Success!! -30

Holy crap....I did it.

And I am beyond proud of myself. Couldn't help but smile at the end of class last night and may have had a tear of happy pride roll down my cheek before I finished my final savasana. Class was sweaty but full of determination for all those involved and that just made it so much better. Because of the posture seminar that the studio hosted on Sunday, all the instructors have been changing some things around and I am soreee today. It's not that things are super different but the little tweaks definitely had different muscle fibers firing. Love it.

Amy gave me a huge congrats and a hug after class and asked how I felt. Honestly? Awesome is the one word to come to mind. I feel different....stronger, more flexible, more determined...and content. I've had a few questions as to why I did the challenge...."weight loss, get in shape, etc"...None of those to be honest. Not in this to lose weight, everyone can get healthier and be in better shape, but I did the challenge solely to see if I could actually do it. TADA I can ;) Do I feel healthier/better/fitter? For sure...you can't do this kind of yoga and not feel that way, but Bikram is all about determination and I had been feeling like I lacked determination for a lot of things in life. This challenge showed me that I do have it, regardless of how I'm feeling about a situation.

At the studio when you complete the challenge you get 1 free week of yoga, 10% off the next package purchased, and 5 free buddy passes (any friends want to join let me know!) I've decided to take today off so I can go to the grocery store/clean my apartment/do normal people things then I'll get back in it tomorrow.

Honestly just so proud of what I accomplished since I've been talking about doing this challenge for years. Done. Checked off the bucket list. And I couldn't be happier :)


Namaste you crazies and thank you for all of your supportive words throughout this process!

YES. YES. YES. -29

Dude. Yes. Just....YES.

Last night was the best class of Bikram I've ever had....like ever. I don't know if it was the packed room or the extra sweaty temperature or just knowing that I've almost accomplished my goal. But I felt strong and determined and flexible and muscular and bad ass and I loved every second of it. Nailed the postures that usually give me so much difficulty and it was like I didn't have a care in the world other than staying in, keeping my leg locked out, and kicking ass.

Part of me wishes last night was class #30 solely because it was beyond awesome but I'm keeping positive thoughts that tonight will be just as solid.

So proud of how far I've come and the differences I can feel and see. Tonight will be fun ;)


Namaste!

38 Hours. Lots of Yoga. -25, 26, 27, & 28

4 classes in 38 hours. Me so sleeeeepy.

Rewind back to Friday night please. UH-mazing class. Lots of people, great energy flow, and extra juicy. One of those classes where I really felt like I left it all on the mat. Thankful that I gave myself that hour and half of my day to let go of everything else going on in life and just enjoy listening to my breath and feel my muscles do their thing. Amazing.

Saturday morning, however, I think I forgot to pick up everything I "left on the mat" Friday night because that was awful. Worst class of my life. I'm going to chalk this up to dehydration. I didn't really drink much Friday night after class and didn't wake up early enough in the morning to hydrate some more. Probably the first class I felt lightheaded and dizzy and wanted to sit on my mat. Awfulllllllll.

Chugged a lot of coconut water and maybe a little wine at a vineyard before the 4:30pm class and maybe I should do that more often because WOW. 4:30pm class was phenomenal! It was packed in there and I 100% did not care. The room was extra warm and for some reason all I could focus on was me. Almost as if no one else was in there and Julia was instructing only me. And then class was over before I knew it. I really don't mind doing doubles, as difficult as they are, but me and yoga in the mornings do not mix. Too tight, too sleepy, too un-caffeinated.

This morning's class wasn't too bad. I'm not really warmed up and ready to go until pretty much triangle pose. Weren't a lot of people because there's a huge yoga workshop today and they all came in later for that. Had Madelyn as an instructor and I've never had her before. She held the counts just a bit longer than usual but I think I needed that this morning. Only downside to class was everyone coming into the studio for the workshop and they were either talking so loudly just outside the doors or accidentally walking into the hot room to claim their space on the floor. Happened quite a few times and it was so frustrating at the end of class when you're really trying to relax into the floor and not think about anything, then squeakkkk the door opens again and someone else says "oops" super loud. Respect guys! Come onnnn.


