Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 106 - The Perfect Storm

Missed Bikram on Tuesday due to the massive rain storm but did the 6 miles on the treadmill . . . Wednesday my run, spin, and, bodyflow class . . . Thursday I will call it The Perfect Storm.

This week I have been hit hard with a lot of things. Some not so little, good, bad, frustrating, physical, hmm. Anyway normally Bikram makes everything perfect again. I mowed my lawn before heading off to Bikram. Yes, I showered before I headed off to Bikram. I had a really bad tension headache with my Dad's name on it. Plus some abnoxious draining female issues . . . good grief. Anyway arriving at Bikram I knew in 90 minutes I would be as good as new. I WAS WRONG . . . OH SO WRONG. I made it through the standing series kind of . . . I though I was going to pass out, or my head/jaw/neck was going to explode. Finally finished with the standing series. Anything laying on my tummy, I thought I was going to heave . . . so a little Savasana, then a lot of Savasana. With 15 minutes left in class I was going down for the count . . . I folded my yoga mat . . . feebly waved good-bye to the instructor . . . took a quick shower dressed and hit the freeway. I didn't think I could make it home. Maybe if I just pulled off the road and took a nap, but then what.

Somehow I made it home. I tucked myself in and 2.5 hours later I woke up when my husband came in the door. He is the sweetest man . . . so very understanding . . . he is truly my gift from GOD. He left to do his stretching at the athletic club and then brought home dinner. He knew I liked Pei Wei - brown rice, carrots, snap peas, broccolli, and tofu stips. I think I am going to survive. The Perfect Storm . . . somedays are like that.

Running to escape

Our running group got an interesting e-mail from one of runners . . . she is really not a regular but has been showing up on again off again for the past 3 years.

To make a long story short due to personal and embarrasing situation. She has this long term relationship with this mystery man in her life that only a few people know about. This mystery man thinks this gal is having some interest in one of our runners and is hurt . . . it seems that she kept this part of her life (running and training with a co-ed running group a secret from him which he found out about) so she needs to be removed for our e-mail distribution list. She actually put the name of the guy her mystery man thinks she is having some fling with. She wanted to keep this confidential. Why in the world if she wanted to keep it private did she send this e-mail to our whole running group which is about 10-12 people? She left enough clues that we figured out who this mystery man is. He is 5 years older than her, he is a VP at the place she works, and he is married. She said she truly loves this man, and he in the most important thing in her life.

I run to escape problems . . . not to add to them. Since I send out the running e-mails I gladly removed her from the list . . .

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 105

I don't know why I'm still blogging about Bikram . . . it is an important piece of my routine, but find I need to focus on some additional cross training. Bikram today Monday with Cheryl, I cannot say enough of the benefits from Bikram, but there are things slipping in other areas of my life . . . the 3.5+ hour chunk out of my day is taking a toll and I'm feeling a bit out of balance. The days I don't go to Bikram I feel like crap and guilty for not going . . . that doesn't seem quite right. Maybe my body got so use to that daily "flush" when it doesn't get it . . . I feel tired. I guess I just need to retrain my body that it is really okay not to do Bikram everyday.

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 104 . . . just a little support

I was glad to see Beth was back from Paris and The Netherlands to teach the 10:00 Bikram today. She has a way of making me work hard . . . I made some progress on the standing knee to head posture, I felt it and Beth commented on class she could see I have made a lot or progress on it. I think when you have the same teacher over and over again, they don't notice any progress . . . so nice to know I felt it and she saw it.

I was a bit on edge before class . . . I had received an e-mail from my Dad regarding some business issues and needed to know my whereabouts in a couple of weeks so I could sign some paperwork . . . He is not always forecoming with information . . . so it is like picking up clues and putting the puzzles pieces together.

After class I was checking out a new place I had not shopped before . . . actually shopping and me does not normally happen. I checked out Lululemon, an athletic apparel store,they actually had a nice variety of to choose from. I had two different salesperson ask me if I understood the sizing. I was looking at the sports bras . . . both the female first and then the male a few minutes later wanted to let me know about the sizing of the sports bras . . . less support starts here, greater support, and the most support . . . I definately am the less support kind of gal and both salesperson totally agreed. I have never really figured out how those full figured gals could be comfortable doing some of those activites . . . hmm, I guess that must be the beauty of the most support sports bras. I did buy some yoga shorts a bit of a change from the capris I've been wearing, hmm I'll have to see if I will actually wear them.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Started the morning off with a 5:15 a.m. run with Phil & Meg . . . a slow and easy 4 mile run. Off to a spin class with Debbie instructing, coffee (H20 for me) and then a new release bodyflow class . . . loved the new release pretty intense . . . postures held longer than previous releases.

