It's that time of year again...

It's that time of year again.. CHRISTMAS!!!!
Tess and I were busy bee's in the kitchen this week making maple gingerbread cookies and discussing important matters regarding the studio... and by serious matters I mean gossip haha! I actually thought it would take us all night but we had the dough made, rolled, baked, and cookies decorated in about 2hrs. I think I'll have to invite Tess over again this week for another cookie making/ gossip fest since Scott and I have consumed an entire container of gingerbread in 4 days.

Every year my cousin, Jen, sends out a family newsletter including the schedule for Christmas Eve and a naughty and nice list which describes in detail whether each family member is naughty or nice and why. The whole family waits patiently in anticipation each year for the newsletter to come out. Rumor has it that Mini Oma, ie. Katie, is taking on the responsibility of the newsletter. Should be interesting... those are some big shoes to fill Katie! I've never been on the 'Nice list', EVER! so my fingers are crossed that this year, with the passing of the torch, that my luck might change and I may land myself on the Nice list.

Scott and I bought our first Christmas tree together today. This is my first Christmas out of my parents house, and Scott's first REAL Christmas tree. We're both super excited. The house smells amazing!

A little standing bow while decorating the tree...

Half moon. Can you tell I'm a yoga teacher?.. and a shameless plug haha

Finally Scott got annoyed of all the yoga pics and made me take a 'normal' picture in front of the tree.

Linda taught her first class today @ 10am. I meant to take the class but I slept in. I pretty much only wanted to take the class to see how I measure up. Not really for the supportive aspect of it haha. I talked to David, our studio owner, later on in the day and he said that her dialogue was incredible...*yawn.. and that she was super confident...*yawn. I was waiting for the punch line when he told me that my class was way better and that I'm a better teacher, but it didn't happen. Obviously. I'm so paro. (paranoid) that Linda's class is going to be better then mine or that more people will want to take her class over mine. It's consuming me. I realize how rude and crazy I sound... and I STILL don't care!

I teach in Toronto this weekend @ the Forest Hill studio which I'm super excited and nervous about. I'm going to be studying my dialogue all week in anticipation of this class. I taught my third class in Hamilton this weekend. My classes are still 100 minutes long and it still feels really uncomfortable and unnatural to be up on the podium. Luckily I didn't have to wear a headset this time. I know that headset is supposed to be fun, but really its just more overwhelming.

Niki got home today. I'm so excited! I need to get to bed so I can be ready to take beginners and advanced class with her tomorrow :)

XoXo

Anxiety sets in -Part 2

I think this was the title of one of my first posts right before I left for training. I haven't checked but as I began writing this post and felt oddly familiar. It's kind of interesting how I experienced anxiety before I left for training and posted about it a week-ish before I left and then, now, a week and a half after I left training I'm experiencing the same feelings of anxious, nervous, stressful energy. My head knows that this is a completely normal feeling to have, but the rest of my body isn't quite sold on it... hence the 6am posting. I've been up since 5am creeping Facebook, checking my bank account balance (then crying), making tea & toast, and reading other yogi blogs.

I remember thinking to myself last week, I could never have imagined being in so much debt- but I've never felt more happy. This week.. not so much. This week is all bills and Christmas gifts and filling up my car when gas is at an insane 105.8/g. This week I'm finding it more difficult to be accepting of my financial situation. Adding to the stress (guilty conscious) even more is that my boyfriend/ roommate/ love of life, Scott, pays for every single bill without asking anything in return. It costs my virtually nothing to live in my 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath town house. I generally believe that there are no problems, only solutions. However, my financials are seriously a problem with no foreseeable solution other than simply time because I work minimum 6 days a week, 8-14 hours a day. I want nothing more then to be a full-time Bikram Yoga teacher but how do full-time teachers make a living and pay their bills?
This is not a rhetorical question. Seriously, I want to know.

