Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 59 - Posture #16

Ran the Katie Loop with some friends this morning . . . breakfast then headed down to 12:00 Bikram with Cheryl. I adore all the instructors, everytime I think I have a favorite, then I find another favorite. Well today Cheryl was my favorite instructor. She has a way of pushing me to my limits with her calm steady voice.

Posture #16 Locust Pose Salabhasana - Thinking back to December 1, 2008 my very first Bikram class, I thought you have to be kidding, there is no way I can lie on my stomach with my arms under by body with my elbows side by side and my palms facing the floor, and they raise not one but both legs off the floor, well today I could feel my right and left elbow touching each other (not that they stayed touching the whole time but they touched!)and yes the legs both of them come off the floor. I am now understanding the roll the shoulders play in this whole deal. 13 months ago my left shoulder was frozen solid . . . so this is quite exciting to me.

Several conversations in the locker room asking about what transformation I had gone through during the 60 day challenge . . . I still have one more day. Physically one gal said you were already in shape . . . yes and no . . . parts of me were in shape . . . it seems like my whole body is stronger physically. Emotionally, yes I am definately much stronger emotionally a lot of emotional cleansing which was extremely painful and at times I'm like this really sucks, it more than sucked, but it was good. Spiritually, fortunately I have always been strong . . . there now seems to be a sense of calmness.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 58 - Understanding

Hit the 12:00 Bikram today with Beth . . . my mind wanted to wander today . . . I normally have no problem staying focused, but I think the word clarity is the word of the day . . . I was able to think about my mom today and not feel sad, things are becoming more clear of what her life represented.

It seems like I'm always trying to figure out what makes people tick . . . I think through other people I'm trying to figure out what makes me tick.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 57 - Runner's High

When I was in Arizona a week or so ago I was chatting with a gal in the Bikram Locker Room . . . she also a runner. I told her since I started doing Bikram I was able to get the same "fix" as a nice long run. She compared Bikram to getting a runner's high . . . I'm like yeah that is exactly right . . . it is like my brain is making a proper connection.

My morning started out with a nice 5 mile run with one group of runners and when I got home a friend called and wanted to know if I wanted to run so obviously I went out for another 5 miles, who could turn down a run?

Before I headed off to Bikram . . . I headed off to look at some real estate, real estate market is an interesting place right now.

Anyway finally arrived at Bikram for the 4:30 class . . . I normally crave getting to the Bikram class, but not today . . . it was kind of like an AHA moment I had gotten my "fix" for the day . . . I went through the class not needing the "fix" . . . To be honest I was getting a little apprehensive, scared, of coming to the end of my 60 Day Challenge, yes I was definatelely going to continue with my Bikram classes, but due to time commitment with a bit of a drive I needed to cut back to 4-5 times a week and what would happen to me on the days I didn't go ? ? ? I can simple ramp up my running a bit and I should be covered . . . I think they call that balance.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 56 - Houston - Disturbing

Had a nice and short 5 mile run this a.m. I hit the 12:00 Bikram with Liana . . . Carolyn and Karen were there also so nice to chat with them after class.

With the exception of the tight hamstring, and deep, deep sweating . . . the class felt very good and smooth. I decided to hang out in Savasana for 15 minutes to avoid the crowd in the locker room. Everything was going just dandy in Savasana aka dead corpse posture until . . . I began picturing my dead mother in her casket 6 feet under, it came out of absolutely nowhere. Well maybe not totally out of nowhere, everytime I think of the last time I saw her body as they were closing her casket, then the funeral, and then the trip back to Mother's new home 6 feet under, it just seems so strange to me. As I lay there it was like there was a connection . . . 6 feet under . . . as I showered and headed out to the front lobby Cheryl and the front girl gal were both crying . . . the call had just come in a very close friend whose father they were also very close to had just passed away . . . I gave them a hug . . . I understood

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 55 - Hamstring

12:00 with Lianna . . . first time I have had Lianna . . . she talks a lot and tells you what each and every posture is good for . . . It is so nice having different instructors each you learn a lot from. She like Joani holds the postures for what seems like eternity . . . definately I would welcome another class from her.

