Summertime and the Livin' Is Easy

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Photo by Joelle.

It's summer. Have you noticed?!

The heat is hotter. The days are longer. The need for fruit smoothies, ice-cold coffee, and kick-ass AC to allow cuddling is exponentially greater. And of course, we hate even more to be inside at work all day (especially in front of screens, ew, yuck, blah, I'm thinking it even as I type this!) when the sun is shining and the breeze is blowing.

It's summer, which means we need the yoga even more! And of course, sometimes it's so hot and humid out that we enter the Hot Box and wonder, Is the heat on in here? Hey, sounds ridiculous, but it's happened to me already! Thanks, Chicagoland, for your crazy stifling temps. You make me crave the weather in the Torture Chamber even more than I already do. And yes, you can get addicted to that 105-degree/ 40% humidity setting...I speak from experience on that front, too!

As my wonderful studio director mentioned as he led class today, "Hey, the weather is perfect in here." All the happy, smiling yogi faces couldn't have agreed more!

Alright, anyway, weather forecasts aside...back to the topic at hand: summer. It's hot, you're sweaty already, and yet more often than not this seems like an excuse not to get your ass to class. Chances are, too, you've actually got more time on your hands -- you're a student and the pressure's off, you're just working part time, and/or you're well-settled in your career and have some vacation time to enjoy.

But maybe you're busy with other DIY house fix-up projects, dinners with friends, and late-night conversations on the porch as the sun sets... and for those reasons you're lacking in the sleep department, feeling a bit too lethargic to make it to class, and subsequently your Bikram practice is suffering.

Perhaps, like some yogis I know, you've got a worse attendance record for class during the hottest months of the year than in the dead of winter, or the middle of spring or fall.

Well, fellow summer lazy yogis, I feel you!

If it's not a lack of time or energy, it's the fact that you're spending more time away from your home studio. Or simply the fact that you've decided to give yourself an all-around break, and that includes giving up anything that requires 100% exertion (which, hello!, obviously excludes Bikram yoga).

But wait a minute. Let's get back to the basics of the practice, which was carefully designed to combat plateaus such as this.

Bikram says, 100% exertion earns you 100% relaxation. And hey, news flash! Like most things Bikram says, this isn't just true inside the hot room. It's true in life, too.

Yep, that's right. That means you should be -- to every degree possible -- hauling your bum to Bikram and sweating it out in the 26-asana series in order to earn your brownie points, your extra naps, your Ben and Jerry's late-night indulgence.

Perhaps I haven't convinced you on theory alone that the effort is worth the reward if you decide to make summer your best yoga season of the year. Here are a few other considerations:
  • Um, beach bodies anyone? Reason #1 you should consider earning yourself that genuine glow (purely from the yoga, not over-tanning yourself in the sun, my friends!) and the toned muscles, strength, and inner confidence that Bikram provides.
  • Your sweat stinks less the more you come. Weird, yes, but also true!
  • Flexibility. Is it ever really a bad thing? Consider this: you beef up your physical and mental capacity to go with the flow when you commit to the Hot Box.
  • Make new friends! Just today I chatted it up with an older lady who's been coming for years who completely cured her injured hip by doing the yoga. Oh, and an awesome friend who's been practicing for three years complimented my half moon pose. I beamed! I blushed! I beamed again!
  • OK, so this is applicable to any time of the year...but you are going to change your life, inside and out, bones to skin, by committing to the yoga. Your body changes for the better, your mind becomes more focused for the better, you are more able to work through personal changes. It's honestly, seriously, significantly ALL for the better!
  • More laughs. Where else are you going to witness random womens' underwear floatingaround the room, a group of people who truly understand the meaning of "wind-removing" pose, or fellow yogis who give themselves water bottle showers in the middle of class?! Yogis are the best. Bikram yogis are beyond the best. Talk about patience, and a genuine sense of humor!
  • Get inspired by those around you, while at the same time remembering thatwhere you are right now is perfect. Bikram is proud of you for showing up and doing the best you can, not pretending like you need to be exactly where your neighbor is. Heck, I am proud of you for showing up and giving it your all despite the rest of the room, and I haven't even met you (yet?). That's the yoga! You figure out that you're a warrior, not a baby, and you go from there. Let the rest settle. Better yet: forget the rest!
Convinced yet? Alright, good. See you tomorrow for a double! :)



Photo via Kajo55's Flickr Photostream. Pretty sure you have to practice yoga in the Swiss Alps in the summer!
And if you have, you are now my HERO. :) And you MUST comment...

A Bikram Poem: Savasana

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Here we are, feeling
like letting go
submerged in the submerged
layer of the dream
which we don’t realize is strange
until we wake. Multiplicity
forms in waves, pausing
and unpausing the life.
Can you hold open
your eyes? Can you hold,
open, or situate time?
Letting it rest in the way
your body sinks,
and is held,
the floor,
you are held
by your own mind
above the wide pool,
the widening ocean
of thoughts, constant
threat looming.
Leave what isn't meant
for here. Leave what isn't yours alone.
Be here, alone,
where you cannot hold,
open, or situate time,
though you try.
What is meant to be right now
is nothing, is perfect,
is simply you.


Focus Forward Friday: Are You Reaching?

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Focus Forward Friday:
A weekly ritual for deepening your Bikram practice.

