Bikram Yoga Class 9

Finally class 9!  Finally, because I skipped three days - THREE days!  It felt like forever.  Partly had to do with unexpected transportation problems, partly just timing I think.  The reasons escape me now.  But no matter, as I finally got myself to class.  Something to be said for being prepared, like bag packed, clean mat rolled up and ready, water bottle filled and all things waiting patiently by the door to grab on the way out.  


THE SET UP
So I made it to the 10am class, little Teacher A was teaching, always such an energetic class.  Though there were a few confusing moments when she was instructing so fast there was no real clue to the Go cues, and the class was a little bit off, not in sync, and she actually scolded us for that!  When is it appropriate to give advice to a teacher, if only to make the class a little bit better?  Is that allowed?   Yes, Teacher A, I was going after than before your cue because you were talking so fast.  I would almost be offended if I were more in that state of mind, because she was also changing the dialogue.  And she was emphasizing that we needed to just listen to her words.  I'm all for teachers personalizing the class, but you have to respect the vet students because maybe they are focused on other aspects of their practice, going deeper or focusing on something other than acting like Pavlovian dogs following your power trip instructions.


Anyway, so the class was a spacious 10am crowd, and I was surprised at the number of ... How shall I say, the age demographic. Lots of 50-60+., an unusual amount, at least compared to what I observed before.  In fact, it's more than I've ever seen in any Bikram class I've taken.  Interesting.  There was also this new student there to my left, about my age, a fidgety little thing.  It was odd, because she seemed to know the poses, but could not for the life of her stand still.  I thought maybe she was... Off in some way.  Like she could not stand still, AT ALL!  Not even during the poses, not between the poses. And when I say "fidget" I am being generous.  She was actually moving a lot, almost dancing around, dropping her arms constantly.  Sometimes she would just stand there, hip cocked with an attitude, not focused.  She kind of made it her own class.  I did not let it distract me too much, other than just trying to figure out what her deal was. 


When did I get so calm? 


THE PRACTICE
So what a good class I had, despite those observations above.  After three days off I was not sure what to expect, but it was great because my usual nemesis poses transformed into moments of progress!  For example:


The Standing Head to Knee  - I actually kicked out, and stayed there, for longer than I ever have!  On both sides!  I didn't even try to bring my head down to my knee, I was just so happy to be standing there, holding my leg out like an upside down L, it was great!  Now next step is to gain confidence in standing there, and move onto the next part.  Heh.  I mean, this is great, really great.  I am so proud of myself!


Then, the Standing Bow pose - again, I stayed up for way longer than usual, and was actually kicking my foot up over my head, at least in the mirror.  And this was on both sides, too!  What helped this time was Teacher A's emphasis on "charging the body forward" - which is not a new instruction, and now that I think about it, it is said in every class I've ever taken, but this time it sunk in, and it really helped.  Instead of just stretching my fingers forward it occurred to me to stretch my whole torso forward, to actually shift my weight forward.  And after that, it made sense to kick hard backwards, and up I stayed. Crazy, right, who knew?  Wow.  


The Locust pose is getting better, in tiny increments.  I now know to automatically shift my weight onto my forearms, so my hipbone area is ON my arm, pressed down.  And that is how one lifts one's leg.  So eventually I will strengthen that muscle memory to get it when both legs come off the ground together.  I also found that because my feet are crappy and I have bunion deformities, that it was hard to keep my feet together side by side because that left a gap.  But if I just shift them a little off, one on top of the other, and the rest of feet, heels, knees and legs are touching and pressed hard together, it works better and I have more power.  


The most exciting pose today, though, was Toe Stand.  Because while I have no problem getting down into starting Toe Stand, I always fall over before the final position.  And that is what happens if I listen to the instructions.  But rather than walking my hand backwards to the sides and such, I just bring my hands up, and today, miracles of miracles, I was up balancing for a LONG time, like 10 seconds at least, until Teacher A saw me and instructed me (specifically, me, by name) to try to raise myself up one inch higher, then I fell over finally, but laughing.  Again, just so proud of myself.  Yay!  


THE AFTERMATH
So for me it was a good, good class, very progressive, the kind of class one needs to make one excited to go back the next day and do it again.  It was not the perfect class, for I ended up sitting out during a triangle pose, just too dizzy and tired.  I was more hot than humid in the class today, and I was parched.  


On the physical side of things, I no longer look so much like a beached whale.  My waist is returning (nice to see you again!).  I feel stronger, tighter.  I have not stepped on a scale in the past week, but my clothes, well they're not much looser than before.  In fact I would say they've been a tad tighter than usual.  I find that odd since each class burns  about 1,000 calories ( estimates between 850-1300, so we'll just average it to 1000), and my eating habits are better than before.  Hope it's just water weight, or the muscle building up - heh.


Another tip I learned from Teacher A today - she said the hard direct gaze is Giving of energy, while the soft gaze (like the one we do in savasana, on the floor) is one of Receiving energy.  Claimed it was a qi gong thing, new to me but it sounds interesting, might try that one on for size in my Life in General.