My right hamstring is terribly tight or at least that is what I think it is.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 54 - Breathless

Okay, I've heard about Joani, but this is the first time she has instructed one of my classes. She is very good, very detailed, and seems to hold the postures what seems like an eternity.

There were times during the standing series I could hardly catch my breath, I felt like I needed to gasp for air, but breathing in though the nose and out through the nose it was impossible to do any gasping . . . It started from the very begining First Breathing Exercise Standing Deep Breathing - Pranayama breathing - I was breathing in so much air (maximum lung capacity and more) there was no way I could breath everything out in the 6 seconds she gave us.

Literally there was several times during class I looked into the mirror and into my eyes and was literally pleading with myself focus, focus, that spinning in your head do not even think about passing out. Have I not been getting enough electroyltes replaced??? or is it just her taking us past our comfort zone, way past our comfort zone. I glanced in the mirror at the reflection of the clock after the standing series was done 52 minutes . . . I now understand why they call Posture 13 Dead Body Pose or Savasana . . .

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 53 - Smooth

Great class with Cheryl at 12:00 today. Everything was smooth. Cheryl just found out she broke her finger a month ago and really wants her swollen middle finger to return to normal . . . actually the brace she has on her finger probably nice so she could easily flip off people as needed.

Ran with a friend at 6 p.m. . . . her world is crashing down on her . . . running the great escape! Bikram rates right up there with running :)

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 52 - Holding Back

Ran with Beth and Shelley this morning, afternoon working on a project with friends, a 30 minute power nap, then off to 4:30 Bikram. Extremely hot/humid it was great . . . some more of those memories are rearing their ugly little heads, there is absolutely no way I'm ready to deal with anymore right now, I think they are much safer staying tucked in tight. I am happy now and mentally strong and focused.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 51 - My nothing special day

I refer to today as my nothing special day, it should be no more important than any other day of the year, plus I no longer count years I am just ageless or as my Dad always would say I'm just a kid . . . I was woken up at 3:00 a.m. by the person sleeping next to me, that is another story.

Just before 4:00 I was still awake so I got ready and jumped in my car to make a trip down to 5:30 a.m. Bikram Yoga with Tony instructing. This morning everything worked. I like Tony's detailed description and he seems to almost know exactly what I need said to get to the next level.

After class the I was wished a Happy (hmm the B word). I did explain my thoughts on my nothing special day and how it should not be in any more important or special than any other day of the year.

Well I got the e-mails, cards in the mail, and telephone calls, hugs, my running group dropped of a new yoga mat at my back door, my Dad called and sang the Happy (B word) song to me and so did one of my sister. By the end of the day maybe, just maybe the day was a bit more special than the other days of the year.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 50 - Healing

Back to Houston with a bit of humidity. Today Lynne made a field trip over to South Blvd. from Fountainview to teach at the 10:00. My friend Caroline was in class . . . always a great joy to see her.

It is funny last night when I got back to my house from my trip . . . I did not feel like I was at home. I guess a house is just a house . . . but something about walking into Bikram studio today I felt I was home. Bikram is a very healing place . . . . physically, mentally, and spirtually.

60 Day Bikram Challenge 49 - Sandy - Scottsdale

7:00 a.m. class with Sandy - I was glad to see an earlier class on Saturday morning that would allow me to continue with the 60 Day Challenge and still catch my flight out of town. Funny thing happened during Camel - the first time I almost passed out, as I was coming out of the posture I could feel the lights going out, I fell forward on my hands and took everything I had not to hit the deck . . . the second camel I chose to lay in Savasana, but was able to finish everything else. Oh yes, and we did get the wonderful foot to foot massage.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 48 - Sandy - Scottsdale

