewelry, etc.

By reading the rules, you know how to seamlessly participate with existing studios. It saves a lot of unexpected conflict and conversation. Don’t wear socks to class, but if, you must, discuss it with the teacher beforehand who will come up with a solution for your concern.

Take it further, do your research before you begin taking Bikram and/or try a new studio. Bikram takes a lot of physical and mental strength and, most importantly, preparation. What you do when you’re not in that room can be difference between a mediocre and excellent practice. Heather Molina has some great advice at her blog, visit it here.

Tomorrow concludes my first 30 days. Cannot wait! You best believe I will be there early!

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On Your Toes

Stand up on your toes, maximum, high, like a ballerina.

Class 28 was with a teacher I had not done a session with before, Danielle. This was a good thing because I can’t anticipate how she delivers the Bikram dialogue. Basically she kept me on my toes for 90 minutes.

There’s a tendency during challenges to slip into patterns of doing things the same way with same teachers. Habits can be formed anywhere during class like when you drink water or how you always sit down during the second set of triangle. One of the biggest challenges of your practice is to make sure you’re giving your best every single class. That means that when you rest it’s because you need to not because that what you usually do.

Today standing bow on my left side was strong. Still working on getting my right side to be in proper alignment and consistently strong. My awkward pose is pretty good, especially during the second part which I quoted at the beginning of this entry. I have control and I need to go lower and sit more down “in the chair”. I strive for control in every movement. There is no flinging the body around for me in class lest I injure myself and/or deprive myself of the benefits of the postures.

So far I’m working on my right ankle which is tight from multiple roll-over injuries during my high school track days. I’m also strengthening my knees which were tricky before. They are now stable and steady and better with each day. Then there are the forever tight hamstrings.

I’d like to go deeper in many asanas and I wonder if simply going to class will make that happen or if I should do some stretches before and after class. I suspect that is the ticket.

Class with Danielle brought some needed change to my practice and the same intensity as always that leaves me passed out on my mat at the end of class. 73 more days to go!

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Easy

Class 27 was another rigorous one with Stephanie. I woke up feeling out of sorts and I was going to take it easy today. I learned my lesson.

There is no “taking it easy” in Bikram. Either you show up ready to work or your session is shot. You get the benefits from rigorous practice. Otherwise you’re hanging out in the sauna and not getting much out of it.

Even doing the minimal requires exertion so why waste your time and effort in the hot room by skimping on your postures? Besides that, excellent teachers like Stephanie don’t let you get away with that mess. Just the strength of their voices keep you going and reaching for the stars.

It’s a blessing to spend 90 minutes with someone who won’t let me give up on myself. I’m looking forward to 74 more days of honoring myself and my practice!

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Seesaw

Some days are tough.  Some days seem easier.  Any day I stay in that hot room and make it to the end of a class, it’s a good day.  Apparently, so far I’ve had 26 good days.

Class 26 with Stephanie was intense.  Not sure if it was the higher temperature outside or lack of water or rest but class today was incredibly challenging.  Sweat didn’t just drip off my body onto the mat, it streamed off rapidly tapping out a machine gun staccato–the music to my yoga plight or joy, depending on how you look at it.

Just like that, the seesaw sunk down from my high yesterday and it was a struggle.  Not a painful struggle, just challenging in areas I did not expect.  I welcome ps and downs no matter how disorienting or uncomfortable because they reveal things about my practice in yoga and in life.  Opportunities for improvement show themselves and stick around, demanding attention, until they are taken.

Stephanie called for excellence as usual and we did our best to rise to the occasion and not succumb to the heat and humidity.  I did my best.  I feel that over the last few days, my triangle posture is improving.  I still have lots of work to do to get it up to snuff but lately it has been my personal best in this challenge.  Hitting a personal best makes the seesaw worth it!

Speaking of improving postures, Bikram Yoga East Harlem, has a cool two part posture clinic coming up on July 21 and August 4.  That will be a great opportunity to improve my practice exponentially.  I’ll do my best to make it.  If you’re in the area, come join me.  Read about it here.

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Permission

Class 25 with Stephanie was less rough than yesterday.  It was challenging as usual but I wasn’t lamenting my crazy choice to do this yoga every day for 101 days.

Some days are like that. They beat the fight out of you.  Thankfully, today was not one of those . Today was a day of very deliberate motion.  I spent the class noticing and asking.  I noticed where I was misaligned or weak.  I noticed the symmetry of my body.  I asked my body for permission every step of the way.  With each concession, my body opened up for me and I went deeper in my asanas.

