A Different Yoga Groove

I have been practicing Bikram Yoga almost exclusively for 4 years now.  I love the peace of mind which comes from practicing the same series of movements over & over again.  In Bikram classes, the instructor guides students through a series of 26 poses in a room heated to 40C.  The words spoken are roughly the same each time.  It sounds very prescriptive but the reason for this is to guide students verbally to increase depth and flexibility.  At a Bikram studio I can do some of the poses well because I have practiced them so often.  Repeating the same poses every class has improved flexibility, posture and range of motion.

The last signs of winter in
Whistler 2 weeks ago.  

On a recent family vacation to Whistler, while my boys skied I practiced yoga at a non-Bikram studio because there is no Bikram Studio within 30 minutes of Whistler.  I wasn't sure what to expect because I have been practicing Bikram for so long now.

The sequence of poses at this new studio was rather Bikramish, with some variety.  I really enjoyed practicing a different yoga because the variety shook my body out of its usual groove in a good way.  The Mountain Series (where I usually do Triangle) was especially challenging and rewarding.  The instructor corrected me during this sequence by twisting my hips, a change from Bikram's verbal-only corrections.  Unfortunately, I can't remember what I was doing wrong in this pose, so this experience got me wondering ...

Does my brain remember verbal yoga corrections better than manual ones?  Another question, is it better to repeat the same yoga poses over & over again and become an expert, or to vary poses each lesson?  Just like my usual classes, I felt very refreshed at the end of the session.  And to answer my question, I think change is mind-expanding, but still believe that practice makes perfect.

I spy with my little eye, something that is ...  Happy Easter!

Day 7 - The last Xmas Yoga class

Today was the last day of the Christmas break.  Tomorrow it's roll your sleeves up & back to school baby!  Once again, it was a real treat to practice yoga during the daytime, at 11 am.  Starting tomorrow I'll have to either go before work @ 6 am or after school @ 3:45.  The trouble with waiting for 3:45 is that sometimes I get stuck @ school and can't make the yoga class.  So it's an early bedtime & early yoga for me for the first day back.

I. was teaching today, lucky us!  She always injects her classes with tips & inspirational words.  Today's tip was about Standing Bow - to really place the forward shoulder against the chin.  I thought I was already doing that but when the class tried after her demonstration, we all grew an inch and presto!  better balance.  As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, and a real live demo is even better!

Bikram teachers often have inspirational words during class.  I should bring a pencil & paper to class to jot those ideas down because I can never remember them afterwards.  Writing something down during class  would be highly irregular and I wonder whether the paper would stay dry enough.  Today's thought was F.I.P.  The only way I was able to remember was by repeating this acronym in my head a number of times.  I. says that the best way to improve postures is through:

1.  Frequency of practice - It's true, it doesn't matter how long someone has been practising, it's how often they practice that makes the difference.

2.  Intensity of practice - It's important to try hard, or else no changes will happen.  Timely advice as I was wondering today whether I should decrease my efforts while practising everyday to make sure I don't overdo it.

3.  Perspiration ... Actually, she said Persistence, but I thought Perspiration would be funnier.  Persistence goes along with #1 & 2, as does Perspiration.  Without Persistence there is no Frequency, Intensity or Perspiration.

Resolutions & a 30 Day Challenge

Happy New Year!

Some years I make specific resolutions, other years I don't.  Is it worth making resolutions if I'm not committed to them?  Probably not.  Some resolutions are standards year after year, but not necessary measurable, such as eating better and being kinder to others in need ...  Then there's the measurable/unattainable resolution - losing weight.

Last year I purchased my first Annual Membership from Bikram Yoga Saanich  so my 2011 resolution was to practice yoga enough times to make the membership worthwhile.  I'm happy to report that I reached that goal with 136 visits to the yoga studio in 2011.  By charting how often I practised I learned that I am able to attend classes often when I'm not teaching, not so often when I'm writing report cards & practically never in September when all hell breaks loose.

This is useful information for 2012.  I have renewed my Annual Membership.  I'm not going to beat myself up when I can't go to yoga, however, I will remember how great it makes me feel, and how it keeps me healthy.  So I'll try to make it to the studio as much as possible in 2012, at least 2x a week.  I was not planning on making a resolution for 2012 but that sounds like one right there.

My studio just started a 30 Day Challenge today.  The past 2 years I have regretted not starting the year with a yoga challenge.  So this year I decided not to wait until Jan. 1st for the studio challenge and to start my own personal 30 Day Challenge on December 27th instead.  I'm still on vacation right now and it's easy to make it to the studio every day.  Today was Day 6 of my challenge.  The real challenge for me will be scheduling family, work, & yoga.  I did a 30 day challenge in April 2010 so I can do it again.  The main benefits last time were more patience in the classroom, plus I kicked a winter-long cold.  Must keep this in mind to keep me motivated.

Benefits of daily practice (so far, in no specific order):
#1  Stillness
#2  Peace of mind
#3  Getting used to different areas of the studio
#4  Increased flexibility on backward bends
#5  Stronger thighs for Standing Head to Knee
#6  Letting go of being able to see myself in the mirror