Afternoon mowing the grass, edging and blowing everything off. A bit of laundry, some paper work . . . I found I could protest my property taxes online. I chose the iSettle option and placed the opinion of property market value in the little box. Supposedly this can all be done online and if I agree to their settlement amount I may be able to avoid the going into a hearing to protest my taxes . . . will have to wait and see what happens there. This is the first time in 18 years I have protested my taxes, they have also been a bit high but not high enough to protest. I've been watching the Real Estate Market . . . a little difficult since a law passed that information is no longer published online for the general public. I have been educating myself with Real Estate Housting Market Statistics mailings and going out to open houses, pulling flyers to see at least what people are asking for their homes. I could hire one of those professional protest companies, but the typical fee is 50% of what they could save me on my taxes. I will have to wait to see how this turns out.

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 103 - Restless Leg Syndrome

Started the morning with a 4.2 miles with the girls and then on the way home stopped off at East End Park for another 3+ miles - not sure of that distance because somehow I don't always end up were I think I should be. Seriously I need to reattach my Garmin GPS to find out were I have been.

I attended the 12:00 with Cheryl instructing . . . she is always good and I had a great class. Recently I have not had any major breakthrough on any of the postures but that is okay, eventually one day something will happen.

My husband suffers, well I don't know if he actually suffers because he sleeps through and I do not, his restless legs. When I can actually wake him up during one of these marathon episodes he tells me he is dreaming he is running. Great I do my running during the day and he runs at night. The night before I just headed up the stairs and slept upstairs. I really needed to find a better solution . . . so last night I tried something new . . . when his restless legs started I snuggled up to him this always immediately wakes him up . . . I'm not saying anything happened after that but whatever did happen . . . there were no more restless legs last night. This new experiment that I'm trying will be either a really good thing, or it will backfire on me and I will be sleep deprived yet again.

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 102 - On My Mind

I had a few things on my mind when I arrived at Bikram for the 12:00 with Lianna. A gal who helped me through some rough spots lost one of her sons on Thursday and her other son is in critical condition after being broad sided . . . I just cannot even imagine. She flew out to Las Vegas to meet up with her ex-husband to identify one of her sons body and to be with her other son.

Also I was thinking about a persons eyes . . . they can tell you so much about a person, Eyes . . . the windows to ones soul.

Normally on my trips down to the Bikram studio I crank up the tunes . . . today the tunes were silent . . . I just needed my thoughts.

It was not an easy Bikram practice today. I had missed the last two days . . . physically and emotionally I'm a bit drained . . .

Missing My Hills

Church and Sunday School. Studying Eccelsiactics in Sunday School. Mark is a great teacher also a runner . . .

I normally run before church, but todays schedule I had planned a 3:00 with Meg. So 3:00 it was for a simple 5 mile run. I think we must have walked at least 1 mile of it, somedays you just have to follow what your mind said and today it said we needed to walk a bit and we did.

I ran 11 miles yesterday and 5 today . . . but something has been missing . . . my hills . . . somedays I just want to move away from Houston and back to the west coast. Is is because my husband spends half of his time on the west coast and I feel like I'm stuck here? Somedays I just want to jump out of my skin, can a person really do that? My days are filled with a variety of different activities, but sometimes I just feel I'm spinning my wheels and I am going nowhere.

Okay pity party is over with . . .

Running and Escaping the Rain

Today I had three different runs scheduled . . . 7 am with Phil, 8 am with Pam & Beth, 2 pm with Meg. Ran East End with Phil at 7, Change of plan to escape the rain with Pam & Beth on treadmill at 8:00 . . . I am more than willing to run in the rain but now everyone is. 2:00 with Meg she bailed. Got in 11 miles for the day.

