Lifted mood

I have just finished week 8 of the 60 day challenge. Home stretch, only 6 classes to go till I've completed the 51 classes in 60 days. This past week has felt like a cloud of fog has cleared. My roomie and I have both been dealing with some crazy stuff emotionally but I can see we on back on track. I am no longer angry. I've realised what emotions have been stirred up through my practice resonates in anger. Some people cry, I get mad baby!! I am an Aries after all, fire all the way.

I am sore now. I ache. I wake up with headaches despite drinking my own body weight in water. My muscles shake madly in Awkward, I fall out of the balancing series, I can barely lift my legs/body off the floor, my legs do not look like a perfect upside down L like Linda but who cares. I'm there, I'm present and I love this yoga.

I had probably the best class of the challenge on Tuesday night. It beat the socks off my last best class. We have a new visiting instructor from the States with whom I seemed to click with straight away. I like her style, she teaches an energising class to everyone as well as shooting out corrections and tips without blinking an eye. She's on it, she's on the whole room. You can not hide! You don't want to hide, her corrections are so encouraging and nice. Not that our usual teachers aren't nice but she makes you feel so relaxed without feeling bad you were doing it wrong.

I managed to skip out of work early and make the 5:30pm. My friend was finishing her 60 day so I wanted to be there. Tuesday is usually my Scarborough day so I missed out this week. Great class to finish on. DM rocked the front row and finished on a high. 

I received a lot of help in this class. I am flagging, I am tired so the encouragement really was appreciated. I've fallen into bad habits. Often if a lot of energy is directed on one student it can build the ego and take away the group energy. This didn't happen I feel. It made me stronger yes but the group was still working together. I have no ego right now anyway. A little help and high fives boosted my crumbled confidence. I needed a pick me up & I got it, I am very grateful. I busted out a nearly full expression of Sh2k. My toes flexed back toward my face effortlessly with both knees a locking, my hamstrings forgot they were tight, my standing leg was solid, concrete,one piece, lamp post, unbroken!

After class I was glowing. I felt awesome. I had a quick chat with the instructor who offered her time to chat about TT stuff if I needed. She also picked up on something that no one else has confronted me on. She asked if I worry when my practice is not spot on. She could tell I do. Probably as I scowl at myself or look annoyed when a posture isn't going well. I do have a strong practice (or else my director wouldn't be sending me to TT) but I'm no rock star. I do worry I'll stand out at TT for being a newbie who hasn't had years and years of practice under her shorts, just 15 months worth. It doesn't matter. I was told as long as I love the yoga, I want to be there and try to my best ability it'll be fine. And it will! 

I do love this yoga or why else would I have learned up to Wind removing pose!! (okay ego is back for this one but only coz I've put in the hard yards & studied my butt off this past 12 wks!) You get out of something what you put in. There's no free meal tickets for this one.

Advice

Over the past few months I have been given a plethora advice regarding BYTT. It's been awesome, most parts of it. Sometimes I feel overloaded & have no idea who to listen to. Obviously everyone giving the advice has been through TT themselves. Everyone is different and no two experiences will be the same. 

I was very grateful to get five minutes with a super senior teacher from HQ who is close to Bikram. I took her class in February and I felt she was someone worth listening to. (not that everyone else in my yoga circle isn't, just this lady had a special edge to her) The best advice she gave me was that nothing can prepare you for TT. Just go there, do it and trust that process. The second golden nugget was I should try to take a class with Bikram at HQ with his own students. He apparently teaches very different at TT (we know this already) to at home. By taking a home class we will see the true Bikram, probably how we imagine him to be, not masked in show boating. Sadly I'm doubting I will get this experience. When I arrive in LA, Bikram will be in Seattle for a seminar. 

The main gist of our conversation was down to well being. I was told don't do anything crazy with my diet. Stick to what I do now and what I know works for me. Others might go on crazy diets/detox's, start eating stuff they don't usually eat because it's cheap & easy (ie. I don't eat burgers and chips so I won't be joining the In n Out Burger parties). This will mess you up if your not used to it. I've heard people mention at TT you told to eat meat. I can see why as I'm a big believer in protein and exercise but if you've been vego most of your life that is crap advise as your body will have no idea how to process it. Meat does take a while to digest. I didn't eat meat for 8 years and when I started again I did have some gut issues. Admittedly I feel better for being back on the flesh but I often have vego days to keep it clean. This instructor actually said she goes vego on her practice days as that works for her. It's clean food that is easily digested and nourishing. Again, like me if your a meatasuarus you'll need your meat if that's where you strength is coming from.

Water and himalayan salts as well as a well balanced, clean, fresh diet is all you need to survive. I was told not to go OTT on supplements, powders and potions. Get what I need from my food. I have my electrolytes sorted, I know what's good for me now so I'll carry that on at TT. I was warned don't drink too much water too quick, it'll just flush out your kidneys and wash all the nutrients out with it. Stay hydrated and replace what you loose but if your drinking so much your peeing every five minutes that is counter productive. 

Lastly, and most important, HAVE FUN!!!! Enjoy it, don't spend 9 weeks on a hater. Embrace the challenge. Stay away from the drama, DO NOT get involved in the politics, pay attention in the lectures and learn your dialogue. Thank you for listening....