Biting the bullet and going for 101

Well, 2010 is over. And it seems that it was a bit of a rough one. I knew that the move wouldn't be easy, but I guess I didn't take into account how hard it would be to completely uproot my whole life like that. Finding a steady job, adjusting to living with my crazy mom, figuring out what I want to do with the rest of my life, and getting into a new yoga routine - all of that was far more difficult than I bargained for. But just a bit over a year later and I think that *maybe* I have finally hit my stride...

So my original plan was to get a job (any job) at Scripps Healthcare so that I could take advantage of priority admission for their employees to the Grossmont Nursing program. I applied for every job posting that seemed I was remotely qualified for - but it just wasn't happening. I took several temporary/promotional type sales jobs just to have some income in the meantime and by July I was pretty much demoralized. That's when I started researching other options and accidentally came across a relatively new flex-time Doctor of Physical Therapy program in San Marcos.

It's hard to explain but it was as if a light-bulb clicked on. I had always had sort of a cursory interest in PT but wrote it off thinking that my grades weren't good enough, it was too expensive, there wasn't a program in San Diego, blah, blah, blah. But with this option I saw hope because it would totally be possible to work during the first couple of years of the program. Yes - there are more pre-requisites, so it's going to be a long haul. But this resonates with me so much truer than nursing ever did.

They say that when you truly decide on something then things just fall into place. And that's what happened to me. Within a month I had found a 3/4 time position doing outreach & marketing for a PT clinic in La Jolla. Right around the same time the non-profit I used to work for in Hawaii contacted me about doing contract work for them - basically running one of their programs long distance. The funding for the non-profit contract didn't come through in the Fall but thanks to my job being flexible and not full time, I was able to go through a 200 hour training as a Yoga Instructor & Somatic Movement Therapist through the Natural Healing Institute. Long term I think that I want to incorporate physical therapy with yoga therapy so this training was a good start in that direction. The thing is now that I am done, I feel like I have only scratched the surface of my yoga education. So I applied to go through Shiva Rea's 300 hour teacher training over the course of the next 1-2 years.

But before I start this next training, I was feeling like I needed to do some serious Spring Cleaning. So I signed up to do a 30 Day Challenge at Bikram Kearny Mesa. I went 6 days in a row and then came down with a pretty bad cold that has had me coughing for the last 10 days. I am to the point now where ENOUGH is ENOUGH!!! I haven't had a cold that lasted this long in 2 years. Which tells me that I need to get back to a regular daily yoga practice once and for all.

So I have decided to do 101 days of Bikram in the studio. I've been toying with the idea since I first read Mary Jarvis' avocation of doing 101. (Read it HERE.) When I still lived in Hawaii I did something like 127 consecutive daliy yoga practices but I would only go to the studio 3-4 times a week and practice at home with a dvd on the other days. The idea of doing 101 daily Bikram classes in the studio completely intimidated me, to be honest.

That's one of the good things about going through the 200 hour training. I realized that I know a whole lot more about yoga than I realized and that I have a pretty strong practice - especially for not being the most consistent over the last 3 1/2 years since I took my first class. Now is the time to get consistent. Now is the time for me to do a 101 Day Bikram Challenge.

I am working 2 jobs and I will be taking classes towards my PT pre-requisites. But it doesn't matter. I NEED to do this and there is no time like the present. My journey starts tomorrow and I will try to document it here to the best of my ability.

Anyway thanks for joining me.

Namaste.

OK let's try that again...

Sunday 9/5/10
Bikram Kearny Mesa
4:30 pm w/ MArk

Monday 9/6/10
Home Practice - Baron Baptiste
"Core Power" (30 min)

Well - I didn't actually get back into the daily yoga until now. Yesterday I went and signed up for the monthly auto-debit special at Bikram Kearny Mesa. It's just $111 per month for unlimited yoga - which I think is a smoking deal.

I planned my meals just right for the day. I took 2 Yoga Body and 2 Yoga Fuel capsules 30 minutes before the class. And I drank a ton of water all throughout the day. Then during class I tried my best to take it easy - didn't sit out any postures - but didn't stay in most of them the full time either. I felt pretty nauseous all through class. But today I feel pretty good. I am a little sore - but it's a good sore that means I am getting back into the business.

Tomorrow I think that I am going to go check out Sol Yoga in La Jolla with my sister. She bought me a package of 5 and I just never got around to using them. My goal is to do Bikram in the studio 3-4 days per week and then mix it up with other styles of yoga on the inbetween days. That seems to work the best for my body.