Today's focus: reach. Keep in mind that many of the postures demand traction of the spine -- meaning that you are pulling apart, ceiling to floor, up and down, hard as you can. Think: half moon, triangle, standing separate leg stretching, tree, cobra, half-tortoise (to name only a few!)

Meet the Real-Life Dream Time: Dad

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Yep, that's him! My dad in action -- surveying a disaster zone where he helped real people recover. He's amazing! And now an expert in weather, government reports, travel, and how to get the best deal on rental cars you can find... as well as dealing with the public, keeping in touch with his family no matter the distance, and meeting for random airport get-togethers :)

Father Person. Papa Bear. Dad to the rescue. Dad the Gearhead. Dad the invincible. Dad the inspiring. My Pops, my Old Man, my #1 Hero.

Hey Bikram yogis, meet my dad!

Chances are, he's cooler than your younger cousin that you like to drink with, or talk to about space travel, or ask for advice on how to land a cool job or tell funny jokes. Actually, all chances aside, my dad hands down beats your younger cousin on all of those fronts.

And he also kicks butt as a sailor, writer, eBay expert, car mechanic, Robert Ludlum reader, neighborhood kitty rescuer, newspaper clipper, and campfire storyteller. My dad's hiking, biking and shot-glass collecting skills could seriously knock your socks off.

Plus, he's an SBA employee who changes lives by helping families impacted by disaster get by when it seems like the world's been turned upside down by hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires. He's a friend to friends who enjoy good conversation, funny stories, and genuine wisdom. He's a husband who appreciates fully, adventures without abandon, and loves with his whole, big, puppy-dog heart (you know, the kind of guy who leaves little love notes around in the kitchen after having a delicious meal the night before-- a good example of a true southern gentleman!)

When my dad's around, I can always count on good hugs, good laughs, and really honest, heartfelt help from someone who's been through a lot. There was a time earlier this year, in fact, when conversations with my dad helped me get through some of the hardest stuff I've ever dealt with. He was a constant reminder of how much I am loved by my family, and perhaps most of all by the Dad who shares my love of words, my wild imagination (for better or worse), and my shrewd ability to observe the world around me.

I'm posting about him here because my dad's a constant source of inspiration, wacky bits from around the Internet (we have the best email thread conversations of anyone I know), news commentary, travel stories, and honest advice for how to survive the world.

My dad's not afraid to make fun of me sometimes, or bump my knee from behind and ask, "Did you feel that earthquake?" We all need smiles like that, you know --the ones you weren't planning for.

My dad's at the top of the list for my recent series on people in my life outside the hot room that I'm trying to consciously appreciate more. Last week I posted about my mom and my sis, but sometimes I think Dad and I have more Koontz family genes in common than I do with anyone else.

Who in your life outside the hot room should you be consciously appreciating more?

It's easy to be thankful for those in your life that show up a couple times a week, or who you know vaguely, but what about your immediate family-- those whose flaws and weaknesses you are quite familiar with? When is the last time you actively thanked them for your relationship?

I love you, Dad, and I'm so grateful for your leadership, your love, and all the little silly things you do to keep life interesting. No matter how old I get or how much I grow up, I'll always be your Rachel Dachel Bagel.

You know you're in safe hands with Dad behind wheel of the sailboat.

Best Things I’ve Heard in the Hot Box, or Why the Dialogue is Best Taught by Teachers With a Good Sense of Humor

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Bikram teachers put up with the silliest moments!
Photo Via DaveAustria on Flickr.


Not that you'd expect it, but hot yoga can be a pretty funny experience sometimes. You get silly sounds coming from super-sweaty yogis, odd characters running in and out of the room, and general chaos and mayhem on those crowded days.

Here are a few of my favorite moments from the Hot Box that I'd like to share. What memories do you cherish from Bikram's Torture Chamber?


  • “Wow, whose red panties are these?” (*Teacher holds up pair of red hot, lacy underwear in front of class with wide-eyed look on his face.) “Alright, well I guess I’ll keep them up here on the podium. I feel like they’re a little Christmas present that someone’s left for me. I guess it’s Christmas in July!”
  • “You’re not babies; you’re warriors. So don’t act like a baby in here. Next set!”
  • “Hey, Steve! I have an idea…how about you wait ‘til after class to take a shower? Yeah, I saw that, the water bottle action. You thought you could sneak it by me, but you forget: I see all in here…”
  • “Have you noticed you’re twitching your fingers during triangle pose? I mean, it’s kind of cute, but it has to stop. We can’t have that in here.”
  • “Is that a purse? Is that your purse, miss? Is there a cell phone in that purse?” *Yogi nods her head, blushing a bit. “OK, well no worries, but just remember next time to leave it outside the room. Alright, let’s start pranayama…” *Pause. “You know what? As it turns out, I can’t have a phone in here. It’s just wrong. Here, I’m just going to set it outside at the front desk…” *Teacher starts dialogue as he walks out the door...
  • "Face to the legs, upper body to the thighs, like a grilled cheese sandwich..." (Why would you want to eat a Japanese ham sandwich anyway?! Grilled cheese all the way. :)
  • "Close your mouth. Close your mouth. Close your mouth." *Yogi still exhales loudly through an open mouth. "Man, people need to work on their manners in this class!"
Yogis is crazy, man.
Photo Via NerdVin on Flickr.

