Monday, June 20, 2011

The Journey

Wow!  So much to say!
First – I have to keep it quick but feel so bad leaving you all hanging!
There was a hotel sprinkler issue last week and my room flooded!  Oh no you’re saying!  So, my lap top unfortunately went for a swim and doesn’t know how to swim and died.  We had to move rooms it was crazy – more on that later – but that’s why I haven’t been able to write.  It’s been killing me!
Friday was Graduation and it was awesome!
Saturday we watched the International Championships and that was awesome!
Sunday I flew home.
Monday, tonight, I taught my first class!  It 110% made the 9 weeks of Bikram’s Torture Chamber absolutely worth it!  Thank you Bikram Yoga Portsmouth!  I am on such a yoga high I can’t even begin to tell you!  I can’t wait to do it again tomorrow at my home studio, Bikram Yoga Manchester in the morning and Bikram Yoga Nashua at night!
I will fill in more exciting stuff from week 9 sometime this week.  I also think I will continue to blog now that training is through.  What do you think?  For me, the journey has just begun J

Sunday, June 12, 2011

I just can’t get enough!


Sunday morning, Darlene, Alyssa, Natalie and I journeyed over to Bikram Yoga Headquarters Downtown LA to take an extra bonus class!  I just can’t get enough!  This is where is all started.  Kind of – it has expanded from its original location but same idea.  It was awesome!  It was a little strange to practice with a small group compared to what we’re used to.  It was also fun to see a few new students in class and all different levels of practice.  We’ve gotten so used to the training classes I almost forgot what it’s like in the real world of class.  

We took a lot of pictures after class and took it all in.  The walls in the lobby are all surrounded with pictures of Bikram and some of his most famous recruits.  What a great experience to see it live!  Then, we and sat in the steam room!  Can you believe they have a steam room!  Boss always talks about it being so good for his voice.  I didn’t last very long.  I thought my contacts were going to pop out of my eyes but it was so cool!

After our bonus class adventure we found a cute little French bakery and had a nice breakfast.  Crepes!  Thank you so much ladies!  So much fun!  Wish we could do it again next weekend! 

Here are a few more good quotes from Boss this week:

I tell the heart, "Hey son of a bitch! Do your goddamn job!" Heart say, "Boss, I can't do my job if I don't have the food!" So I go to the lungs and I say, "Hey you idiot! Get out of the bar, stop drinking the beer and eating the cheeseburger and do your goddamn job!"

"What's going on in the left side corner? Somebody is doing silent but deadly or something??"

BYHQ

Darlene, Alyssa, Kara, and Natalie

Savasana

On the Teaching stage!  Nice Tree!

Inside the Hot Room

Caroline was our teacher - she was awesome!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Eventually in the Future

Friday morning class we had Karen teach from West Palm Beach!  She was great!  My sister, Mom, and Aunt were just in West Palm and pretended they took a class and sent me a picture of the studio.  Funny now that I know the owner!  You missed out, she taught a great class!

Friday afternoon we watched old clips of Bikram on random TV shows like Merv Griffin, Good Morning America, and Johnny Carson.  It was really neat to see Boss in the same manner back in the seventies and eighties.  He’s trained so many celebrities from Shirley Maclane, Kareem Abdul Jabar, John McEnroe, Wayne Gretsky, Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen, Lady Gaga, you name it.  It reminds me of how fortunate I am to be learning Bikram Yoga from Bikram himself.  Can you believe that!  He was in the best shape too, he still is, you would never guess he’s 65.  We even watched the Today Show that was filmed here our first day, it was awesome!  Then, Adrienne and I took our picture with Bikram!  Wohooo!  

Friday night we started class with Boss so the most recent film crew could tape him a bit.  I’m not sure who was on deck filming today, but something about research and a documentary.  It makes me laugh because the film crew seems to have no idea what they are getting into when they walk in fully clothed to the hot room.  I revert back to sales mind and think ‘know your product’.  Before you know it, they are sweating like animals, chugging water, and taking film breaks in the first five minutes.  Even better, picture this, a few of the guys actually stripped down to their underwear to film us!

