The mind is a powerful thing. And it's amazing what it can do under stressful situations - it's either your best friend or your worse enemy. As Bikram said, it's the difference between being Hitler or being Mother Theresa - all about how you use your mind.
My mind has been on an interesting journey through my Bikram classes. At first, it made me painfully aware of my pear shape and large thighs. It told me I've never been flexible so why in the world would I even try to do these postures? For a number of classes it obsessed over food. What was I going to eat when I got out of class, when was I going to eat, where should I go, how much should I have... food, food, food.... Two classes ago the food thoughts vanished. So did the big thighs. Now my mind is telling me that I'm strong. That I can do it.
And now the best thing it does is actually be quiet.
I have never been able to quiet my mind... to be able to lay still and think of absolutely nothing but breathing is such a beautiful release.
Class tonight was by far one of my best classes. Even though I wasn't totally enthusiastic about going, I'm so glad I did. Limited only by my very sore quad (thanks kickball!), I felt like a superstar.
D and I realized another huge benefit from Bikram - our recovery time from weight lifting is next to nothing. Woohoo - no soreness!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
A perfect Sunday...
Devin being assigned PowerPoint at church is always such a blessing... and a motivator. If not, we would definitely have slept in today, but instead we had the benefit of attending church, chatting with Pastor Ray, singing some great songs (they played all of my favorites today!) and listening to an awesome sermon (as always). Yep. That was where we belonged.
Bikram was good today, and I'm so glad. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous heading back into the Bikram's torture chamber after our very rough class on Friday. But it was good - able to do all the postures and I'm starting to most definitely notice a change in my reflection. Great backbend today and my half moon is most certainly improving.
Weight training went well, and even though it's only our fourth session, it's definitely working - can't wait to see the condition we will be in for our trip to Hawaii in September! (I can't wait...).
D's hockey game tonight topped off with a special treat - ice cream cone from McD's. Yummy!
Bikram was good today, and I'm so glad. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous heading back into the Bikram's torture chamber after our very rough class on Friday. But it was good - able to do all the postures and I'm starting to most definitely notice a change in my reflection. Great backbend today and my half moon is most certainly improving.
Weight training went well, and even though it's only our fourth session, it's definitely working - can't wait to see the condition we will be in for our trip to Hawaii in September! (I can't wait...).
D's hockey game tonight topped off with a special treat - ice cream cone from McD's. Yummy!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The challenge of the challenge
Apparently I'm a little challenge challenged. I had hoped for 23 Bikram classes in 23 days, but that lasted for only four days. We had every intention of going today, well, I did anyway, but the thing with Bikram is that it's not just about surviving the class, it's about the preparation before the class. You can't eat within 3 hours of the class, but you must eat before going. Thus, you have to hit that 3-4 hour window. D and I were so wrapped up with our puzzle (yes! I finally did one of my puzzles) and our movie (Up in the Air), that we forgot to eat. So we ended up spending some time lazing around in the pool. :-( Back to class tomorrow afternoon.
Sue and Tom came over for dinner and of course, it was wonderful! So blessed to have the best in-laws!!
Tomorrow: church, weight training, Bikram, and Devin's hockey game. Should be a fun day!
Sue and Tom came over for dinner and of course, it was wonderful! So blessed to have the best in-laws!!
Tomorrow: church, weight training, Bikram, and Devin's hockey game. Should be a fun day!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Fabulous Friday
Woohoo! Happy to say that I wrapped up another class at school today. The final was tougher than I had anticipated, which is pretty bad, since I anticipated it being tough. Normally I'm great at BS'ing my way through any test. Toss a little logic at the questions and I normally do very well despite minimal studying. Thinking today may have knocked me down a few pegs. Good lesson for me - definitely need to be more engaged in my studies. Hopefully it's enough that I pass the course. Two week siesta before the next class!
I spent the morning studying... between answering emails, checking Facebook, checking out the news headlines. I swear I truly have the attention span of a gnat. I remind myself of Dory. "Hi... I'm Dory...." Just imagine how much more productive I would be if I could just focus on something for more than a minute or two.