Meet the Real-Life Dream Team: Mom

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Member when I was this big? I don't, but Mom does. Photo via Melgar52 on Flickr.

So I have this theory about the mom/daughter relationship dynamic: it can be a challenge, but because it teaches us to communicate better, love unconditionally, and listen fully, it can be one of the most rewarding connections you build in a lifetime.

Mom: she's the one who used to set out your folded and fresh-smelling clothes after the laundry finished late and you were already in bed. Your mum: the author behind countless brown-bag lunch love notes, email reminders to keep you on track, and sentimental Hallmark cards for every occaision. She bought you a box of chocolates every Valentine's, even the ones when you didn't have a real date planned or the ones where you were thousands of miles away at college. Moma: the one who slips gas and grocery money into your pockets when you didn't even ask. The forgiver of offenses large and small: the chores you didn't finish, the lies you've been hiding, the emotional burdens you've been carrying for way too long. Momma: she's been there from the start. She carried you around in her tummy, and there's no getting past that sort of bond.

I'll admit it -- sometimes my mom and I disagree, or attempt (unsuccessfully) to read each others' minds, which can lead to confusion or little squabbles and hurt feelings. But hands down, she reads me like a book. She knows when something's up.

And it hurts her more than anything not to be there for me when she does.

Now there just aren't many people in life like that!

My mom's helped me through thick and thin: growing up in two households, getting through the daily battle that is high school, transitioning to college, preparing for my first snowy winter, dealing with the ups and downs of a life lived half a country away from your family, surviving anxiety and personal breakdowns, recovering from restlessness, planning trips, and remembering my faith through it all.

Recently she has earned gold medals in wedding preparation, working from home, caring for the two best pups in the world, playing with her grandson, loving her kids no matter what, and putting her family first. Always. Oh, and I almost forgot: singing superior soprano choir parts! Lovely. (Note: no, unfortunately, I didn't inherit my mom's singing voice. Or her flawless, youthful, glowing skin (Sister got that one!)...although I did manage to pick up her ability to tan extremely quickly. Yeah!)

I'm posting about her here because she's a key part of my recent series on people in my life outside the hot room that I'm trying to consciously appreciate more. Last week I posted about my sis and our twinship, and no doubt these are the two most important ladies in my life.

The difference with mom? She's my biggest role model, faith mentor, and source of unreserved support and love. In my family -- and I'm sure my siblings would agree wholeheartedly -- there is an unspoken truth that has always remained true: if you've got something you're struggling with, Mom will be there for you. Even if it hurts at first. Even if it takes awhile. Even if the cost is high, and the stakes higher.

She just loves you no matter what, no questions asked. You can trust her and you never have to worry that she trusts you more. Her love will continue to surprise you, outlast the circumstances, give you more than you thought you could handle. And chances are, it will turn out that you needed it all along and she just knew it before you could realize.

Who in your life outside the hot room should you be consciously appreciating more?

It's easy to be thankful for those in your life that show up a couple times a week, or who you know vaguely, but what about your immediate family-- those whose flaws and weaknesses you are quite familiar with? When is the last time you actively thanked them for your relationship?

Here I am, Moma. I miss you like crazy and I can't WAIT for a few weeks from now when we get to catch up in person. I love you with my whole heart and I am so, so grateful that back in the day you braved Bikram's torture chamber with me! You gave me the inspiration to try it, stick with it, and keep growing. Hmmm, sounds a bit like what you've given me in life all along, huh? Love you, Mom, and see you soon!


No, Mom won't be walking me down the aisle on The Big Day, but goodness knows her behind-the-scenes help will be helping more than words can say. Photo Via Tofurious.

Emotional Drama or Dreamy Thriller: What Kind of Teaching Does Your Studio Feature?

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Which summer blockbuster are you more excited about: the recently-released, breathtaking dreamscape Inception starring Leo DiCaprio, or Julia Roberts' impending mom-friendly drama Eat.Pray.Love?

Just like your preference for Bikram teaching, this answer depends quite simply on your personal style.

Are you more of a punk rocker, or a bookworm? Do you rock the hot-pink shaktis in class, or prefer to cover up with long leggings and a loose T-shirt? Do you like one towel to cover your mat, or two?

It never ceases to amaze me what variety pops up in the Hot Box. Mat colors, hairstyles, facial expressions. Yogis, yoginis, and rockstar Bikram teachers. No doubt that we all deal with the heat a little differently, to say the least!

The biggest factor in succeeding in this endeavor is, not surprisingly, just getting my butt to the studio to do some seriously-hot meditating, but there are a couple other steps I'm taking, too:


  • reading & reflecting on the ancient wisdom of the Yoga Sutra
  • spending more time with friends who I've been meaning to catch up with
  • praying in quiet places, like the local Bahai Temple, along Lake Michigan, or with my eyes closed sitting on the comfy couches in local coffee shops
  • talking to my family and trying to accept their quirks, power trips, and annoying habits before I'm swarmed by all of the guests in a couple weeks
  • and, of course, hitting up the movie theater for some big-screen entertainment and central AC!
Next time you leave yoga feeling a little bothered by someone in the room -- whether it's your neighbor's loud breathing or your instructor's stern corrections -- consider this:


"There will come a time when differences no longer harass you."

Those Indian masters know what they're talking about! Seems you just have to give it time, be open-minded, and consider trying a few other relaxing, satisfying practices outside of the hot room.


