4:30PM Class 11 Day 6
There was a new teacher for this class. A lovely young lady named Nicole who taught a very precise dialog. The room was full, hot, and humid. Getting through this class was pretty difficult. Physically I was sore, stiff, and low on energy so I just did what I could and didn’t worry about it. It’s going to be what it’s going to be. Each day is different.
After this class there was a Yoga Talk.
It’s an informal sort of desert party that the studio in Bend holds from time to time. Everyone brings something for desert and the studio usually springs for pizza for everyone. It’s a good time to find out a little bit more about yoga, and the people sweating next to you. During this class we discussed a book that many people had read called How Yoga Works
by Michael Roache. More on this book later. The yoga talk was fun, informative, and went on until quite late.
4:30PM Class 12 Day 7
It was a gorgeous weekend in Bend, and I considered going up to Mt Bachelor for a day of skiing except that I was way to sore, and stiff from doing yoga all the time. Really this stuff is beneficial to more recreational enjoyment. I swear it! However it’s a practice, and when you’re just starting out, or kicking things up a notch you are going to discover muscles and tissues that you’ve never known before. I certainly was. Very very deep muscle tissues were complaining that I was doing way too much. And this was a class. Michael Harris the studio owner taught this one, and it was in his words a Monster Yoga Class.
Michael’s classes are always good because he is an excellent teacher who has experienced great benefit from this yoga. His doctors will tell you that he shouldn’t even be alive now, but as a result of Bikram Choudry and this crazy hot yoga stuff Michael is around teaching classes in his studio, giving seminars and workshops in many other places. So he was in the studio Sunday afternoon teaching a monster yoga class, and my body was crying No no no no no. Little baby! Actually I did quite well going through this class. I was particularly pleased with the back strengthening series on the floor.
Afterwards I went over to visit my friends Doug and Stacie to watch the closing ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver B.C. Doug introduced me to the pleasure of Hot chocolate mixed with good scotch.
6:15AM Class 13 Day 8
This morning I woke up at 5:30 feeling energized and ready for the day to begin. Usually when I wake up this early I’ll go back to sleep until about 7:00. Today was different because I wanted to try doing my double classes 12 hours apart. Morning class at 6:15AM and evening class at 6:30PM. Michael’s suggestion.
Molly was the teacher wide awake greeting everyone this morning, and she taught a rockin class. Even at 6:15AM there was a full house. These Bikram people are serious about their yoga.
The soreness that I’ve been feeling is still there, but it’s deep. I felt really strong throughout this class, but everything was like cold clay. Tight strong muscles aren’t always flexible so even with the strength to get through the poses the flexibility was lacking. Which is pretty cool because in the course of my previous 60 day challenges it’s taken me about 20 to 25 days to get to this point, and then it usually takes a few days to become flexible again. Today it happened between the morning class and the evening class.
When I finished the morning class I really felt energized and ready for the day. Today was certainly going to be a double class day.
6:30PM Class 14 Day 8
No trouble coming into this class, and I had the added bonus of getting Delana again as the teacher. Have I mentioned before how amazing she is? This class too was simply amazing. Every posture felt very strong, and I was getting some good stretching going. There is still some tightness in the deep tissues, but in this class I could feel them opening up. I could feel the flexibility returning. I could also feel my heart pounding in my chest. It felt like a metronome set on fast.
If you’re used to running a lot or riding a bicycle, or some other aerobic exercise this is one aspect of Bikram yoga that will certainly catch you by surprise. In the beginning it is one of the most aerobic exercises you’ve ever done. The reason it’s a surprise is that you’re not moving while your heart pounds like its running a marathon. You move into a pose, don’t move a muscle once you’re there, and your heart acts as if its the most strenuous thing it’s ever experienced. Ok, that might be true because if you’ve never tried to twist all your limbs like ropes then this may be the most strenuous thing ever.
All I know is that I really feel great right now. My muscles are pleasantly sore, and I’m looking forward to more tomorrow.
I tried to leave a comment – but deleted it? or did it send? I meant only for you to know that I am so happy to read you’re still at it. I look forward to more, as comes.
Thank you. I’ll keep working on getting into the hot box. This afternoon may be quite difficult. I’m feeling pretty tired at the moment, even though this morning was a good class.