Yoga is about specific, deliberate movement.  Jerky movements not only destroy the sanctity of your asanas, they leave you susceptible to injury.  If you cannot do a posture without throwing your body wildly around, then you’re not ready for that posture.

Your body’s gift to you manifests itself through yoga.  You realize that nothing gets done without the complicit agreement of your body.  Today my body and mind worked to strengthen standing forehead to knee.  I stayed in the first part of the posture for the entire minute.

Every day my body, at my quiet requests, opens up and surprises me with its strength and resilience.  I’m privileged to experience this every day.  76 more to go!

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Tap Out

Class 24 with Jennifer on the 4th of July was tough!  It was hot and humid with a healthy number of students in the room to make it even hotter.

I was so excited to take class with one of my friends today.  I remember when I was in Nigeria attempting to do the class using Bikram Choudhury’s recording and I realized that having other people in the room with me is crucial to my practice.  Other people going through the same struggle seems to bolster me and give me the boost I need to complete.  I could not do an extended challenge in a room on my own.

Today I made sure I stretched quite a bit before class.  That really helped as well as having my friend next to me.  At some point, though, none of that mattered.  I was hot, exhausted and I wanted to tap out.  I wanted to tell Jen that the room won and that I give up.  I really did.

But, of course, that was not an option.  I stayed and I won like I do every day when I give my all until the soggy end. Looking forward to another beginning tomorrow.

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Push

Day 23 of my yoga challenge was another juicy one led, this time, by Britney.  I made an effort to push in each posture.  I’d stretched before class again & it made a huge difference.

After this week’s earlier corrections, I no longer hang out during standing bow.  It’s more challenging than ever but I’m up for the job.

I hit my best triangle in the longest time but I have room for so much improvement.  I really have to push my knee back, twist my body up and reach up.  It’s not easy and takes more than physical strength to push past where I would normally stop.  I’m grateful that I have several more days to reach for my best.  See you in the hot room!

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Listen

Day 22 of my yoga challenge was another breakthrough class under Kyoko’s watchful eye.  It was also a triumph over soreness because I took Stephanie’s advice from days before and stretched extensively before class.  I was able to go deeper in postures involving my tricky hamstrings.  That was fulfilling proving that it actually pays to listen.

Sometimes, while doing Bikram, you’re just not sure how deep to go.  The key is to listen.  Listen to your teacher.  Every part of your dialogue is setting you up for a safe practice.  Listen to your body.  In case the posture slips over your sweaty head, your body will tell you how far to go.  There’s a big difference between pushing yourself and pain.

As I listened to Kyoko, I fought to move my body slowly and gracefully.  These movements were as natural as they could be.  Nothing jerky and everything deliberate.  The result was a strong, beautiful practice. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s revelations.

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Correction

Day 21 of my 101-day Bikram yoga challenge was my most enlightening so far. With a few taps of her fingertips, Kyoko completely reshaped my practice.

One of the things that I’ve had to come to terms with in my years of practicing Bikram yoga is the harsh reality that you will never get a posture “right”. Not only does it never get easier, ever, there are opportunities for adjustment even at a microscopic level. Suck in your stomach. Square your hips. Leg up. Left shoulder forward.

There is no hanging out in perfection on Bikram. You never reach there. You’re not even aiming for there. You’re gunning for your personal best in that moment and then you let go and try for the same in another posture until you collapse, a sopping wet mess, in savasana at the end. Then come back the next day and do it again. Rinse. Repeat.

Today with Kyoko was, I daresay, life altering. But, hey, everything I do in that hot room is life altering. It’s just that Kyoko is a true master at what she does. She can see adjustments that you have no idea you needed.

My standing bow is pretty strong. That’s because it’s my favorite posture. To me, it’s quite beautiful. I will bust out in that posture on the beach, at a party, anywhere and for free! Today, Kyoko pointed out some things, tapped my hip, told me to square it and I’m back to square one on my right side. Its no longer my strongest posture. After her correction, I actually have to do the posture correctly and it’s hard!

On my left side–my strongest in that asana–I had to fight to do it and fell forward out of it. I had a teacher once say that you’re not doing standing bow correctly if you don’t fall out of it every once in a while and fall forward out of it at that. Today I finally fell forward–violently, ecstatically and somehow uninjured and in control thanks to Kyoko.

She also gave me an adjustment that might just transform tree pose for me and my super tight hips. I’m just grateful for the daily opportunity to improve and the privilege of having incredible teachers who dole out corrections that will never stop in my life long practice. Glad I have 80 more days of yoga heaven!

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