Day 25, 26, 28 classes down, Distance Makes the heart grow fonder

Well I am back from the East Coast, came back Friday late late...crazy flight full of delays and running! Missing two days of yoga I was super eager to take a class, even though I had some in the bank,  I went through Bikpas withdrawal...I went to the gym in the hotel but it isnt the same. Doing Bikram Yoga balances my mind, body everything!  I see folks go through intense crazy workouts and lose weight to only gain back. Bikram teaches lifestyle change, you go in to clear your mind, to get healthier to have better mobility.. you want to keep going there to maintain the healthy changes. You eat better to have a better practice...and lets talk about our community of Yogis and Yoginis.

All this came to mind when I went to the Saturday 12pm class.  I was weary of going in there thinking I am sore and tired from travel.. but said to myself if anything I will go in with an open mind, treat it as my first class and learn/re-learn my poses.  BOY was that the best/fun class I ever had...the energy in that room if only I can bottle it..I was surrounded by some of my favorite and probably yours too Yogis.. I was between Megan and Miranda, Karen was right nearby too...  so cool.  Energy is so important in this practice, that's why they want us to be syncronized, I think we are all getting mid way to the challenge where we get tired, discouraged and sore.. maybe those are the times we need to gather as a group and do a class together if possible..we can drive up the energy together.

Day 22, 25 down

I am sitting on the plane on my way to Charlotte and thought I type up a quick blog, I went to the 6:30AM class today and was tired and stiff..didnt sleep well b/c my youngest is sick and part of me was uneasy leaving out of town for work when my kid wasnt feeling well. So I went to the early class so I can get one more in before my flight.. man was I stiff..I couldnt budge then this ray of sunshine came in...Bernadette...  she was my neighbor.  She saw me struggling and threw me a pack of Emergen C, it was like she threw me a dozen roses... I lived through the class and grateful that I got a class in before I left town..

On a happy note my husband is a YOGI now, he wanted to take Jeff's 2:30p class yesterday b/c I told him it's a smaller class and you can get more attn there. He really wanted to get the poses down, he took my friend's husband (his first time) and he was to shy to go in the front ... my husband so badly wanted to be in the front next to jeff.. can you believe it? I cant!!! Who is this guy, he loved the fact jeff corrected him on the poses and even said his lower back is feeling amazing and that's only after 3 classes, he wants to keep going but b/c I'm out of town and he's alone with our three little ones he can't till I get back.

My wonderful Dad drove me to the airport and we were talking about Eagle pose etc... I love that we have this great healthy practice and we all do it together as a family.....oh no my laptop is running out of battery and there is no plug on the plane...so signing off and looking forward to reading everyone's updates while I'm gone...

Day 20, class 23. Before and after

Every time I get an opportunity to come to class it's precious, each day there is a very good reason not to go. Today we had a zillion errands, I'm leaving out of town, my oldest is getting ready to graduate Cub-scouts, before class we had to visit our friend who is going through a major battle with cancer and that is after several strokes and heart attacks. We known him for years, he's addicted to junk food, ate very poorly never exercised. I am sure if he can turn time back he would do things differently. Every day of life is a gift I am so glad my family and many of my friends are enjoying it as a healthy one.

Even though there is no Bikram studio where I am going, i still want to do Bikram daily for this challenge. I have Bikram's audio lesson and I will be at the Doubletree in the bathroom with a space heater and humidifier.

I had Nafisa's class today and enjoy it as always,you got to love a teacher who can recite the lesson but be very interactive and have an eagle eye on all of us to have the correct form. Another good news bite, today is my husband's second class, he mentioned in the car that his form will be good in about six months! I say we got another yogi in the making!

In the dressing rooms one asked how much weight I have lost, I say 50 give or take but I also upgraded my eating style and eating more clean. I put some pics up to show what a whale I was... Makes me a bit nauseous that I ever got that big. The sort of after was taken pre challenge about 9lbs heavier than I am now.

Date with Hubby at Bikpas!! Day 19, 22 classes down

Sorry haven't been blogging the balance of home, work etc been a bit nutty. So our home has been transitioning to more clean eating, food from plants vs made in plants. My 9 year old loves quinoa!

So as I started on my health journey my husband ate the same foods, without any exercise dropped 25 pounds. He saw my mom and dad and how committed they are in this journey and decided to see what the buzz was about. So his first class was with Jeff on Sunday, helped him get his mat down even went back row for him. Honestly I thought he would be this panting mess and would sit down the whole time. I lovingly told him prior to class to breath out of his nose and not his mouth or I will kick him ha.

