I'm back. Hopefully with a vengeance.

I am planning to do another Teacher Training which starts in 12 weeks plus I sprouted a wild hair about trying to run the Honolulu Marathon again in Dec. So I *really* need to get my butt in gear. I will be posting my workouts here and probably blogging about food choices on Raw Mana.

I turn 45 this week and my ultimate goal is to get into THE best shape of my life before my next birthday. Again, wish me luck. ;))



SATURDAY 6/16/12
4.9 mile walk around Lake Miramar

Day 3 & 4 of 101

Wednesday
6:30 pm w/ Eeva

Thursday
6:30 am w/ Ray

Still going strong. My knee continues to bug me a bit but feels much better than it did a couple days ago. Down 3 lbs in 3 days. YAY! ;))

Day 1 of 101

Monday 1/31/11
Bikram Kearny Mesa
6:30 am w/ Kim

OK. So that cold was hanging on a bit longer than I expected. Or maybe I was just making excuses. Regardless. The 101 Day Bikram Challenge starts today!!

Good class. Not very hot and I'm not quite as flexible first thing in the morning anyway - so I wasn't able to get as deep into many of the postures as usual. But solid practice, especially after 3+ weeks of no yoga at all. I am actually amazed that I hadn't regressed much at all and very excited to see where the next 14 weeks and 3 days take me.

My mantra during savasana is, "Release everything unnecessary." And I must have stirred up something becasue when I got home I began to get the blurry vision that usually means a migraine is coming. I took some Aleve and burned some sage and took a few minutes to relax while I drank my coffee. What do you know it is gone already. Cool. Now it's time to jump in the shower and head to work.

Wishing everyone a fantastic Monday!

Aloha & Namaste,
Ellen

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.

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:

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

Day #92

Home Practice - Bikram #177
Tuesday 8/25/09

Home Practice - Shiva Rea (42 min) #178
Wednesday 8/26/09

Home Practice - Bikram #179
Thursday 8/27/09

Home Practice - Seane Corn (60 min) #160
Friday 8/28/09

Home Practice - Chakra Balancing (55 min) #181
Saturday 8/29/09

Home Practice - Bikram #182
Sunday 8/30/09

Bikram Kaimuki - class #183
8:15 pm w/ Kevo
Monday 8/31/09


Monthly Stats for August:

Bikram - 9x (810 minutes)
Baron Baptiste - 6x (325 minutes)
Shiva Rea - 5x (315 minutes)
Seane Corn - 5x (290 minutes)
Chakra Balancing - 4x (220 minutes)
Jivamukti - 2x (113 minutes)

31 daily yoga practices

TOTAL: 2073 minutes of yoga
Average of 67 minutes a day!!!


That's down a bit from the last 2 months. But I plan to get my average back up to over 70 minutes per day in September with more regular Bikram practices - at least 12 for the month.

Day #85

Home Practice - Shiva Rea (73 min) #173
Friday 8/21/09

Home Practice - Seane Corn (40 min) #174
Saturday 8/22/09

Home Practice - Baptiste (60 min) #175
Sunday 8/23/09

Home Practice - Chakra Yoga (55 min) #176
Monday 8/24/09

Started back to school today. I am taking the second semester of Anatomy & Physiology, both the lecture and lab together this time around. It's going to be a challenge, but I am determined to keep on top of it and get even better grades than I did in the previous semester. I really want an A in the lecture and a B in the lab, although I'd still be pretty happy with 2 B's.

I am really enjoying another new DVD I got a couple weeks ago - Chakra Balancing Yoga w/ Sharon Gannon. It's not as rigorous a workout as the other Jivamukti videos, but I feel pretty amazing after. Like my whole body is buzzing from the inside out. I highly recommend it for anyone who'd like to get in tune with their energy centers and work through any karmic issues they might have.

Day #81

Home Practice - Chakra Balancing (55 min) #169
Monday 8/17/09

Bikram Kaimuki - class #170
Tuesday 8/18/09
8:15pm w/ Kevo

Home Practice - Baptiste (70 min) #171
Wednesday 8/19/09

Home Practice - Chakra Balancing (55 min) #172
Thursday 9/20/09

Day #77

Home Practice - Jivamukti (60 min) #165
Thursday 8/13/09

Home Practice - Baptiste (45 min) #166
Friday 8/14/09

Home Practice - Seane Corn (40 min) #167
Saturday 8/15/09

Home Practice - Shiva Rea (73 min) #168
Sunday 8/16/09

Had a huge event this weekend that my company's been gearing up for over the last several months. I am so relieved that it is OVER.

