I'm trying my best to make sure I am fully prepared for this whole TT experience. It will be bonkers crazy once I get there and anything I can do to ease the stress I am striving to do.
The more economical option for training is to share a room, it cost half the price. If you don't request a room mate it is up to the universe who you get roomed with. There are many stories flying around about nightmare roomies from hell but also roomies from heaven. Part of this experience is meeting and bonding with people from all around the world with this shared love of sweaty yoga.
I was very honoured last week to be asked by Shavon from Bikram or Bust to room up. We've been chatting via our blogs for a few months now and connected on FB. S is over State side and willing to help a wide eyed newbie like myself find food and laundry facilities! I've been to the West coast a few years back for a whirlwind two week backpacker tour which will be very to different to actually living there for nine weeks. Any help and pointers I can get will be greatly received. We're the same age group, have long term partners and love dogs. What more could you ask for!!! Obviously we're both passionate about Bikram which brought us together in the first place.
I'm so very excited to get to know my roomie over the next few months. Join forces on communal items for our room. Support and advise each other on dialogue learning, packing and leaving home for nine week! We are also members of a strong FB group of future trainees for Fall 2010 so hopefully we'll know soooo many people when we arrive it'll be like a home from home.
On our FB this week S reminded me not to forget my Vegemite. So here it is again, my BIG jar of yeasty, salty black stuff with it's best friend my organic nut spread that shall also be coming along till I find an American counterpart!
This week has been exciting and busy all rolled into one. So much has happened I will spread it out over a few, hopefully short, posts.
The biggest event is my Bikram Yoga Teacher Training Fall 2011 application package is in the post! Express post to be precise. I splashed an extra $20 to get it there in 3-7 days. EKKKK! After checking, rechecking, putting it in and out the envelope a few times I ripped of the seal and stuck it down.
My online status check is 'application under process.' I received the email confirmation for the online application and as yet no money has been drained from my account. Wow the day that happens will be exciting and scary.
This is all so real now, all I do is wait.....
I'm a bit of a supplement nut. Anything that will make my life easier or healthier in one small capsule will suck me in. I used to take a whole heap of vitamin and mineral's until I saw a naturopath who advised me all the supermarket stuff I was taking was rubbish. So I quit those and started taking Ultra Musceleze, a high grade magnesium powder which has worked wonders on my tired yoga muscles. The only other things I take now is Turmeric and electrolyte capsules when I practice.
Until now!! Both my studio Director and Manager suggested I try Yogabody Stretch capsules. 100% natural and has been shown to optimize flexibility and reduce recovery time and inflammation. I've only been taking them three weeks but I've noticed a difference in my practice. Especially floor bow in which I usually cramp up. I'm think anything that will ease the pain of the full on intensiveness of TT is worth a try. I took nine caps yesterday and even though I have nothing to compare it to I'm attributing Yogabody for making it slightly easier.
To carry on the Bikram Birthday both studios have decided to run a mini challenge. Four class in one day. Two back to back doubles. BYJ held there's yesterday. I was up for it, crazy challenge taker I am. I thought it would be a good warm up for TT. Even though we only take two classes a day which was spread out, one in the morning at 8:30am then 5:30pm in the afternoon. I decided that the fatigue and hydration element would equal that of training.
A lot of people who had signed up actually had no clue as to why they were doing it. If I wasn't going to training I'd probably be the same. Overall I think it is a test of mental strength. It is possible to do it or else the studio directors wouldn't have suggested it. By taking four classes it will prove you have the strength, physical and mental to do it.
I woke up naturally at 5:30am (??!!! I know) so I had time for some cold chicken, a tiny piece of wholegrain bread with almond spread, 500ml of salty water and a few mouth fulls of Powerade. I don't usually touch the stuff but today I thought I may need a little extra and a sugar rush.