I have been with hubby over 16 years and you would think I would know this guy, he was focused and determined didn't sit it out once and if he fell out of the pose he would immediately try it again. I was like woah who is this dude?! The kids were surprisingly worried how their dad did in class, when they found out he survived they treated him like a war hero.. Im like how about me. Guess what he will be with me in class again tonight thx mom and dad for tag teaming the kids for us. I have the greatest parents and family!

Oh yeah I finally was able to reach my heels in camel go me!!

Sorry if my blog makes no sense I'm typing it up while hubby is driving while we r doing kiddie errands.

8lbs down since challenge!!! Plus boots!

I am so bad when it comes to blogging, I forgot what day into this challenge I am in..I havent blogged in two days but I think I have about 17-18 stars?

Work has been busy which I hope will pay off later..so spent Valentine's day with Bikram, Valerie and team!  Gave our towels a V-day kiss and I really missed Valerie's class, I forgot how funny she is..love her patience and insight as a teacher..we do have the greatest teachers at BikPas.

Did a morning class the next day and (sorry if you are reading this and you are the guy) but was next to a super heavy breather..he was breathing out of his mouth..my ADD kicked in I made him the excuse of why I couldnt focus etc.. so in that class I was a cranky puss.

I noticed lately my knees were bothering me lately so I'm going to wait a while before doing any doubles. I am trying to keep up my regime on eating healthy not really missing or craving anything bad, tho latenight i do get snacky...but I told myself to stop at 8pm. 

I think this challenge is teaching me patience, silencing the mind before it gets overly cluttered, letting the crap go...take care of the body..how good it feels to be healthy!! but as much as I am doing this for health...yesterday was a major victory for me I fit LEATHER boots on my fat kielbasa legs!!! I have never worn boots b/c I couldnt get my calves in them...I tell you those leg toning poses WORK!! I'm going to push a bit further and work on all those toning poses now hahaa. I was so happy I scared the sales lady I made her give me several brands and they fit...they were not brands for fatties either they were for normal people Yehaw!  Plus went on the scale and dropped a total of 8lbs since challenge and already dropped 2 inches off my belly... (think eliminating dairy and meat helped)  Ok signing off for now got to get back to work.

Double Double and still alive!

Thought I type up a quick update I am at work, waiting for my CEO to finish his calls so we can have dinner... Today is the day I don't want to meet any executive management..my face is covered in ZITS...  I am not getting a clearer complexion I am getting a pepperoni face ugh.. I applied three layers of war paint...in hopes to cover it up. 

Today went to Erin's morning class and actually felt energy again first time since Friday.. She was great in telling me how to perfect my pose that I thought I was doing right all these months hahaa.

Exciting news for me was even though I am floppy still I noticed my balancing leg strength is getting stronger..you couldnt tell by looking at me but I felt it.  Plus I did my first TOE STAND well only on my right leg..the left leg didnt want to chance it with my fracture..but I was happy and also terrified I couldnt get back up.

I even attempted a double..went to the next class and honestly I wanted to just get it over with...rack up my bank account for my trip next week. Ok got to sign off and go to a dinner at a restaurant that only serves meat ugh...

Day 10, 11 and 12, 14 classes down

Sorry I have not blogged for days, I can't tell you how crazy it is in my house, for me to sit down and journalize will be next to impossible. day 10 and 11 I did AM classes and they were tough. Day 10 class I really wanted to try a double but by the floor series I noticed I was a bit light headed and felt a bit weak. I told myself ok we are almost done now get through this, do a sit up like no other b/c they are to give you energy and boy did I need it..  still in my head maybe I can do a back to back... once we got to Cobra pose I noticed my face was red and puffy like a tomato.

The last thing I wanted to do is to accept defeat and lie down.. my Inner Tiger Mom thing going on....  So my thought was maybe modify and don't push as hard to get me to the end all the way. Well I got there and I knew I needed rest. My body was telling me to hydrate, hydrate..the problem is in my job I drive lots and that requires constant bathroom hunting...