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 101 - Just good enough

10:00 Bikram with Mike . . . still progressing on my standing backward bending, my breathing, well I'm actually breathing and staying focused through the backward bending. I was thinking back to my years in Middle School, I was on the gymnastics team, one of those things I was just good enough to get on. I can do alot of things . . . I've just never been the best at anything. I can play the piano, but just good enough for me to listen to. I can sing, again just good enough for me to listen to. I can run, again just good enough for me to enjoy. I can swim, but just good enough, I can snowski, but just good enough, I can bike, but just good enough. I can cook, well actually I can't cook . . . Raw Food Diet, now I can do. I can do many different things, again just good enough. Is it okay to be just good enough?

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 100 - Relax

4:30 class with Mindy . . . I love the savansana at the end. Mindy has her own special routine . . . talking you all the way from the tips of your toes to the top of your head and back down again for total relaxation.

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 99 . . . Clean and Sober

Spent the morning at church finishing up a project. Hit the road and made it to the 12:00 Bikram Yoga Class with Mike instructing.

There was only one familar face in the 12:00 yoga class . . . not that I have ever talked to this guy but he seems to be a regular at the noon class.

My mind wandered during class to a friend who is celebrating his 365 days of being clean and sober. I met him when he joined some of my running group and we have run several times together. You know there are those people that you meet and you feel like you have known them all of your life . . . but you actually know very little about them. I wish my friend luck and will continue to ask those questions, are you still going to your meetings, are you working the steps. There are some people you know that are a total screw-up and then there are the people that can make a difference in the world. I believe if Brice can stay clean and sober he is one that can make a difference in the world.

I was scanning back and remembering the evening I knew I had taken my last drink. It was June 1981. I am not saying I am an alcoholic or anything else for that matter. All I know is I had the same patterns of my father. There were some things in my life that I am not proud of some by my choice and some not by my choice. I won my last guzzling contest with a screwdriver and put the glass down and never drank again.

Reaching Out

Ran the Katie Loop with Beth, Pam, & Shelley . . . we went home and showered and then met back at a friends house.

Our friend has 5 kids and her husband had a severe stroke 2 years ago during minor knee surgery. Our friend has since gone back to work full time to support her family and we help out were we can, whether it driving to doctor appointments, kids events, just were we feel we can be the most help. We spent the morning and afternoon pulling weeds, trimming bushes, mowing the lawn, edging, laying new mulch, and blowing everything off. We also worked on the laundry, and made dinner for the family.

I made it home later in the afternoon to get my lawn cut, edged and blown and pulled a few weeds.

Tomorrow I hope to get back down to Bikram . . . I just have several things I need to get done before I head down the freeway . . .

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 98

Dropped my husband off at the airport at 7:15 this morning. Spend 4 hours at church working on Date Entry for Easter Services . . . and still not done . . . there are alot of new people who attend our church for the first time and need to input all of the info.

I made it to Bikram at 4:30 with Lianna instructing. The class was quite full . . . took a quick shower after class and headed back up the freeway to home.

Easter Sunday

A little 10+ mile run this morning before Easter Church Service. After the service spent a couple of hours in the church office getting a head start on my data entry for the week.

Spent the afternoon upstairs in the office with my husband. We both had our mental lists and things we needed to get organized and on the same page before he heads out of town . . . it was so very nice having him home.

I had planned to go to Bikram Yoga this afternoon . . . I just couldn't leave my husband today.

My daughter called from work to wish us a Happy Easter . . . My son exchanged a couple of online chats with me . . .

East End Park Run

Did a little 5 mile run at East End Park for our groups Saturday run . . . fast and smooth run.

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 97

Back to the South Blvd with Mike instructing at 10:00. When I see that Mike is instructing I really need to get my head around it. I know I need to start focusing before the class starts. It will be a challenging practice, and in his classes it seems like it is hotter than 105 degrees, when the class in finished and I have survived, it is a good thing. The postures are held for what seems a few extra seconds which I need to really focus so I don't come out of the posture before instructed to do so.

The class was pretty full today. When the studio is full is just seems like the extra energy for the students helps my energy level.

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 96

Today I headed over to the Fountainview location at 10:00 with Lynn instructing. A friend of mine S.W. wanted to try the Bikram class.

S.W. is extremeley flexible and has done over the years several different Yoga/Pilates. The instructor commented at the end that S.W. did not seem like this was her first Bikram Class. Due to the distance and the heat S.W. did not think she would become a regular Bikram Studio. So there you have it.

Though I enjoyed bringing a friend to the studio. Bikram is not an interactive activity. I think I was more concerned that she was okay . . . and she was then to focus on my own practice.