Man, I can't wait for the cheesecake cupcakes we've got planned for the reception. Yum!
Photo via Our Labor of Love.

Back at It: Hittin' the Hot Room

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Photo Via Lululemon Athletica's Flickrstream.

It's been almost a week since I've done my Bikram duty and I have to say I'm a little nervous to enter the Torture Chamber today.

How do you approach your practice after you've been on a short (or long) break?

Do you find it hard to take class without expectations?

Are you thirstier, more tired, and more distracted?

I have a sneaky suspicion that that's going to be me on the mat today. One of those days where you walk in and go Damn and doggedly set up your space.

Creaky, tight, sizzling. A hot mess for sure.

You resist all through pranayama, but slowly come to realize the heat's got you surrounded and it's going to win the uphill battle. And when you finally let go, the way it softens you actually starts to feel good.

Break me down, Bikram yoga; transform my body and mind.

Set me up for a limber, toxin-free rest of the week. Set me up for the best me there is: the yogi within!

The Teaching Matters: Thoughts on the McYoga Myth and Tasty Classes

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Bikram yoga is the tastiest, but every class has its own flavor.


Recently I had one of the most uplifting, empowering Bikram classes I’ve ever experienced. And it had nothing to do with me.

Well, nothing to do with my ability to execute 26 solid postures, anyway.

That’s right – the 90-minute meditation was inspiring, exhilarating and forgiving because the teacher teaching freaking rocked it.

You may have heard the phrase “McYoga” used to describe Bikram – which implies that because the dialogue drives the yoga so fully in each class, it makes the style predictable, able to be repeated, and therefore somewhat terrible. In the contexts I’ve read, “McYoga” seems to refer to the downsides of marketability, regularity and subsequent monotony.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not a super-vegan McDonald’s protestor or anything, but I completely disagree with the suggestion inherent in this so-called “definition” of Bikram yoga that it sucks just because you can predict the order and techniques in class.
If you’ve actually done Bikram a number of times, you know: every class is totally different.

The teachers vary immensely in their style, strictness, and delivery tone with the dialogue. Some are more positive than others; some are more calming and soothing. Some hold postures a little longer. Some tell funny stories; some let the silence fill the room.

And teachers aren’t robots, either. In the same way that your body and mind feel different during every class you attend, a teacher also experiences variability in his or her mood, focus, and energy depending on the day and depending on the time of day of class. When you think about it, this is a good thing! It keeps us open-minded and open-hearted about approaching the yoga from wherever we are in the moment.
We don't have to struggle to transform the yoga to fit our needs; instead, we do our best to let the yoga work in us.

As my super-compassionate teacher always says, "Quit the Monkey Mind!" This means: give up your own resistance, your stronghold on controlling all of your thoughts and movements all the time. Let it go.

The other day as we began the first set of standing bow, my teacher said, "What if I told you I'd give you a million bucks not to fall out of this set? Would you set your mind to it? See, that changes the game...alright, let's go! Right hand to the right..."

She caught my attention with this statement. Oh, I realized. That's true: I could be a little more determined if I just found a way to let go of all the distractions, all of the no you can'ts going on in my head, all of that madness and drama that's supposed to be anywhere but inside these walls.

And then, in second set, she literally brought a smile to my face. As I stood motionless staring into my face in the mirror, desperately trying to slow my heart rate, finally escaping the Monkey Mind's blabber, she simply said:

"You are all worth more than a million bucks. Here we go: second set!"

So, my dear readers and yogis, make no mistake. Just like Starbucks (the epitome of corporate uniformity between stores) can blend your frappucino with the wrong mixture of ice and flavored syrup and leave you sucking oversweet sips or annoying chips through your green straw, Bikram teachers can stumble in the Torture Chamber. They can mispronounce words, forget postures, fall behind schedule.

But if you're anything like me, you've come to notice how more often than not, they nail it. They get it right, all 90 minutes long. The teachers kill it, and somehow motivate you to absolutely kill yourself for all of class and use 100% exertion all the way through.

And then both of you stroll out of the studio, all smiles, ready to enjoy your well-deserved 100% relaxation and newly-found confidence. Or -- what the heck -- a McFlurry every now and then! Some sorbet, at least? Hey, it's hot out this summer :)

Meet the Real-Life Dream Team: Sister

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Mom, the Big Z, and Auntie. (That's my sis on the left, yep! Beautiful, isn't she?)

She's my best friend. My biggest confidante. The person I turn to when I can't figure out why I'm feeling the way I am. The best new mom of 2009-2010. The most beautiful and loving lady I know. She gives more often than she gets. She's fun-loving, silly, smart, forgiving, and more photogenic than anyone I know.

She's my sister!

Correction: she's my TWIN sister!

She knows what I'm thinking before I think it. She loves me anyway. She's the best, hands down.

We've always been friends, but more lately than ever. And we DO experience that twin thing: where we call each other up because we already know something's wrong and we just want to know how to help make it better.

I'm posting about her here because she's the person I call up as soon as I get done with Bikram class and I've still got issues working out my emotions, self-criticisms, and doubts after I've spent 90 minutes working through them in front of the mirror. She totally understands where I'm coming from, and even if she doesn't, she's more accepting, loving and open than anyone else in the world I can think of.

Who in your life outside the hot room should you be consciously appreciating more?