I am going to try to complete a full year of daily yoga. 365 days without skipping a single day. There's really no excuse because I have 2 separate 30 minute videos that I can do in a pinch. 30 minutes is nothing to set aside even on my busiest days.

Long term I am really hoping to be able to go through Teacher Training in Fall 2011. I am keeping my fingers crossed that 1) Bikram will keep the training here in San Diego for the next 3 classes and 2) my financing source (contract work at my previous job in Hawaii) will come through for Jan 2011. And of course 3) that I can loose 50-60 more pounds and get into THE best shape of my life over the course of the next year.

So that's it. September 5, 2010 through September 4, 2011. My one year commitment to transform my life with yoga. I am UNSTOPPABLE this time.

Finally getting back to DAILY YOGA

Bikram Mira Mesa
9:00 AM w/ Amy
Friday 7/23/10

Home Practice - Shiva Rea (41 min)
Saturday 7/24/10

Well after several stops and starts I am *finally* back to daily yoga practice. Guess that the move has been a bigger adjustment than I anticipated. I was so spoiled having a Bikram Studio that was a 5 min drive and a 15 min walk from my house in Hawaii. Now the closest one takes me 20-30 to get to. But regardless, that's not an excuse not to go.

I signed up for the 2 weeks unlimited for $50 at the Mira Mesa studio and I am going to try to make it to at least 8 classes. My goal is to do Bikram 4 days per week and then mix it up with different yoga dvd's at home on the other alternating days. I like the Mira Mesa studio but Kearney Mesa is closer and offers more classes - so that's where I'll probably be going long term. I also really liked the La Jolla studio but it's kind of a pain getting there. Oh well. We shall see how things go over the next 12 days or so.

I am very glad to be getting back into the swing of things.

I'm BAAAACK!!!

Practice #1
Bikram Kearny Mesa
10 am w/ Joseph

Well the last couple months have been incredibly busy. So very much has happened in such a short time...

I completed my second semester of Anatomy & Physiology and by some act of god managed to squeak out a "B"(!!) I finished up w/ my job and didn't leave any obvious loose ends to be tidied up after I left. I sold, packed, or got rid of all my worldly possessions and dragged Buddha across the ocean to California. Got to San Diego in time to see my baby sister in her full 9-months-pregnant glory. Two gorgeous twin baby boys were born Christmas morning. Spent a low-key Christmas with my mom, my sisters, their husbands and kids. Adopted a 6 month old chihuahua-cattle dog puppy who is an absolute love. And on top of all of that I've already unpacked about 80% of my stuff and settled into my own wing at my mom's place. WHEW!!!!

Then today I went to Bikram Kearny Mesa and signed up for the $20 one week unlimited. The class was taught by Joseph who is the reigning National Yoga Champion and he is just delightful. I had a bit too much coffee in the morning so I felt nauseous and my heart was pounding for most of the class. But, after a little over a month away, it was precisely what I needed. Joseph was gracious enough to demonstrate a couple of his signature poses after class. Hard to believe that he had severe rheumatoid arthritis in his teens. Another walking-talking Bikram miracle. It felt so good to be back in the studio and I am completely fired up to get back into doing yoga every day. 7 days in a row of hot sweaty Bikram sessions should be a good kick start.

Happy New Year Everybody!!!!

Well October was not a great month for yoga. I kept up with the daily practice until 10/9 which means I did 132 consecutive days. But then I fell off the wagon. No worries. It's not like I stopped completely. I had a whole lot going on in my life and ended up skipping a few days here and there. Regardless, I plan to myself back into the groove for the rest of Nov & Dec. Here are my October statistics:

1563 total minutes of yoga in 31 days
Average 50 minutes of yoga a day

Starting tomorrow is my six week countdown until the big move. And I am still a bit in denial. Really need to get sorting, packing, getting rid of stuff. But I'm also going to try to follow Alissa Cohen's living foods plan for the next six weeks. I will write more about that on the Raw Mana blog. The yoga goal is to get my dailly average back up to 70 minutes and to finish out the remaining 23 or so classes I have left to go on my 40 pack. Oh yeah... And get a "B" in my Anatomy & Physiology class. ;))

Day #125/216

Yes we are already a couple of days into Oct - can you believe it!?!! But I still haven't had a chance to post my stats for the month of September:

1807 total minutes of yoga in 30 days
Average 60 minutes of yoga a day

Although 60 minutes a day is significant, it's a bit down from where I'd like to be. I knew that my daily average would be lower this month because I've been doing too many of the shorter yoga videos. Sort of a resting month after completing my 101 days. But I still haven't missed a single day. And I am ready to kick it back up a notch starting tomorrow (Sunday) with at least 3 Bikram practices per week for the next 11 weeks until I make my big move back to CA.