9:00 a.m. with Sandy. Another drop-in student from Denver, Colorada was visiting. There were 27 students in class today. Sandy did this wonderful thing while we were lying on our tummies . . . she went around between postures and stepped on our feet, it was like a mini foot massage it was wonderful.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 47 - Scottsdale - Kathryn

It is interesting to notice the subtle differences in Bikram Studios. In Houston somehow the instructors know all of the students name, not so in Scottsdale, but in Scottsdale they make you feel just as welcome. Today the humdity was a mere 9% as compared to Houston at 40-50%. In this Scottsdale studio they have several humifiers running. Yep, still sweating in Scottsdale.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 46 - Stacey - Scottsdale

Landed just before 10 a.m. in Scottsdale, Arizona - I got to the Condo in Scottsdale, Arizona to drop off my bags and had just enough time to head off to Bikram. The floor in the studio was a new floor product that is suppose to help with the foot smell that is often found in Bikram studios. This particular studio had changed out their floors about a year ago and yes, there was no detectable foot odor smell.

I noticed when I walked into the room people were filling the back rows first, opposite of Houston. Basically there is really only room for two maybe three rows so this seems to work.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 45 - Cheryl

12:00 Bikram with Cheryl - heading of of town tomorrow

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 44 - Back on Track

12:00 with Beth at South Blvd . . . I felt back on track today . . . back to normal people well if you call us Yogis normal. Nice smooth practice . . . with the exception of the tight/painful right hamstring, I may have overstretched it at some point . . . interesting I think Beth must have read my mind, instructing not to overstretch our hamstrings . . . if it hurts back off on the stretching.

I have been thinking lately about what after the 60 day challenge???? Do I continue on everyday, or do I cut back, how does this work??? It would be nice not to run up and down the freeway each day. There has been so many positive changes in my life physically, mentally and emotionally even before the 60 challenge when I started Bikram on December 1st, 2008.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 43 - Studio Manners

8:15 a.m. with Sheri at Fountainview. I arrived at 7:45 as the doors were opening. Sheri noticed as I walked in my clothes on hangers and ask where I was going after class, I told her church. Since I arrived much earlier that anticipated I thought it would be a good opportunity to do lengthy Savasana before class started. I was so relaxed until . . . the a guy next to me put down a mat, normally I can ignore this but he tapped me on the shoulder . . . the next few minutes he told me his name, his age, were he lived, what surgery he had, how many years he was doing Bikram, I said little, though I like to chat normally but not in the Bikram studio . . . it is time to start focusing and not on the person next to you.

Class started and he chatted the whole way through . . . this was actually really good for practicing my focusing . . . The Full Locust Pose, lying on tummy with arms extended like an airplane the guy next to me grabbed my wrist and firmly planted to the ground, icky, I really wanted to get up and move spots and in retrospect that is what I should have done . . . he had a comment for everything . . . the last breathing exercise you watch yourself in the mirror, you know when you can feel someone staring at you, I glanced over in the mirror he was not doing the breathing exercise he was just staring at me in the mirror I looked away, okay last posture was Savansana . . . I chose to fold up my mat and leave the room . . . as I was leaving the instructor I think she knew the real reason I was leaving she just said (gave my name) is leaving to get to church. I talked with a gal in the locker room and she was well aware of this guy and had a similar deal with him . . . she now makes sure she is on the opposite side of the room that he is . . . she said he does show up every Sunday at 8:15 . . . thank goodness I have options, next Sunday I'm heading over to the other studio.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 42 - Traffic

I ran this morning . . . then a bit later I headed down the road to Bikram with Cheryl at 12:00 . . . she continues to be very good, very detailed, and wanting everyone in the Studio to follow her words, not before and not after right on cue.

On the way to Bikram there was a wreck on the freeway so I was either stopped or going about 5 . . . eventually I made to an earlier exit . . . don't know exactly what I did besides totally confuse my GPS . . . but I made it to Bikram with 10 minutes to spare . . . life can be so good.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 41 - Clarity after the storm

Woke up at 6:30 to go downstairs and say good-bye to my husband as he was driving into work, he is making progress everyday with his back and his walking :)

I grabbed a book and went back upstairs and jumped back into my warm bed and read . . . I eventually pulled myself away from my book and got ready and headed down the freeway to Bikram.