Then, Boss announced he had to go spend time with his family for his son’s Graduation AND that we have the night off!!!!  WOW!  That never happens!  Feroze then took the stage!  Feroze successfully has opened studios all over Europe but Brussels most recently.  His class was killer!  I was right up front and loving every second of it.  After class I thanked him and spoke with him for a bit.  He invited me and Adrienne to come teach for him in Brussels for a few weeks or a month or two!  How amazing would that be!  

Friday night Becca, Adrienne, and I had dinner and attempted to practice dialogue.  We didn’t quite get to dialogue, but it was nice to have an unexpected night off to relax and actually get a full 7 hours of sleep in.

Saturday was pretty relaxing.  I considered taking the make- up class for fun but then got too comfortable back in my room.  I took a great long nap after class to catch up on sleep.  I also browsed the job market back home.  I haven’t decided if I want another real job or if I just want to teach.  I’d love to just teach and teach and teach but part of me does miss the hospitality industry and not doing weddings right now – I know my hotel friends are thinking - whaaatt!  Everything always works out so I am going to take it day by day.

In the afternoon I walked down to Trader Joes to rehearse my dialogue out loud.  It was great practice!  I’m feeling pretty good about teaching a full class but still want to polish things up a bit before the 20th.  As I was leaving, I ran into Aimee, Sanchari, and Kerry (I think?) and hopped a ride back.  Thanks Aimee!!

I’m getting a little bit sad to leave.  This week I was ready to come home and asked Jason to kidnap me :) Now, I can’t imagine not being here and seeing the same people every day.  I looked down the line in class today, smiled to myself, and reflected on all of the great memories I’ve made with wonderful people.  It’s going to be so strange to look down the line at home, and not see Andrew, Dayle, Dee, Eline, Erin, and all of smiling happy faces of our group.  When else will I practice yoga with 430 people?  I hope to someday come back and visit future trainings.  Not right away, but, eventually in the future :)

Kara, Bikram, Adrienne.  WOW!

Chris!  I'm coming to take your class in New Haven this summer!

Jayson!

Johannas!

Standing Bow - Must lock out kicking leg!  So close!  It's killing me!

Standing Head to Knee

Bow Pose!  Thanks Mom for the new top!

Dee and Erin!  Group 18 rocks!

Sanchari!
 

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Sweat Like a Shower, Glow Like a Sunshine.

Tuesday afternoon we had a great lecture with Kelly Mara, the owner of Bikram Yoga Waltham, Massachusetts!  She shared with us the importance of locking of the knee – one of the most important parts of class – and how it heals.  Did you know there are 100,000 ACL surgeries a year in our country alone?  And, nationwide, there are over 250,000 knee replacements!  If only everyone did Bikram Yoga!

After Kelly’s lecture, we went over our graduation, timing, what will happen, and what to expect.  I can’t believe its next Friday!  I’m ready for it, but I am going to miss everyone here.  We had Lisa Johnson from Vegas teach the afternoon class – she rocks!

Tuesday’s nights lecture we first had the staff share with us their experience teaching their first class.  Everyone’s story was so different.  It was nice to hear!  Boss took the stage next and talked about the spine – the most important thing in your body.  Adrienne, Dia, and I sat right up front and he kept looking at us.  I was sure to be on my best behavior.  One night, a yogi fell asleep in the front row during lecture and he called her out, made her get on stage, and danced with her.  Yikes!   

Anyway, it was really informative to connect anatomy, yoga, and the spine all together.  All your life, from birth (being in the womb) to death, you are forward bending.  Think about it, driving a car, sitting at a desk, riding a bike, watching TV, typing on a computer, all forward bending.  Back bending helps create balance and keep a healthy spine and nervous system – only warmed up systematically in the hot room of course.  Boss says ‘spine is everything in human life; healthy spine is the best life in the world’.

We also learned about ‘bones to skin’.  We hear this phrase so often in class but I never really stopped to think about what it means.  During practice, you work everything bones to skin - Bones(tendons, ligaments, muscles, nerves, veins)Skin.  You follow me?  Good stuff.

I’ll end with a few of my favorite quotes from Boss this week:

‘Sweat like a shower, glow like a sunshine’

‘Always use English Bulldog Determination to make the Tea’ 

‘Good thing come in the small packages’

‘Mind hate the body, like the heart hate the lungs’

‘In America, you hate human being.  But you love dogs and cats and let them sleep with you in the bed!  Animal should be in f* jungle!’