However, I am now off until tomorrow night at 6:30pm and I have the whole day ahead free! This is NUTS!


Only two left....super proud and super excited.
Namaste!

I Jack Bauer-ed that Class! -24

Get it? Jack Bauer? 24? ;)

Never actually watched that show....just know the reference haha


Class was awesome last night. Beyond hot and sweaty again but I felt prepared. There weren't a lot of people in the 6:30pm class but everyone leaving from the class before was dripping on their way out so I knew it was going to be nasty. But a good nasty!

It was almost as if the other students didn't exist last night. I was there for me and me only. I say almost though because the new girl and her friend in the back would not stop talking. You do not talk in that room. The instructor talks...that is it. Tuning them out was a challenge on top of the already challenging class but I guess that was my mental workout for the day. I think Julia is definitely my favorite instructor and I feel like I had her all week, she leads the class with such a loving tone that you feel the need to listen to every word and try to adjust your posture to everything she says. Standing bow was my favorite pose last night only because I feel like I'm almosttttttt there. Sure I fall out, but everyone does, but I can finally get my hip into the right position, my stretched out arm doesn't feel like it's about to fall off, I feel my back bending properly, and oh look! there's my foot coming over the top of my head. YES. Success. 

My question is, what the heck am I going to do when this is done?! Well.....continue of course ;)


Namaste!

"Some people want it to happen..." -#23

"...some wish it would happen, others make it happen."

Quote from MJ because he was #23 ;)

Class was goooooood last night. My hammys were so tight that the beginning few postures hurt a bit. But a good hurt that I knew eventually would go away....not an "ouch I quit" kind of hurt. Full class too and that means it was extraaa sweaty, which I love. I'd rather get choked by the heat than feel like I'm wasting my time. By the time we got to the floor series I felt like I couldn't do anymore because I'd wasted all my energy during the standing series. Tried my best to lay very still during savasana to conserve whatever energy I had left to finish strong and woo was that a process. Today I feel rested though, like I gave it my all and then truly melted into my bed at home and passed out.

I honestly can't believe I've made it this far and I'll be done in a few days!!

Finish strong Kels, finish strong.


Namaste <3

I'm Feelin' Twenty Twoooooooo (22)

Not actually. Tonight was rough. I would have an awesome "I am woman hear me roar" strength epiphany last night....only to have a super weak class tonight. Boooooo. I think/hope I was just tired because my muscles felt like they were going to give way at every single-leg pose.

Everything in me wanted to curl up on my mat and sleep. But I felt awesome all day, not really tired or sore and it was pretty much as soon as I got into the room I was done.

Yiiiiiiiikes. Hoping it was a fluke cause I'm ready to finish this challenge strong and I am down to 7 classes left!

Good night's rest and my coconut water lie ahead for the evening and I'm determined to wake up ready to be a badass tomorrow night.



Also...to you ladies who can go through class in pants....I applaud you.


Goodnight and Namaste!

I Touched the Butt! -21

Well okay, not actually a butt....but I did finally touch my forehead to the ground in standing separate leg and words can't express the smile I had on my face when we came out of the posture. People probably thought I was nuts. DON'T CARE, TOO STOKED. Are my hammys a wee sore this morning? Duh, but I love it.

Last night was the first night I realized how my body has changed (check out these abs yo!) But not just in the physical appearance department...I'm strong. So much stronger than I was 3.5 weeks ago. It's not a "I'm going to lift this vehicle" strong, but an inward, stable strength. It's hard to describe without using the words "I feel amazing". It's no longer a matter of telling myself to stay in the posture for the whole time because I know I can do it. I have my focal points and I stick to them.

And finally...class felt normal last night heat-wise. Extra hot and extra sweaty ;)


LET'S DO THIS.



<3 namaste

24 Hours of Yoga- 18, 19, & 20

Phewwwwww.....3 classes, all within 24 hours of each other. DAYUM.

