Week 2

Week 2 done, 7 more to go, I can't believe we have finished 21 classes and by the end of training we should have completed 98 yoga classes. From what I am told these two weeks we just finished are the easiest ones by far compared to what is going be coming in the next several weeks. We are finally done doing Half Moon with Bikram and are starting our Dialogue clinics this coming week. Our morning yoga classes are usually taught by one of the senior teachers and the evening class are taught by Bikram. We were told that we are the first training group to have Bikram with us for almost the whole 9 weeks of training, his yoga classes are good I just have to get use the many breaks we get in between postures, he tends to talk alot, his classes usually run 2 hours long. There has only been one class that lasted 90 minutes and he killed me, so I prefer the 2 hours for now even though I am sweating like a dog. There are cooling spots in the yoga room they are the circulating vents but you have to arrive early to get a spot, but starting next week its all going to change, the spots will be chosen for us everyday, we will be rotating from front to back so everyone gets a chance to be in the mirror and close to Bikram or any teacher that is teaching that day.

As for me, how am I feeling? Everyday is diffrent, some are good days, some are homesick days, other days not sure what I am feeling. My practice is really bad right now, I feel like a robot, we wake up around 7am, eat something small like 1/2 bannana or yogurt, run to the ice machine to fill our wonderful orange water bottles we fill them with 3 limes, sea salt, sugar and of course water, after our class we usually get about 2 hours of free time, this gives you time to shower, change and go eat some free buffet. Colleen, Chris and Chris from Phillie, we tend to run to the salt water pool after class to cool off then change by the pool and head out to the buffet. People have started taking tupperwear to the buffet to take food ( your not really suppose to do this), I tried doing it once this week and to be honest with you, I didn't really like the feeling of stealing food, so for now I am passing on this idea but it is funny watching people do it and try to hide it. The food is good so far but I am sure its going to get old. Check in time to lecture is usually 12pm till around 4pm or later, then all 300 of us run to our rooms to change and get ready for the evening yoga that starts at 5pm, after yoga is done we get about 1-1/2 of free time, to eat, shower and change and go back to lecture till whatever time they want to finish. The lack of sleep is getting to me but they say the more yoga we do the less sleeping time we need, ummm not working so far!! I am pooped...

Today is Saturday and we did our grocery shopping, which actually takes alot out of you to do, all you want to do after Saturdays yoga class is sleep, but since we only get part of Saturday and Sunday, you really have to make the most of it. We found a group of wonderful Mexican ladies by the beach that do massages for $20 bucks for a 1 hour, so I have decided that I will either get 1 or 2 every weekend while I am here, believe me if you were in my shoes, you would want it everyday. Its getting late and I feel my roomy waking up, till next week my friends, please send me good positive energy the coming week.

Its Saturday, week one over!!!

What a feeling to have the week done, yes we have 8 weeks to go but it feels good to have the weekend. Bikram actually surprised us at last nights class and told us we had the Friday night off, gosh I almost wanted to cry, my body needed some rest. Our small group went to the Cafe downstairs where they make sandwiches and salads and just enjoyed eating and talking, laughing, it just gives you such a boost. Todays morning class went pretty good, I don't know if it was having the night off and eating well and knowing that we had the rest of the weekend off was the trick but it helped my practice a little. I also twisted my ankle during last nights class, I was doing Separate leg stretching and I miss stepped, so now my ankle is acting up but I will work through it.Our group of yogi's are so amazing, everybody shares, towels,space, water, whatever you need there is someone there to help you with anything.

I also didn't realize that Bikram is all over the worth, people from Africa, India, France, Chile, Mexico, Australia, etc. Bikram actualy had them do the Dialogue in there language and it was breath taking. I just can't wait to be a teacher and have the honor to teach in any of these places. I am making so many friendships, the ones that stand out the most are the yogi's from Chile, they just make me feel like family, everytime I see them, they hug me and kiss me on the cheek, just the way I grew up.

By the way if anyone ever decides to do this training I would recommend a laptop and one with a video camera. Today was the day that I needed a boost and I was able to Video Chat with my hubby, daughter and I also got to see my dogs, my macbook is awesome!!! I just love it, the picture you see is of us chatting, its not the greatest but who cares its worth having, enjoy!

I did Half Moon in front of Bikram

A couple of days go by and so much happens with this training, so many people are getting sick already, people getting carried out of class, people throwing up etc, and it's only our first week and this is suppose to be the easiest week so far, can you imagine how its going to be later on. I have had some tough classes but after my first class I decided to really pay attention to what I am putting into my body and how much water I am drinking, so far its working out great. My roommate Colleen and I just do the buddy system and help each other out no matter what, if we run out of water in class we share our water. My teachers at my studio did an amazing job on preparing me for this training and they weren't lieing when they said you practice right next to each other, you use each others towels, sweat drips on you from other people, butts get in your face, etc. yeah it's sounds disgusting but its part of the training, you learn that these are small things and you get over it.

So last night was movie night and Bikram decided to put one of his India movies on, I actually enjoyed it but it was a little dramatic, a little james bond slash Grease... LOL!!The movie was about 3 1/2 hours long, I am not lieing, Colleen and I took our pillows and my blanket, thank god for my blanket, we tried to get as comfortable as we could. Colleen has a metal rod in her back so she can't really sit for too long, so she ended up laying down on the floor. I believe we left around 2am last night. So class this morning was not very energetic, but the later class was much better.