Wednesday

Wednesday, we heard from Brian Tracey, a professor from Colorado State University.  He spoke about Aging, Yoga, and Neuromuscular system.  Two points for you –Bikram Yoga can improve measures of the neuromuscular control and physical fitness.  Bikram yoga is also likely a promising means to improve neuromuscular function in older adults as well, but more controlled research is needed.

After Brian’s lecture, Lisa spoke to us about how to open a studio.  It was really informative.  I’m not in any rush to open my own studio but like having the option for the future.  I want to focus on becoming the best teacher I can be, and then perhaps consider it.  There are just so many areas in the US that have no yoga that need it – especially where my family is in Connecticut - can you believe it!  The wonderful thing about being a Bikram Yoga Teacher is that there are so many options, you can travel the world teaching, teach part time, teach full time, be a stay at home mom and teach a few times a week, so many options!  It’s fantastic!

Wednesday night was more Mahabharat night.  Why does it have to be sooooo loud and soooooo long!!!!!  I did discover that it’s on Netflix so if anyone is interested to see the excitement (that's sarcastic), you can get all 92 episodes pretty easy.

Thank you for all the love and letters this week!  My Aunt Philomena and Uncle Kenny sent me the best edible arrangements for my birthday!  Thank you!  Eileen sent me an amazing care package full of my favorite treats!  Which, by the way Eileen it’s only Thursday and I’ve finished most of it – yikes!  Leesan brought me back a beautiful scarf from Yogananda’s Center of Realization.  Adrienne made the best yoga goodie bag ever too!  I’ve opened some wonderful letters this week and got quite a few birthday cards in the mail and email – thank you Auntie Di, Jennie, my cousin Tara, Uncle Greg my birthday twin, Anna Maria and Bob, Jennie again, Dad, and my Mom.  Thank you everyone!  I’m going to make a book in the end with all the letters complied.  It’s going to be amazing!

Thursday is off to a great start.  This morning we had Joel teach, one of the studio owner’s from Philadelphia.  It was awesome.  Oh, and Boss’s class last night was one of my best.  I’m finally getting my strength and full power back and my practice is stronger than ever, even so that we've had two hour classes all week.  In my downtime between lectures and class, even if it’s only 10 minutes, I practice dialogue and stringing together the postures.  Here at training, you never actually teach a full class.  You just learn the right side of the postures and the tools to teach it effectively.  When I get back, I am fortunate to be able to teach at four different studios my first week.  I just can’t wait!  So my goal is to make sure I can teach 90 minutes, both sides, as smooth and flawless as possible before Monday the 20th

Your job is go around the world and show people what they have ~ Boss 

Monday, June 6, 2011

West Coast to East Coast to West Coast

Saturday

11:30 am:  Arrive on the red eye flight from LAX to MHT.  What?  Here’s the story…

My Mom and Dad picked me up at the airport and I was so happy to see them!  We got to visit for a few hours and then I had to get ready to crash Stacey and Eric’s wedding.  You may remember from earlier in my blog, my best friend Stacey, had already planned her wedding for June 4th prior to me jumping on my yoga adventure in California.  She is the one that introduced me to the yoga.  A few weeks ago, I started to feel really sad and down about missing the Wedding and decided, with some help from my friends, that I wanted to fly in and surprise her.  

So I did.

4:30 pm:  Almost Wedding Time!  I met Cote a little early on site and started seeing some friends and family.  I was so happy to be there!  I can’t even explain it.  

5:30 pm:  Ceremony and Reception!  So much to say!  Stacey looked so beautiful!  Everyone did!  Eric couldn’t take his eyes off of her.  Stacey was so surprised!   I said ‘I’m sorry to crash your wedding but I just had to’.  Ha!  Stacey’s Mom said to me, ‘I knew you’d be here’.  I’m so glad I went.  Everything was just perfect, the ceremony, the toast, the first dance, the meal, the photo booth, Jacque’s cake, just perfect!  For some reason, during the toast, my mind wandered to yoga and I thought, ‘hmm, I could get up and teach a class to a room this size – 18 tables of 8 – no problem’.  I don’t know why I was thinking that but it made me laugh.  It was an amazing night, a perfectly classic wedding surrounded by wonderful family and friends.  I’m so happy for them and so happy I was able to be there and share this most special day.  I’ll remember it forever.  Congratulations!     
      