Teacher Training ended exactly 12 days ago. In that time I've taken 4 classes. All last week I couldn't figure out why I was so tired. When I was up I felt amazing, but I was losing steam so quickly; feeling like I was ready for bed @ 8pm every night. It's not that I don't want to take class or that I'm sick of it... It's just that I can think of so many other things to do with that 2hrs of my day instead of spending it in a sweaty hot room. Then, on Sunday, after Scott woke me up @7pm from my 2hr 'power nap' and convinced me to get my a$$ to class I was reminded of why I love this yoga. It energizes me, calms my mind, puts things into perspective, relights the flame within, gives me courage, and makes me feel empowered. So... I need to get back to the hot room. If nothing else, to at least preoccupy and busy myself with activities that are both, fulfilling, satisfying, and FREE.

My best friend and cousin, Rebecca, left for Tanzania on Sunday; never to be seen again until next August. I really missed her this week after the Forest Hill studio owner in Toronto, Janice, put me on her schedule. This is a studio that we rave about in Waterloo all the time. It's always a huge treat to practice there and visits are usually made into a whole weekend event. This is also the studio that Rebecca's sister, Lindsay, practices at. Janice has mentored tons of Bikram teachers and many of my favorite teachers have circulated out of her studio. I'm excited and nervous to teach there next Saturday and eager to hear her feedback and suggestions. I think this could also be contributing to my narcolepsy as I've only dreamed of teaching at this studio, on the same level as teachers like Barb, David Mook, Andrea Blakey, Paul McQuillan, Alex Evans, and Teshia Maher. That's a pretty serious line-up of teachers Janice has. Star studded.

I thought sleepless nights caused by stressing over dialogue retention we're over when I left teacher training... not so. I've never felt more exhausted and awake at the same time.

First Class!

I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to post! I've been so busy and tired. I started back at the bar on Tuesday night and have been working there everyday on top of teaching and taking class and doing insane amounts of laundry and unpacking. It's still not done.

I have 2 classes under my belt already and it feels amazing! I taught Monday @ 12noon in Hamilton/Dundas and Wednesday @ 6am in Kitchener. I was supposed to teach in Hamilton last night @ 8 but there are so many new people there right now that it was decided that I should just take class as it may be overwhelming to be instructing so many new people. Alex was right. I still went down just to take class since I had never taken Alex's class before and I was so glad I wasn't teaching. 50% of the class was new. I can appreciate being able to simply watch how Alex handled the newbies. Something they always advised at teacher training was "don't hump the newbies, don't poke the crazies". I've never had Alex's class before and she's super dialogue driven and strong. I'm hoping it will inspire me for my following class and that I'll be able to remember some of the things she said in her class and paste them into my own dialogue.

Me in the Hamilton/Dundas studio chillin' with my BYKW peeps before i teach my first class. Lookin' pretty anxious and nervous.

"Good morning everyone. My name is Katrina. I am your yoga teacher"

FIRST CLASS!

So much support from my peers. I'm so blessed and grateful<3

I don't teach at all next week. Everyone's schedules are already filled for November, but December is promising. I'm looking for about 4 classes a week which I think is attainable. I still can't believe that I'm a teacher. It feels so unnatural to walk into the room and continue walking onto the podium instead of onto a mat. Its strange that I'm now teaching the people that taught me and I watched in class to mimic the movements and postures. Every class feels a little better and has more flow. My goal is to get my class down to 90 minutes. Both classes were 100min and 95minutes long. oops!

Here is a hilarious article Tess sent me. I love it because it is so true! It's called 10 Reasons to Date a Bikram Yogi. I sent it so Scott immediately haha. The countdown begins soon for Scott to go to teacher training. TT Spring 2011!!!!!!

XoXo Kat

Day 58: A shortie but a goodie

Yay, TamRock is here @ Teacher Training for the first time since she graduated 1 year and a half ago. This is us at the sign-in desk right before 8:30am class this morning. Nice bags under my eyes eh? Thanks Week 9!

I'm super busy with Demo team and just getting all my group hang-times in before I leave. Can you beleive I'll be home in 4 days!? So much to do. So little time.