It's easy to be thankful for those in your life that show up a couple times a week, or who you know vaguely, but what about your immediate family-- those whose flaws and weaknesses you are quite familiar with? When is the last time you actively thanked them for your relationship?

Here I am, sis. I miss you like crazy and I can't WAIT for a few weeks from now when we get to catch up in person. I love you with my whole heart and I can't wait to (someday) practice Bikram together! :)


Photo Via La Birdie Photography's Flickr Photostream.

Monday Night Blues? Try a Break, Baby!

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Relaxin' in the summertime is required. Photo via Pixelatedhologram's Flickrstream.

It's a Monday night in the middle of summertime: can you feel it?

The weekend went by too fast and work today felt like forever.

You're crankin' the AC but you can't seem to get enough of the cool air.

All you're dreaming of is a long night drive, a little time at the beach house, an afternoon picnic to break up the mid-day doldrums. Maybe you could use a romantic evening with your special someone, no distractions, no questions asked. Or weekend getaway in the mountains?

Yeah. I'm there.

Or, if you're like me, you're simply interested in getting out of the house to mix it up after dinner. And since you've skipped the usual evening yoga class, you find yourself at a local pub/cafe where there's lively live music, interesting-looking characters and relaxingly-dim lighting (dim enough that hopefully no one will notice that you're all by your lonesome tip-tap-typing away on a little netbook!).

Tonight's one of those nights when I'm taking advantage of 100% relaxation in order to inspire my 100% dedication (coming to a Bikram studio near you...tomorrow!). As much as we'd all like to pretend it's not true, even we Bikram crazies must admit that there comes a moment when we need to back off a little in order to re-formulate our love for the yoga.

I suppose it's like they say: too much of a good thing, and it's not worth anything.

It's just like the Bikram quote my lovely teacher mentioned the other day in class. As the Boss himself says, "I have the biggest swimming pool in Los Angeles. But I don't know how to swim."

The point is true here, too: even if you've got the best resources in the world, they'll do you no good if you don't know how to put them to good use. If you push too hard in a posture and compromise integrity so you can fake depth, you get nowhere. And even we obsessive back-to-back doublers know sometimes a little break -- a day or two away from the Torture Chamber -- can do some good for inspiring your practice and bringing it to soar to new heights.

The lovely Joanna over at Lock the Knee posted about this recently, after returning from her Sequoia camping trip and discovering that -- hey! -- balancing stick posture is way more fun if you're lookin' for some seriously heart-pounding cardio.

That's what I am talking about here: finding ways to appreciate with new compassion the postures which we generally take for granted, or simply tend to make our personal enemies during class.

Often a quick break will help us realize what we've been missing all along.

It's like the crazy, mandolin-rockin', bass-thumpin' band I'm listening to is singing:

It's the freakin' weekend, baby, I'm about to have me some fun!

Alright, so it's still Monday night -- but if you wanted, you could make the choice to take a break from your mid-week blues, maybe even take a one-night breather from the Bikram, or break out of your very genre (that's right, I'm witnessing a country band cover a ridiculous R&B song like it's their first and foremost style of expertise). Surprise yourself! Breathe a little! You never know: it could do wonders.


Some unexpected Monday-night mandolin in place of yoga class. Hells, yeah! Photo via MSync111's Flickrstream.

Are You Happy, or Are You Settling?

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Photo Via SwissMiss.

I've got a hunger / twisting my stomach into knots /that my tongue has tied off My brain's repeating,/ "If you've got an impulse, let it out," /but they never make it past my mouth.

- The Sound of Settling by Death Cab for Cutie

How many of us are out there working jobs where we hate our lives from nine to five, but prioritize paying the bills? How

many of us are out there participating in the cult of mediocrity?

How many of us are singing this song by Death Cab for Cutie -- "The Sound of Settling?"

Sure, there's a certain comfort from just sticking with what we know and simply making a living instead of making a life.

But wait: that means you're forgetting about having a life you love!

You're giving up your very happiness just so you can get by. And chances are, you can feel it every day.

Well dear yogi friends, I've been thinking about the costs of settling lately and the truth is this: I'm ready to give it up. Too many of us spend our whole lives ruminating about what we want to be "when we grow up." And then we never grow up (or grow the balls to actually go for what we've always wanted).

I know what I want: to teach Bikram!

This week, I've been reminded about 53 times why it would be incredible to devote my life to instructing. This list hardly scratches the surface, but it's so prevalent on my mind that I couldn't help sharing. Enjoy! Be inspired! Change your life! It's like my twin sister always reminds me -- what she says about having kids: "Honestly, there's never really a convenient time for it. But when you make the choice to bring new life into the world, it ends up transforming yours for the better, too." Well put, sis!

When -- notice: not if, but WHEN -- I finally make it out to the big tent to take my yoga bubble adventure, and when I return to live the dream and teach classes, these will be awesomely true:


1. I will love my life and love my job.
2. I will not sit in front of a computer all day.
3. I will get to yell at people: "You're not babies...you're warriors!"
4. I will sweat at work. On purpose.
5. I will get paid to encourage people to transform their bodies for the better, inside out, bones to skin.
6. I will get to live at the studio. Which means: more yoga!
7. I will be a part of a living, breathing, thriving network of some of the most wonderful, beautiful, hardworking, loving, energetic people out there.
8. I will walk around barefoot at work.
9. I will have a more flexible schedule so I can meet my family's needs and one day raise kids.
10. I will follow my dreams and achieve one of my biggest personal goals.