PS – because I plan weddings for a living, I would just like to say I did secretly contact the wedding coordinator beforehand to let her know I was ‘kind of’ crashing, but it was legit because I was invited.  I didn’t want the count or table arrangements to be off – so frustrating!

10:30 pm:  Randomly, one of my other best friends Eileen was out celebrating her birthday at Cotton!  She was supposed to be in Boston but decided to stay local.  So, I decided after the wedding to keep up with the surprises and pop in and see Jason a little earlier than planned, Eileen and her husband!  It was awesome!

11:30 pm:  Downtown for some more catching up with friends and lots of hugs!  Funny story – we ran into Natalie and Will!  It’s funny because my last night in town before training ran into Natalie at the same spot.  I said ‘I promise I’ve been in LA all this time!’    

3:00 am:  Late night breakfast at the Red Arrow Diner and then back the Airport.  Jason thanks for staying up with me all night and driving me to the airport as the sun was rising :) It was soooo nice to spend time together, even though it was super quick.  I didn’t want to leave.  

11:30 am:   Sunday, arrive back at LAX.  I don’t even remember take off, I fell asleep the exact second I buckled in on the plane at 5:30 this morning.  Good thing about training – you really learn how to sleep anywhere!

Sunday night was our Group 18 Dinner Party!  What a great time, I am really going to miss you all.  After dinner I started my birthday celebration with friends, a late night swim, and ice cream.  After such a great weekend, what more could I ask for :)

Monday – 6.6 - my birthday! 

Thank you so much family, friends, and yogis, everyone that have been so kind today!  So far, the average age I’ve been getting is 24!  I’ll take that over 31 any day.  It must be the yoga :) My class this morning was a little tough, perhaps because of the crazy west coast to east coast to west coast adventure I had this weekend.  I’m excited for tonight’s class and lecture to finish these last two weeks strong from all the energy I picked up this weekend!  

13 hours in the air, 1 solid hour nap on the airport floor, 24 hours in Manchester, 3 hour time difference, not missing Stacey’s wedding – Absolutely Priceless :)

The Wedding!  H-town!

Eileen!  Happy Birthday to you and then me!

From earlier this week - Northeast mafia!

Group 18 in the Hot Room

Group 18 Dinner

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Week 7 in Review + The Massacre

Tuesday afternoon I was patiently sitting in posture clinic waiting to wrap up the last presentations of camel pose.  Then, only then, we could move on to the next posture, Rabbit pose.  I like to be prepared to present my dialogue at top of the group.  Then, it makes it easier to move onto the next posture, and well, being prepared and detailed is just in my nature.  I presented second, just before our two pm break.  

One of my favorite teachers, Juan, gave feedback and said it was ‘very proper.’  I smiled and said, ‘Hmm, great, I hadn’t heard that before, is that good?’  Yes – very good, just add more blood and extra dialogue next time.  Sure – I’ll take that.   

Then before I knew it, we were wrapping up our break and chatting a bit amongst ourselves, and in walks Laura!  One of my teachers from back home!  I ran to her immediately and gave her a huge hug!  I was so excited!  I didn’t expect to see her until later in the day, it was just the best!  She said Sara and Ariel were just getting tea and they were on the way too!  It was awesome!  They joined the rest of the afternoon of posture clinic with my group.  I was a little sad that the timing didn’t quite work and they missed my rabbit pose by a hare, but it felt so good to see them.

Towards the end clinic, Sara made a joke and said – ‘how about we stop and have Kara do the next posture, Head to Knee with Stretching?’  Oh boy!  I could have but I said I didn’t want to interrupt the sequence and flow of Rabbit posture for the group :)

That night, we all cheated a little bit and setup our mats together during class and the rest of the week.  Talk about amazing energy!  It was so nice to spend some time together in posture clinics, during classes, a few nights of dinner out of the hotel.  It was just so great!  We had some great laughs and it just overall made my week.  Thank you so much for making the journey out here!   
This week I also delivered my final posture – spine twist.  It felt great but I immediately thought ‘I hope the rest of the class dialogue is still in my brain’.  I’m giving my mind a one day break from my dialogue book then plan to go back and review from the start again.  I’ll be teaching so soon!  I can’t believe it!