Today was Bikram with Cheryl at 10:00. She is so detailed and forces you to listen to her exact words . . . no coasting in her class which is a good thing. One of the gals in our class was finishing her 60 day challenge, I talked to her after class and ask a few questions about her journey and yes some emotional cleansing on her end as well. I often hear the word clarity which is so true . . . I can see clearly now the rain is gone the storm has passed . . .

60 Day Bikram Challenge - 40 - Guns and Roses

The day started with my husband becoming more vertical . . . his standing up and walking that is, so yeah for that. Decided to spin with Pam and then tortured some more in her glutes and abs class . . . then down the freeway to Bikram @ 12:00 with Cheryl.

My brain/emotions were doing their thing today . . . Still trying to figure out this emotional cleansing thing, sometimes it works so deep and can be so painful . . . I thought it was a chronological thing from present working backwards . . . but not so, sometimes it is like groupings and odd things attached to these groupings.

The guns for instance a lady I spent time with when I was like 4 and 5, what I thought was normal probably was not. Anyway the first time I went to her house just after my mother left, she pointed to a rifle that was hanging up high on her wall that if I were to step out of line she knew how to use it. Aren't parents suppose to protect their kids?

Fast forward 12 years when I was 17.5 years old, my boyfriend went off to college we decided to date others (guys are trouble) . . . A guy that I well I guess I'll call it dated for 18 months, he was 7 years older married but separated from his wife, my parents thought he was wonderful, aren't parents suppose to protect their kids? He had issues, my parents had him move into our house, again aren't parents suppose to protect their kids?????? He was strange, lots of issues. He like my mother obviously did not like the way I dressed. He wanted to buy me clothes, both him and my Mom took me down and baracading me in a dressing room and had me trying on clothes, I wanted to scream, but the rifle on the wall I needed to mind. I hated those clothes, I did not want to be perfect, I did not want to make it look like everything was okay because it wasn't . .. just because my parents had a very volatile relationship don't get me roped into one. I don't want shoes with pointy heals I can smash over someones head and the blood. I don't want to hear drunk parents, never home to protect their kids, and when they are home, well, we were suppose to be perfect . . . while Dad is holding Mom down in the bathtub, the blood the bruises . . . I don't want to be perfect it is too painful.

After 6 months into the relationship he took off back to his wife . . . I was free . . . Until a month later he had stopped by the house and cried to my mother he wanted me back and the dozen and one red roses . . . so I minded my Mom and took him back . . . again aren't parents suppose to protect their kids? I don't like a hand around my neck and a fist to my face . . . I don't like bruises, I screamed and told my mother what happened but she thought he was wonderful . . . this was crazy. He had gotten some guns from my Mom (Uncles estate). We had gone to his step sisters wedding, but he made it clear I was not to go to the reception . . . so I didn't . . . the next morning I got a call from one of his sisters there had been an altercation at the reception and he pulled a gun on his Dad but it jammed . . . no charges were pressed . . . brother-in-law police captain and he was protected. Nearly a year later at his house during the the final months of our relationship . . . he had a melt down holding a gun to his head that he needed to go away on a ship they were after him . . . at this point I know I needed a plan I needed to get away . . . I didn't want to be perfect anymore it was too painful . . . I'm not sure how I managed it but by the Grace of God and later I learned the help of my dad (I love my dad) . . . the ring was returned, the keys to his house and the truck of his he made me drive - some sort of controlling thing was returned . . . I knew when he took the ring and threw it down the hill and into the brush . . . a few days later my car door was kicked in . . . this was his trademark . . . I knew it was over and it was good . . . Almost two years later I had sold that car a red mustang . . . and was driving a new car . . . anyway he pulled me over to apologize and to see how I was doing, I was very short with him, cordial but short . . . at that time I was dating the guy I am married to now, No Guns and No Roses . . . and I run and life is good . . .

