Missed my Mark!

     February 28th...I didnt go to a class once in 7 days due to a foot injury, busy schedule and my Grandfather was hospitalized on Thursday and still is in the Hospital. Also, i assisted in a Thai Massage Class this weekend which made it impossible to practice. Enough excuses! I do not look at this month as a failure but rather a strength in my practice. Although i didnt attend 30 classes in 30 days, i made it too 19 in 27. This month enriched my practice, made me stronger and helped me to deal with some intense issues in my life. This month was a good foundation for the months to come!
     New Goal starting March 1st. 24 Bikram classes in 28 days which always me 1 day off per week if i need it. Sending positive energy to my foot so that it will cooperate with my practice. With all these issues going on in the last week, i have felt less energy and my diet has reverted back to carb heavy. This reassures me that i need to stay strong in my practice and i will feel healthier with a regular practice. Blast off tomorrow at 8 a.m.!

Day 19...Deep Detox!

     Missed a couple days of Blogging...Busy Busy Busy! Im still on track with my 30 day challenge. I need to make up 3 classes in 11 days! Im gonna make this happen! Todays class was the hottest yet! I loved it and i loathed it. I had a hard time finishing the class so i sat for the last 10 minutes of class. I was naseau's again form eating late on friday night and going to an 8 a.m. class this morning! Feeling the changes in my body. Its Amazing!

Day 16...Experiment Day!

     Today was fun! I ate a little to close to class today and had to take it easy for the last 30 minutes so i didnt have to leave the class and vomit. When class ended, i did end up getting sick in the Bathroom. Lesson Learned. Oh well. Struggling with finding my stillness while i felt sick in class. I found myself getting angry and anxious. I tried to breath though it but it was helping. Thats when i knew i was gonna sick. I fought through it. Next time if it gets close to class time and i havent eaten, i will just drink more water rather than eat.
     I'm extremely Grateful for so many positive people in my life along this journey. Thank you all for your inspiring words. Love and Light!

Day 15...Looking forward to Change

     Change in life is inevitable. We must  make this transition as Positive as possible. The change in my Body, change in my Heart and Change in my mind. If we are not striving towards positive direction, how can we be happy? I am starting with myself. Breaking my bad habits and unhealthy behaviors. Like the lotus flower, out the darkness and into the light! Through great struggle and suffering, i have become a stronger person. The only way i can do this is to share my journey with others. Along the way, i am meeting people heading in the same direction. By sharing, i am attracting and manifesting the positive relationships in my life that support me on my path. As i share more, i can support others on their path. Share, Love and Support! Keep the Vibration High!
     8 a.m. Bikram Yoga Today. Felt a little weak this morning. My diet has been wavering a bit. Mostly, i will eat healthy through out the day. Its my night time cravings that get me in trouble. This is one of the habits i need to break and change! I am doing much better with my food cravings. I realize i am an emotional eater and i delve into these comfort foods when under stress or dealing with intense life situations. Gradually, i will combat the night cravings with a balanced meal plan through out the day. My emotions have been on a roller coaster ride since i started my Program. I believe this can only make me stronger over time. I working it out, breaking down the inner walls, getting closer to my divine self and my purpose on this planet. I must let my judgement of others go. And the reason why i judge others is because i judge myself! WoW, that only took me 35 years to figure out. No more judging myself and others. Looking forward for the changes to come every second of everyday!

Day 14!!! Can't miss anymore classes

     Didn't make class yesterday cause i was so Busy with Work. No More Excuses. Yoga is now the most important thing in my life for the next 2 weeks. My schedule will revolve around my yoga classes. I will make up the 3 missed classes and be successful. My practice felt weak today. Probably because i missed 3 classes this week. Back on Track! 7 a.m. Yoga Tomorrow.....No Excuses.

Day 13 of my 30 day yoga challenge!

      6:30 practice last night and 10:00 a.m. practice today! Coming back strong! After a 2 day break, these last 2 days of practice have been so encouraging. I can already feel a difference in my body in 11 classes. Im going much deeper in my stretches. My concentration level is much Higher. I'm finding my inner peace in the most trying of positions by always going back to the breathe. 1 small victory at a time. This practice is changing me in so many positive ways! Excited to wake up at 7 tomorrow and hit my 8 a.m. class tomorrow and see how i can go even deeper in my Yoga Practice, on the mat and off the mat. Again, thank you all for the encouragement, especially Melanie! Hows it Going Dana!?

Day 10!

     Yesterday and i today were so insanely busy for me that i was not able to do yoga. Its a good thing to be busy! So, i will make up the 2 missed days of yoga practice with 2 days of doubles over the remaining days of the challenge. Its all good! A certain soreness has set into my right shoulder that is bothering me non-stop. I dont know if its a tendinitis, a strained ligament or something else. I'm going to work through the pain. Going to get more massages and take hot baths as well. I have missed the feeling of struggling these last 2 days and i'm excited for class at 7 a.m. tomorrow. Thank you for keeping me on point Melanie! Om Shanti!  

Day 7 of Bikram Yoga! The Detox has begun!