Can you believe I finally got up on stage and did my Half Moon Posture in front of Bikram and the 300 plus students, his comment was Very Good, hey I will take it. Bikram is a funny man but has a potty mouth at the same time, he doesn't hold back anything, if you fat he tells you in front of everyone, if sound like a mouse he will tell you as well, some of these comments are embarassing but yet I find it funny and entertaining, let's see how I feel later, right? Anyways I gotta go to bed its around 1 am and I need some sleep. Here's a picture of me doing my dialogue.

Taking it easy

My first class on Monday was very hard on me, I have never sat out as much as I did my body was tingling, I saw stars, I actually felt like I was going to pass out. So I tried to take it easy but its hard when you think Bikram is looking at you during class and is saying get up and push, push, push!!! I layed down and thought what the heck did I get myself into, I don't know if I can do this for 9 weeks. I have never felt my body go through so much in a class but after thinking of it after class I realized that I had alot of anxiety coming here and also alot of emotions. Its just amazing to see and feel what you body can go through. Yesterday was our first double class and I did much better and if I can continue to stay this way I know I will get through my training.

We had our first posture clinic with Bikram yesterday, we have to do Half Moon in front of him and hear 300 plus people do it as well. I didn't get a chance to get up yet, there was so many people rushing to get it done, so I am hoping to get up on stage and get it done today, wish me luck!!! Bikram is actually a pretty funny man.

Well enough blogging, we had our lunch break and I am heading off to do some dialogue studying hopefully by the pool. This week they are taking it easy on us, so we get a little extra time, but I am thinking that its probably not going to be this way for the next several weeks. The picture I added is the room we have our Yoga classes in twice a day with 70% humidity, it gets very hot with over 300 yoga students, we saw people having to be carried out of the room because of dehydration and muscle cramping yesterday, I am hopeful that it will get better not worst!

Namaste

Namaste

Meeting my roomy in Acapulco

Well I made it, leaving was tough, saying good bye to my girls and my hubby was very emotional but I am doing ok so far. It is very humid in Acapulco but the resort is absolutely beautiful, the people in Mexico are very welcoming so far. I met my roomy Colleen she is from New York and a massage therapist, wow is she nice, I think somehow the man above was looking out for me, I also met her friend Chris very nice guy too, thought you might want to see the people I have been hanging out with since I arrived. So far I have met so many Yogi's not sure if I will remember what their names are but so far everyone has the same easy going attitude and I am enjoying it. Let's see what happens in the next few weeks, all I can tell you is that I am ready for it.

I have to say the Walmart here is pretty cool, you definitely don't need to much with you, they pretty much have it all. I am happy I did bring many of my supplies but I also could of left many of them behind, I could be $115 dollars richer today, yeah that is what I had to pay for my over weight bag, oh well.

1 day left off to Acapulco I go

Well here's the day I have been talking about, I leave tomorrow morning to Acapulco. I just can't believe the day is almost here. As much as I wanted to take it easy for the last week I actually practiced almost everyday and it was a good thing. I thought for some reason I would be feeling not so good today but today ended up being a really nice day. My daughter Jessica drove 5 hours to be able to be home before I leave, followed by a really nice going away dinner with my family and a few of my home studio teachers that I also call my friends. I'm excited to be going on this journey and to have my family be 100% behind me, wish me luck!!!

5days till Acapulco

So here I am trying to go through my packing list to take to Acapulco, I know I am probably taking too much, but how can you plan out how much is too much when you are leaving for 9 weeks and not know what to expect. I have so many mixed emotions today, I'm gonna be honest I am scared shitless!!! My body is going to go through torture and who knows where my mental health is going to be when I am there, I am praying to god that he keeps me strong and healthy while I am there.

I took class yesterday in Shoreline its in Seattle the studio is called Sweatbox, beautiful studio, nice people and my friend and teacher Penni taught class there which was very comforting for me. But there I was sweating like crazy, my postures where all over the place, my triangle sucked, carpet was slippery but of course my friend Christian reminded me to get use to it, the carpet at training is worst and the room is hotter (thanks Christian). So there I was thinking, what the hell did I get myself into, do I really want to do this for 9 weeks, twice a day, am I crazy? Am I really going to be teaching in this HOT room and give out all that dialog and get people in and out of postures and keep them strong? Well I keep telling myself, YES YES YES I am, because its my destiny and I am ready to take all the way.

5 days to go, I am going to a dialog study group today in Seattle and hopefully take class at 4:30 with my hubby, spending as much time with my family right now is so important to me right now, the balance with studying the dialog and spending quality time has been really tough but this week is all about my family. On Friday a group of the Bikram teachers & friends from my home studio are coming over to send me off to training, then I am on a plane to Mexico.

Countdown, less than 2 weeks to go!!!

So here I am back home from dropping off Jessica at Gonzaga, met her roommate Sarah and her parents, great family!!! I had so many mixed emotions, happy, proud of my daughters accomplishments and her bright future ahead. It was hard coming back home without her, not hearing her loud burps in the car ( she gets that from dad) and of course the fighting between her sister and her. No one can ever prepare you for this and I know that I will get through it, so I am sad but also happy for her.

Less than 2 weeks to go, then I will be on a plane to Acapulco, Mexico for my Bikram training, I'm a little nervous, but not scared anymore, my excitement has over taken that part of me. I will miss my daughter Chelsea so much and of course my hubby Richard, 9 weeks is a long, long time to be apart but as he says, I have given them 9 years to be home with our girls they can give me 9 weeks. I am taking my laptop so I can blog and email, video chat as much as I can, but from what I hear there isn't alot of free time, the time you get is what you need to study, so I can't promise that I will be blogging a bunch but I will give it my best shot.