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 39 - Smooth Sailing

Headed over to Fountain View for the 10:00 with Joyce. The class was relativily small . . . Tony one of the instructors on my left, a vacant spot on my immediate right then the next spot over a female.

In the last couple of days it seems like another level of yoga, postures, focus, clarity. I continue to work Locust Pose - Salabhasana . . . alway glad to hear positive reinforcement from the instructor on that pose. My first day of Bikram Class on December 1, 2008 - Locust Pose was absolutely the hardest, painful pose, and I knew I just had to embrace it and wrap my head around it.

Standing Bow Pose - Dandayamama-Dhanurasana, on the past week I have been making some progress on this posture. This is also the posture of the month for our studio or at least the one that was talked about in the monthly newletter.

During Rabbit - Sasangasana, Tony's hand must have slipped I could hear a smack and somthing about black eye and Joyce said something about not beaten up on yourself.

After class showered, talked to Tony about his giggle story (pretty funny), then headed down the freeway and stopped off to look at houses. Some people enjoy fine dining, some enjoy shopping at the mall, I enjoy looking at houses/real estate I think it is in my DNA.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 38 - Defining Ourselves

12:00 class with Mike at South Blvd. I had a bit on my mind during class today. Before I knew it I was in the final Savasana.

I believe some of us define ourselves as events that have happened in our lives. Each event helps mold who were are but we need to be careful . . . to understand and learn from some of the events and then move on . . .

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 37 - Magical

Is there something magical about day 37 of the Challenge? I got to Bikram really early this afternoon . . . got my mat set up, changed into my clothes . . . walked out to the hallway the smell of cigars, reminded me of my Grandfather a very comforting smell, as a child we would go up to the farm which was our escape . . . the horseback riding, fishing in the ditch, crawling around in the haybarn until a slight avalanche would happen, picking blueberries & raspberries, pluking chickens, sliding down the metal roofs, climbing trees and hanging out, the visit to the other place with the electric fence, hunting with Grandpa, at the dinner table Grandpa would always say eat don't talk, oatmeal for every breakfast, hmm maybe that is why I have oatmeal for my breakfast, Grandpa sharing with us his cofee, cream, and sugar, the swings hanging out with sisters and cousins, sneaking into my uncles old bedroom and my cousin showing us the old playboy magazines, and we vowed never to get breasts like the gals in the magazines . . . I kept my word . . . my cousin & one of my sisters did not . . . funny how someones simple cigar smelling backpack can bring back such comforting memories.

I chatted with Denise . . . she was hysterical as in funny, she had just started Bikram a month ago, having some headaches & fatigue enough to chat with her doctor . . . her doctor wanted to put her on depression medication, she though she needed a new doctor, I told her she just needed more Bikram and to make sure she stay hydrated, including replacing her electrolytes. She mentioned her family questioned her about doing Yoga because black people don't do Yoga they run . . .

The class was at 4:30 with Joyce at Fountainview. I could sense a little competition between the guy to the right of me during postures . . . actually the class was great . . . I heard every detail Joyce instructing and put it into practice . . . Locust Pose aka Salabhasana, I could feel the posture and am understanding and continue to make progress in the posture . . . again Joyce said some reassuring words about my postures which is always nice to know I'm heading in the right direction.

As I walked out showered and headed back up the freeway to home . . . I was happy.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 36 - Skydiving

Hit the 4:30 at South Blvd with Taz . . . I arrived about 25 minutes early to get my mat set up . . . it was suspiciously really hot/humid at that point . . . decided to wait outside until just before class, which later found out was a smart move. As Taz entered the room she did note it was like a sauna . . . that was good I was needing a good sweat and sweat I did . . . class was great, Taz did open a couple of windows near the end of class . . . the gals in the locker room were less than happy of the heat situation and they looked at me like I was looney when I said the heat is just what I needed and I enjoyed the massive sweating. As I was leaving Taz stopped me in the lobby asking it was too hot wasn't it . . . I told her that was the talk in the locker room, but I really enjoyed the heat today . . . the morning classes want more heat and the afternoon classes fuss because of too much heat . . . I am happy all of the time.