Yesterday I got off work early enough to go to the 4:30pm class instead of the 6:30pm class and had a good amount of free time last night to do laundry, clean, etc. So that was awesome. The room felt really good and it wasn't cramped with tons of people.

This morning, however, the room was 70 degrees. I walked in and Sara told me that the heat was broken/not working and that I should probably leave my hoodie on for the class so I didn't freeze. Weirdest class ever, it was more about the absolute correct way to get into the postures as opposed to pushing yourself to your max limit. This was kind of refreshing considering I knew I was doing a double today and I left the class feeling invigorated instead of tired. But yes, I kept my hoodie on the whole time and wondered "Is this what regular yoga feels like? This is awful." No offense to any of you Ashtanga lovers out there but my damn, I need to sweat. Left the studio still pretty cold, but stretched out...so I treated myself to a yummy hot chocolate at the City Market right outside the studio :)

Tonight's 4:30pm class was pretty much perfect. The heat was fixed (YAY) and there was the right amount of people in there to raise the temperature a few degrees. Since this morning was more of a stretch than a workout I went hard tonight. Holding every pose until I thought I'd fall over, pushing every muscle to give a few more seconds, appreciating Savasana when we finally got in it, and feeling everything pull and push in my body. Fantastic. Thought about nothing....this is beginning to be my favorite part of going every day....actually thinking about nothing. How many times a day do you wish you could just turn your brain off? Answer: Go to yoga.

Feeling amazing, checking out my SWEET abs everyday (not a narcissist), and I'm actually meeting a lot of people. There's the same group of us in there for the 6:30pm classes and we've all started introducing ourselves and making friends which is really nice, because now it's not just the instructors holding me accountable...if I'm not in class, these people are going to notice.

Down to 9 classes left....and honestly debating extending this into a 60 day challenge. Why not?


Namaste ;)

Chchchchanges! Day 17

So tonight's class wasn't particularly hot or hard....but something clicked.

I realized I'm no longer counting down the poses to see when I get to take my lavender towel and just lay on the floor for ten minutes. This is huge because I'm pretty sure as far back as my first Bikram class I would actually count the asanas on my fingers, knowing we did 26, to see how many were left. Then I went enough to memorize the order and started counting down what poses were left. Clearly, that kind of thought process is a major conflict in Bikram.

So tonight as Sara was handing out the towels at the end of class, I looked around and said "what? already?" Insane. First the muscles and the body change, and then the mind. And with that, I honestly don't remember much from class. Right now it feels like it was 3 days ago.


This means I'm doing something right....right?


Namaste ;)

Two-for-Tuesday! 15 & 16

What whatttttt halfway done y'all!

Now instead of counting up, I get to count down! :)

Went to class yesterday morning at 6:15am since I didn't have to be at work til 8:15 (rare) and I needed to make up for Sunday's missed double. Definitely NOT a morning workout person at all. I've tried running a few times in the mornings or going to the gym, but I'm really not one of those people. I'm too tired and I yawn pretty much the entire time. My body is cold and tight and by the time we get to the floor series, I'm ready for a nappy nap. So I told myself to take it easy in the morning and then kick my own ass at night. Success!

So night class was awesome. They're still fiddling with the heat and the humidity to find the perfect blend in the new room and get rid of the mysterious draft with unknown origins. I told myself to be a BAMF in the night class and give it my all and I'd like to think I did just that. My standing bow pose is so much better than two weeks ago and I can feel myself getting stronger with each pose. It's not AS difficult to get in them, but actually feeling individual muscles contract and pull and push harder is amazing. I've got about a quarter of an inch before my forehead touches the ground in the standing separate leg stretching pose, and by Saturday morning...it's going to touch. That pose in particular makes my legs and quads feel so vulnerable that it's hard to trust myself and know that I won't fall over. A torn quad (thaaaanks volleyball) definitely makes locking out my left leg so much harder than just using determination.

Class may or may not happen this evening....been recruited to work a pretty long day and I may miss all class opportunities. Trying to get to the 8:30pm class though so we'll see how that goes.

14 left- Namaste!