Off we went at 7:30am on a Saturday morning. I was a mix of excitement and nerves. I've not been sleeping to great the past few weeks, work has been dull so I was feeling flat and worn out. This challenge might be the pick me up I needed. Stu the director of BYSB taught the first class. I've never taken his class so this was exciting. It was awesome. I matted down next to Janette on the front row. I had a shiny new Lulu outfit (the pranayama bra and tiny matching shorts) which looked cute but the top was soooo low it distracted my practice and I felt I didn't have any security for the girls. The group energy was awesome. Not one person out of the 35 sat out of a posture.
First class went well. Quick shower, electrolytes and outfit/towel change. I moved my mat to a different spot and not on the front row. I've never done a back to back before so this was a whole new ball game for me. My arms in pranayama felt like they weren't attached to my body. Half way through the first set of Half Moon I was like "what am I doing!" My shoulders and arms were burning, I could barely lock my legs to keep me upright. Instructor Juliette was infront of me which helped a lot, her smooth, controlled practice kept me grounded. Chris from Melbourne was teaching, again I've never take his class so that helped me stay focused as I wasn't used to his teaching style.
I made in through, I can't recall much from that class apart from I was super bending but lacked strength. Standing Bow I went deeper than ever but I had no strength to hold it. I did come out early from some floor series postures as well. No strength...physical or mental?
We had a a quick lunch break of three hours, but more like two after showering etc. Janette very kindly invited me to her place for a yum omelet protein fix. We were feeling flat. Dried cranberries and almonds were a good pick me up as well as electrolytes and water, water, water.
Back to the studio for the 2pm. Some people who did two mornings didn't come back for the afternoon. New people joined us for the afternoon back to backs. There were ten of us in the end who finished all four.
Class three with Lisa, I ended up sliding back to the third row near an air vent. The room didn't feel as humid and I didn't sweat as much. Maybe there wasn't anything left to sweat out. I pushed through again. I tried every single posture but again finished early on some of the floor or some like Full Locust I hung out and didn't push at all.
The final class was lead by Jo. Lisa and Chris took this one which was awesome. Stu also took the second class so every single instructor that taught through out the day took a class (Jo took the morning double). Instructor Meagan took the morning double too so we were all surrounded by support.
I hid in the back row. The room was busy and I was totally blocked off from the mirror which added to the challenge. I was tired. Yawning through out. The heat wasn't ever a problem at any point. It was more the fatigue that was getting to me. I was zoning out and not listening. I put my arms out to the side in Standing Separate Head to knee set up, opps! I didn't drink as much before class four as I may have over done it before class two. I was sweating a lot more though. I didn't put in 100%, I backed off and took it easy. Just concentrating on alignment and safely getting in and out of postures. I had been joking by this point I'd be doing a 90 minute savasana but really I couldn't be in the room and not try.
We did it! Four classes in one day. It was tough. I had doubts at first but no regrets now. I slept like the dead last night. I was drinking everything in sight. Ice cold fizzy Sprite was pure bliss. Maybe not the best for re hydrating but I wanted it so bad. Today I feel great. Sore yes, muscles are aching but I feel awake and refreshed. I'm eating and drinking everything in sight. It was the pick me up I needed. We are all banned from practicing today, I wouldn't want to anyway. We need to rest and hydrate. I may even take tomorrow off. It's been a very long time since I took two days off between practice. I'll see what happens....
Today is officially Bikram Yoga Joondalup's 1st Birthday. It's been one year since Jo opened the doors to the first and only studio in Perth's northern suburbs. In seven weeks time it will be my one year Bikram anniversary, on that day I will be commencing my pre TT 60 Day Challenge.
What a whirlwind nine months this has been. I've met some awesome, inspirational people from all walks of life, backgrounds, ages, countries, we truly are a diverse yoga community. I would never have thought I'd be on my way to becoming an instructor this time last year when I didn't even know this yoga existed. I was still leaping around in Les Mills group fitness classes and getting now where.
