Bikram 30 Day Challenge, Day 2

Day 2, Class 2 - Saturday afternoon class, last class of the day at 4:30pm and packed (you'd think if a studio was doing a 30 Day Challenge that they would think about offering more than 3 classes on Saturday). The packed part led to some... annoyance at the start of my class due to mats shuffling and whatnot.  Especially a particular person who should of known better (she may or may not have been a friggin' teacher at the studio)... and said annoyance itched my mind through the first few postures as I (immaturely) shot evil thoughts her way (not hard to do since she was basically in my line of sight when I tried to look at myself in the mirror).  But funny enough, the annoyance led to those few postures flowing more easily for me.  Huh.  I was so busy thinking mean thoughts that suddenly I was kicking out in Standing Head to Knee, and holding it, even!  How's that for a yoga inversion?

Aside from that, today was actually a fun class, because of the teacher (the one that taught the class, not the off-duty annoying one).  A new one, never had her before or ever saw her name on any schedule.  So great to find new awesome teachers in the Bikram yoga world.  

My practice was on track, getting deeper in some postures, but still my energy peters out by Triangle.  I managed to finish the class, but gave a real half-assed effort in the end.  Not sure if I should be alarmed, as this is only the SECOND of the 30 classes, and I'm feeling this exhausted.  

I wish I felt a little more joy when I stick the happy face sticker on my 30 Day Challenge tracker at the studio.

Best part of the class was.... Post Bikram Meal!  No quinoa today, instead we had pan seared salmon, sautéed crimini mushrooms in butter and coconut oil with a bit of chopped scallions.  Then a side of miso soup (mmmmm) with benito flakes and wakame.  Not pictured are the couple of apple cubes I ate during meal prep.

And I learned the Achille's heel of Emergen-C: don't EVER drink Emergen-C with warm to hot water.  It's disgusting. You will regret it.    
  
  

Bikram 30 Day Challenge, day 1

Day 1, Class 1, thoughts immediately after class - Boots are not good post-Bikram.  Slippers are better.  Killed me.

Spent class working on my breathing - so it's an all new practice for me now!  Another tip from Bikram's book - in full Locust post, use the core to lift the legs.  Well that worked!  Shift the weight to arms, use core to lift.  Whaddya know?

Past couple of classes I've been yawning a lot.  Yes that means I'm not getting enough oxygen and I know I have odd issues with breathing like I'm using the wrong muscles or something.

Am waiting for the breakdowns, or breakthroughs.  Maybe I'm supposed to be worn down first, then in my exhaustion my barriers come crashing down.



A couple of hours later, when coherency returns ---   One down, yay!  A full class, many of whom are on this 30 Day Challenge also.  My body already feels worn down and exhausted. And it's only day One!  

Thought I'd share the post-Bikram class meal with y'all....

Quinoa with prawns, scallions, a bit of ponzu dressing and salt and pepper.  Side of miso soup with bonito flakes and wakame.  And the remaining prawns (trying hard not to call it "shrimp cocktail") I bought earlier today for lunch.  

And I may, or may not be eating a cookie right now...  Because eating a meal that healthy is a bit of an extreme move for me.  Gotta balance it out with a cookie!

The prawns/shrimp cocktail was admittedly extravagant, but made up for the fact that I forgot to get tofu.  Personally, I'll take prawns over tofu any day :)

Ready, Set.....

The first day of my first Bikram yoga 30 Day Challenge is tomorrow.

Questions arise.  Do I practice today, or wait and rest and start eagerly tomorrow?  Do I count UP the classes (1 done) or DOWN the classes (29 to go)?  Do I take a 60 minute class, or 90 minute?  Do I take the 9:30am class, or 4:30pm?  What should I eat  before class?

 Things I am doing already....


Change the Diet

The string of classes I did the past two weeks convinced my body that dairy is awful and that it does not want it anymore.  In other words, dairy suddenly makes me ill (goodbye, half and half in my morning decaf coffee, goodbye feta, goat and Beecher's cheddar cheese).  So do heavy or processed carbs (goodbye, Cheezits snack mix and French bread loaves).  Thus, we recently switched to healthier foods, like quinoa and miso paste soup.  After the first meal of these two lovelies, my stomach immediately settled down.  It'll be all about healthy food for the next month.  Luckily these new healthies are trendy as well, so lots of recipes on the internet to try!

New Yoga Clothes

I splurged on a second Lululemon top, if you call outlet shopping a "splurge."  While yes, we are lucky that we have a Lululemon outlet nearby, I can't say that the selection was anything to get excited about. Pickings were slim, especially for my size (i.e., larger end of the size spectrum; my shape is more like a belly dancer than a marathon runner).  I managed to snag a cute orange tank with elastic gathering on the front and back, and contrasts nicely with my standard bold striped blue white tank.