Day 11, my friend V came and picked me up and we went together, from the immediate start I knew it was a going to be a rough class for me. I am naturally nocturnal I notice my Bikram game is on better in the evening well, my absence has caught up with me in my household. My husband who doesnt work out regularly or practices Bikram really doesnt understand it completely. To do it you can understand it, for me to go to class I'm gone for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. So my mind was filled with emotion, drama and anger...plus guilt. I barely remembered that class and my locked knee was a mess but at least I completed it.

Day 12, I aimed to make it for the 8am class on Sunday and my 3 year old decides to wake up extra early and everyone else is still sleeping..so I stayed in and couldnt make it. I made breakfast for the kids and snuck out for the 10am class... I got to meet and introduce myself to Jen she has such a bright smile. I have to say this was one of my best locked knee classes,  I buried my big toe in that towel..I made sure my thigh meat was raised above the knee.. I did fall out but not as often..a small silent victory for me.

I love this challenge for the fact of listening to my body and getting to a healthier place physically and hopefully mentally. The one fun thing I did this weekend was go through my closet and try things on and was amazed what fit and what drowned me b/c it was way too big. I got into my pencil skirts with ease.. dresses that were tight are now lose..I have 3 bags of clothes now to donate.. my closet is not filled with frumpy smocks covering me up..but now more tailored and professional wear.. I keep referring back to the little train that could...I think I can, I think I can.

Day 9, no more diabetes, class 11

Right before I signed up at Bikram Pasadena I had a physical this was in June of last year.. I knew I would get bad news I felt unhealthy, I was the heaviest I have ever been, even while pregnant. I was told I had type 2 diabetes,I wasn't borderline I was full blown diabetic and if I didn't do anything I would be insulin dependent. I felt the lowest of lows, this was bad news on top of all the stress I had been facing. I watched my beloved grandma go through dialysis and suffer a slow and painful death. My kids are still so little. Well I took another blood test on Feb 1st for the challenge but wanted to know what my blood tests says now for diabetes bc I've worked hard on my health. The nurse today said "wow wow whatever is this Bikram keep doing it" I am no longer diabetic, I am not even borderline I have a PERFECT number.. I am in tears over this..this reactive has changed my life in so many ways.

Today I had class with Adam, it was great my knee still sucks but I am healthy and getting stronger every day! Actually today I felt a surge of energy and went 4 miles at the Rosebowl early this morning and had energy for class.. I know everyday my energy would be different but so far so good!

Day 8, TEN classes down straight..personal record!!

I was so happy I will be at my tenth class, I never made it to ten straight classes in 8 days. I was not tired or crampy I was actually excited to go again and get stronger. I thought to celebrate class ten I would do a little yogini shopping.. Luckily there was a sale. Hopefully everything will go fine tonight... Homework would go smoothly, no one would have a meltdown... phone would not ring and something would come up...it's always a struggle for me to get to class regularly I have to be creative and constantly multi task. So everyday I'm in class is a gift. While I was in Lululemon's dressing room in that three way mirror it wasn't so horrifying, I actually fit one size smaller and I noticed my shoulder shape was more toned than before...or maybe it's a mirage and my mind played tricks on me. To be hydrated and have energy I pack a cooler with me bc I am always on the road, filled with apple slices, carrots, water etc.. Helps me make better good choices vs eating when I am starving.

What a great way to celebrate my tenth challenge class with Val!! It was a packed class, folks were lining upfront the door outside. My energy was fine, my locked knee was a different story.. I found myself talking to my knee probably cussing at it. That's my biggest weakness and I am really trying to get that concrete lamppost down. But I liked that Val mentioned just work on the form and you will get stronger.. I want to get there bc it would mean my core got stronger. well lucky I still have more days in the challenge to tackle my challenge.

Day 7, NINE CLASSES down

Today I rushed for an AM class, I've been gone too many evenings and it's so hard to leave the house. Kids finish dinner by seven and I have to leave the house by 745 to get to the studio and lately it's been crowded and I have to leave earlier than that! Plus homework that's another issue, I am not smarter than a fifth grader.

I adore Bernadette's positive and caring attitude, she fully encompasses the Mother Love attitude and I am waiting to score her FOUR quinoa recipes. I found out she was a former corporate rat like me haha. Today I felt my arms and legs cramping, I got tired a bit easier this morning but survived the class and pushed to my limits, I back bended as far as I can go...I hold on to that hand to knee pose as long as I can and if I lose balance like I always do, I just keep going. If I don't see constant beads of sweat coming down my face swooshing out my contact lenses I know I'm not pushing myself..and I'm there to make a difference regardless of how tired I am. I am taking 90 minutes out of my schedule I better make it worth it. Today I don't have a good step by step on my class today..but will share my overall feelings..we are all in this personal sixty day challenge, all for different reasons..as much as the whole year free is super duper awesome it's the long term effect that keeps me coming back for more.