Sorry all for ignoring you this week. There's just too much going on. I'll be back in touch when I get back on Sunday. This will likly be my last post until then.

XoXo

Day 56: If you can, you must

I'm still so excited about booking my first class. I can't wait! Alex is so kind to let me teach my first class for her. She's already messaged me about classes in December as well. Awesome eh!

This week is completely different from last week. I know I always say that.. but it is haha. Last week was all focus and energy and crazy concentration.. this week is all sore muscles and ant bites and anxiousness about coming home. Did I mention how excited I am about coming home? 7 MORE DAYS!!! It's so hard to stay present this past week as I am starting to integrate myself back into reality and contact employers and car insurance companies, and cell phone service providers to get everything in order for when I come back home... IN 7 DAYS!!!

This whole week has been all hard classes, then finally we had a class from Raj (Bikram's wife) last night which turned my whole week around. Everyone was working together and strong and focused. Hardly anyone left the room which is always helpful in focusing the energy and minimizing distractions.

Before I forget: HAPPY BELATED 21ST BIRTHDAY TESS!!!!

I made the Demonstration Team this week as well. (not by choice). I heard about tryouts for it but decided I wasn't interested because Niki had told me that demonstrators don't have any free time, its a lot of extra work, and little time to spend with people other then other demonstrators. Well, that didn't sound very appealing to me so I decided to decline...until 2 days later when Niki cornered me about being on the team. And, after a very heated and emotional discussion (more of an order then a discussion), I went back into the room after one of the hardest classes of training, to demonstrate in front of Bikram. He didn't cut me, obviously (I wouldn't be so lucky) and now a practice an extra 2hrs a day in the hot room on top of two 1.5hr beginner classes. I'm trying to find the positive in this situation. Niki wouldn't have challenged me with this unless she saw that I would benefit from it. She always has my best interest in mind. After 3 days of practice I've decided that this experience is an opportunity to practice for competition, lead and set an example for my class, and help me stay present in my last week. Win-Win, right?

After Demo Team practice I met up with my solids, ie. Dan, Alex & Hanna for our last beach weekend. A bunch of other people came out too to meet us and get away from the compound. Although it was windy and chilly we were still able to enjoy and appreciate the company.

The Quad.

I finally got my unoriginal backbend @ sunset picture

Eoin from NYC and I doing a tandem backbend

Pacific Beach, CA

The Quad (Alex, Dan, Hanna & I) + Joe

The night ended with dinner at a Moroccan restaurant in Hill Crest called Kous Kous. It was the best food we've had since we've been here. So flavourful and delicious. The braised lamb shank was unreal. I still can't believe this was our very last Saturday dinner. Look at how much love is in this picture haha.

Tomorrow I'm heading back to the farmers market in the morning for some more persimmons and curry hummus. Then the hotel is hosting the Southern California Asana Competition in the afternoon which I'm so excited for. I LOVE COMPETITION! My friend Niki, who I lived with last year in a basement during Backbending Clinic in Vancouver, is competing. It's been a good weekend so far...but I still can't stop thinking about getting home :)

7 DAYS!!!

XoXo Kat

ps. My first BYKW class is Wednesday November 24 @ 4pm. AAHHHhhhhh!!!!

Day 54: I've never been a pessimist. I never saw much use for it.

FIRST BIKRAM YOGA CLASS BOOKED!!!!!

Where: Bikram Yoga Hamilton/ Dundas
When: Monday November 22 @ 12noon

Details: All my friends and family can take my first class for free!!!

In other news- I made the demo team.

I'll explain later... right now I need to run to class. I just needed to let everyone know right away because I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Day 49: The only thing holding you back is your own imagination

WEEK 7: best week ever!

What a turn around from Week 6. Everything was sunshine and rainbows this week. I cruised through all of my dialogue like a champ and I actually starting to have some fun up there. Crazy right? Who would have thought that teaching yoga would be fun?! We've had amazing weather all week and Orsi was around so we got to hang out a few times by the pool and at night during the week which was really nice. She flew out yesterday afternoon, and on up to Santa Cruz for a week to teach @ a Bikram Studio there.

DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA: Bikram was saying some pretty controversial words in Friday mornings class. I was trying to ignore him and not allow him to steal my peace or my focus but of the few things that stood out to me were "man cannot replace the woman, this is why we have AIDS. It is unnatural. Woman's job is to be a babysitter, mans job is to be in the garage protecting the family" Intense right! Well a lot of people got up and left quietly... but not everyone was as accepting of the separate views. Case-in-point: Pandora from New York. After class as Bikram was walking to the nurses tent to get changed and go back to his room, Pandora approached him and said to his face "You're a fucking ass hole!" with which Bikram replied "Get the fuck out of here. You are the cancer of this training. Go home". She was asked to go to her room and not leave or talk to anyone until the staff had some time to convince Bikram to let her stay. Bikram hasn't forgiven her and still wants her to leave, but Pandora refuses to go... I'll keep you posted on how this suspenseful drama ends.

I really can't believe that there are only two weeks life. 22 more classes. 14 days. 2 more posture clinics. WHOAH. Where has the time gone? This is crunch time now to do all of the things that I've been meaning to do the whole time I've been here but haven't because I figured there was so much time left. Isn't that always how it is? ugh, I hate that.

To Do:

- San Diego Zoo

- Pacific Beach one more time to go surfing and stand up (min. 1 time) on a surf board

- La Jolla beach

- Down Town San Diego to see the St.Diego statue where all North, South, East, West roads meet at in the center of the city

- Original Christmas gifts for the fam

- Take an epic and unoriginal backbend picture on the beach @ sunset for my FB display pic

Last night I went to this amazing concert with Dan, Somona, and Ritz in Del Mar called Dr.Dog. It sounds like a rapper but he's not. The band is out of Philly and I would call the genre Rock. IT WAS SO FUN. This was the first concert i've been to that wasn't mass produced. The venue was awesome and intimate. I'd guess that there was probably 200 people there. We were 10 feet away from the band. Standing room only. My legs were so swollen this morning and my neck hurt a little from the head banging but it was so worth it. I'm so excited to go home and download all of their music!

I woke up this morning with the intention of getting my tan-on by the pool and studying the last 2 postures of the dialogue but then, while waiting for Rena to get off the phone, ran into Dan and decided to go to the farmers market in Hill Crest. WOW is all I can say. This market is so amazing. Everything is organic and all of the farmers are so proud and happy with their products. Everything is local. It's nothing like the St.Jacobs market. Way smaller, but with so much more to offer. Tons of cool scarf and hat stalls, and everything made by hand. None of this overseas cheap 'dumping' of consumer goods like in St.Jacobs.

I discovered persimmons! They are so delicious and only in season for about a month. They grow on trees and when the tree begins to bare fruit, all of the leaves fall off the branches and all that's left is the fruit. Cool eh!

Rena showing Dan and I how to pick a good Persimmon

Dan trying a sample and Rena with her bounty

(Note: if you don't shower for 2 days and take a Bikram class and go to a concert within that time, you can braid your hair without having to use a hair tie) Awesome!

This is a picture for my lovely Scott. I've never seen so many giant artichokes in one place. 3 for $3!!!

You're jealous. Admit it.

MMMMmmmmmm! I got hard ones and soft ones. Both very different tastes. The soft ones are a lot sweeter, but both equally delicious

Dan and Rena eating our purchases on the steps of a church beside the market.

After buying a few things.. raw vegan pesto hummus, curry hummus, roasted tomato hummus + 3 chibatta buns for $13!!! we planted ourselves on some church steps and devoured all of our deliciousness while soaking up some rays. I'm so full, I don't think I'll be eating until tomorrow. I think we sampled from every single vendor. I can't wait to go back again next weekend!

I'll be home in exactly 14 DAYS!!!

Xoxo