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I Almost Forgot

Today's my blogiversary. Four years ago I started a little blog on AOL (shut up). Here's the first entry.

Two things: I moved most of those entries over to Typepad. And I have no idea why that blog is still available. I stopped using AOL as an ISP (and for everything) a few months after my first post there.

The Bikram Yoga Challenge Recap

Well. It's over. Here's the rundown:

• I went 15 days in a row, then I took my "free" day.
• I wrote about being in between classes 18 and 19, then I took 5 days off.
• Yes, I said FIVE.
• I was VERY SORE and tired.
• I started back up, and thought about doubling up on classes in order to complete the challenge.
• That thought lasted about two hours.
• I took last Thursday and Friday off, but went on Saturday, the last day of the challenge.
• Here's a summary of what bikram yoga is, in case you've forgotten.

How do I feel? Sore and tired. Proud of myself for attending 22 classes in 30 days, but a little disappointed that I didn't complete the challenge. But I couldn't bear the thought of really hurting myself by pulling a muscle or injuring a joint, so I took the time off.

Have I lost any weight? A little, but I also gave myself license to be "bad" by using the yoga as my juicy rationalization of the day/week/month.

Will I go back? Most definitely. I plan to sign up for a 3-month unlimited pass, then go from there. During my last session, I made breakthroughs on some of the asana. I can't even explain how good that felt, both mentally and physically.

I have to take some photos today, so I can see the Before and After. First I have to dig up the same clothes I was wearing in the Before photos. I'm willing to share these with you, but only if you're a woman whom I trust. Sorry, guys! Sorry, random readers! Let me know if you'd like to see what 22 sessions of bikram yoga will do to a body.
 

Ow!

The yoga. It has kilt me.

Between 18 And 19

I know you're all dying for a yoga update.

As I write this, I'm about halfway between classes 18 and 19. You'll remember that I skipped Saturday, day 17. Sunday morning I realized that skipping a class had the dreaded effect on me: I was going to dread all future classes.

Add to this a certain soreness I didn't have before, and each morning I contemplate waiting until the afternoon class. But I did that Sunday; I waited until afternoon to do bikram yoga, and every single second was a bitch.

Before this morning's class (Tuesday, March 4, class 18, since I don't know when I will post this entry), I thought I'd just lie down in savasana if I needed to. I had to do so on Sunday afternoon for the first time in more than a week. But then during Awkward Pose (utkatasana), I was able to keep my arms raised for all three phases of the pose, for the first time EVER. I was pretty excited about that. (I dare you to raise your arms to shoulder level in front of you, tighten your biceps and triceps, and hold it for ± three minutes. Go on. I'll wait. You don't have to do the rest of the pose.)

With that little victory, I plodded on. I had a few twinges here and there, which I asked about after class. "Your muscles there are weak, and you're strengthening them" was the answer.

Okay, then. I do believe it. I've seen my arms and thighs get stronger in the past couple of weeks. But oh, the soreness. Arnica montana CH 6 is my friend.

It's true that the heat helps your body go beyond what it could do in a normal room, but I'm wondering if I should take it easy during class 19. Less trikonasana, more savasana. On the other hand, every little counts, to quote New Order*. I am challenging my body, but I do realize there are some things I can't yet do. I don't push it.

On verra, as the French say. I'll see how I feel during class.

PS: I'm in skinnier jeans.

*I love New Order. When it was released, this video struck all my senses.

Holy Crap

Day 12 and I feel GREAT. As in, Tony the Tiger great (but I had crustless quiche for breakfast, not Frosted Flakes™®).

This morning we did something a little different; we listened to a recording of Bikram himself teaching the class, and our teacher did the poses with us.

Bikram has a calming voice, and he emits a few little gems during class, like "Ninety minutes of suffering, or ninety years of suffering?" and "Yoga helps you find yourself."

Perhaps it's true. I kind of feel like I've reached the summit and it'll be all down hill from here. I might be wrong about that. But damn, I feel good.

Firteen

I'm too tired to put my tongue between my teeth for the proper θ sound.

/linguistics geek

I've done firteen 90-minute bikram yoga classes in firteen days. What does that make me?
Brave? Crazy? Willful? Motivated? All of these?

While I haven't taken any photos, and I know I haven't lost but two pounds, I'm looking a bit more buff these days. That? Is cool. Of course, "buff" is completely relative here.

Of course, I have noticed a definite sort of mental confusion. I'm slightly airheaded and forgetful. I can't even count anymore.

See, I wrote this entire blog entry thinking I'd done 13 straight days of bikram yoga.

Actually, I've done eleven. ELEVEN. Onze. Once. Elf. Undici. ɪilɛvɛn.

*smacks forehead*

I Told You!

In my last post I promised that this wouldn't turn into a yoga blog. And it hasn't. Here's something cool I want to share with you.

One of my photos was used on National Geographic Traveler's Intelligent Travel blog today!

This week the blog is featuring Paris, and here's a link to the entry that uses my photo.

*blows on fingernails*
*shines nails on shirt*

I Promise

...that this blog won't turn into All Bikram Yoga, All The Time, but I just had to relate what happened during class today (all asana done! No lying down in savasana!):

Instructor: And today is Alison's eighth day!

Alison: Feels like 1600.

(chuckles from around the room)

Instructor: You should get a blog and write about this.

Alison: I have a blog, and I have been writing about this.

Instructor: (laughing) Uh-oh! I'm not sure I want to read it!

Before I left the studio, I asked Teach to pick out a Moo card, and told her my blog URL was on the back. She said "Oh, great! I'd like to read it." (Hiya, S!)

I will admit to not wanting to leave home this morning. The weather is morose (can I  personify it like that?) and did you know that it's February still? It's get-under-the-duvet weather. This shortest month is feeling especially long. I can't remember the last time the sun shone.

It's a good thing I forced myself to go to yoga, though. I'm feeling better. And I've got a hot shower to look forward to.

And On The Seventh Day...

...she thought it was the eighth.

Seriously, I've been thinking it's Friday ALL. DAY.

This morning's class was really difficult, because I'm simply exhausted. I've got the double whammy of physical and emotional fatigue. There are probably some hormones in there too, just for kicks. My trikonasana was a bust today (I had to lie down), but I managed to do all the other poses, despite everything. And I do really enjoy pushing my body. It's just that today's been hellacious.

So it's 4:30 in the afternoon, and I feel like I could sleep until the morning.