I am lying in bed with my coconut water and watching TV, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, tons of informercials on super duper diets are on .... I TRIED EVERYTHING.. now when people ask me "you do Bikram to lose weight" I get kinda ticked b/c I feel like it demeans the practice a bit.. I said no I do it for health and longetivity everything else will fall into place.  Bikram taught me how to silence my super clouded mind, to take time to breath and learn to control your breath, not to be overly critical and how perseverence pays off. I love how I am more active now than ever in the last twenty years. I even attempted running..this steady breathing applies to all kinds of sports. I think b/c of Bikram I was able to take my kids snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, swimming etc.. I swam a long way with my 60 pound son holding on to me so he can see that sea turtle I did it, I wouldnt been able to before.

Here's a pic of me and my oldest happy that we hiked up five miles up hill!!

Ok today I have no pictures of my food b/c I was on the road and in meetings:

Breakfast, whey protein shake with berries and almond milk

After AM class, monkey diet, bananas and coconut water ha

lunch, Thai food, tom yum soup, brocolli and tofu with brown rice, stir fry veggies (cabbage, carrots, bokchoy)

Dinner, whole grain bread, filled with spinach, romaine, red onion, tomato, cucumber, portabello mushrooms YUM

Snacked on celery with natural peanut butter

Day 6, 8 classes down!

Whoo hoo I've never done 8 classes straight which included two doubles.
I had a bad headache and felt really sleepy right before Nafisa's class, but I always look forward to her Monday night class, love how she is with my parents. Everyone knows them as "mom and dad"

Today I learned more about HALF TORTOISE POSE, learned to stretch not to just flop down and let my forehead crash on the towel.

My headache is gone and now I'm ready to crash and sleep, hope my three year old would let me.

Folks commented they like to see what I'm eating and am I starving myself, answer is no...I'm a foodie that's not in my DNA, I eat btw 1200-1500 calories a day. I only cut out processed food, animal protein, dairy etc..I'm using this challenge on my food as well.

When I went to see my ortho on my fractured knee I begged him to give me the green light on increased activity... He made a comment about athletes like me keep him busy. I was stuck on athlete! How I loved that! So I am trying to eat as one, food is now fuel not comfort I eat foods that will help my performance in class and take out the heavy foods that would hurt my practice.

Day 5 of 60, 7th class down

Today was the craziest and busiest day and I really didnt think I was going to make it to class today. Today my oldest who is a cubscout had a hiking outing today at San Merrill Trail in Pasadena a 5 mile hike up.

It was an intense uphill hike, everyone was out of breath while hiking, panting..but I was steady and was able to hold a conversation. I really thank Bikram for learning to breath, steady breathing really helped my stamina and endurance..from jogging to any type of cardio..it's amazing. a year ago my heart would be pounding out of my chest and I would be choking for air..instead I felt like "bring it" afterwards my thighs were very sore. As you can see based on my heart monitor I burned quite a bit of calories..but still wanted to go to Yoga..hopefully the pain would go down.

When I got back I was hungry, so here's what I ate today one of my challenges is to eat whole foods and more veggies, cut out animal protein and dairy if possible..

Tofu Salad from Sprout, called "Southwestern Tofu Salad" with black beans and corn, it was alright..think I can make a better version.

My little Costco collection, I dipped my carrot and celery sticks in the hummus and yogurt, very tasty. the Salsa is great on salads etc..

I make my "Green Machine" drink with red beets to make it look prettier.. inspired from documentary "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" lots of great health documentaries on Netflix Streaming...also "Fork over Knives"

Again feeling mother wife guilt esp during Superbowl, I took my son and his fellow scouts to Panda Express they ate combos, I had tofu and stirfry veggies..then to come home and get dinner together, made spaghetti and Pot Roast (Tri Tip in a crockpot) putting it all together plus a load of laundry...

7  classes in 5 days, didnt i just wash you???

next thing I was in the kitchen cooking, dang it it's 4:30p!! crap it..long story but I made it to Jeff's 5pm class. Here are my revelations for today:

I was up front on the left of the podium, only spot left..I am usually a rightie. anyways:

HALF MOON POSE all this time I had my trigger fingers pointing the wrong direction, I had them pointing forward, you need to have them lean back..like you are getting ready to shoot vrs shooting..I know when I have a class with Jeff there will always be some new "oh that's how you do that" moment.

