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!  :)

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 3^rd 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

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.

Balance

Tonight for Posture Clinic, we had Val from Pasadena again!  She was here a few weeks ago and we loved her.  We finished Full Locust pose right at 11:30 pm and she dismissed us.  For some reason, about half of us stayed and talked amongst ourselves for a bit.  Usually, we’re anxious to run out of there to study or sleep.  Before we knew it, one of the staff members came rushing in – what are you doing!  They are supposed to go until midnight!  Boss’s orders!  Instantly we all looked at each other panic stricken almost reading each other’s minds (oh my god I don’t know the next posture) then chimed in ‘let’s do it!’

So we did.  I was brave, having only about 80% of the dialogue down, put my perfectionist aside, and got up and ran with it.  Not bad!  It was comforting to know that even though I didn’t know the posture verbatim, I really do know the posture internally and the sequence of events to teach it.  It made me realize that if or when I forget the dialogue in a real life class situation, I can rely on what I already know.  It was a great learning exercise.  We all did really well!

My feedback for both postures was the best.  With Full Locust Pose, Val was happy that I listened to her feedback / homework from a few weeks ago and said I’m going to be a great teacher.  She saw the command and my personality at the same time.  Exactly what I've been struggling to find.  With Bow Pose - she said I was still commanding and strong even though I didn’t know the dialogue 100%, you wouldn’t have known.  Keep doing what you’re doing.   

I finally found my balance :)

Only Tuesday

I’m in a mood.  It’s only Tuesday and I want this week to be over.  My practice is gone - horrible - missing.  So far, we’ve had double posture clinics every day.  Translation - we present at least one posture a day but likely two.  Translation again – hard!  I didn’t even feel like doing my posture today, I just wanted to get it over with.  Yesterday I did Cobra Pose playing the role of an officer, my homework from Friday, and my feedback was to ‘lighten up’.  Okay.  Today, I lighten up and then I’m told to kill them.  Oh, and do the next posture like a stripper.  Whatever.  I’m getting tired of playing all these roles when I just want to be myself and teach yoga – if I remember what myself is.  I have to keep reminding myself that it’s part of it all - do as we’re told to find our range and see what we’re capable of.

I opened two letters today for an extra boost – thoughtfully from Marissa and Tom :) Thank you.  Also, over the weekend, huge thank you to Jennie, Lauren, and Jen Walters.  You all rock!

Not much blog time today – I have to go perfect my Full Locust Pose Stripper Style.

You have to go through the hell to get to the heaven ~ Boss

Update:  So I posted the above negative post before class and tonight's posture clinic.  Now it's almost midnight (early for us!) and my attitude has completely turned around.  Always the yoga makes you feel better :)  And, we had the best posture clinic!  First, Darlene brought in a full blender with what looked like mudslides!  Then, I couldn't stop laughing at Ellen's Swedish Bird.  Then, how great was the group massage party!  As difficult as this can sometimes be, I'm going to miss it :)  Namaste.

There's always Money in the Banana Stand

Friday night posture clinic rocked!  We had Lisa Ingle from Texas who taught earlier this week.  I delivered my wind removing pose, added two corrections, with perfect dialogue.  

‘You have a lovely smile’ she says.  Immediately I said with a sad look ‘I know!  I have to get rid of that!’ She rolled on the floor laughing.  She said I was going back and forth between sweet / nice and serious / commanding.  I still need to find my balance.  She got up and helped me, it was great.  She reminded me I can still kill them, but throw in a smile here and there.  For the next posture, she asked me to introduce myself as an Officer of the Bikram Yoga Law and continue to teach the posture like each student is under arrest.  Oh boy – this will be fun.  I did a few lines for her and the room and she was like ‘Woah!  You have it in you!’

Lisa was so compassionate in helping us all find our voice.  She had one of the students do jumping jacks while doing the posture.  Someone else had to teach the posture like it’s a rap song, another student had to teach the posture doing lunges and grunting down a football field.  It may sound silly, but there is a purpose for each one.  Ellen and I talked after class, and we kept saying how much we admire her and how we can’t wait to be on the other side as strong as she is.  I’m going to have to make a trip to San Antonio just to take her class!

Saturday!

Today, I met up with an old friend from grade school and high school!  Dave Curtis you rock!  Funny story, we actually went to the same college and lived in the same dorm sophomore year but didn’t really realize it until now.  Dave has been living out here for 8 years and absolutely loves it.  We had the best day touring the city and catching up!    