Reading all the Facebook comments today so many people have be touched by the power of this yoga. All positive messages of thanks. It changed so many people's lives for the better. One of my favourite one's was "what would I be doing now if I wasn't doing yoga". That got me thinking. I've probably be leaping round that group fitness room at Arena Joondalup getting no where and not any fitter. I do miss the gym people but I've recruited my good friends from there to Bikram so I still get to see them!!
Here's to many more successful years ahead for BYJ. Not forgetting Bikram Yoga Scarborough Beach who are celebrating there first birthday next Saturday.
The one day I need my blood pressure to be normal it decides to run a little high. I had my medical check today so that my doctor could sign the waiver for BYTT to say I'm fit and healthy enough to partake.
She was a little shocked at the actual form when I presented it. It looks well dodgy with a huge b/w picture of a young Bikram in spinal twist. She was also a little alarmed that this training involved me being in a room of 300+ people at 42 degrees, twice a day. The surgery is in Midland which is a fare way from the Bikram Community of Perth so she didn't know anything about it.
I think this is the reason I started to panic and the pressure went up. I started thinking that I may not get the form signed, then what? The doctor might think it was totally insane to want to do this or medically dangerous!! Anyway as she has known me a few years now and takes my blood pressure at least once a year she put it down to nerves and excitement. Also telling me I should have practiced some yogic breathing in the waiting room to relax! Phew, formed signed and paid for just waiting on the bank now to release the much needed funding.
One step closer to the application being posted. I've even decided to splash out and send it express super speedy registered international mail so it gets there in three working days.
Last week has been full of green lights and positive signs on my path to Teaching Training Fall 2011. My star signs this week have all pointed in the direction of new challenges and change which I apparently will be embracing. I have my medical booked for Wednesday so my doctor can sign me off as fit & healthy enough to complete the nine weeks of grueling physical hell. Well I'm hoping I'll get signed off, I don't think I have any medical conditions that would stop me?!! I spoke to my bank about a financial plan and hopefully I will have the all go by the end of next week. Shelley at HQ confirmed they are excepting applications for Fall now. I'd hate to send my payment & it get lost.
Finally I had a great meeting with my studio director. We talked about the reality of teaching and which classes to expect to get after I've completed a few mock one's. I like the idea of having a few practice goes before being let lose on the public. Being a super organised Type A personality I'd already highlighted on a schedule which classes would work best for me for practice and teaching. This fitted in perfectly with the classes newbie teachers get, i.e the 5:45am's and 7:30pm's.
We also spoke about dialogue clinics. We will do a posture a week and not move on till I have delivered each posture correctly. We are aiming to get at least the floor series down before I leave. This will probably be starting in the next week or two as soon as my application is in the post. This is so awesome that I will get such great support and mentoring. I've had some fellow students offer to be 'bodies' for me to practice on. My plan the whole time has been to be prepared as much as possible, I have four and a half months ahead of me, enough time I think.
I still plan to keep my day job for at least the first year. I enjoy my job and will find a balance between that, teaching, practicing and my home life. I am nervous about breaking the news to my boss but he's a very good man and I'm hoping he'll let me take a leave of absence for nine weeks. The Mrs over at On Common Ground posted some invaluable advice this week on how she tackled this issue. I may well print this out and just hand it over when my time comes!!
Another surprise I received this week my friend and studio manager Janette told me she would join me in a 60 day challenge I am going to do before I go. I had been advised to do this challenge so I can be prepared physically and get in the zone. Not only will Janette be joining me, Jo is planning on running a whole studio 60 Day Challenge to help support me on my journey. How nice is that?! Usually people take 60's by themselves any time of the year. It will be awesome to do it together. We will start on June 27th which I discovered yesterday is exactly one year since I took my first every Bikram class. Spooky! It will end two and a half weeks before I depart for TT. I take five classes a week anyway so six a week will hopefully be a breeze.
In three months since I decided I was going to do this everything has been falling into place. I've probably mentioned this before but I believe in signs, everything so far has been positive and pointing to yes. The adventure is under way and I'm so excited for it!!