STANDING BALANCING POSES OMG again challenging, darn you locked knee I will get it sooner or

later...

STANDING SEPARATE LEG to KNEE POSE I usually dread this one b/c I can see all the sweaty fat rolls coming through my Lululemon top..but today I noticed the rolls are not SUV size but getting to sedan size...yah

COBRA POSE to DEAD BODY POSE the neatest thing I looked at the mirror at the podium by the right and my back hump of fat went down a little, I don't look so much like a hunchback now.

FIXED FIRM POSE I always was happy i was able to get my back to the floor, but had my head extended back b/c I thought I was to make a bridge from my chest. to later learn to I had to put my chin toward my chest..double chins time.

After class I felt refreshed and happy..here's to the next class on Monday.. Although I did seven, i really love the going daily, I can feel my body changing, muscles are showing up that I didnt know I had. I am glad our studio is adding more classes..it makes it a bit easier for me with work and kids.



60 day challenge, Healthy Eating

Aside from my unhealthy donut this morning ugh... I am sharing my attempt to eating clean or eating healthy. The best part of this journey is that my 10 and 9 year old is learning how food is fuel vs comfort. My 3 year old would hopefully only remember his family is eating healthy. No more sugar for me till April, takes 21 days to form a habit so here we go..SUGAR is my KRYPTONITE ugh.

    Thinking of making this recipe for post class...

Day 4 of 60 UPDATED, 6th class

Still in my jammies was feeling good about myself and food choices I had made even dropped about 3lbs on the scale only to see that my husband got donuts at the Donut Man, never been there got a thousand yelps so I had a strawberry (fresh) donut. Instead of beating myself about it, I said I will eat healthy and low in sugar to make up for the sugar spike I had in the morning...Sugar is the evil, your body will use up energy to burn sugar instead of fat.

One thing I learned from Bikram is it's a lifestyle change, it's a life time commitment. I used to be on all fad diets, I can lose 20lbs fast for a wedding for only it to creep back up. it took me a while to lose the weight that I did but I didnt gain in back fast..I listen to my body b/c of Bikram and try to eat clean. Eating clean prevents feeling sick during class. So I am very excited about attending the 3pm today....I will post back here after class.

UPDATED:  Well I wasnt sure if I was able to make the 5pm class, I know my parents will be there and I wanted to see them. It was hard my kids wanted to hang out with me, they were riding bikes till about 4:15p the last class was 5pm, a big part of me wanted to stay and watch them have fun..I did two doubles this week and definately can spare one..but the discipline of going to class daily and the feeling of my body changing, my food taste and cravings (except for bad donut) is changing. I wanted to go daily as much as I can. I grabbed my yoga bag (it's a LULU love it) and headed out...only 18 mins to get there..while driving I envisioned my son's sad puppy eyes..when he said bye..ugh.

Phew got to class and got a space second row smack dab next to the mirror on the right side.. I noticed how much fatter i look from the side vs the front LOL. The biggest obstacle for me in this class is to clear my mind...my mind was so full of the kids and how I should be with them today...on my husband and our earlier grrrrr moment...filled my ADD head, plus ugh I had a donut..

STANDING DEEP BREATHING I learned as easy as this pose is, I rush through the breathing and arm movements, I am a rusher...I rush through things to get more things done..I don't know how to just slowly go through each breath as slowly as possible. Val on the earlier class actually held my arms and showed how slowly I should breath...dang that's slow... so slow but today I tried doing that..and boy you get a lot more air in..

HALF MOON POSE Today I focused on my arms are they right by my ears are my arms firmly squishing my head or are they floppy... I focus on this pose and bend as far as I can...anything that will diminish my love handles I will do!

STANDING HEAD TO KNEE this is my absolutely weakest pose, the one thing i would love to master or at least grasp is the LOCKED KNEE... after my accident, I was instructed to not put any weight on my knee..I think due to that it got weaker...so i will definately try to get this locked knee biz down.

STANDING BOW POSE my son Zane and his puppy eyes came into my head, I starting mind wandering...what should we do after class should I take them out for some froyo? due to this I was floppy..tho I do notice I am more solid on my right leg vrs left...