Hello Hotness! Day 14

Holy Hotness! Sweatiest class I've ever had. 107 by the end of class....I checked the therm ;) . All weekend the heat was kind of on the fritz but I'll tell you it was definitely working last night. My back was still pretty sore and cramped so I told myself to take it easy, but I don't really know how to do that.

The new floor is going to take some getting used to, because when it's dry you can get an incredible grip on it...but how often are your feet dry in Bikram? Answer: never. Super slippery when you're sweaty, so it took so much strength to keep my feet planted and not slip out from under me during Triangle. By the time we got to the floor, I felt ridiculous. So sweatyyyy and gross and my back was killing me. Decided to take camel easy for the first round and then give it a go during the second round...oops. Cramp. Kept telling myself "3 more poses and a breathing exercise and you can go home to your heating pad."

There's something about the new studio that doesn't sit right with me. I don't know if it's the lighting, the smell of fresh paint, the flow of the place, or maybe because it's just not the studio I'm used to but since my first class in there on Saturday, something feels so off.


I also went to class this morning since I didn't have to be at work til pretty late, so I could make up for my missed double on Sunday but I'll write that one up with the class for tonight. Two-for-Tuesday!

Technically...HALFWAY through the challenge! :)


Namaste <3

Grrrrrrrrrr....Day 13

So I spent most of class yesterday annoyed and slightly pissed off. The studio was offering free classes Saturday and Sunday because of the move and this attracted everyone and their mom. Again, LOVE LOVE people trying this out cause Bikram is awesome, but it was so crowded that you couldn't even get into a pose properly. Annoyed. And in the 9:45am class yesterday, I was so ready to start and then this old man walked in...decided he wanted to put his mat in the 10 inches of space between me and the chick next to me (naturally). This would have been okay had he been pleasant about it, but he walked in, said "move to the left" and gestured with his thumb...no please, no thank you, just so rude. Set up class to be a disaster (and he stunk...prior to all the sweating).

So throughout the class, this man constantly made his way onto my towel...how? NO CLUE. Then he'd shake the sweat out of his hair and it'd get all over me, etc. Gross. Not happy. And with the new lines in the studio for mat placement, if you're standing in the front row, it's impossible to do a proper sit-up. I felt so cramped and out of place yesterday morning and then the worst thing happened...my back locked up with a charlie horse and I couldn't even stand up straight. Spent the rest of the day with a heating pad on trying to prepare for the 4:30pm class (since I was supposed to do a double) and it did not happen. I'll do a morning/evening double sometime this week to make up for it, but my damn. Yesterday was frustrating.


Bitch bitch bitch, I know....class tonight, praying it goes better!

Movin' & Groovin'- Day 12

New studio is officially open!! Lizzie only offered one class today at 4:30 and it was FREE, so kind of prime time for new yogis to come give Bikram a try. The new room was packed and there were people on people on people but it seems to be bigger so it worked out. In the new room the setup is flipped so my usual corner of windows and mirrors is now on the right of the podium, whereas I used to be on the left. Y'all know my OCD was messing with me ;) had to find a new spot on the ceiling to stare at while on the floor too!

Definitely still some work to be done, but it's all minor compared to having the room up and running again. The heat was done at the very beginning of class/when people were still pouring in but the techs got it fixed and throughout the first 30 minutes or so of class it gradually got hotter and hotter until I was finally sweating my normal amount (drip drop drip drop) all over my towel. Lizzie also taught this class and throughout ALL my time at this studio, I've never had her as an instructor and she was great! 

Today for me was less about focusing on the poses and my body and more on getting acclimated to the new space and finding my new home and comfort zone in that room. Though I think I did pretty well. Having new people directly in the row behind me always makes me try just an extra bit harder, knowing that when they're confused they are going to look at me and that's going to be a part of their first Bikram experience. Standing series flew by, the spine strengthening series was killer today (have been having back spasms pretty bad since Thursday), but the rest of the floor series was fantastic.

Love the new space and I think it's going to be wonderful for the studio!

Double tomorrow...eek.

Namaste!