Wednesday night, our lecture wrapped up around 1 – 1:30 am.  I wish I could recap something valuable from it but it’s just not coming to me.  Last night’s lecture was a 4:15 ish kind of night.  That’s all I’ll say about that. 

Again, I opened some wonderful letters this week!  Thank you Uncle Kenny – good one!  You will try this yoga and you will thank me later.  More importantly, your back and spine will thank you first.  Larry, Zee, Auntie Anne, Auntie Margaret, and Sarah thank you!  Everyone wrote such wonderful things filled with love.  I’m always surprised and always thankful, thank you.  

Give with Zero Expectations

The Massacre

Friday night’s class was an absolute massacre.  Picture this.  First, we had 40 visiting guests join us for class.  Next, we had an additional 130 visiting teachers in class to complete weekend re-certification.  Our original group of trainees rounds out around 430.  That equals 600 people in one hot yoga room.  

I don’t even know where to start.  With that many people, the heat and humidity factor was like nothing I’ve ever felt.  Plus, the heat dial was turned to the maximum – it was hotter than our average of 130-140 degrees no doubt.  I started getting dizzy during the very first breathing exercise.  Not normal!  In just the first ten minutes, I was already dripping sweat like a maniac and looked like I just stepped out of the pool.  I started to notice a lot of yogi’s sitting out right away at the first posture.  I wanted to stay strong for this challenge but the dizzy kept coming and going and then I started blacking out.  

I decided I really needed to access my mental strength to make this happen.  I starting thinking, mind over the matter, you can do this, just pace yourself and do as much as possible without passing out.  I was able to get to balancing stick pose while watching yogis through the haze drop down and be carried out shaking.  I had to sit down, heart racing.  I got up to do one triangle pose - the peak of the standing series – and the room starting spinning.  I sat down again upset with myself but realized it was necessary to listen to my body, even though my stubborn mind wanted to keep pushing myself.  At this point in class – I’d say about only 200 of 600 students were barely standing, weak and broken.  

Bikram, in true fashion and character, enjoyed every minute of killing us.  He was shouting his typical dialogue, calling us lazy, stingy, you know, the whole bit.  

As I sat there trying to breath and stay alive, I starting getting angry.  As each minute went by my mind was racing with more and more negative thoughts.  This just isn’t normal!  There is no point to torture us this bad!  This isn’t healthy!  Why would he do this to us – even Bikram was pointing at people and telling them to leave the room to get air.  I never thought I could hate what I love, but at that moment, I hated yoga, I hated the hot room, I hated my water bottle, I hated the feet in my face in front of me, everything around me I just hated.  My mind was in a bad neighborhood.  When I decided that I didn’t want to reach a point of being carried out of the room, I got up and left at fixed firm pose.  

The hallway just outside the torture chamber looked something like a line you might see of people camping out all night miserable in the rain waiting to purchase concert tickets, except, there wasn’t anything to look forward to like concert tickets.  Yogis were passed out, lying down, sitting down, crying, breaking down, dripping sweat, all the way down the hallway and in the medical room.  Adrienne and I walked as fast as possible for the bathroom quickly realizing our legs weren’t quite working.  We sat down and tried to get our breath back to normal.  The tile floor looked like there was a garden hose left on all night, it was covered in water and sweat and people were slipping everywhere.  We didn’t sit long, as the sound of yogi’s vomiting one after another put me over the edge.  

After about ten minutes, I was completely dried off and started to get chills in the air conditioning.  I couldn’t even process the thought of going back in that room.  I couldn’t even sit up straight.  We both decided to sit outside, wait for the end and just grab our mats and run out of there.  You should have seen it – yoga etiquette at the end of class is to wait for Bikram to leave the room before anyone else can, out of respect.  If you even try, the teachers will stop you and turn you back around to your mat.  Not tonight.  It was like even the teachers had given up and let the anxiously dying yogis sneak out.
Oh – I almost forgot.  If it couldn’t be any worse, our 90 minute class was 120 minutes on three hours of sleep.

I have really enjoyed so much about this training and I am so grateful to here.  However, the combination of the torture from tonight and knowing that just two quick weeks are left, part of me just wants it over now.  I just want to get home, teach and teach and teach, and recover from this intense sleep deprived process.  I was looking forward to the pizza party tonight (for real this time) and the night off from lecture but I only stopped by for a few minutes.  I’m just plain and simple exhausted – mentally and physically.  I can’t wait for this weekend to relax and refocus. 