So I went through and calculated my yoga minutes for the whole year just to put things in perspective.

Jan 1st - May 31st 2009
91 Bikram practices
8190 minutes of yoga in 151 days
Average of 54.24 minutes of yoga per day

June 1st - September 30th 2009
125 varied yoga practices
8180 minutes of yoga in 125 days
Average of 65.44 minutes of yoga per day

YEARLY TOTAL:
16370 minutes of yoga in 276 days
Average of 59.31 minutes of yoga per day

Now I realize that this is not exactly scientific or even technically accurate because there were occasions prior to my 101 day challenge where I went for a whole week without doing yoga at all. Regardless it gives me an idea of where I've been and motivates me to make the commitment to get where I want to be.

By keeping up my daily practice through the end of the year I should significantly raise this daily average and continue to improve my overall health and well-being. Yoga has been a god-send for me. It is slowly, but surely changing my life from the inside out.

Day #114/205

So... Just in case any of you were wondering...

I have not stopped my daily yoga even though the 101 days are over. ;))
I have just been super swamped with work and school so blogging has taken a back seat.

Somehow during the last week a major yoga milestone passed unnoticed. I reached the 200 class mark for the year. AMAZING. I did 91 Bikram classes between Jan 1st and May 30th followed by 114 daily yoga practices of a mixed variety since June 1st. I guess I am officially a yoga dork because I find this progress very exciting. In fact I decided to start posting my consecutive days number alongside my practice number for the year. That way I can see very plainly how close I am to my goal of 300 yoga sessions for 2009. The other goal I am toying with is to just keep up with the daily practice for a full year which would mean no skipping days all the way through June 1, 2010(!!!) Pretty ambitious. But the more time goes by the more feasible it seems.

I have sort of gotten out of the habit of going to the Bikram studio, though, and am really feeling the need to get back into it. Nothing like an intense sweat session to clear your head and rejuvenate your body. Of course, I do sweat a lot during my home practices. But it's just not the same without the heat and the group dynamic combined with the dialogue.

I also just ordered a 3 video Budokon set off Ebay. Budokon literally means "way of the spiritual warrior" and is a blend of yoga, martial arts, and meditation. I've been hearing that a lot of celebrities swear by it. Went to the website and really resonated with the philosophy behind it.

Read about it here: http://www.budokon.com/aboutbudokon.php?selected=aboutbudokon

Or check out video promo for the Flow & Flexibility dvd:

Yoga Adventure in Africa

Join Linda-Sama of "Linda's Yoga Journey" February 26-28, 2010 for this once in a lifetime opportunity in Arusha, Tanzania...

http://lindakarl.net/yoga-retreats/

Day #101

Home Practice - Jivamukti (53 min) # 190
Monday 9/7/09

Home Practice - Bikram #191
Tuesday 9/8/09

Home Practice - Rainbeau Mars (30 min) #192
Wednesday 9/9/09

Actually 101 was yesterday. I just didn't get around to posting stats until today...

I DID IT!!!! I practiced yoga for 101 consecutive days; for a total of 6898 minutes, which is an average of 68 minutes per day. And most importantly, did I mention that I did not miss a single day !?!!! I am very proud of myself, but now that it's over it doesn't seem like that big of a deal. I plan to keep going and complete another 101 days beginning today 9/10/09 and ending 12/19/09.

I will be leaving Hawaii for the mainland on December 20th of this year. My decision to leave is bittersweet. I'm going to really miss living in the islands but it is time for me to go. At least for now. I plan to get my RN and nowhere else can touch the California Community College system in terms of cost. In addition, my sister is having twins at the end of the year and this has made me realize that I want to be closer to my family.

Just a little over 13 weeks to soak up all this paradise has to offer.

Day #98

Home Practice - Rainbeau Mars (37 min) #184
Tuesday 9/1/09

Home Practice - Bikram #185
Wednesday 9/2/09

Home Practice - Baptiste (70 min) #186
Thursday 9/3/09

Home Practice - Shiva Rea(73 min) #187
Friday 9/4/09

Home Practice - Seane Corn (40 min) #188
Saturday 9/5/09

Home Practice - Shiva Rea (42 min) #189
Sunday 9/6/09