Day 6: You don't need a canon to kill a mosquito

Bikram has the best one liners! He just tosses them out right, left, and center haha. I try to write as many down as possible. I'll try to share some of my favorite ones as the weeks go by.

This week was really good. There were some long days filled with 100 half moon dialouges and Bollywood movies that kept us up till 3am. (we wake up @ 7am) It was challenging to say the least. I've come to realize that this is not the time to be going through classes without water. There's just way too much sweating and dehidration going on right now. I've been really focused though, and have yet to sit out a posture or drink water until after fixed-firm posture. I'd say very few people could say the same (if any).

My half moon dialogue is coming along, however, I have yet to practice in front of Bikram because everyone is at the edge of their seat trying to be next. After spending an entire 6 hrs trying to jump up and then be asked to sit back down, I decided that it will happen eventually. I've gotten up to awkward posture (ukitasana) which I'm happy with since we wont be through half moon until the middle of next week- at the earliest.

Last night we had no lecture after our last class which was the hugest relief so my room mate, Laura, and two other girls, one from Winnipeg and one from Texas, went out to this awesome restaurant in Del Mar called The Brigitine and ate the best fish tacos of my entire life! The night ended with us practicing our half moon dialogue on the patio with demonstrators and the whole dining room acting as our audience. Then, this morning we had a 8am class with the rest of the weekend off. Laura went home to be with her boyfriend, and the two girls from the night before and I explored Ocean Beach, a small hippie beach town about 20 minutes on public transit from our hotel. I apologize. No pictures! I brought my camera and discovered that it was dead, which doesn't make sense because I charged it before I got here and haven't tried to use it till now. So now I'm faced with the decision of having to buy a new camera while I'm out here or not... is it worth it? It kills me to see the beauty of California and not take a snap shot for bragging rights on Facebook. I think I'll go to Walmart tomorrow and check out the scene... as much as I hate supporting Walmart, I'm kind of tight on cash. Tomorrow we're going to a different beach, Mission Beach, which we've heard is really nice. I can't wait :)

If you see Scott, give him a big hug for me! He's so lonely at home by himself, and even though we talk every night, I think it only makes him miss me more. Try and help him occupy his time while I'm away eh, he's just a baby ;)

I hope you're enjoying yourselves in cold Canada, I'll be basking in 28 degrees tomorrow- Ciao!

DAY 1: Welcome to Bikram's Torture Chamber. No windows. No doors. Get my point?

TODAY WAS AMAZING!!!

This is where I'm supposed to be. Everything has been happening so streamline and the timing is so smooth for everything, I have to believe that this is meant to be.

Yesterday started off @ 1am when Scott and I left for Buffalo. A small snag at the border (30min), but I was still on time for my plane. First flight of two, middle seat open, and a cool dude next to me who slept the whole way. Then I stop over in Chicago. 30 minute wait, board plane quickly, and again! no one in the window seat this time; the whole plane is full. I slide over and grab the window and this nice lady in the aisle seat tells me I'm her lucky charm :) I'm glowing. After 3 and a 1/2 hours we land in San Diego a half hour early. My bag is the first one off the corral. United didn't loose my luggage?! amazing. After I got my bag I went up to grab a bus to take me to the hotel. It was already waiting for me, I'm the only one on it, and we leave for the hotel right away. Check- in was a breeze. Only 10 minutes (Linda waited 2 hours!!). I'm the first one to my room. I got everything set up the way I like it and had time for a shower before everyone was to register @ 1pm.

As I'm getting ready after my refreshing shower my room mate, Laura, rolls up. 30 years old, practicing for 5 years, lives in San Diego, has a car here, and has brought her entire kitchen and a gazillion groceries with here. "help yourself to whatever you want" she says. I'VE HIT THE ROOM MATE JACKPOT! -later Linda! haha

There were two lectures yesterday and the night off. Today started at 10am with a lecture, another lecture at 11:30 with Bikram, and class at 5pm. Again, had the night off :) The first thing that came to mind while in the second lecture was "Holly has to come here!" dunno why, but seriously, Holly- you have to take teacher training. The class with Bikram was insane! So amazing. So much energy. This is the largest training ever, 483 students from 52 countries.

I need to take this time to say THANK YOU to my yoga crew, BYKW and all my peeps in T.dot. It seems like no one in the states has the support system and community that we have in Ontario. Teachers don't talk to student, let alone hang out with them outside of class. Students can't practice advanced series, let alone know that one even exists, and students who are becoming teachers don't talk to other student who are working towards the same path. Its so insane. My room mate introduced herself to a guy that has been practicing at her studio for the last two years. They both knew one another was going to training by hearing it through the grapevine and STILL they didn't talk or support each other.
I am so lucky.

I need to hit the hay though. Big day tomorrow, starting @ 8:30am with class. I'll try to take some pictures this week and will likely post again this weekend. Just wanted everyone to know I landed safely. Miss you all!