Monday, May 30, 2011

Anne Hathaway Kind of Monday


After I demonstrated three Camel postures, I jumped up to take my place on the red teaching ‘x’ to deliver my dialogue.  Immediately I hear ‘Has anyone ever told you, you look like Anne Hathaway?’  Patrice Simon from Costa Mesa, our Posture Clinic Lead said. 

‘Yes!  That’s my most favorite compliment!  Thank you!  Noooow, we’re going to have a greeeeeaaaaat class.’ I said enthusiastically.

I started in on my homework of Pranayama Breathing and it went great.  I ended saying ‘that’s enough, standing series is over, turn around, lie down, and relax on your back for savasana.’ Everyone got a good laugh – if only standing series was that short!  I then did savasana, the sit-up, and camel pose.  It went great!  She said it was an outstanding delivery and the timing was right where it needed to be.  She said to continue to work on and speak more from my diaphragm, to conserve my voice.  

Monday night we had a great lecture from Dr. Choudhury.  He specializes in gynecology and obstetrics and is also a professor at UCLA.  He is like extended family of Bikram and Rajashree, they have been close for years.  He shared with us how yoga relates to reproduction and pregnancy.  We all just loved him.  He practices Bikram Yoga regularly, but made a joke that he avoids going to Bikram’s class so he doesn’t get called lazy or get yelled at :)  He dismissed us just before 10 pm – that’s unheard of at teacher training!  It was a nice way to end a Monday. 

Tomorrow Laura and Sara are here!  My teachers from back home!  I can’t wait!  Time to study a little dialogue and get a full 8 hours of sleep – if my body still knows how!  :)

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Naughty Cows

Saturday morning class we had Ulysses from Mexico!  He taught class in Spanish!  What an experience.  One set he taught in English, and then the second set in Spanish.  Most of the time, you could tell by the tone of his voice what was to happen next, but otherwise had to really pay attention to know what was going on.  It was likely a nice treat for our Spanish speaking yogis too.     
 
Saturday afternoon we attempted to make the yoga beach party at Venice Beach but only lasted five minutes.  Dia kindly drove us out and we packed snacks, water, beach towels, everything fit for a full day of sun.  However, it was so cold and windy!  Adrienne and I immediately considered an exit plan.  We just weren’t prepared with sweatshirts, jackets, and socks to enjoy it fully.  There was a good showing of yogi’s taking over the beach though.  Guitar playing, singing, and just pure joy of life surrounded the circle.  It was really quite nice.

After our five minute visit, Adrienne and I made an adventure of walking the famous Venice Beach strip and finding the Big Blue Bus.  That’s what it’s called – how fun!  Thankfully Dave taught me about the bus route last week :) We had to switch buses at the 3rd Street Promenade, a famous shopping Mecca in Santa Monica.  Conveniently the bus stopped in front of Lululemon so we had to jump off to do some shopping before boarding the next bus.  We quickly realized we were carrying our huge Shakti Yoga bags as beach bags so we decided we should quietly leave :)
 
After our beach and bus adventure, we were feeling so tired out from the week catching up with us.  Different groups of yogi’s were making plans and heading out on the town for dinner sometime around 9 pm.  Meanwhile, Adrienne and I were lurking around the lobby trying to find ice cream so we could lie in bed, watch a movie, and enjoy something sweet.  It was so nice relax, and even though 50 First Dates isn’t the best movie out there, it was just what we needed.

Sunday was poolside day!  And, dialogue day of course!  We’re so close to wrapping up the series I wonder if we’ll finish this week.  It’s hard to believe how fast it’s gone by.  Sunday night was also very relaxed.  It was nice to talk to everyone back home at the Memorial Day BBQ!  I really wished I was there.  I asked my Dad if they were having the goat curry.  Ha – one of our favorite Bikram quotes was to a student after she delivered her half moon pose on stage ‘you’re scared to death, like a goat, about to get its head cut off for the goat curry.’ Priceless.    

Sunday night, Adrienne and I attempted to study more dialogue but we didn’t get very far.  Instead, we were ‘naughty cows’ and snuck into the hot room and took pictures on the teacher’s stage and in Boss’s chair.  Then, Adrienne tried to put her camera on a little table next to the chair and accidentally dunked it in a huge bin of water.  We lost it laughing and ran out of there before we got caught!  