Food modification plan is going very well, I'm happy to report. We've come up with a lot of tasty new things in our diet and we're tracking all of our calories, carbs, protein, and fat. I'm definitely not feeling hungry at all or like I'm "dieting". Which is the goal, I suppose. Permanently modify our eating for long-term health and weight loss.
Of course, being a typical American, I crave immediate gratification and the weight loss is never fast enough. But four days of work and 3 pounds gone. Hopefully never to return. I've done Bikram four days in a row and I've been a little bummed out that I can't participate in the 60-day challenge. Birkam recommends that all students, especially beginner students, try to take 60 classes in 60 days. He promises a new mind and body. And I have to agree, just with the dabbling I've done. The mere fact of the strength, willpower, and determination that would be required to get through 60 classes in 60 days is awe-inspiring. How could you not be changed mentally after that. Talk about believing that you can do ANYTHING!
BUT, I think I have at least a partial solution. I probably can't do the full 60-day challenge until December/January but I'm going to try and go every day until we leave for the backpacking trip. This includes my five days up in Seattle with Brooke. Lucky she's totally cool with trying it out and going every day with me. =) (Poor sucker doesn't know what she's in for...)
Have to admit, I had a hard time getting motivated today. I still have yet to just sit still and build a puzzle. But then again, not sure if our card table is any condition to do a puzzle on. We had done three days of weight training, 4 days of Bikram, and 2 kickball games in three days, so I think I was just a bit burnt out. That, and I know I have 2 Netflix movies just begging me to watch them (and did I mention that I have two new puzzles to build??).
But we did it! Got up the determination to go to Bikram tonight. Neither one of us can say it was our best class. As a matter of fact, I can safely say it was probably my worse class. Not sure why - too many workouts, not enough water, psychological failure. Started off pretty good, did my breathing, moved on to half moon - still good, awkward pose - still good, then with standing head to knee I started to feel pretty woozy. And it just got worse. I stumbled through some of the remaining standing series and sought the sweet relief that always comes when we switch to the floor series. But it never really came... As a matter of fact, part way in, I actually started getting the chills. Now how does that happen? 105 degree room, sweating my ass off, and I have chills. Then my brain starts sabotaging me and I start thinking about what bad press it will be for the nice people at the studio if I die in the room. I swear I will never put myself through this again.
But we do survive, despite both having the chills. Some coconut water, talk with our new friends, and we were feeling better before we even left the parking lot. By the time I get home I'm already thinking about how I could possibly do the 60 day challenge... how can I squeeze it in? Insanity.
Signing off for the night.
I spent the morning studying... between answering emails, checking Facebook, checking out the news headlines. I swear I truly have the attention span of a gnat. I remind myself of Dory. "Hi... I'm Dory...." Just imagine how much more productive I would be if I could just focus on something for more than a minute or two.
Food modification plan is going very well, I'm happy to report. We've come up with a lot of tasty new things in our diet and we're tracking all of our calories, carbs, protein, and fat. I'm definitely not feeling hungry at all or like I'm "dieting". Which is the goal, I suppose. Permanently modify our eating for long-term health and weight loss.
Of course, being a typical American, I crave immediate gratification and the weight loss is never fast enough. But four days of work and 3 pounds gone. Hopefully never to return. I've done Bikram four days in a row and I've been a little bummed out that I can't participate in the 60-day challenge. Birkam recommends that all students, especially beginner students, try to take 60 classes in 60 days. He promises a new mind and body. And I have to agree, just with the dabbling I've done. The mere fact of the strength, willpower, and determination that would be required to get through 60 classes in 60 days is awe-inspiring. How could you not be changed mentally after that. Talk about believing that you can do ANYTHING!
BUT, I think I have at least a partial solution. I probably can't do the full 60-day challenge until December/January but I'm going to try and go every day until we leave for the backpacking trip. This includes my five days up in Seattle with Brooke. Lucky she's totally cool with trying it out and going every day with me. =) (Poor sucker doesn't know what she's in for...)