Bye Bye 5th Street! Classes #10 & 11

So since classes 10 & 11 were within 10 hours of each other, they get one post. AKA I'm dead. Last night I was so unfocused it was ridiculous. Extra hot and I was tired and I definitely did not hydrate enough during the day (whoops). Figured my shit out by the time we got to the floor series and tried to finish strong but geeeeeeeez.

THIS MORNING however, I discovered hey! I'm not a morning person. Especially without coffee (run away people) and class was difficult and challenging, but in a good way. Only 8 of us in there too so everyone got their feet walked on...which is amazing, by the way. Took a lot longer to get warmed up this morning and my body was beyond tight so every back bend I felt like I was going to fall over. This was also the last class I'll ever have in that studio and that definitely brings up a few emotions. Drew and I had our first few bonding experiences at the very beginning of our relationship in that studio, sweating profusely and looking beyond disgusting afterwards but deciding eh...not that bad, you still look good haha :)

My next class isn't until Saturday at 4:30pm and I have over 48 hours of a break which is going to feel beyond weird since all I've been doing for the last week and a half is Bikram every day...debating going for a run tomorrow but I kind of want to enjoy my rest while I can because I feel my body giving out on me a bit, almost as if it's shouting at me "hey woman...give it up for a hot minute." Almost didn't even make it this morning but after I hit snooze again I shot out of bed and felt wide awake.

Napping is inevitable today but I already got my workout in...what did you do before 7:30 this morning? ;)


Namaste you crazies...see y'all in a few days <3

Holy Crap...Day 9

Last night was....intense. At the new studio, they're going to start offering a 75 minute class in the early morning and the noon time slots. So Amy decided to test it out on us. Can't even count how many times the girls next to me and I kept looking at each other like "seriously? We just got in savasana!"

Most intense class of my life, which was probably intensified by the fact that I came in feeling kind of blahhh and just wanted to get it over with. It wasn't extra hot, the postures weren't extra hard to get into,  just felt kind of blah. And then Amy started ramping that shit up and we all felt it. There wasn't any less time spent in the postures, but the rest time in between was definitely shortened. As soon as I hit savasana, it felt like I could rest for maybe two seconds.

The 75 minute class will be AWESOME for the 6:15am time slot (so I can actually attend and not feel beyond rushed) and the noon slot for those who need a class at lunch. But my damn, people better be prepared. I hadn't really valued that rest time until it got taken away from me last night. Fun, but definitely more difficult than the 90 minute class.


Back at it tonight <3

[namaste]

Getting Easier...Day 8

Class #8 was fantastic. BIG class, lots of people, but noooobody comes and crowds my side/row of the room. Hilarious. Everyone was right next to the door and continuing to try to squeeze their mat in and touch other people, whereas next to the windows, we all had SO much space and nobody touching us and it was beautiful. Julia led a great class with lots of instruction and now that I have the sequence re-memorized it's so much easier to listen and tweak rather than tell myself not to fall out. Julia is also doing the 30 day challenge and we started on the same date, so it's nice to know that she's there to hold me accountable.

It was however, EXTRA sweaty and SO hot. the 4:30pm class right before has sooo many people and that made the room that much hotter for the 6:30pm class.

This morning, I didn't have to be at work til 8:00am and debated going to the 6:15am class AND the 6:30 class tonight but the timing would have been way too close. This means my first double is probably coming up this Sunday and I'm nervous (Jesus take the wheeeeeeel). So we have 6:30 tonight and tomorrow night, 6:15 Thursday morning and Friday off. Womp womp. Since the studio is moving, they're only offering Saturday's class at 4:30pm which means a thousand people will probably be there, but hey, new studio, lots of fun, and a housewarming party afterwards to celebrate the new space!


Namaste!