I think taking all these classes and my mind wandering I was a bit off on the order of the poses, when it was time to do the Cobra Pose, I got up to the top of my mat to do the Fixed Firm Pose..duh!

Tomorrow will be hard, I don't know how I will fit Yoga in...Tomorrow we are going to go hiking at 8am with the other Cubscouts and then of course it's SuperBowl...the one biggest sporting event my husband loves...I can't have him watching our loud and obnoxious boys during football.  I clocked my travel round trip for yoga, it's about three hours, half hour each way plus class, plus panting in the lobby time.... I guess tomorrow is another day we shall see....

Day 3 of 60 (Double Trouble)

I rushed like a mad dog to try to get to the studio knowing the 210 would be a mess, got up really early still dark outside, made spaghetti for the kids lunch, made them breakfast b/c they dont like dad's scramble eggs..he's the chef. Quized my son for his big test (he's in 5th grade) and made coffee, I know coffee is bad.. but I have yet the strength to give up my coffee (French Press baby with Peet's Major Dickerson's corse grind) I am getting my yoga bag ready with an extra change of clothes and towels for a double.

My three year old was still sleeping as I snuck out of the house feeling a bit guilty not saying bye or taking him to preschool like I normally do, but normally I don't get to go to Yoga on Friday b/c Friday night is family dinner (sushi) night... I went to class and had Brooke as the teacher, got to see our other teachers like Val and Jeff there as well..in fact on Thursday morning I didnt know till the floor exercises that Jeff was next to me...see I was being focused..I just thought there was some very bendy/flexible dude next to me.

It was a good class I was in the back row and I have not been in the back row in months, my vision is so poor if I was in the back I couldnt see to the mirror (and this is me who hates the mirror) but there was a neat part of being in the back, there was less pressure of anyone seeing me from behind and I thought I would lay low... but instead b/c I didnt see the mirror I really listened to Brooke's instruction.. One lightbulb moment was the Triangle pose I never put my elbow by my knee...but then again my knee had issues and I didnt want to put too much pressure on it. Overall great classes, even though there was no fan love...just teasers... you know all you instructors do that, walk around the switches...you see all of us getting excited, then you either walk away or turn it on to immediately turn it off..that's just cruel hahahahaa.  By the last few floor poses I was wiped out...feeling heck if I can do another class immediately after....so as class was done I went to the lobby to pass out and feel the cool breeze of the front door. Saw Val and asked her if I should attempt to take her next class, she said it's up to you..BUT you should b/c I'm teaching..

Ok fine, went to the dressing room changed my clothes so I won't kill my neighbor with stink and changed my towels...thinking, praying, that I will survive the class. I would hate it if I would sit down through poses or walk out... I wanted to bring it!  I noticed during my half moon pose my arms were cramping up..I noticed my face getting hotter.... I just said keep going...keep going, drank more water than I normally would and was scared I would puke water, then to later hear Val tell a story of a student who puked water after camel...I was like oh oh.. but still drank water..I had a empty stomach so nothing should come up.  I did survive the class and even tried to crack a smile here and there...I am glad I did it, but did feel very light headed afterwards. I had my veggie juice (kale, spinach, ginger, celery, apples) and 100 oz of water. But my big tip aside from veggie juice is MISO SOUP, it's healthy but salty...that really helped. Today I noticed my left (fractured knee) was bothering me...normally I would say hey I would skip the weekend and go on the mend but no I can't...sorry Bernandette I will miss your 6am class and go to either the 3 or 5pm class to give my knee some time.

I was on an immediate conference call with the president of my company, he wants me to go to Charlotte NC to train the team there ugh...is there Bikram there dang it...don't send me anywhere in the 60 days...

Day 2 of 60 (3 classes down)

This time I made it to my am class but will be tight on time....I had a lunch meeting at noon in Glendale.. So I had Shannon am class, she is so cute and YOUNG..I was thinking I can be her mom.. but what I love about having the various instructors you get different tips for different poses. I am not as good as Ching on detail and memory. But I know I enjoyed the class and was looking forward to the next one...I had a busy day on Thursday with work so I promised myself I will take a double the next day. Got ready with my Breville and was making juice, a recipe Roger had mentioned but added a beet b/c red juice is tastier looking than green juice.