Have to admit, I had a hard time getting motivated today. I still have yet to just sit still and build a puzzle. But then again, not sure if our card table is any condition to do a puzzle on. We had done three days of weight training, 4 days of Bikram, and 2 kickball games in three days, so I think I was just a bit burnt out. That, and I know I have 2 Netflix movies just begging me to watch them (and did I mention that I have two new puzzles to build??).
But we did it! Got up the determination to go to Bikram tonight. Neither one of us can say it was our best class. As a matter of fact, I can safely say it was probably my worse class. Not sure why - too many workouts, not enough water, psychological failure. Started off pretty good, did my breathing, moved on to half moon - still good, awkward pose - still good, then with standing head to knee I started to feel pretty woozy. And it just got worse. I stumbled through some of the remaining standing series and sought the sweet relief that always comes when we switch to the floor series. But it never really came... As a matter of fact, part way in, I actually started getting the chills. Now how does that happen? 105 degree room, sweating my ass off, and I have chills. Then my brain starts sabotaging me and I start thinking about what bad press it will be for the nice people at the studio if I die in the room. I swear I will never put myself through this again.
But we do survive, despite both having the chills. Some coconut water, talk with our new friends, and we were feeling better before we even left the parking lot. By the time I get home I'm already thinking about how I could possibly do the 60 day challenge... how can I squeeze it in? Insanity.
Signing off for the night.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Thursday already?
Time is going by way too fast.
After spending an hour scrubbing my card table and chairs (only to realize that they are pretty much ruined - grrrrrrrrr), cooking dinner (yummy - tilapia and sauteed veggies!), and lifting weights for an hour, I didn't get to sleep until almost 11:30. So when the alarm went off at 5:15, my body just couldn't respond.
I finally dragged myself out of bed at 6:15 - gotta have some food on-board before the 9:00 a.m. class. Problem is, you are supposed to stop eating 3 - 4 hours prior to the class. So I had an apple and just trying to chug as much water as possible.
On the docket today:
After spending an hour scrubbing my card table and chairs (only to realize that they are pretty much ruined - grrrrrrrrr), cooking dinner (yummy - tilapia and sauteed veggies!), and lifting weights for an hour, I didn't get to sleep until almost 11:30. So when the alarm went off at 5:15, my body just couldn't respond.
I finally dragged myself out of bed at 6:15 - gotta have some food on-board before the 9:00 a.m. class. Problem is, you are supposed to stop eating 3 - 4 hours prior to the class. So I had an apple and just trying to chug as much water as possible.
On the docket today:
- Bikram
- Pool
- Strategy meeting on the business
- Weight training
- Kickball
- Movie
- oh yeah.... forgot I need to study for my final that's tomorrow. Oops. Gotta squeeze that in there somewhere.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
21-day challenge
In looking at the calendar, it appeared as though I had six glorious weeks off of teaching. Which to some people might translate to six weeks of vacation, however, that is not really the case. Now I am squeezing in a little bit of vacation, but we have so much to accomplish any time I have a break from travel that I need to be putting 100% effort into the business.
It seemed appropriate, given that I'm going to be home for six weeks, that I throw a good portion of energy into working out. In my mind, I pictured energized days, doing Bikram yoga at least five times a week. But we took it up a notch and D and I decided to do a 21-day challenge. Essentially between now and the time we leave for the Wyoming backpacking trip, we are to eat completely healthy, monitor all of our calories/fat/carbs, etc. AND do some type of significant workouts every day.
Our challenge actually kicked off yesterday. So far, so good. I should hope so given that it's day two. Our menus are planned out, the food is actually delicious, and if we have a problem, it's with not getting enough calories.
Yesterday: 60 minutes of weight training, 90 minutes of Bikram (about a C- performance), some swim time in the pool and then we capped the evening with our first kickball game (YAY!!).