Bikram is more of an oral practice . . . listening to what the instructor is saying . . . and then carrying into yourself and focusing on how your body is to respond . . . each instructor I always learn something new that I didn't grasp before.

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 95

After spending 9 hours driving in the car it was so nice to be back at Bikram. I ran a Katie Loop before heading off to Bikram. Cheryl was instructing one of my favorite instructors. I continue to work on the breathing, especially with my standing back bend . . .

Broken Pipe

I had one of those days that didn't turn out exactly like I had expected. I instead spent 9 hours in my car.

My son had called to say a hot water pipe had broken under his tile floor and there was water everywhere . . . we told him to call the plumber. My son lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma in a house we bought together with him last summer to live in while going to college. I jumped into my car to be a 7.5 hour drive to offer my assistance. When you child asks you to come . . . this Mom will drop what she is doing. One scenario the floor was going to be jack hammered up. This time of year with my sons job and last few weeks of school, he didn't have alot of time to be dealing with this. Fortunately the plumber was able to run a new line through the old copper line under the floor . . . a bit of sheetrock will be needed but the concrete floor did not have to be jack hammered up. After 4.5 hours in the car my son had everything under control and I was more than happy to turn my car around and head back home.

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 94

This morning I did a 9 mile run . . . I still cannot believe the benefits Bikram Yoga has had on my lung capacity and the impact it has had on my overall strength and flexibility . . . I would have probably taken an afternoon nap after a humid 9 mile run, but not today.

I headed down for the 4:30 class with Lianna. I really enjoy her she is detailed and also informs us of the benefits of each and every posture . . . today I was focusing on my breathing that Mike had talked about with me. When I would do the standing back bend I felt like I was not getting oxygen. I am now focusing on my breathing . . . I am not going back as far but and practicing the breathing through the posture and I seem to be making progress.

Bikram After the Challenge

Today I was trying an experiment. I started the day with a 5+ mile run. I decided I was going to take the day off of driving down to Bikram and get some much needed stuff done at home . . . I must admit I had a few weak moments, down to even getting dressed to go to Bikram . . . I kept telling myself balance, stay balanced and you will not self destruct if I do not go down to Bikram . . . get yourself organized on the homefront and Bikram will be there tomorrow.

Bikram Yoga . . . after the challenge 93

Friday, April 3, 2009 12:00 with Mike.

It was perfectly hot and humid today. Nice to have my friend C. to my left today.

After class I chatted with Mike regarding breathing, especially during the standing bending backwards, the further I go back the harder it is to breathe. I need to be lifting up and then back one vertebrae at a time. When you breathe in do not let air out all at once. We need to make a conscious effort to breathe, eventually it should become natural.

He also noted on my Balancing Stick (Tuladandasana)I reach a certain point then I start bending from the hip and lean my upper body down like a broken umbrella. I knew it felt wrong now I know why.

Bikram Yoga - After the 60 Classes in 60 Day Challenge

Before the start of the challenge I had 31 classes under my belt. So today was my 92nd Bikram Yoga Class.

I headed over to Fountainview for the 10:00 class with Lynne instructing. We had 4 new people. I learned something new today or at least figured it out. On the sit-up the double exhale breathing, it was like an aha moment . . . why didn't I understand how to do that earlier?

The room was perfect for sweating today which is what I needed.

Bikram 60 Day Challenge - 60 - Summing it All Up

Just finished the 60 classes in 60 Days Bikram Challenge . . .

I'm going to use this page as my scratch pad and jot down some thoughts . . . so here goes . . . I located my notes back from my very first Bikram class (before I ever considered a 60 day challenge) the first Bikram class was started on December 1, 2008 . . . I'm starting to add them to my blog . . . very interesting to see where I started 4 months ago.

Off the top of my head the obvious transformation during the 60 day challenge and before . . . greater lung capacity, greater joint flexibility, greater overall strength . . . I felt physically fit before but this is a deeper stronger/balanced fitness level, and a chunk of emotional baggage if you will has been lifted which makes for a stronger mind.

To me there was nothing magical about the 60th class in 60 days it was all of the stuff that happened in between . . . though I did finish a few days early because I had done several doubles in the event I needed to miss a day, which I didn't.

My friends in the locker room to my friends in the lobby to the teachers we all are going through this journey together . . . Namaste . . .