Nope

Yea... so, this isn't a 30 day blog writing challenge and I just want to chill.  See ya!

ps. had an awesome class... day 4 complete!

wish me luck tomorrow! Publish Post

Needs Improvement

I had a great class today.  The entire energy of the room was excellent and everyone was trying their best, including me!  I pushed through much of my exhaustion and only took a break when I truly felt faint (twice).  I stayed present about 95% of the class.  AND, I rewarded myself with a slice of 'za (hey, everyone needs their carbs and protein right after working out, right?)

I've decided to make a list of things about myself that I hope to improve over the next 27 days.  This way I can look back on day 30 and see what has changed.


So here we go! Starting from the top (and again, this is with all the loving kindness anyone could possibly have towards themselves) (I also do not plan to get a new boyfriend by posting this list online for everyone to see...)


Head - hangs low, eyes do not look forward, generally looking down, chin towards chest, frequent migraines and head aches
Mind - lack of clarity, poor confidence, depression, anxiety, unable to focus on one task, doesn't always stay present (mindfulness)
Face - oily skin, blemishes, large pores, skin congestion, dark circles under eyes, lack of facial muscles, especially on the forehead, fine lines
Neck - propped forward, blemishes, skin congestion
Shoulders - tense, rolled in towards chest and up towards ears, weird shoulder fat, lack of tone
Back - spine misaligned, poor posture, blemishes, skin congestion, dryness, weak muscles, lack of tone
Chest - slight concave, blemishes, skin congestion, does not lead with heart
Arms - lack of tone, weak muscles, skin congestion
Hands - i threw this one in here for fun, i have the most beautiful hands, mreh, mreh, mreh
Belly - spare tire fat, no visible abs, ribs appear to be shaped differently
Butt - tight glutes, fat, lack of tone, cellulite
Upper Legs - fat, lack of tone, weak muscles, cellulite
Knees - recovered(?) mcl injury on left knee is still favoured, over-extension
Lower Legs - weak muscles, appear to be shaped differently
Feet - in bad shape, need surgery for bunions and generally fuckedupness, hard to balance, weak muscles
Overall Health - poor balance, lack of endurance, limited strength, poor cardiovascular health, 12-15 pounds overweight, low to average lung capacity

Let's see what happens in 27 more days.

I only have to repeat what I've done over the past 3 days 9 more times... that seems pretty easy.

Wish me luck tomorrow!

Doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take?

Coconut water is amazing stuff.  I knew that it would become a staple for my challenge from the moment I had my first sip yesterday after class.  I noticed that my teacher was handing them out to people who were hurtin' real bad (ie. nearly fainting).  He said that it was a great sports drink, that it would help replenish electrolytes. I figured I'd give it a try.

I got a weird headache mid-way through class yesterday.  I knew that I couldn't be horribly dehydrated because I drank at least 20 glasses of water over the course of the day.  I figured it must have been my electrolytes.  Sure enough, 10 minutes after I drank the delicious elixir my headache was gone.
Miraculous!

For a quick overview of some of the other benefits of coconut water click here

Today, with coconut water in hand, I completed my 2nd Bikram yoga class.  Today I chose front row center.  The room felt hotter today and it was one hell of a workout.  I think that my biggest challenge over the next month will be trying to stay present, in the poses, in the class, without escaping.  Today my escape sounded something like this :).

Okay, I'm sleepy.  I swear I will talk more about the yoga soon.

Wish me luck tomorrow!

"Operation Self Esteem... Day Fucking One" - Elizabeth Gilbert

Today marks the first day of my new yoga practice.  I have decided to begin a 30 day Bikram yoga challenge.  I will do the same 26 postures for 30 days, every single day, no excuses.  I remember reading about this challenge a few months ago.  I read that Bikram says that if you do this yoga every single day for 30 days your life will change, your body will change, your mind will change, your everything will change.  And guess what folks, that is exactly what I need! I need a change.

Why Bikram?  I've been practicing (if you can call it that) various flavours of yoga since I was 17 years old... on and off (mostly off).  I never thought that I would ever step foot into a Bikram studio.  The competitive attitude scared me.  The extreme heat made me uneasy (what if I faint?).  It just isn't the kumbaya yoga that I'm used to.  Fear fear fear... my only excuse holding me back from doing this yoga was fear.... and that just isn't good enough for me anymore.  (Also... see above, I need a change.)

So, after weeks of deliberating and prepping myself I finally walked my nearly naked, fat butt (and I mean that with all the loving kindness in this universe) into the torture chamber... yes, that is what they call a studio in the Bikram world.  The Torture Chamber.  The girl who got me all sorted this evening told me to take it easy on myself, it being my first day, and that I should stay in the coolest parts of the room, the middle and/or the front.  When I walked in the room there was one last spot available, in the back corner.  The room itself is heated to a blood boiling 105 degrees.  By the time I laid down on my mat I was already sweating, my heart was already pounding.

Somehow, ninety minutes and at least a pints (mmm beer) worth of sweat later, I'm still alive.  I had a good time.  I smiled for most...errr... some of it (okay I think I smiled once, or twice, but still!).  I think that I may actually enjoy this.  Right on!

Wish me luck for tomorrow!