Off I go!!

So here I am at Perth International airport (free wi-fi whoot!) waiting to board my very, very long flight to LA via Dubai. Had a lovely last day at home, actually I wasn't really home all that much. 

Started my day with the 9:30am yoga class. Saying goodbye to a few friends and my mentor I was all jittery with excitement and nerves. I was given the most amazing opportunity which was to 'teach' which ever postures I liked in the real life class. I opted for Half Moon and Awkward, two sets both sides. I was loving it so much I quickly asked the instructor in charge if I could carry on and do Eagle. Eager nod and I was off. What a rush!!!!!!! I did stuff my right and lefts up a little, end of Eagle was a bit out of order but hey first go n all. So so awesome being able to get up there and teach real students for 20 whole minutes. Probably broke every rule in the Bikram rule book but hey, I loved it.

Only down side was when I finally got down off the podium I had missed warming myself up so was a little stupid to kick out in SH2K and quickly retreated. Despite that I was dripping in sweat. I'm gonna be the super sweaty teacher!

More good byes after class. Then lunch with my friend J who has been so kind in mixing me up Bach's flower remedies & potions. I was presented today with Melatonin and a rose quartz crystal. This is to carry round with my in the left side of my bra, close to my heart. It will give me super powers!! Except I nearly lost it when I had a shower as I forgot it was there and it dropped out on the bed room floor. Good news though, I don't feel it's there. Fully installed back in it's place now. Hope I don't get strip searched the other end. How do you explain a crystal shoved under one's boob?!!

Made it home to finish the epic task of packing. I managed to get it all in one bag can you believe. My hand luggage is stuffed full. So glad they didn't weigh it!! Anyway all my crap went in. Here's the half way photo. I have the finished photo but not down loaded it yet. It weighed in at 26kg, 4kg below my limit!!!! I'm hoping I'll wear out most of the yoga clothes and make room for some shopping trip goodies State side. Plus I won't be bringing the masses of supplements and yoga mat at back. 

So off I go people to join the circus also known as Bikram Yoga Teacher Training...

Believe it or not it all went in!

One week count down

One week to go till BYTT Fall 2011. Time has flown by. I've been kept very busy with last minute detail checks. Packing has commenced, just. There are still piles but some things have made it into the bag! I've checked my flight details & realized I'd not booked my seat yet. Of course all the good seats have gone now so I'm in the aisle from Perth to Dubai but snagged a window for Dubai to LA. I need to curl up and sleep for that one, it's 16 hours boo hoooo. 

I upped my practice back to four this week. I aimed for five but it didn't happen. My balance was all off after my break but I felt strong again. I had an awesome class on Tuesday night with Keira. I'm so close in Standing Head to Knee. So close. Balancing stick feels effortless now as well, how did that happen? I also held the whole of Standing Bow Pulling first set with my chin glued to my shoulder. I've been falling out very often in this. Is this the magical, mystical breakthroughs that happen after a 60 day challenge? Hoping so.

I've been let loose on reception now. Learning the ropes, checking students in, advising on which class pass is best for them. It's been fun. I've noticed some students seem to know who I am and address me on a first name basis which is great!!! But I have no idea who they are...oppps. I will learn. I only tried to keep one ladies credit card and nearly under changed someone else. So embarrassing when the customer says "I gave you a 20." Sorry colour blind/blonde moment got my blues and reds mixed up!!! Keeping up with ticking the stock sheets too is tricky. Definitely a multi tasking job.

I'm throwing a going away party tonight at the boat Harbour in Hillarys for JJ and I. Really looking forward to it. Got a mix of students, instructors, friends and The Man's family coming. No way have I ordered enough food but hey, there only snacky things, they might get round everyone. Gonna let my hair down & get my drink on baby!!!!! Before I morph into serious, detoxed, healthy eating no drinking, very focused on the task in hand Bikram Yoga teacher trainee.

Packing

Packing. The essence of a trip away from home. Type A's like me have a ball or a stressful time with this one. I'm 50/50 (equal & simultaneous!) on the subject. I love making lists and checking off items as they've been packed. But I do stress I will forget things. I'm going to America, not the third world. When I travelled around the back lands of India I needed sterile needle kits and what not, I won't be needing such extensive cautionary items on this trip. My fully comp travel/medical insurance will make sure I get all the best things Western medicine can offer if I need & I know it'll be sterile.

So I have made a list. Two lists actually. One for packing, one for buying in LA. My roomie & I have already discussed what food making equipment we'll be needing and are splitting the cost. There is a lot I can buy in LA but I'd like a little of what I know for when I get there.

Clothes. I'm taking all my yoga outfits and some new one's. I'm going to try and keep the new/good stuff for posture clinics or towards the end. Wear out and bin the old stuff first. Causal clothes. I've listed loads but again I'd rather have things I like and are from home, bit of comfort. If these wear out, they will be binned and replaced. I'm not taking a graduation dress. That will be a BIG adventure weekend towards the end of TT. My treat, I get to buy a new dress in LA. Plus who knows my shape might have changed drastically and one I take might not fit.


Here's my list. It's very personal to me & I know what the abbreviations mean, I thought I'd post it to give any other trainees something to start from. I didn't know how to upload a PDF so you'll just have to read it here as a jpg:

Things to buy in LA

Thing to pack in luggage

 

Magnesium

Muscles need magnesium so I've been told many times. It helps relieves cramps and restore tight, over worked muscles. I've posted about this product before but it is one supplement that really works for me. Ultra muscleze is on top of my packing list. I'm taking two kinds with me. The regular which I usually take at night to help me sleep and the energy. I won't need any help falling asleep in LA but who knows. I'll have major jet legged so I might just need something extra to calm me down and knock me out whilst working on my knackered muscles. I can definitely see the Energy version coming in very handy. It is an over the counter product here in Australia and I have no idea where to get it in the States so I'm packing it. At this rate I'll have a bag full of supplements and not much else.