To start, we went to the famous spot where the Banana Stand was filmed for each episode of Arrested Development!  There's always money in the banana stand.  It was so cool!  I could watch reruns of that show all day.  Then we headed over to Venice Beach and walked the strip.  Talk about an entertaining beach strip!  Did you know medical marijuana is legal in California?  It was weird.  Dave had to give me a heads up not to be alarmed.  The Venice Beach strip is also where a lot of movies and commercials are filmed.  The movie Speed with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock was one of them.

We then had lunch in Santa Monica at trendy local spot.  I have really come to appreciate a ‘real’ meal after eating all meals from the hotel room.  I mean, I’m so happy to have someone even just pour me water!  After lunch we drove over to Rodeo Drive.  It was the cleanest most pristine street ever!  We saw the famous hotel that Pretty Woman was filmed at, and a really expensive million dollar car - Bugatti - parked on the side of the street being filmed. 

Next we strolled over to Hollywood!  So cool!  Stars on the street, handprints in the cement, Kodak Theatre, the Hollywood sign!  It was packed and very touristy.  Oh, also, on the way we drove by an Irish Boston Themed Bar that Dave stumbled upon once.  It had the Patriots, Bruins, and Sox logos on the side and he said the bartenders and staff all speak with the Boston accent.  It’s funny to think Boston is a novelty on the West Coast :)

Also, there is a Whole Foods on almost every block it seems!  I'm so jealous.  Dave said one time he saw Kramer shopping in the spice section :)

On the way back, we had the most amazing Gelato!  We strolled through Downtown LA on ‘the 101’.  Every highway has ‘the’ in front of it, ‘the 405’ and ‘the 110’ so I’m going to start saying that back home :) We saw Dave’s office building, the Staples Center, AND Bikram Yoga Headquarters!  

It was such a great day, I was nervous at first thinking about how much I need to study before Monday, but then my mind relaxed as soon as I saw Dave’s familiar face :)  It was so fun to catch up!  I realized that my mind needed a break from dialogue and yoga so in addition to the excellent adventure, it was a good mindful rest.  

Saturday night Adrienne and I attempted to study dialogue around 8 ish but didn’t get very far.  We were trying to think of a way to download it into our brains – if only!  Leesann came back from In and Out Burger sometime after 9 pm and kindly delivered us some treats.  We ended up hanging out and talking until 1 am instead of learning Cobra Pose –well, we did manage to learn about five lines.  We were all feeling a little unmotivated to pack more information into our brains, even though we love doing what we’re doing.  So, my mindful yoga break for the day carried on :)

Sunday

Study Study Study for the Spine Strengthening Series!  I have the next three postures in my head and will continue onto Floor Bow tonight.  I’m finding my best study method is to get each posture 95% memorized, then each day go back, review it a million more times out loud, polish it up and then work with a study buddy / demonstrator back and forth and back and forth.  Everyone works and learns differently though.  We all kind of have an anxious feeling that they are going to kill us this week with double posture clinics.  I guess we’ll see, at least I feel good about starting week six strong.

Week Six wow here we go!  In the next few weeks, there is so much to look forward to!  Laura and Sara come to visit, Stacey’s Wedding – even though I can’t be there I will celebrate in my own way here - my birthday (31 how did that happen?) Eileen’s Birthday, Graduation, the Championship, coming home on the 19th, teaching my first class, it’s going to fly by so fast!  I’m starting to wonder if all the dialogue in my head is going to stick – ‘stay there, don’t move’ so I can teach a successful class.  The staff and teachers say it will, I sure hope so :)

Sleep deprived and silly before an Anatomy Lecture

aNNatomy

Still Sleep deprived and silly - Excuse me, I have a question: at party time is it better to drink ice water or room temp water? Or milk? Or chocolate milk? Or should I just bring a sandwich? Or a burrito?

Week 5 - 55 classes done!  44 to go!  We look good!

Posture Clinic - I know - Exciting

Rodeo Drive

Dave with the Hollywood sign in the background!

Hollywood!  You can't really see the sign in the picture, but if you look close, it's in the mountain behind me

Matt Damon on June 5th!  Eileen!

The Kodak Theatre is ginormous!

Tourists on the sidewalk, Stars on the ground