Today: slept in (oops), 90 minutes of Bikram (about a B performance), and then weight training tonight.
I know it sounds silly, but I already feel stronger and maybe there is something to the fact that Bikram makes you crave healthy food.
About Bikram: It's the craziest thing anyone can choose to do. But crazy = amazing results. Bikram (the founder) calls it his "torture chamber". 105 degrees, 40 - 60% humidity, 26 postures, for 90 minutes. You learn phrases from the carefully memorized scripts such as: Japanese ham sandwich, pearl necklace, lock your knees, lock your knees, lock your knees, go back, way back, fall back, more back. And you think constantly that you are insane for even doing it.
But it reminds me of childbirth. Somehow, once you walk out of the studio, you forget the pain (the nausea, the dizziness, the all-over body pain sensations) and you just revel in the major accomplishment you achieved over the last 90 minutes. I really want to do the 60-day challenge (60 classes in 60 days) but my time on the road prevents it. But wherever I can, I will take a class on the road.
It's late - 11:18... and the alarm is set for 5:15 a.m. so I can eat prior to the 9am class. And tomorrow night is our 2nd kickball game - can't wait!
It seemed appropriate, given that I'm going to be home for six weeks, that I throw a good portion of energy into working out. In my mind, I pictured energized days, doing Bikram yoga at least five times a week. But we took it up a notch and D and I decided to do a 21-day challenge. Essentially between now and the time we leave for the Wyoming backpacking trip, we are to eat completely healthy, monitor all of our calories/fat/carbs, etc. AND do some type of significant workouts every day.
Our challenge actually kicked off yesterday. So far, so good. I should hope so given that it's day two. Our menus are planned out, the food is actually delicious, and if we have a problem, it's with not getting enough calories.
Yesterday: 60 minutes of weight training, 90 minutes of Bikram (about a C- performance), some swim time in the pool and then we capped the evening with our first kickball game (YAY!!).
Today: slept in (oops), 90 minutes of Bikram (about a B performance), and then weight training tonight.
I know it sounds silly, but I already feel stronger and maybe there is something to the fact that Bikram makes you crave healthy food.
About Bikram: It's the craziest thing anyone can choose to do. But crazy = amazing results. Bikram (the founder) calls it his "torture chamber". 105 degrees, 40 - 60% humidity, 26 postures, for 90 minutes. You learn phrases from the carefully memorized scripts such as: Japanese ham sandwich, pearl necklace, lock your knees, lock your knees, lock your knees, go back, way back, fall back, more back. And you think constantly that you are insane for even doing it.
But it reminds me of childbirth. Somehow, once you walk out of the studio, you forget the pain (the nausea, the dizziness, the all-over body pain sensations) and you just revel in the major accomplishment you achieved over the last 90 minutes. I really want to do the 60-day challenge (60 classes in 60 days) but my time on the road prevents it. But wherever I can, I will take a class on the road.
It's late - 11:18... and the alarm is set for 5:15 a.m. so I can eat prior to the 9am class. And tomorrow night is our 2nd kickball game - can't wait!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Boston Class Day Two
My day so far:
Slept amazing... too amazing. Alarm went off at 5:15 (I had glorious plans of getting up early and working on my paper). I shut it off. I woke up at 6:15. Bummer.
Getting ready to head down to the classroom to kick off day two. Class went well yesterday despite the fact that we have people at different levels of readiness. Today is the toughest day, though. Only two lessons but a lot of critical information - including precedence relationships and critical path method.
Had a great time visiting with Kristen last night... so much needed catch-up on all of the events of our lives! =) Happy that she's in class with me this week.
But tonight it's head-down, lots of work.
D and I need to focus on infrastructure over the next six weeks while we have a break from classes. I'm hoping we get a lot done and make the best use of our time. Our goal is to move from being so reactive, to more proactive and controlled with our time.Can't continue to burn the candle from both ends. Quality of our programs is our primary concern!