My Work Briefcase (Someday) via Kerrie Longo's Flickrstream.

A 12-Step Program for the Beginning Bikram Yogi: How and Why to Quit the Fidget

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Um, how exactly do you expect to hold this if you're twitching all over the place?


I hate to admit it, but the other day another girl really got to me during Bikram class.
We’ve never met, I don’t know her, and it’s probably wrong to form an opinion about this chick without even having spoken to her…but man, you should have been there. It was ugly:
She couldn’t get through three seconds of class – during postures and in between them – without fidgeting. She was wiping sweat. She was checking herself out in the reflection of the side-wall window. She was adjusting her hair. She was squeezing her belly paunch and making dissatisfied faces at her own reflection. She was making eye contact with her friend across the room.
In short, she was doing everything but the postures themselves.
And dudes, it was pissing me off. When it comes to dealing with difficult emotions, anger’s not my forte. I don’t enjoy building up a large dose of fury within myself. And when I do, I’m generally not sure how to handle it.
And goodness knows: the heat in the Bikram studio is enough to make my blood boil and turn my face red – I don’t know about you, but I don’t need another reason to swelter. Not to mention, the 90-minute meditation is supposed to be a soothing sort of practice.
Short and sweet: you should be still – frozen, motionless, absolutely static and silent – for a pretty big chunk of class. Whether you’re technically in savasana or simply resting in between sets of the standing series postures, you should be a living statue!
By literal definition, finding stillness is as important as utilizing integrity and depth in the postures themselves. Heck, it’s inherent to their very name – asana refers not just to the physical fulfillment of the position, but also finding calm within that configuration. You arrange the different components of the body in a specific way, but what’s more: you do so for the purpose of achieving balance, promoting physical health, and attaining mental relaxation. It’s like the name of “standing separate leg head to knee pose” – the phrase “head to knee” implies that you must make contact between the exactly forehead and the exactly knee in order to receive the medical benefit of the posture. Not the nose. Not the chin. The forehead. In this same way, every asana requires the reaching of stillness. It’s not an option!
Reasons to Quit the Fidget:
1. Find peace. Bottom line. Isn’t this a big reason you’re stepping foot into the Torture Chamber, anyway?
2. Stop annoying the hell out of the yogis around you.
3. Balance. What a concept, right? And you were wondering why you couldn’t hold standing bow…
4. Energy. You’ll actually have more to put toward the real Bikram, rather than your frenzied fiddles.
5. You won’t feel so sorry for yourself! One of my favorite moments in yoga is when, right in the middle of class, an instructor randomly blurts, “Great, now stop looking so sad! Next set…” They slide that quick little sentence in with the other instructions like it’s part of the dialogue, when in reality it should be. How many times have you looked around the hot room to see some pretty miserably contorted facial expressions? Or made them yourself?
6. When you feel sorry for yourself, you quit sooner. So when you stop feeling sorry for yourself because you’re so tired from wasting energy fidgeting and because you couldn’t balance if you life depended on it (see #3, #4 and #5) – then you’ll actually be able to stay in the pose until “change” rather than pooping out early.
7. Your body actually needs that sweat you keep wiping away. One of my favorite instructors brings this up often, calling people out when they stop to reach for their brows, or worse, down for their towels.
8. You’ll be able to breathe better.
9. You leave the drama at the door. You get a chance to get away from our insane, insanely fast-paced world instead of allowing the madness in the door.
10. You learn discipline. You learn. Discipline. You. Learn. Discipline!
11. You stick together as a class, and you benefit from the energy of those around you. Holy crap, I can’t stand when people move at their own pace. And granted, at first I found it difficult to stick with the instructor and the rest of the yogis around me, but once you learn what a blessing this can be, people who throw it off become extremely pesky!
12. Uh, it’s part of the DIALOGUE. And what’s rule #1 in Bikram? Obey the freaking DIALOGUE!
So what happened with Miss Drama, with her jitters and spasms, her ridiculous song and dance, her sad faces when she couldn’t hit any of the postures with Bengal tiger strength? As a matter of fact, turns out none of my fierce, defiant glaring in her direction helped a damn thing. She just kept on squirming around like a restless worm. And she reminded me of another reason it does you no good to get distracted from those around you in the yoga room:
It just takes away from your own practice.
But hey, there was one redeeming factor. Crazy girl inspired me to stay for a second class.
It just so happened that my first one sucked so bad and I was so all over the place that I just couldn’t resist sticking around for the 7:30pm. And that, my friends, was an adventure in and of itself. Stay tuned for the next post!

Double Down: The Night in Which I Become The Flower Petal Blooming

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It happened.

(Read: I did it I did it I did it!)

Last night, I completed my first back-to-back Bikram yoga double. Cue triumphant trance music and wild hands-in-the-air dancing! (Go on; you know you want to.)

I must say, it was pretty extreme… but also surprisingly doable. I made it through the first class no problem, focusing on it in my mind as an extended warm-up. My favorite teacher helped make the 90 minutes a chance to feel empowered, strong and totally resilient. She always does a lovely job of reminding all of us yogis that there’s “a great group energy in the room” and she pumps us up and pushes us hard all the way until we’ve twisted our spines like pearl necklaces, and blown out every birthday candle that’s 60 feet in front of us.

