It's a wrap!

Well, this past Friday was the final day of our 30 day challenge.  Jimmy and I went to the 530 at the hotter studio.  The teacher knew it was our 30th day and acknowledged us at the end of the class.  The students clapped and we received many congratulations in the lobby after class.  I'm so glad that Jimmy wanted to do this together.  It was amazing to practice next to him and spend time with him.  He doesn't have a membership anywhere, just some classes left on a groupon.  So we'll use those up and then see what the universe sends his way.  Meanwhile, I just renewed my annual at the hotter studio and look forward to "renewing" my practice by committing to at least 3 days a week, preferebly 4 going forward.
It's been a few years since I've done a challenge.  What I learned this time around is the discipline and focus required to do this yoga 30 days in a row is really a great way to step up your game and prevent stagnation.  I have decided that a once a year challenge is for sure in order.

Day 28: Sick Yogis

I like to walk around bragging about how I never get sick.  I've been practicing bikram for six years this april and that has been true for the entire time.  Until I started dating Jimmy.  For the second time in the past three months, he picked up a cold and then gave it to me. (Thank you honey).  So instead of being this "super healthy bullet proof sick proof yogini" that I thought I was, I guess I just didn't pick up bugs because I was usually single and had no, ahem, contact with people.  Whatever the case, Jimmy got sick last week, gave it to me and we've been chugging along through our yoga challenge with colds.  This really freaks non yoga people out.  They think it's dangerous to practice hot yoga while sick.  I find it soothing.  For 90 minutes I don't cough.  For 90 minutes my nose doesn't run.  For 90 minutes, I forget I'm sick.  Now I'm on the tail end of the cold and we are also at the tail end of the challenge.  I feel slimmer, stronger, better all around.  I'm so glad Jimmy wanted to do the challenge.  I had forgotten how great an everyday bikram practice makes a body feel!

Day 23- The first time ever

Today is day 23.  Two nights ago, in the owner of the studio's class I had a major breakthrough in my practice.  Standing head to knee is something I have never been able to master.  It took me two years just to kick out.  Once kicked out, it took even longer to be able to hold it.  Then working on getting the elbows down.  This april will be 6 years of practicing bikram.  You get the picture.  Let's just call standing head to knee the "six year posture" for me.  Lately I've been able to get my elbows down and slowly lower my forehead down to my knee......and then fall out sideways right away!  It's been frustrating but I just keep trying and trying.  Well, two nights ago that all changed.  Not only did I stay put with my forehead on the knee, kicking out solid, breathing, but I stayed there until he said "change" and then I came out slowly, the opposite way I came in.
I couldn't help it, I stood there with a giant grin on my face, dizzy and intoxicated with excitement.  I felt like I had just got off an awesome rollercoaster at an amusement park.  I was flying high!
The next night I was back to falling out sideways.  It doesn't matter, I know that I can do it so I will keep trying again!

Day 20- Sadness

Last night was day 19.  In class, I felt sort of like, really.....this again?  I didn't really want to do it, yet I DID want to do it.  I was torn.  Then halfway through class I felt like crying.  For no reason.  I was just suddenly very very sad.  There is nothing in my life to be sad about, so the strong feeling of hopeless sadness caught me off guard.  My eyes were tearing up and I just felt like I needed a good cry.  Probably if Jimmy wasn't with me after class, I may have let it all out.  Instead, I just sat with it, wondering where it all came from. 
All in all, the challenge is going very well for both Jimmy and I.  He likes bikram but for some reason, he says he is losing muscle in his arms, that he can tell when he golfs.  That doesn't make sense to me, as it hasn't been my experience with Bikram, however, I'm also not a man, so I don't know.  I do know that when I combine my body pump class, which is weights with Bikram that I get great results.  I haven't gone to body pump for over a week now.  It's just too much with the challenge.  When the challenge is over, I'll do 2 body pump and 3 bikram a week plus my hiking on Sundays.  That seems to be a great combo!

Day 15: Halfway there and Gifts

Well last night was day 15.  Halfway there!  I couldn't help but peek over at Jimmy several times during practice.  Wow! He has improved in leaps and bounds.  The teachers keep asking him if he will continue to practice and he says "nope, I'm done after the challenge!"  I just shake my head and smile.  The seed has been planted and I have the feeling he will bikram again someday. I am happy that he is able to experience something that has been so important in my life and he now understands why I love it so much. I was also thinking about how you never know if somebody is in your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.  For many years I was so hell bent on getting married (it never happened, I'm 42 now) that I tried to force each boyfriend into the "lifetime" category before even assessing if that person was right for ME.  Instead, I tried to be right for THEM.  What an exhausting approach!  These past 9 months with Jimmy I have just gone with the flow, understanding that the relationship will go it's own direction and appreciating that he is in my life right now.  Ultimately it will be revealed to both of us what path we are on....reason, season or lifetime.  Until then, if it's the first...reason....then we both get to leave with gifts from each other.  He has given me the gift of love and support through my fear of heights while hiking and he now has the gift of yoga in his life from me.  Even if he doesn't keep practicing right now, he knows how great it feels to have a consistent practice.  With this new point of view, I can now see the gifts that other men have left me with.  One of them was even instrumental in my introduction to yoga.  I am grateful to him for that.  What a freedom to look back and see the gifts instead of carrying around resentments!