Day 1 of 60

The weekend before the challenge was my Dad fellow Yogi's 60th birthday, we were total gluttons and ate big steaks and got chocolate ganache cakes at Patty Cakes. I was feeling so guilty b/c it seems ever since Thanksgiving, Christimas, the Cruise it's been a feeding frenzy and I didnt want to go back and be unhealthy.. so I made created a secret Facebook Page with my dearest friends many corporate rats like me and we made a secret 60 day challenge to be the best we can be..to put ourselves on the list. Mine was to give up sweets and late night munching...the list goes on.

By doing that I got really excited for this challenge, I went on the website and looked at the schedule and open my Outlook and tried to coordinate work times/class times... even local gym locations to jump in the shower and look decent for work meetings.

So day one, I did two classes not back to back but one AM and one PM. I actually rushed to the am class and of course the 210W was a #$%$#$@# nightmare and got to the doors at 5 mins late, LOCKED #$$#@@ so I decided to go to work and get some emails done and reports I needed to complete and go to a later class. I actually went to another studio, funny thing is as nice as it was it didnt feel like home...you know the feeling of going to a nice hotel, it's pretty and all....but really no place like home.  So I said to myself I will go to the 8:15p class b/c I know Val's teaching and of course my parents will be there.. I love going to Yoga when my mom and dad are there..  Boy was that class packed, like 50 plus..but it was great, loved how Val went to my mom patiently and helped her form. See it's home!!!!

How I got into Bikram June 2011

Hello Everyone,

I'm not really a blogger, I talk all day long for work between being on the phone and sales presentations, I am verbally spent. Maybe that's why I like Bikram so much I can just be a mute on the mat and breath :)

I thought I would start blogging my journey in my very first Bikram 60 day challenge. Let me tell you a little about myself. Been in corporate finance for about 15 years and made a career switch. I have been in corporate sales and marketing now for the past six years working for a national consulting firm.

I am a mom of THREE BOYS, yes I am very outnumbered as I type this blog my three year old is strangling me and has his stinky foot in my face while the other two are arguing in the next room. I can barely find the time to type this b/c I get the "mommy, mommy, mommy" every five minutes.

I have a ten, nine and three year old boy, my ten year old is going through auditory therapy for processing delays, my nine year old has Asbergers and is in the Autism Spectrum and my three year old is obnoxious.

Needless to say my life is hectic and I was knee deep in corporate politics and had new management taken over my company, in fact in my last job I went through 3 CEOs. I was so stressed with home, work etc. I put on maybe 40 plus pounds . I would fill my sadness/void with food, having a job that required lots of business lunch/dinner meetings didnt help. I literally felt myself slipping away and felt like I was dying inside.

On one random day, I went to see my pedi lady and she looked me right in the eye and said "You need Bikram, now!" and I'm like hell no b/c i hate heat hate it hate it..  I went years before with a group of friends for a unlimited week intro and couldnt go past day two.

But listening to my pedi lady Donna (@ Urbane Beauty she's the BEST)  I went to the Pasadena website and read through it and saw $39 intro for the whole month, I said what do I got to lose. I signed up and went..telling myself I will go and do this at least ten times to get an idea if I can do this. The first few classes I dreaded and barely stayed in..I hate looking at myself in the mirror, I would avoid mirrors at all cost b/c I hate the way I looked and felt.  Everyone in class is so fit, wearing their bikini looking clothing and am I the only one with no tattoos? I felt like a messy fat clump for the first week in class. I would come in wearing bulking big t'shirts to hid the massive fat on my body.

But once I got past that , a major transformation has changed in my life, pounds were coming off, my skin got clearer, crap at work bothered me less....this was in June, I was already preaching to my office about Bikram Magic. Then in July I got hit by a truck.. I remember being in the ambulance with the sirens going off and can't really feel my legs...my main thought was "no more yoga" luckily that wasnt so and it was only brusing and a knee fracture...I even asked the doctor if I can resume Bikram in a few days...he looked at me like I was nuts. Thank you so much Val for extending my intro, when I reached out to you I was only trying to get your permission to go back to something that i truly enjoyed, the once place that made me clear my mind and wash away my troubles in a healthy way.

Through Bikram I learned to listen to my body and have a steady calmness, as Jeff said in one of my early classes "Let that Shit go" boy is that the truth and with that it carried me through a bad accident, getting laid off the next month...nothing mattered but my health for my family.. well now I am blessed with a new job and back to going to Bikram. The best part my parents go as well!!  Well that's it for now b/c typing up my drama made me wiped out...