The guy to the left to me during class was very good. It is nice when the people around you are focused and not falling all over the place. It seems like it helps me work harder on my postures.

Today I have been thinking about skydiving . . . Really I don't want to skydive, but it is stuck in my head . . . my sister Lale loves skydiving and plans on going in May . . . really I don't want to skydive . . . unless all four sisters dive together . . . maybe we could get Dad to go with us (and this time Kari and I will wear a parachute)

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 35 - Stickers :)

10:00 with Joyce at Fountain View.

I had intended to practice at South Blvd location today. It might sound silly but during the 60 Day Challenge we have a little sticker chart marking our progress. The last two days I practiced at Fountain View so today I was going to go were my sticker chart was and get it updated . . . checked the traffic and the same lane closure that I experienced a couple of Saturdays ago appeared on the chron.com traffic page . . . so headed over to Fountain View . . . the sticker chart is just going to have to wait.

I had just finished a small run of 5 miles before heading down the freeway. Today I just seemed to be going through the motions of the class. In another 6 weeks it should be warm enough outside that I can start doing some Bikrams on my back patio.

On the home front my husband appears to have hit bottom with his back issues and is starting to show signs of improvement, either that or the heavy doses of Advil have kicked in. He is back in the pool with a little swimming and some water walking. He is determined not to cancel his trip on Monday and thinks his biggest obstacle is getting through the airport (Terminal E means a lot of walking) . . . I told him we could call the airlines/airport to make some accomodations for getting him through the airport or possible I could get clearance to help with his gear to get through the airport . . . possibly one of those carts to get him from point A to B . . . he is such a guy, he feels if he uses mind over matter he will be able to get through.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 34 - Don't Worry . . . Be Happy

March 6, 2009 - 34th class of the 60 day challenge - Fountainview with Sheri at 10:00

The class size was small, Sheri is always precise with her instructions . . . I just listen close to pick up details, the smallest details are important . . . After class I showered and headed out to the front lobby . . . I just love the music they play . . . different music than I listen to but it made me want to dance, sooooo, I danced through the lobby on the way out the door . . . life is good . . . got home and my husband Mr. Horizontal . . . back issues had actually made it up the stairs and back down while I was gone . . .

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 33 - Fresh

Headed over to Fountainview this morning for a 10:00 o'clock Bikram with Lynne . . . this studio is a bit newer and though I embrace the dorito foot smell at the other studio I do welcome the fresher smell here . . . I'm thinking I need to purchase a new mat . . . one for the dorito foot smell studio and then a new mat for the fresher studio . . . hmm what color of mat to buy??? My current mat started out blue . . . now after a zillion washes it is a light purple. I've seen red, orange, pink, blue, dark gray, and white. Today my glutes and hamstrings are not as painful/tight . . . I just disliked being a pain in the ass :)

Speaking of pain . . . my husband is Mr. Horizontal at the moment, he suffers from herniated disc issues, aka butt pinch and nerve pain that radiates down the leg to the ankle . . . clearly he to should be doing Bikram . . . we figure there are four stages of this; denial, anger, acceptance, and healing . . . ANGER stage right now, which is actually better than the denial stage . . . I got him all set up to work at home before I left this morning for class . . . back home . . . hmm, I think I will steer clear and just check in on him from time to time . . . maybe I'll sneak out for an afternoon run :)

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 32 Class

I took a spin class before my Bikram class, today was class 32 of the 60 day challenge . . . one of they guys in my class just finished his 2nd 60 day challenge . . . I ask if I could touch him and he laughed . . . he wished luck on my challenge. Taz was instructing today, the humidity was high, more suggestions on my standing bow, don't look down, look in the mirror and my leg will go higher over my head which it did. The last couple of days I seem to have more energy.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - Random Thoughts