Thank you for my letters this week – Uncle Johnny and Michele, The Pelissier’s, Uncle Denny, Cousin Doug, and Linda and Glenn!  Thank you so much! 

Oh, I almost forgot - my first class is officially on the schedule at Bikram Yoga Manchester!  

"Talented people aren't great because of their techniques; they're great because of their passion"


“I am a superman.  I can do things you have no idea” Bikram

Group 18 - mostly - one Group 17 add on and the lovely Val from Pasadena!

Me and Becca!  Northeast Mafia!

Ellen!  Can't wait to visit in Sweden!

5 Minute Venice Beach Party

View from the top - See the heat blower in the back?  Don't setup there!  Brutal!

Adrienne on the Podium!

We look ready to teach!

Poolside, Palm Trees, and Plenty of Dialogue






Saturday, May 28, 2011

66 Classes in 6 Weeks

Week six nearly done!  66 classes in 6 weeks.  Wow!  

Bikram was out at West Point for a few days this week lecturing and teaching a class or two.  He says the military needs the yoga the most – both physically and mentally.  I believe it.  We all can’t wait to hear about it, hopefully we will.  He popped into each of our posture clinic rooms last night after he landed at the airport to say a brief hello.  We’re going to miss him!

In Boss’s absence, during posture clinics we covered Cobra Pose, Locust Pose, Full Locust Pose, Bow Pose, Fixed Firm Pose, and Half Tortoise Pose in just one week!  Can you believe it!  I did both Fixed Firm and Half Tortoise today in our afternoon clinic with Lisa Ingle.  She is just such an inspiration to me, all of my teachers are, but she really helped me find my teaching edge a few postures back and I’m so grateful.  She gave me great feedback but my favorite was 'you're ready for it girl!'.  :)

Tonight, I was ready to rock with Camel Pose but we didn’t finish half tortoise yet.  My homework and new challenge is to add the Sit-up and Pranayama Breathing to my Camel dialogue – the deepest backward bend of the ENTIRE series.  I can’t wait!  I really feel like I’m in a teaching zone and it feels so good.  Each day, I’m getting more and more excited and less nervous to teach my first class.  I can’t wait!

In addition to some intense posture clinics, we had a great two day lecture from Jon Burras.  We learned about Fascia, Emotional Anatomy, Bodywork, Stress, Food, and some wonderful concepts linked to Bikram Yoga.  He shared with us his 12 Keys to Healthy Aging – number one is – can you guess!  Attitude!  He concluded the lecture with a nice quote about remembering to always practice and teach from your heart.  
     
Friday morning class we had Leo from Philadelphia, wow!  He was awesome!  Unfortunately, I was running slightly behind (I'll take every second of sleep possible) and had to setup by the heat blower.  Argh!  Yogi’s, you know what I’m talking about.  So it was a struggle but otherwise a great class.

Friday night class began with a surprise introduction from our teachers for Fashion Week – woah!  Way to pump us up for class!  Judes, Bikram’s assistant, taught and she rocked!  All week, there were quite a few rumors going around that we were going to have the night off after class for a pizza party so the energy in the room was through the roof!  At the end of class, we were all lying perfectly silent on our mats, which isn’t entirely normal, waiting patiently for the announcement.  ‘Check Check’ we hear from Michon on the mic, ‘Posture Clinic, sign in at 8:55.  Posture Clinic, sign in at 8:55’.  Awwww – bummer! 

Even though it wasn't pizza, Friday night posture clinic turned out to be fun.  We always tend to get a little silly at the end of the week.  A few memorable moments:  Alyssa’s singing Half Tortoise Pose with Darlene on the violin, Andrew’s ‘you naughty little turtles’, Ayumi is just the best ever, and of course the whoopie cushion!  

As week six comes to a close, I feel so happy and grateful to be here.  I just don’t want it to end!  Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not easy, the struggle is hard, but so worth it.  I finally starting to understand why my teachers back home all say they want to come back.  I already want to come back!  It’s such an amazing life experience in addition to learning how to teach a wonderful healing yoga.  I can’t wait to share it with you!

To Learn, Read.  To Know, Write.  To Master, Teach.