Slept amazing... too amazing. Alarm went off at 5:15 (I had glorious plans of getting up early and working on my paper). I shut it off. I woke up at 6:15. Bummer.
Getting ready to head down to the classroom to kick off day two. Class went well yesterday despite the fact that we have people at different levels of readiness. Today is the toughest day, though. Only two lessons but a lot of critical information - including precedence relationships and critical path method.
Had a great time visiting with Kristen last night... so much needed catch-up on all of the events of our lives! =) Happy that she's in class with me this week.
But tonight it's head-down, lots of work.
D and I need to focus on infrastructure over the next six weeks while we have a break from classes. I'm hoping we get a lot done and make the best use of our time. Our goal is to move from being so reactive, to more proactive and controlled with our time.Can't continue to burn the candle from both ends. Quality of our programs is our primary concern!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Oil
I am seriously and profoundly impacted by the oil spill in the gulf. I look at these animals suffering and I can't even deal with it. My heart hurts... my heart aches... so I decided that since I have the next few weeks off, I want to go help. Who knew they had too many volunteers? So as much as my heart hurts, it rejoices in the fact that there are people out there who care, who give their personal time, their energy into helping something they had absolutely nothing to do with. We are not politicians. We are not oil company benefactors. We are US citizens and we do care.
I guess in the world today we lose sight of these simple things. We are so de-sensitized by the daily injustices in life that we don't fully "get it". And maybe it's wrong that animal suffering catches my eye, my mind and yet all over the globe there is human suffering. But to me life is life. Animal or human. I want to help.
I guess in the world today we lose sight of these simple things. We are so de-sensitized by the daily injustices in life that we don't fully "get it". And maybe it's wrong that animal suffering catches my eye, my mind and yet all over the globe there is human suffering. But to me life is life. Animal or human. I want to help.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
30-Day Challenge
Inspired by some friends, I have decided to undertake a 30-day blogging challenge. A blog entry for 30 straight days... I guess it will be interesting view into my crazy life.
So day 1. It's Sunday, June 6th and I'm currently writing this from the Hampton Inn - Boston Logan Airport. Arrived about 15 minutes before a hell of a storm broke out - tornado warnings in place. Absolutely crazy weather and ultimately responsible for the very bumpy flight across the country yesterday. From my hotel window, I have a view of the water, peppered with old pylons, most likely remains of a dock many years gone. Across the water is a wind mill... not the nice, antique-y type, but the creepy white kind that they have in California. Not sure why they creep me out so bad, but they do!
Tomorrow I'm kicking off one of our boot camps. Should be a great group - because our classes are always awesome!! (Truly!). Bags are ready for each students, course materials, stress ball, some other goodies, and of course... a good supply of Red Bull.
So tonight my focus is on finishing up a new course module.... I'm thinking of ordering Chinese food in. =)
Did Bikram yoga this morning in Nashua - I'm so addicted. Bummed that I won't get back to class until Friday. So my goal is to hit the gym every morning this week. Must get this weight off!
So day 1. It's Sunday, June 6th and I'm currently writing this from the Hampton Inn - Boston Logan Airport. Arrived about 15 minutes before a hell of a storm broke out - tornado warnings in place. Absolutely crazy weather and ultimately responsible for the very bumpy flight across the country yesterday. From my hotel window, I have a view of the water, peppered with old pylons, most likely remains of a dock many years gone. Across the water is a wind mill... not the nice, antique-y type, but the creepy white kind that they have in California. Not sure why they creep me out so bad, but they do!
Tomorrow I'm kicking off one of our boot camps. Should be a great group - because our classes are always awesome!! (Truly!). Bags are ready for each students, course materials, stress ball, some other goodies, and of course... a good supply of Red Bull.
So tonight my focus is on finishing up a new course module.... I'm thinking of ordering Chinese food in. =)
Did Bikram yoga this morning in Nashua - I'm so addicted. Bummed that I won't get back to class until Friday. So my goal is to hit the gym every morning this week. Must get this weight off!
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