Yesterday before Bikram I was talking to one of the instructors in the Lobby. She started Bikram because of an advertisement in the mail. I kept hearing about Bikram Yoga through different sources . . . the athletic director from my daughters college was doing Bikram Yoga, my husbands bosses boss was doing Bikram Yoga, and then one of my running buddies was doing Bikram Yoga . . . my curiousity got the best of me . . . I've always enjoyed the benefits of Yoga but was curious about Bikram so one afternoon my curiousity got the best of me, I jumped in my car drove down the freeway 40+ minutes and attended my first Bikram Class at 4:30 on December 1, 2008 with Cathy instructing . . . the following morning at 6:00 a.m. I attended my second class, the next day my 3rd, the following day my 4th, the following day I flew to Oregon and found a studio there and practiced the next two days in Eugene before returning back to Houston. Today I just finished my 62 Bikram class and just finished my 31st class of the 60 Day Bikram Challenge . . .

As I was talking with one of the instructors about my frozen shoulder that was nearly all unstuck . . . she said My Mother died of a frozen shoulder ? ? ? I'm thinking there had to be something in addition to the frozen shoulder that caused her to die . . . it was a blood clot that was in her leg that travelled up her arm and went to her heart and killed her . . . okay so it was the blood clot that killed her . . . always good to ask additional questions.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 31 Class

I ran this morning then headed down to the 12:00 Bikram Class with Cheryl instructing. I had not had Cheryl in a while so it was nice for a change of pace. She actually stopped class twice so we could see a couple of different students doing postures . . . very impressive and nice to see these postures can actually be done. I still continue to be tight/sore/pain in the right glute and right hamstring . . . talked to Lorena after class regarding emotions, plus the pain, tightness. It appears the scar tissue that has been building up over the years is being worked on, hmm, no pain no gain???

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 29 and 30 Class

Continuing with the 60 classes in 60 days Bikram Challenge . . . Today I took the 10 a.m. class with Taz, she is very sweet and supportive encourages and corrects . . . does not push me to my limits but I think I learn alot just taking in a class and focusinig on form then pushing myself to my limit.

I decided to do a double today and found Maria and Lisa willing to do a double it was at 12:00 with Mike. I finally figured out the standing bow pose . . . Mike talks about if you are going to fall out of the posture to fall forward . . . normally the word fall would immediately make me fall . . . this time I was prepared . . . I used this to push myself to my limit of this posture . . . yes I did eventually fall out of the posture but it was forward pushing myself to my limit . . . I chose not to take in water during the second class of the day to try and add a bit more focus . . . it helped . . . not every class will I do that but good to try now and then.

Locker Room Talk for Women Only: I love bringing up topics in the locker room . . . today was perimenopause . . . I was surprised how willing these ladies were to share . . . I simply started the topic with night drenches, basically you wake up in the middle of the night and you feel like you have just finished a bikram class . . . totally soaked . . . I thought I was alone on this but I was nothing compared to some of these ladies 2 or 3 times a night being soaked . . . I should count my blessings.

60 Day Bikram Challenge - 28

Headed down the freeway 38 minutes to Bikram this morning. Mike instructing at 8 a.m. Power of suggestion is strong . . . I was doing just fine on the Standing Bow Pose (Dandayamana-Dhanurasana) Pose . . . until he said something about if you are falling out of the posture . . . fall forward . . . hello I was not planning on falling until you put that silly idea into my head . . . now all I can think about is falling . . .

Glutes and Hamstrings are painfully tight ? ? ? Maybe these postures are working my weakest areas and is now just breaking down the years of being tight ? ? ?

After class quickly showered and got dressed . . . and headed back up the freeway to get to church . . . I don't know if the people would recognize me if I showed up with dry hair . . .