Determined Day 7

Holy yoga. What an incredible class. After a long day/night with my family I woke up this morning not really wanting to go. We went to brunch and I took a nap and I woke up roaring with determination to get this shit done today. First to the 4:30pm class (don't judge me!) and got my favorite spot and chose to just lay there for 20 minutes. Breathing and not thinking for twenty minutes. Only interruption came when two girls came in with their purses and keys and put them on the floor with their tennis shoes...told them to put everything in the locker room before Amy came in and did it. :)

Never have I been so focused on staying in a posture, that I was able to stay in EVERY standing leg pose WITHOUT falling out. Not even once. Praise Jesus. Class flew by and each and every asana made me feel like I was getting better and better and more in tune with my body. Amazing.

The best part happened after class though. There were two new ladies in the back that had never even witnessed a Bikram class before and after class when I was checking off today's date on the challenge board, they told me I was their inspiration for the class and they were impressed with everything I was able to do. Makes it all worth it and definitely makes me proud that I didn't give up on going to class today.

Day 7=done and onto the next week. I couldn't be more excited for what's to come!

Namaste <3

Mornings. Woof. Day 6

Ummmm so with it only being 10ish hours since my last class, my body was tiiiight. By going to class at night all week, my body had time to wake up and move throughout the day and I was loose by the time I got to class. This morning that was not the case. Woke up at 6:40 and said "whatttttt. whyyyy. grunt grunt." and eventually rolled out of bed. Very difficult because it's so cold in the morning right now and snuggling in bed, listening to the bulldog (and Drew) snoring is so much more inviting than even then 2 second walk to my car from the house in the 30 degree weather.

Class itself was interesting. Lots of sleepyheads and yawning going on and it took so much longer to get into postures because my body was just not operating. I was stiff and rigid and tight and sore and wanted to take a good nappy nap on my mat. Unfortunately for all of us, there was a guy in there this morning that really had no clue how to maneuver his body at all and grunted SO loud during every posture and was saying things such as "Oh God" "Damnit" "Ouch" etc the whole time...BEYOND distracting. I've never seen that many people rolling their eyes and sighing because of one person in a class. Eventually, he decided he couldn't take it in the middle of the floor series and asked if he could leave the room. Severine was kind enough to let him leave and go home (she may have been annoyed at that point as well). By the time class was over, my body felt better and awake...CRAZY cause I had zero coffee before class....Danger. Run. Could not wait to get home and chug my first cup of coffee for the day. I feel better. :)

Now I have the most time off between classes then I've had all week, so I'm hoping to feel beyond refreshed by 4:30 tomorrow...minus the fact that I'll be glugging along from going to Mas for dinner tonight. Ohhhhh darn.




Namaste you lovelies!

Distracted- Day 5

Lots of thoughts going on up in this head of mine these last 24 hours (mehhhh) and I was SO thankful to go to yoga tonight (I was 30 minutes early). I was ready to let it all go, sweat, breathe, and just melt into my mat tonight...didn't happen. I have a problem with overanalyzing and never being able to shut my brain off and it took a good 40 minutes into class to finally silence my thoughts and after that...all was cake.

I have found that I am focusing less on getting into the postures and more on how to tweak them to make them better. The instructors tell us to "find the cramp" and now that I've had a few days back in the saddle, I am reallyyyyyy trying to find the cramp (owwie). And I'm determined to get my head to touch the floor dammit! The little tips that Julia offered tonight were amazing. There were only 10 or 11 of us in class and I felt like she was talking to just me the whole class, knowing what I needed to adjust or to relax my face or hell, just breathe. It was a great class to end the week and number 5 is in the books.

7:30am class tomorrow morning...on a Saturday....haven't practiced in the morning in at least a year so it'll be interesting to see how I function sans coffee (I'm scared...the world should be scared too). Then a good time with my family to be had this weekend and class on Sunday at 4:30pm. That'll be the most time I've had in-between classes to recover so maybe I'll feel even more rejuvenated?

Chug chug chug Day 6 here I come!

Blessed Day 4

Most Bikram studios will tell you that once you can make it to 4 classes, your body has successfully acclimated to the heat. At this point, I almost 100% agree. However, I think it only took me 3 classes, because day 4 was incredible. Probably the first class I've ever had where I actually thought about nothing in Savasana. I stared at the ceiling and I just....was. There was so much determination with each posture that class flew by again.