Namaste.

Ground Control to Major Tom

Today I took my last class as a simple student of Bikram Yoga. It felt really good. David Mook was teaching which is always a treat, and all my fav practitioners came to take my last class before teacher training with me and say goodbye. I was pretty tired and sore which was weird since I hadn't taken class in 2 days. 


After class, as we usually do when Lindsay visits us, we practiced a few new moves and stretched out a little more. Showing each other what we've accomplished or pushed pass since our last class together. Here are a couple pics of some tandem moves we were experimenting with after class. 

Floor bow balanced on Scott's feet

Stretching while balanced on Rebecca doing cobra 

Tonight I leave for the Buffalo airport @ 1am for my flight @ 5:50am. It's 8:30pm now and I have yet to pack or memorize half-moon. I figure that as long as I start by 10pm I'll be okay... ha. Intense studying of the dialogue with occur on my flight. I'm confident that I'll have it down by the time I check in tomorrow @ 1pm. Optimistic? 

Thanks to all for your continuous love and support. I'll need it as I embark on one of the largest challenges of my life. I'll be in touch! XoXo 

Tight A$$

OMG I thought yoga was supposed to relax and rejuvenate, not stress and age! Who knew preparing for yoga teacher training would be so exasperating?! In order to try and organize my thoughts, with the intention to de-stress, I made a 'To Do' List. That was a mistake. After filling an entire page with tasks to be completed before I leave in 2 DAYS, I was even more stressed then before. My whole body and mind are tight with anxiety about leaving.

Things I'm anxious about:
- leaving Scott to fend for himself (ie. not live in a constant state of filth)
- getting this horrid economics essay done by tomorrow
- still not seeing my passing grade for Spanish on my transcript
- having none of the dialogue memorized yet; not a single line
- only being able to bring 2x50lb bags with me for 10 weeks
- not having a regular practice going into training
- leaving during Rebecca's last 2 months here before she leaves, possibly forever, to Tanzania

Something positive to talk about though, is this new style of yoga I tried in Mississauga last night with Olia called Power Yoga. The studio is called Power Yoga Canada, should you be interested in checking it out yourself. It's mildly hot, with no mirrors, tones of huge windows, and no change rooms? The no change rooms part sucked, but the class was pretty good. Lots of upward dogs, downward dogs and planks (ie. sun salutations), which I can appreciate for its upper body workout. A welcome change to my yoga practice. Not to worry- Bikram is still my main-man. Power yoga is way different from Bikram yoga. The most noticeable differences being; talking is allowed in the room, practitioners lay feet-first towards the instructor, and tools like blocks and straps are used by 99% of the class. It was a good workout, but I still find Bikram to be more intense.

In other news, Scott played dress-up at work today. Him, and another guy, Steve, had the best costumes. Fingers crossed that he wins for the district and wins the (unknown) hugh prize everyone keeps talking about. I don't know about you guys, but having this picture in my possession makes me feel like I've won :)

Steve & Scott (Pink Ladies)

"Why Your Yoga Instructor Hates You"

While in the midst of procrastinating on my ECON essay I came across this hilarious article called Why Your Yoga Instructor Hates You. It describes ten different situations which a particular instructor finds irritating. I found it to be quite accurate and very applicable to most yoga instructors I know, in addition to many advanced practitioners. 


Click on the highlighted article title and give it a quick read, you'll be glad you did.


I'm off to paint my nails, vacuum, clean dishes, and.... write an essay.


Namaste.

Anxiety Sets In...

Okay, so there's 6 days left until my departure. So far I've read through the dialogue once, and remember nothing. GREAT. Between today and Saturday night I have to somehow complete a 7 page Economics paper, memorize a minimum of 3 pages of dialogue, verbatim, pack two 50lb luggage's + carry-on, buy Vega powder, protein bars, blender, and figure out what kind of produce I can take over the boarder with me.

It's already become quite clear to me that I'm going to be a member of 'Bikram's Dumbie Club', and I've come to terms with that... but I don't want to be at the bottom of my class. What if the dumbies think I'm too dumb for them. I remain optimistic as everyone got certified last year, dumbie or not. I hope to not be the first who doesn't.

Seeing as how I'm the worlds largest procrastinator, I really don't know how I'm going to trick myself into studying yet. What with all the cake eating, Jersey Shore watching, and good-bye coffee, dinners, and drinks I have to do this week.

In addition to all that, I've been carb loading and hardly taking class. Ingredients for success? I think not.

There's already a pool for how many days it will be before I call home from Teacher Training crying. My parents think a week-ish. Scott thinks 2 or 3 days. I'm not gonna lie, I think Scott as a good chance...

Stay tuned, there's bound to be a minimum of one mental breakdown this week. Ha.