Day 8 September Challenge

Counting today as a double. Strong practice with Miss Elizabeth this morning, every pose, every time. Followed by training practice for about an hour. Whew. It's goon a be great. 

Day 7, September Challenge

Making progress on my Right Kick; I can feel the need to relax and breathe into my kick. Trust. I know I have the physical ability, I need to BELIEVE I have the ability, *in that moment* of kicking. 

7am was an odd shift from my afternoon/evening practice; more endurance, less flexibility. Miss Elizabeth does a great job of forcing my mind into the present. Practicing next to Mr Steve was good inspiration, I thanked him for his telepathic encouragement :) Finish Strong! Ask Your Body What It's Got Today! You Never Know! (Teachers have the best yoga ear worms of encouragement) 

Tomorrow is double duty, 9 am practice & 11am training. 5+2 (Standing Head-to-Knee is one of the 5 compulsory poses, two are yogi choice) I am so excited! I need to EAT & EAT CLEAN & A WHOLE FUCKTON to train properly. Did I mention my excitement? 

Day 5 September Challenge

I did not want the yoga today. No how, no way. So I dragged my crabbyass to 6:30 practice, retribution for listening to the grumpy mcgrumbles all day.Leslie led us, quite gently, through the rough & humid practice. The monkey minds were rowdy and drunker than usual, her compassion was inspiring and welcome. I finally stayed in the room! Only sat out one set of standing separate leg head-to-knee, to soothe the voices screaming about sweat up my nose. 

To make matters magic, coaching through standing head-to-knee brought big progress towards full expression. She mentioned the very important grip, at the ball of the foot, allowing the heel to propel forward & the toes to point back. Viola! First instance of locked left kicking leg (photo is mirrored) Upside down L like Linda :) 

Five days. In a row. Go me.

Day 4 September Challenge

Miss Kim for the 4:30 practice today. Less intense than days 1-3, still incredibly intense. Will be reverting to mornings to see if there's a shift for me. Left again, though after busting my ass during the first half! 

Asked for coaching on Standing Head-to-Knee, I want kicking leg locked by month's end. I have the physical ability, I know it, just need to hush that chatter! Also working on Standing Separate Leg Head-to-Knee -- ha! Both back rounding poses! Belly in! Belly in! Belly in! Confronting the last belly issues with these bellybutton focusing poses :) Good! 

Day 3 September Challenge

Miss Kim!!! I did the Opus Dei 6:30 pm practice. Not sure what I did to deserve such flagellation, however, I survived. Again. Left the room (again), dunked head in cold water, refilled bottle and got my ass back to work. 10% complete. Damn. 

Day 2, September Challenge

Bikram, day 2. Another miserably humid holiday class. Wall-to-wall yogis, wall-to-wall flinging schweat. I left. Just before camel. Did camel, rabbit, head-to-knee & spine twist in the men's hallway. Fuck. 

Returned for breathing & savasana. Thanks, Miss Kacie for herding overheated cats through practice today! 

Tomorrow will be cake in comparison.  

The Girl in the TV

1994, our marital television. Such discussion, such debate, such a thrill - a truly ginormous screen of our beloved entertainment. This screen has reflected every member of my family. 

I've held on to it, solely for sentimental purposes these last many years. It's now time for g'bye. And I am ne'er as ready as I think I am... 

Day 1, September Challenge

Today was hard to get out of the house. I knew this morning was today's only opportunity for practice. Meaning my one chance to begin my own 30 in 30 Challenge *and* a very humid, crowded beginning to said challenge. As I'd already been listening to my mind's litany of justifications and excuses, outside the studio, for days, their power seemed weakened. They did scream for the whole drive (so glad it is short) and quieted with the bullshit-melting heat of the room. Miss Kacieled a riotous bunch to completion. 

My survival rate remains 100% 

Sixty Days: Days 40 & 41

Combining days, as I had a mere 11 hours between classes. Both sessions led by C.
Thursday night's highlight was confronting my own self talk. Chatter began: tired, too few calories, can't, can't can't ... followed by my agreement, I sit. Chatter shifts to Quitter Shame. Can't win for losing in my own dammed head!
I talk this phenomenon over with C. She first assures me this is a normal part of this process, then gave me tools to help me along: move to the front row. Confront yourself while you can! If front row isn't enough, try doubles.
Whew.
So I returned Friday morning, for an immediate meeting with myself in the mirror. From the front row.
Front row has far fewer distractions, fewer shiny bits to catch Monkey Mind's eye.
I like me. I want to say loving and supportive things to me, loudly. And so I shall learn.

Sixty Days: Day 39

If it doesn't challenge you,
It can't change you.

Cue inner toddler: Bikram is really hard. I am exhausted. I don't eat right. I don't drink enough water. Wah, wah, wah…
I walked into the studio and saw J-man preparing to teach. I purposely didn't talk to him because I know he steals my stories; and right that moment I liked the comfort of my stories. So much so, I kept em close right into the torture chamber.
We wrestled, my stories & me, all the way through Standing Series, until somewhere around Tree Pose, when I gained the energy I so desperately seek.
Yeah. Definitely a connection between my monkey mind & the class' first half struggles. Concentration Series? Ha! I now see my roadblock. Me. What happens if I shut up? The knee breathes into lamppost & my forehead meets my knee? I see my toes over my head? Possibilities live in the quiet…
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Photo 1: Trisha's kids doing yoga this morning, in Souf'akota. The hardest pose for Americans: savasana, dead body, corpse pose. This is a Legacy fit for Queen Diana! Do YOGA!
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Photo 2: 7 seconds onto my floor bow pulling pose. I'm gaining courage here, knees now leave the floor (thanks to awkward pose for strengthening inner thighs!).