Promise of Even More New Yoga Clothes

Which segues nicely into my reward for finishing the 30 classes in 30 days: get a new pair of Lululemon pants, or as we call it here at the home office, "work clothes."  So excited, and I'm sure my butt will love it (if all that they say about how one's ass looks in Lululemon yoga pants is true).

Tried and True Pre-class Routine

Thankfully, having done Bikram yoga for soooo long, my equipment packing routine is fairly set.  In my green yoga bag is:

• purple and orange Yogitoes towel 
• regular white post-shower towel 
• my black running shorts 
• blue & white striped yoga tank top
• change of underwear 
• trace mineral drops (instead of Emergen-C) 
• hair ties & clips 
• plastic baggie for sweaty post-yoga clothes 
• a facial wash cloth.  

Add to that:

• my yoga mat (ProLite Manduka in olive green that miraculously matches my bag) rolled up in its yoga strap, and
• my pink 32oz Nalgene bottle filled with water plus a couple of trace mineral drops  

and I'm ready to go.  It's about the only regular routine I've had exercise wise, and I am thus very proud of it.  It also means that whenever I step out of my exercise zone, I get all discombobulated because I think I need the proper stuff to do the exercise any justice.


A little Bikram Reading
Last week I purchased Bikram's latest book (not the beginner's book), motivated by the fact that he describes in further detail how each postures benefits the body and "keys" in more proper form.  The Amazon reviews were typical - if you like Bikram yoga, you gave it five stars; if you're anti-Bikram yoga, you gave it one star.  

So far, about 1/3 through the book, I'm in the five-star zone.  Will give it a more thorough review when I'm done.  But rather than reading it all the way through this week, I held back to save it to read slowly over the month, for inspiration.  


And what about you?  What preparations did you go through before your first challenge?  Share your tips and routines in the comments below!

30 Day Challenge Count Down clock

Just saw this in the MoMA Store catalogue, two days before my first Bikram 30 Day Challenge.  Wouldn't that be great to have as while waiting for the Challenge to begin (or end)?

 The Countdown Clock from Crispin Jones.



  Sigh, love MoMA Store and the ridiculous things I fall in love with there.

Preview of my first Bikram 30 Day Challenge

Somehow, without thinking, I signed up for the 30-Day Challenge.   

Yes, I know I was already playing with the idea in my mind, teasing it a bit, saying "Oh yeah, maybe, you know, I can swing that...."  

It starts February 1st, in two days.

I've been obsessively googling "Bikram 30 Day Challenge" to scour past blogs for tips, tricks, and what to expect.  I know the basic drill: Every day will be different. There will be break through days and crappy days where I ask 'where'd my practice go?'  That I just need to go, just keep going, don't give up, go no matter how you feel.

And yet.... the Things That Scare Me About the Bikram 30-Day Challenge, such as:

1)  My dominate lazy self convincing my weaker committed self to just skip class, and make up for it…later…

2)  How tired and sore I will feel, which will lead to catching a cold.  Having totally destressed my life now, and adhering to Chinese medical philosophy about wellness, I’ve managed to NOT get sick so far this year.  I know that tired & stressed = sick because of run down immune/defense system.  Will this slew of Bikram classes make me stronger, or sicker?


3)  Stressing about doing Bikram yoga Every. Single. Day.  Again, see #1.  I have far more history of talking myself OUT of going than in sticking to the plan to go to yoga.  I fear my own history, as it were.

4)  Doing double class days to make up for the 2 (maybe 3) day I’ll miss while traveling later in February.  I did scout out a Bikram yoga studio near where I’m going, but it’ll be stressful (see #3) to try to make it to those classes. I have to choose what to commit to - freedom or the stress of getting somewhere on time.

5)  Eating properly  - not too soon, stomach not too full, not eating the wrong things, or not eating enough. So I have to plan my meals everyday, which is something I'm not used to.

6)  Time restrictions that this challenge will pose on my schedule. Which is kind of a joke, since my schedule is about zilch - work at home, for myself, whenever I want, no clients/customers to face or deadlines to meet.  Sometimes I think that people with that 9-5 schedule find it easier just to tack the Bikram class on to the end of it, since they’re already out and about.

7)  This is not a huge fear, but I am a bit intimidated by driving in the winter weather here, enough that the slightest inclement weather keeps me off the roads.  Because of my work situation, all driving errands outside the house are quite low priority (even the grocery store is within walking distance). The weather here is odd compared to what I - girl of the southwestern desert - am used to.  Made worse by the fact that we live on a  bit of a hill, with really curvy and steep, sidewalk-less  streets.  If the weather gets squirrely, like it did a couple of weeks ago, will I choose my yoga commitment or the safety of home? I guess I will let the gods decide on that one, and figure it out when I get there.  

8)  Umm… um….

Really, that's it?  Huh.


What were (are) your fears in facing the 30 Day Challenge? Comment below!