Sara instructed and she has always been my favorite instructor at this studio. She leads with such an inviting tone and funny quirks and quotes that it makes class that much more enjoyable. Lots of people in the class but noooobody up in my front row (yay!). The only issue I had last night was with the two new girls in the back that didn't understand the whole 'being quiet' thing and continuing to laugh/giggle in the beginning/throughout/the end of class, even after some comments from Sara. Frustrating. Took a lot of concentration to block that shit out. I am ALL FOR new people coming to Bikram and enjoying the practice, but please understand and appreciate the rules for classes that are put in place for a reason. It is a time to reflect and grow within your own body. Rant over.

Class tonight at 6:30pm and tomorrow morning at 7:30am before my lovely family comes to Cville.

And PS...holy ABS. I don't know if I wasn't hydrated enough or what, but those puppies were out in full force last night and I don't hate it ;)


Namaste and enjoy your weekend! <3

Turn Arounddddd....Day 3

Bright eyesssss....

Sorry, Instructor Amy had a moment in class where she told us to turn around and the way she said it made me (and others) think about this song. We all had a good laugh after class about it, and now the song has been stuck in my head ever since.

Tuesday I woke up tired, but not sore. Wednesday I woke up sore, but not tired. DAMN YOU DOMS! DOMS-delayed onset of muscle soreness, the body usually takes 48ish hours to exhibit muscle soreness...so that leg day you did on Tuesday, you'll feel the majority of it Thursday. Yay education!

Class was great, less people than the night before but still a full house. I felt hydrated and ready to go even though my muscles were pretty tight. I was determined to stay in all of the one-leg balancing poses for the entire time and almosttttt made it. I feel like if my boobs were a wee bit smaller, Eagle pose would be easier to get into with my arms :) I'm sure most ladies feel this way!

Class also flew by, before I knew it we were on the floor in Savasana and I could have totally taken a nap. It was warm in the room, but not overly hot making you feel dizzy. The was a solid energy in the room and everyone felt and looked focused!

Side note: the Bikram studio is moving and will be closed next Friday...meaning I have to do a double. I've never gone twice in one day and it worries me that I won't have an adequate amount of time to hydrate between classes so next Saturday will definitely be interesting.

This morning...I'm tired...and sore...and in desperate need of coffee/WATER...but SO ready for day 4.

Til the Sweat Drops Down My....Day 2

...ha jk!

Day two. Uh-mazinggggly sweaty class! Last night at 6:30pm there were only 10 people in the class (weird for a 6:30pm class), tonight there were at least 30 (more appropriate). Makes quite a difference with the heat and the concentration. There was a different energy tonight too. Last night was very relaxed, I think there was one new person, and everyone was just kind of in the zone...tonight you could practically touch the nervous energy coming from the 10 new girls in the back (16 years old....maybe). Now I like to be in the front of the class, and I know that comes with some leading when there are new people...heck, they're told to WATCH the people in the front if they need help (yikes). But overall it was a good class, tried to focus just on me but got to be pretty difficult and at one point the girl next to me was falling out of poses in sync with when I was falling out of my poses. Amy was the instructor for tonight and I've always loved being in her classes. She comes in with a "we're doing this" attitude and leads the class with a very productive tone, helping those in need, giving instruction, but knowing that we are there to do work.

However, a few Bikram yoga pet peeves that I seemed to have latched onto this evening:
1. Putting your mat directly behind someone not only blocks your view of the mirror and what you're doing, but also makes you smell my feet the entire class. Gross.
2. Moving someone else's mat when they're not in the room and asking if it's okay. I have OCD. Sometimes it's pretty extreme. I put my mat in the same spot so I can line myself up with the same line/crack on the ceiling everyyyy class. I'm sure if I'm like this...there are others. At least be courteous and ask if someone could scoot just a smidge for you. Most people are nice...they probably won't mind.