Anyway, as I lay in final savasana and joyfully relaxed every muscle and listened to the instructor announce, “You did it! You made it. Now let it go,” I quickly thought to myself Not so fast! Only halfway there. And you got this.

And as it turns out, I did. After a quick freshening up – a costume change, downing a VitaCoco and protein-charged granola bar, refilling the water bottle, grabbing a soft and clean towel, and sending a “one down, one to go! I feel great” text to the beau – I was back on the mat, ready to go.

It was awesome: as I stood there on my mat, re-engaging in my usual pre-Bikram warm-up, I could feel this bright, pure sense of relaxation wash over me. The heat of the room felt so comforting, like being wrapped up in a cozy blanket and fuzzy slippers in front of a fireplace and watching the snow fall outside, the whole earth held in a supple, perfect hush.

Here I was in class #2, my body in a perfect calm. No nerves. No pre-class fear or anticipation. No stress.

No nothing, just me and the mirror. All of a sudden I am nowhere except right here:

It was the best feeling in the hot room I’ve ever experienced. And then it got better.

So another of my favorite teachers comes striding in to start class (Special bonus: two teachers in one night! Usually they’ll teach back-to-back classes, but I lucked out and got a mix. Yoga gods on my side for sure!).

“So this is Bikram’s beginning yoga class. Hands and feet at the center of your mats and towels. Stay in the room for 90 minutes…”

Here I am, standing at the center of the universe, and I’m not even hearing these words. I just am them.

Ah, thiiiis is that increased focus I’ve been reading out, I realize as we launch into pranayama.

And my body’s not the same, either: the lungs move open and close like deep, soft, elastic balloons. The belly swells and falls with the lightness of a butterfly’s wings touching. There is no usual tension or stiffness, no cumbersome battle to overcome the breath, only a body that floats – simple, wholesome, like velvety steam rising from water.

The spine is brand new.

I descend into half moon like it’s a deep, cool body of water. Each fiber and system is blurred beneath the hazy surface. I drift and flow. I am my own breath. Padahastasana comes and goes like a quiet wave.

“Alright, time for the first back bend. Don’t be scared, drop your head back, let it go, let it hang, look for the wall behind you…”

Generally at this point in the practice I am resisting the dialogue, holding something back. I am busy thinking about the outside world or shaking off the sweat. I am elsewhere.

Not here, not today. In this second class of wonder and delight, I am in the backbend.

I have let go of my resistance and this allows the posture to take hold of me. The lower half of my back becomes a flower petal blooming.

I am the flower petal blooming!

And I descend down farther toward the floor than I ever have – my dive smooth and effortless, like I’ve always been meant to be here. I can feel my spine lengthening, stretching wonder of wonders, and I see my mat coming into focus before my eyes.

I feel so good. I am on top of the world. I am a Bikram warrior, one step closer to my dreams of extreme flexibility held within pure relaxation.

The rest of class flies by as I rock standing series, chill through the floor sequence, and finish out strong. It’s all downhill after that initial backbend, although all along the way I keep wondering if there will be any other significant breakthroughs. The rest of the meditation is pretty standard as far as form goes, but my concentration and motivation are off the charts!

I walk out of the studio feeling pretty proud of myself and actually shiver a little bit at the icy blast of air conditioning. After all that time in the heat, I was beginning to enjoy the cozy atmosphere. And as weird as it sounds, when I finished the second class I actually experienced a sensation along the lines of: I could keep doing this yoga all night long and it would feel great! How true that is, no one actually knows (I mean, I was also pooped and perfectly ready to head home for a shower and bite to eat!), but it was a pretty inspiring moment.

Oh, and perhaps the most inspiring moment followed soon after:

I pack up and start to stroll out the studio door, basking in my toxin-free yoga glow, little shy grins eeking out the corners of my mouth. And expert yogi teacher of class #2 who got me through the beautiful hot mess that was my double turns to me with a big, fat smile, two thumbs up, and loudly proclaims:

“That was hard-core! Two classes back to back, nice. You’re lookin’ good in there!”

My eyebrows go up in surprise, my cheeks flush, and I make small talk as a feeling of satisfaction fills my belly. I mutter joyfully about the backbend release, tripping over my words a bit as I try to concentrate on anything but the fact that one of the most bad-ass yoga teachers at my studio just called me hard-core.

He wishes me a restful night, and I buzz my way out into the night air, little hop-skips entering my steps.

I’m beaming.

The Art of Double Vision: Get Your Back-to-Back Bikram Groove On

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Photo Via Milopeng's Flickr Photostream.
Welp, I think it's finally that time and I'm going to be trying a double tonight! I'm feeling pumped, am pretty sure my favorite teacher will be instructing, and have been looking forward to this moment for a while now.

Some thoughts... and I'd love your feedback/ advice if you've experienced the art of completing back-to-back classes!