     Day 7 started out a little rough. I had a hot stone massage class yesterday and i received about 2 hours of hot stone massage. It was nice and relaxing. I came home and rested the entire evening. I haven't slept that deep in weeks. I ended up sleeping in through my morning class and made a 6:30 class instead. Glad i did that. I felt really strong again and i even was 30 minutes early to the class. Being that this class was later in the day, the room was sweltering HOT and a ton of bodies in evening class to make it even more Humid! Loved It! I really feel the Detox coming on strong now. Tomorrow, i will only eat vegan for the rest of the 30 days. Im going to kick this detox into overdrive. My water intake has been at about 4 to 8 liters a day. I feel myself going deeper into postures faster than every before. I started doing Bikram in in December and i feel so amazing from all the positive changes! The thing i learned today was Quiet Inner Strength. Love and Light! Namaste!

Day 6 of Bikram challenge!

     Feeling Stronger, getting stronger and feeling the change in my body beginning! 8 a.m. Practice kept me inspired all day!

Day 5!

     Day 5 of Bikram started with a 7 a.m. class feeling a little nauseas. However, i powered through it. Not to much to share today, im just keeping it really simple. Im not sure how much i want to share on this blog but my emotions and irritability are a little sensitive for some reason. Hopefully, i will work all these issues out! Positive things happen to positive people! I have to keep telling myself this when i have challenging days like this one. Saw a well known Yogi at Bikram today who owns a Hatha Yoga studio in Michigan. It kind of surprised me in a good way. Im grateful for my health today! h20 and off to bed...

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

Day 4 was Crazy!

     Today was an interesting day.10:00 a.m. Bikram in Troy. I felt strong in some positions and weak in others. I realized this morning how out of balance my body feels. Certain postures just don't feel rite for me. Which makes sense because how often, through out my life before i found yoga, did i do back bends? So some of the positions are awkward, which makes my body feel cumbersome. This is what made my practice stronger today. I want to realign my body through this Practice of Bikram Yoga! The balance of these 26 postures leave "No Stone Unturned". My body is definitely detoxing and now, more than ever, i need to stick to a clean diet. My energy level was up and down all day. So, i decide to do a 4:30 Hot Vinyasa class with Johnny Kest. He took me to the next level as always. That man knows how to push my practice to the limit. He is an Inspiring Yogi and a wealth of knowledge. Vinyasa is fun to me. Its playful! I feel like Bikram has strengthened my Vinyasa Practice and vice versa. Through out this next 30 days of Bikram, i will throw a couple Vinyasa classes in every week. I feel the challenge coming on strong and I Love It! Staying positive and focused! Om shanti, shanti, shanti

Day 3...Keep it Simple!

     Although this is my 5 day in a row doing Yoga, this is my 3rd day in a row of doing Bikram! Today, i felt energized all day after class. A bit sore this morning but excited to keep my practice strong. At this point, its Midnight in the Midwest and i feeling a bit tired from the day! Being a Certified Massage Therapist for the last 5 years, i can already see why Bikram is such an amazing practice to re-shape the body, increasing flexibility, aiding in postural alignment, detoxifying the body on a vascular level from the low impact cardio and the heat/humidity factor. Plus, many other benefits! I am going to keep it simple today and only focus on my oceanic breath!
     I have been dealing with some shoulder pain in my right rotator cuff for the last 6 months. Some other forms of yoga have irritated my shoulder. After 3 days of Bikram, i can feel the pain moving around and shifting in my shoulder. I am excited to see the results from this practice in my shoulder. The most important thing i learned today was to not judge myself or others. Our practice is our own! I am no better or worse than the person next to me. I am where i belong. Sat Nam!

Day 2 of Bikram....Feeling Strong!

     After getting over 10 inches of snow last night, i was snowed on for most of the day. Made to a 6:30 p.m. Bikram class in Troy! What an amazing class! The room was Especially HOT and HUMID. My practice felt strong today. When i felt my mind wandering, i deepened my breath and brought the focus back on the breath. I felt my body and mind taking more time to set up the poses. Although, i still have my usual weak points, i felt even stronger today! Staying hydrated and positive! The lesson i learned today is that pain heals pain like poison heals poison. Thank you Again Erica A for great class. Water, hot shower and sleep.

Day 1 of a 30 Day Marathon of Hot Yoga!

     Today, i started my Bikram Challenge at Bikram Yoga Studio located in Troy Michigan. Its a brand new facility within minutes from house which will make this challenge slightly easier. Although, the first place i did Bikram was in Farmington Hills Michigan, which is a very High energy studio that has been around for years. Both studios are connected by owner ownership so i will be able to bounce to either studio depending on schedule.
     As i mentioned last night, i'm fighting a cold. My energy was a little low today so i took it easy at the 10 a.m. class. I also figured out which side of the room is the cool side. I dig it really hot. I love to sweat, increasing the detox! I took it easy today and the instructor was very informative and helpful with the set up of the positions. The most important thing i learned about Bikram Yoga today is that there is more time spent in the actual set up of the postures than we actually spend in the Posture. It's very important to execute it properly so you get the most out of the posture! Thanks for the tip Erica.
     Hot shower, more water and off to sleep for day 2. Lets see if this big storm of 15 inches of snow hits tonight! Namaste