Bikram Yoga, class 8

Another class skipped, due to difficulties in life.  Had a glass of wine and chocolate kisses instead, whle reading the entire first book of "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series.

3pm Super Bowl Sunday class

Which means it was not really crowded at all.  So much so that I thought the studio was closed when I pulled in.  

It was not a difficult class, but then again I did not try hard.  Couldn't hold it in triangle pose, I don't know what's up with that pose lately.  Standing backward bend continues to rock.  Am I confusing my body with the attempts at keeping the core and base muscles strong?  Wonder if I'm doing them right. 

Changes inside, changes outside.  I mean that changes outside are easy because we can see them.  Sometimes we cling to those outside things that need to be changed, because what would happen if we did everything perfectly - right diet, right exercise - and things still went wrong?  At least if we are bad, we can have something to blame.  

So I give up caffeine, give up alcohol, eat moderately.  What changes are now in store?  The fear is when those changes come out, those things stuck inside.  The fears, the mental and emotional blockages.  The internal structures made of can't- won't - don't - shouldn't - couldn't.  

Bikram and yin yang.  Teacher the other day said how every posture creates a tourniquet, so the savasanas are the release of the tourniquet, the flow of blood and such.  The yin and yang again not just in each pose but in every single moment.  When we rest, our blood flows faster, inside.  In the pose, we try try try hard to be... still.  To hold a difficult pose, our head to knee, chin to chest, the leg kicked up and held against gravity.  In the effort to gain stillness.  Then in stillness, to gain flow.  Yin yang, opposites, balance.  

Bikram Yoga, Day 7

Again, skipped yesterday due to scheduling, and the fact that I didn't have my clothes and towel dry by the time I could have left for the last class.


So Class Seven was a Friday night 6:30pm class, last class of the day, with new (for me) teacher T.  T was obviously a vet teacher, and really made the class hers, calling out corrections and praises to individuals, varying the dialogue to her own speed and personality.  At times she spoke fast, and it felt like an auction, but most of the class she was fine, easy to follow, and motivating.  I'd happily take her class again.


I made sure to not place my mat in the Unflattering Spot under That Light, and I felt better for it.  The test will be, many classes from now, to put myself back in the Unflattering Spot under That Light, and see if there was any improvement.  Not that this is about  vanity or anything like that, not at all.


MY PRACTICE
- My shoulders are much looser, and the beginning Half Moon poses are so much easier to do, the way the used to be.  I've also learned to keep my legs taut, my knees and buttocks locked so that my weight is in my heels, and suddenly the first few postures are so much easier!  Like a big "OH!.... THAT'S how you do it...."  The yoga slowly reveals itself.
-  I also learned, finally, how to properly lock my knee out in standing head to knee posture.  Thanks to TheMissus, I realized that I have to lock my knee first, THEN contract the quad so the kneecap rises.  Yesterday the teacher said how the quad muscles do not want to lock, being fast twitch muscles and all.  And this whole time I fought a losing battle trying to keep my knee locked by just contracting the quad.  This new/correct was is SO much easier to keep the knee still, and I actually did kick out a few times during the pose.  I was so happy to actually kick out and hold it  for a second that I promptly and joyfully fell out.  It's like I discovered a new toy!
- So after those beginning poses, my balance and strength just sucked. I fell out I don't know how many times in the rest of the standing poses.  No balance whatsoever. Ah well, at least I finally locked my knee!
- Continuing with the trend in the last few classes, my abs are still showing up, little by little, and my neck is much less stiff and strained in, oh, I don't know how many poses!  C'mon, abs, you can do it!
 - Am still being conscious about my mind wandering about during savasana, and I will focus on Being Here Now in the room, only to have my mind wander off to the Future or the Past.  This will take some time.

Yin Yang in your life

Below is a post I drafted a couple of years ago when I was still practicing acupuncture.


***


One of the beautiful things about Chinese medicine is the simplicity of its theories. Take the theory of yin-yang, for example.


The basic of yin/yang principle is that of opposites. Day and night, male and female, light and dark, above and below, activity and rest. Fairly simple, right? Keep in mind that the yin/yang principle is also relative. The dawn is yin compared to noon, but yang compared to midnight. The top of a tree is yang compared to grass, but yin compared to the top of a skyscraper.


Ideally, yin and yang are in balance. In medicinal terms, the imbalance of yin and yang can cause illness and disease, and the way to treat that is to bring it back into balance. If someone is working 16 hours a day and gets very little sleep, then there is a deficiency of yin, and an excess of yang. Too much activity, not enough rest. Because the body strives for balance, you will feel tired, lethargic because your body wants to recover its yin.


For some of us in this position, it might be very difficult to get that sleep. Instead, maybe focus on other ways of being "yin" - taking five minutes out to just sit, relax, eyes closed with all distractions at bay (turn off the phone, close the door). During meal times, try not to work or read or add any more stimulation (yang) to your mind. Focus on the food, allow your taste buds to enjoy the flavor and texture, receiving (yin) the nourishment.