Time to guzzle 80 more gallons of water for the evening, snuggle up with Peanut and pass the eff out ;)

The 6 P's...Day One

Growing up mom and dad ALWAYS told my sister and I about the 6 P's: Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance

Classy right? ;)

So naturally...this was stuck in my head since Saturday night and all I could think about was chugging water (I currently feel like a whale) and stretching when I could just to give myself any sort of an edge.

Class tonight was at 6:30pm...due to job constraints it's pretty much the only class I can go to during the week so it works, I'm just mad hungry by the time it's over! The instructor tonight was Julia who I had never had before and she was awesome. Never in my life at a Bikram studio have I witnessed an instructor MAKE SURE they had all the names of the students in the class and then actually use those names to give advice and compliment posture. A lot of the time you'll hear "girl in the pink...in the back...yeah you, you're other left" so that was super.

Bikram is kind of like riding a bike...lots of "oh yeahhh" and "oops" moments but eventually, you figure your shit out and get back into it. Breathing specifically. But my number one mountain to climb during this challenge will definitely be keeping my focus. I always position myself in the front row so I get the best mirror spot (no, I'm not a narcissist) but I use it to focus on a freckle on my tummy during postures to keep my concentration. However, as soon as homeboy in the back corner starts to wiggle, it all goes to hell. So that's my number one goal for the next 30 (29) days, keep my head on straight and focus on my goals and abilities.

Tomorrowwwww


(sidenote: got complimented on TRIANGLE. WHO gets a compliment on triangle...that position is no joke!)

So What Had Happened Was....

I wake up, I go to work, I go for a run, I walk the dog....and end up on my couch by 8pm ready for all of my shows. Sleep and repeat. Daily routine is beyond monotonous these days and I need a change. "Pick up a hobby", "get another job", "go to bed at 8!"....errr why YES I would not mind going to bed at 8 every night but I would probably just lay there the whole time until 11pm...like a normal person. And then inevitably wake up at stupid o'clock in the morning wondering what the heck had just happened.

Over the years I've been an on-again-off-again Bikram yoga fan. I feel like I really have to be in a specific mindset to go to class and a lot of the time I planned to go I'd say, "Ehhh, screw it, I'll just go for a 20 minute run instead!" knowing that the 6:30pm class was going to be packed, and thus hotter in the room, and further thus...melting into my mat. And other days I would be absolutely obsessed with the practice and overly pumped to go and sweat out everything. Love/hate relationship (or in reality pumped/lazy relationship).

However, I've always wanted to get through the 30 Day Challenge that Bikram yoga studios offer. The goal is to go 30 times in 30 days and you're allowed to miss two days as long as you make them up by going DOUBLE on another day (yikes). I've made it 14 days in a row, then got hit with a gnarly sinus infection and thought lack of breathing/snotting all over me, my mat, the towel, and other yogis was a bad idea and then I just couldn't get back into it. In all honesty, I had nothing and no one holding me accountable. Those 14 days in a row were awesomely painful. I was thirsty ALL THE TIME. And I hate the taste of water (weird, I know) so having to chug bottles upon bottles of it was a new experience and my body felt like I had muscles in places I didn't know muscles were supposed to be...and I have a Masters degree in Exercise Physiology so anatomy is kind of my thing. But I felt great. Almost as if I was breaking my body down to completely rebuild it as an improved Kelsey.

So here is my hobby (happy MOM?). Beginning Monday the 21st of this month, I will start the 30 Day Challenge at the Bikram Yoga studio here in Charlottesville. Am I excited? WOOT. Am I terrified? TOTES. But also, I'd like to record my experience for those who want to know/are interested in trying themselves/I won't hold anything back about how I feel or felt on that day going into the class, especially the awesome play-by-play of the old lady in the back letting one rip during Pavanamuktasana (say that three times fast!).

Til Monday y'all. Namaste.

(If I die of hyperhidrosis, tell my family I love them)



SIDE NOTE: For those that don't know much about Bikram, it's a very specific practice of yoga created by Bikram Choudhury that consists of the same 26 poses (asanas) performed twice, in a room heated to 105 degrees for 90 minutes and the humidity set at 40%. DOESN'T THAT SOUND EPIC?