Several good home practices, regardless how tired and crabby I've been in the evenings. Yoga is my constant. And no matter how bad I may feel - physically, emotionally, etc... - my daily yoga helps to release the day and make everything a little bit better.

Tomorrow night it's back to the studio for me. I need to sweat out all the built up stress along with all the junk food I had over my long working weekend.

Day #73

Home Practice - Seane Corn (40 min) #159
Friday 8/7/09

Home Practice - Baptiste (45 min) #160
Saturday 8/8/09

Home Practice - Shiva Rea (85 min) #161
Sunday 8/9/09

Bikram Kaimuki - class #162
Monday 8/10/09
8:15 pm w/ Gail

Bikram Kaimuki - class #163
Tuesday 8/11/09
8:15 pm w/ Kevo

Home Practice - Shiva Rea (42 min) #164
Wednesday 8/12/09

Day #67

Home Practice - Baptiste (60 min) #156
Tuesday

Home Practice - Sean Corne (85 min) #157
Wednesday

Home practice - Bikram #158
Thursday

Day #64

Home Practice - Baptiste (45 min) #153
Saturday

Home Practice - Jivamukti (53 min) #154
Sunday

Home Practice - Bikram #155
Monday

Day #61

Home Practice - Jivamukti (60 min) #149
Tuesday

Bikram Kaimuki - class #150
Wednesday 8:15 pm w/ Jeremy

Bikram Kaimuki - class #151
Thursday 8:15 pm w/ Jeremy

Bikram Kaimuki - class #152
Friday 6:30 pm w/ Barbara

I've had several good studio practices in a row. But I especially enjoyed Barbara's class. She taught the first Bikram class I ever took way back on March 1st, 2007. I loved it from the very start. Even tough it took me more than a year and a half to develop a regular practice that lasted more than a month or two.

She is a bit older than most of the teachers, maybe in her 50's (or 60's even?), really hard to tell for sure. She has a wonderfully calm, wise energy about her. I remember thinking on that first fateful day that I would love to be in that great of shape when I'm her age. Hell, I'd love to be in that great of shape NOW. And I am well on my way to making that a reality. ;))

I am pretty blown away that it's already the end of July. And since another month is finished I have more exciting stats to report:

31 total yoga practice sessions:
9 Bikram - 4x home, 5x studio (90 min each)
9 Baptiste - 4x 45 min, 2x 60 min, 2x 70 min, 1x 85 min
9 Jivamukti - 4x 60 min, 5x 53 min
2 Shiva Rea (85 min each)
2 Sean Corne (85 min each)

That's 2180 total minutes of yoga this month!!

Which is an average of 70 minutes of yoga per day!!!

I am now over 60% of the way to 101 consecutive practice days!!!!

Day #57

Home Practice - Sean Corne (85 min) #148
Monday

Yes, it is official. My new favorite yoga teacher is Sean Corne. She reminds me a little bit of Marianne Williamson in her ideology - which I so completely resonate with. Some people may be turned off by the heavy dose of spirituality infused into the yoga practice. But I just love it!!! It is EXACTLY what I need at this stage in my progression.

Weird, but I feel like I am going through tremendous changes. My body is shrinking and tightening. I am getting stronger and more competent with all of my yoga routines. But the really big changes are not on the physical level. I feel like I am changing energetically and spiritually. I feel like I am melting off layers of old attitudes and behaviors that don't fit with me anymore. And I am burning off some pretty heavy karma too. Each yoga practice brings me closer to my truest and highest self. I am so grateful to be on this incredible journey.

Day #56

Home Practice - Sean Corne (85 min) #143
Wednesday 7/22

Bikram Kaimuki - class #144
8:15 pm w/ Gail
Thursday 7/23

Home Practice - Baptiste (45 min) #145
Friday 7/24

Home Practice - Jivamukti (60 min) #146
Saturday 7/25

Home Practice - Shiva Rea (85 min) #147
Sunday 7/26

So not too many studio practices over the last several weeks. Moving forward I really need to do 3 every week. Home practice has been great but I need to make it in for a hot sweaty studio class much more regulary to completely flush everything and get out of my head.

I feel a little bit more comfortable with the Shiva Rea routine. It's still very unorthodox but good variety for my body and mind.

The teacher who I think I like best so far, though, is Sean Corne. She is just delightful. A slightly different take on the Jivamukti style of Sharon Gannon and David Life. She really spends a lot of time on the foundational stuff that I need the most right now.

I have ordered another Sean Corne and another Shiva Rea dvd and am very excited to those into my rotation when they get here.

My weekly goal is 3 Bikram studio days and then one home workout each: Sean Corne, Shiva Rea, Baron Baptiste, and Jivamukti. I am getting stronger, leaner, and more supple every single day. ;))