If you find yourself doing too much yin activity - like watching television for two or three hours at a time in the evening - notice your body is getting too much yin and your mind, while receiving (yin) maybe getting too much unnecessary yang, like empty calories. Yin time is for letting go, disengaging from the world. Switch off that evening news and maybe read - still activity but at a slower pace than the 5 second sound bites of television and advertisement. Leave the news for the morning, when yang is still rising.


If you find your job leaves your body in a static (yin) state for several long hours, take some time to counterbalance that sitting with standing, stretching, walking (yang).


(August 2008)
***
To bring the topic to what I'm doing today, is the relation of the yin/yang to Bikram yoga.


What rocks about Bikram yoga is the incorporation of both yin and yang elements, namely the savasanas the bookend each set of poses.

We know of the obvious savasanas before and after the class, and the savasanas in between each pose in the latter half of the class.  One of my teachers stressed the importance of the standing "savasanas" between each of the poses in the standing series.  That, too, is a time to stop, be in stillness, and let go of the effort and pose you just performed, letting go of how you did, letting go of whether you staying in the pose or fell out six times.  It is not a time to wipe the sweat from your eye, move the strands of hair from your cheek or tug at your sweaty, clingy shorts.  You give your all in each pose, and after each pose you stand or lie in complete stillness, relaxing completely, saving all your energy for the next.

Bikram Yoga, Day 6

BEFORE CLASS - Taking the 8:30pm class today.  Kind of wish I took an earlier class.  Had to peel myself away from a very absorbing HBO series, but here I am, all geared up and ready to go.  Once agan the mantra saves me - just get in the car, drive to the studio, unroll the mat, and just lie down.  How much better to think that than to get my mind caught up in postures and heat and sweat.

AFTER CLASS - Parking lot report again.  A hot class.  End savasana was not so relaxing since they kept the door shut and it felt like the heat was kept on.  No refreshing cool breezes.  I found the most unflattering spot in the yoga room, right under this light that made me look as doughy, pale and flabby as possible.  And it was one of the lights that stays on the whole time, so I got no relief from this ghostly whale image of myself.  I never felt self conscious in a Bikram class before, but I did tonight, feeling sorry for the people, especially the guy next to me to have to look at me.  And for some reason, in this class, almost no one had their shirt off, maybe one or two other women.  I really hope it was just the lighting.

A different teacher, new one for me.  Did not get her name, but she was of the shoot from the hip ilk, and thankfully did not strictly adhere to the dialogue word for word.  Lots of energy, confidence and humor in her teaching, also personal touches & corrections, as well as praise.  She killed us in the bow pose though, torturing us for just a few seconds longer than usual.  

In this evening's class, I had the worst balance.  Could be the stomach, and the fact that I was eating about an hour before class, even though it was carrot and celery, it apparently still counts as something to digest that does not just disappear when class starts.  

Classes are starting to be the center of my life.  During class I had the feeling I was already there this morning, like nothing else is going on in my life except for Bikram class.  I hope I dont get sick of it and quit.  I would have to give this up.  As if I have nothing to do with the commitment, sheesh.

Bikram Yoga, Day 5

BEFORE CLASS - Today is a mental day. Anticipation led to hesitation, stomach not feeling so great. The euphoria of new practice has worn a bit. But here I am in the parking lot, just pulled in. Hope... Was going to say, "hope I make it through the class" but I have to remind myself I have one task, just lie down.

AFTER CLASS - again, writing this in the parking lot, just after class. Class was fine, no problem. Shows the illusion of the monkey mind tricks. The initial poses were quite strong actually. I think it's because I had something to eat in the morning before coming. I was going strong until the triangle pose, the peak of the class. So maybe I used up all of my energy on those strong beginnings.

The teacher was D, the newbie drill instructor. She does her job just fine, keeps the class going. But geez, I wish she would slow down for just a bit. Does she even give herself a moment to breathe? At the, end she announced that we finished early. Well that means ya gotta slow down! I don't know for a fact that she is new, but she has yet to really connect with the class, like shes focused on just keeping to class going, keeping the dialogue perfect. So there's no corrections really, no bits of wisdom. Does she yet have wisdom to share? I guess in the future it won't deter me to see that she's teaching the class. It is my own practice after all.

My issues - my stomach took a turn last night, after eating some popcorn, of all harmless things. Maybe that was it, from the fake coffee & cream, to a bit of brownie, then finally with the popcorn, it's now rebelling. Then this morning my stomach acts up again, which made me hesitate to get to the 10am class. As always it behaved fine during class. In the past minor physical issues like this would have kept me from going anywhere, doing anything I didn't have to do. But the rest of my body wanted to go to class, so I just dismissed it as my body adjusting, and that I would have tro suck it up a bit.

LATER IN THE DAY - Not being much of an athlete, I tend to associate tired sore muscles with the onset of a cold. So now that I am entering the all over body sore phase in this new practice, my initial reaction is to take it easy, to take a nap, rest, or take a hot bath or shower. I have to remind myself that I am physically working my body, waking up muscles that have been asleep for a few years, and that I must keep trudging through the day. Not that this proves very difficult, as I work on my own, no boss to hide from. But sometimes that is where all the tricky territory lies, in being ones own boss. I can get away with anything.