Double Trouble

  • I hear class #2 involves intense focus and sometimes even euphoric feelings. It can, of course, also be tiring as heck, but I'm hoping I'll find my yoga zone tonight.
  • More class time = more sweat. Some say there's no warm-up time when you walk in the hot room for the second go-round. You just pour out every pore. Puddle time, here I come!
  • Increased flexibility shows up when you're working with 90 minutes of warmed-up muscles! Will I be able to push to a new edge in any postures? Hope so.
  • Timing is everything: It's hard to fit in 3+ hours of yoga in a day, even on the weekends! (But I have a serious feeling that it will be oh-so-worth it!) I couldn't be more excited to have finally found a time that works. And I'm curious to see how my hydration/sustenance schedule links up with my classes... hopefully I've got enough liquids and energy in my system to make it through! I'm definitely bringing snacks (an Odwalla bar and a yogurt) and refreshing in between with coconut water though, so no worries there.
  • I'm hoping the intense sweat/toxin dump will also include the chance to dump out all my unnecessary built-up emotions and stresses. For some lovely, self-indulgent whining on this topic, see post below.
  • By taking on a double, I feel like I'm one tiny step closer toward reaching readiness for Bikram teacher training. Sometimes when I think about it, three months on my own in the yoga bubble forcing my body to extreme measures feels like such an impossibility. How will I pay for it? And the real question: will I survive the Torture Chamber with Mr. Bikram himself? All that wondering aside, there are other times (like right now, as I eagerly await class with a butterfly-filled stomach and readiness to fly out the door from work) where I'm just SO DANG hopeful and curious and wholeheartedly excited about even the thought of being in the big tent with 300 over Bikram geeks.
Throw your hands up! Dance around a little! I'm joining the Doublers Club tonight! :) (Well, hopefully! Check back tomorrow for an update.)

Drift Away with a New Sleepy Tuesday Afternoon Bikram Poem

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this one's about the experience of floating into deep, deep space during the break between the standing and floor series...

Filament

arms arch upward fingers interlace
of course
I’m stretching of course it’s early morning
summer here upon us
arriving
curved upward haze behind a building
announces
the day coming. of course
I haven’t got my mind yet
haven’t quite found where it’s hiding.
this is supposed to be a day,
a beautiful life,
a wild and precious life,
a centered, kept, contained
moment held.
I’m floating elsewhere
away for now, back in five minutes
that little hand-drawn sign swinging from a string
pastel and ink, dream-like messaging inescapable
if not caught and held, perhaps gone to the wind’s
carefree moving mind-path: the breeze.
surely a life is not a day,
a day is not a moment of course
it can all boil down to just the one
split second,
one big break,
one forgetting,
slip,
breath,
one long fall toward failure.
Enter the room.
Set down your old mat,
bones, songs, fidgets, fears,
expectations, set your old life down
and unravel your very life-threads, your five minute signs, strings,
etched maps for knowing where you are.
Unroll your mind you can’t even find
and be somewhere: only here
is where you are
a corpse, body breathing in place
a two-minute savasana
floating filament thoughts out
the twisting of an untied cord,
rivets disentangling, notion-rope come undone
working loose our own bodies,
lives, days, pulling out the stitches
so that we are in fact of course
nowhere at all.

Yogi Characters Continued

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PhotoVia SunSinger's Flickr Photostream.


A little while ago, I featured a post on some inspiring local yogis at my home studio, and our need for compassion in the hot room. Here are a few more characters I've come across, followed by a few who I'm keeping my eye out for.


Locals I Love:
  • Yoga Mom Extraordinaire: you've got sweet tats, a solid practice, and super-cool mom skills for bringing your daughter to Bikram before she's even old enough to be allowed in for the standing series.
  • Slick Italian Gentleman: I'm pretty sure you're a dancer in real life, what with that slicked-back hair, graceful form, and seriously-athletic focus. Your headband and strong-looking hands make me think of only the word "Om" filling up the room.
  • Fire Engine Man: your body looks like a brick and you've got to be at least 40, and yet you keep coming back for more heat and humidity. I like to imagine you're the captain of a local firestation and your Bikram practice is just another way to get used to being surrounded by fire.
  • Miss Firecracker (aka my favorite teacher): your spunk, liveliness and kick-ass dialogue rock my world. With your leadership and encouraging spirit, class always seems to fly by and I feel stronger and more empowered than ever. Who knew such vigor could come in such a small package?
Are You Out There?

  • Pregnant Moms Who Still Practice: If I ever encounter you, I will immediately offer you an extremely enthusiastic high-five and begin asking you a bunch of questions of how you survive the hot room.
  • Yogis Wearing Leopard-Print Anything: Straight-up Bikram style! I have yet to earn these stripes.
  • Scorpion-Doers: Seriously, how do people pull that pose off?! I've never actually seen it in person, so I'm pretty sure I will oogle and drool over whoever I first discover chilling out as a poisonous desert bug.
  • The Emotion-Weary Yogi: OK, so this may sound a bit strange but lately I've been hearing and reading so much about yogis who suddenly start all-out sobbing in the middle of Bikram class. I am completely intrigued and curious about this phenomenon. And not that it's not an emotional experience every time we practice, but it might be sort of interesting to experience the teary meltdown in the middle of class...just to see what it would bring up, and be able to say you survived it. Plus I generally tend to have have salt water in my eyes, anyway, from all the sweat drips...What do you think? Have you ever survived the yoga-mat tearfest?
Photo Via SpectreMan's Flickr PhotoStream.

Focus Forward Friday

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Focus Forward Friday:
A weekly ritual for deepening your Bikram practice.
Today's focus: how can you get rid of those fidgets, loud exhales, and other unnecessary wiggles during class? Stick with your instructor's dialogue -- don't rush ahead or fall behind. As my studio likes to say, No Speedy Gonzalez!