Back After a Break – First Ouch, Next Ugh, Then A Happy Sigh

I was lucky enough to take a long and lovely two week spring break vacation with my family. It was heaven — no school, no work, no writing (although I like writing), but also NO YOGA! For someone who practices 4-5 times a week, no yoga for two weeks is a big deal. I missed it, but I was so busy with other activities that the time passed quickly and I made no real effort to maintain my flexibility or practice at all. A full stop break. And by the way, there was a lot of great food on this trip.

So when I walked into my studio on Monday, I was a little bit nervous. How would my body react to the hiatus? Would I fall right back into it or would I be stiff? What about my stamina? Should I resume my normal practice schedule or build up to a daily practice? And what about all that extra food and drink I enjoyed on vacation? I had my work cut out for me.

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Interesting Reads – 10% Happier By Dan Harris

March 31, 2015March 31, 2015 Hot Off The Mat Great Books About Yoga, Interesting Reads, Self Improvement Bikram, Bikram Yoga, Hot Yoga, Meditation, Yoga

Today we are starting a new feature on Hot Off The Mat entitled Interesting Reads. In Interesting Reads, I will periodically share my thoughts on recent books in the yoga and meditation realms. If you have any suggested books, please let me know in the comments. I am looking forward to sharing this with all of you.

I just finished an interesting book on meditation entitled 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works. It was written by Dan Harris, an ABC newsman, who details his transformation from meditation skeptic to author of a book on the subject. It is a fun and quick read as he shared interesting anecdotes from his life and how they led to his inquiry into and eventual adoption of meditation as a daily practice. Thank you to Souzapalooza for suggesting the book to me! Continue reading →

Ode To A Bikram Yoga Teacher

March 24, 2015March 9, 2015 Hot Off The Mat Class Experiences Bikram, Bikram Yoga, Hot Yoga, Yoga

I love taking classes from different Bikram Yoga teachers. Each is unique in his or her own way, and each brings a special dimension to my practice. I have experienced four basic styles of Bikram yoga teachers: By the Book, Spiritual, Let’s Get Physical, and The Drill Sergeant. Of course, some teachers combine several of these aspects. I enjoy learning from them all.

1) By the Book: These teachers rarely deviate from the dialogue and hold the postures for exactly the proper amount of time. They rarely give personal corrections or demonstrations. Typically, newer teachers are like this, as they work on developing their own voice within the dialogue. I enjoy the simplicity of these classes and try to focus very specifically on the dialogue to see if I can pick up anything I have missed in previous classes. I often find some new detail.

2) Spiritual: These teachers emphasize the meditation aspects of the class. They will sometimes share inspirational quotes during savasna or anecdotal examples of how the yoga can benefit your state of mind. These teachers are very warm and encouraging, and remember not only your name, but where you are in each of your postures. I always leave class feeling soothed and peaceful — like I got a 90-minute hug.

3) Let’s Get Physical: Here, the focus is on the physical execution of each asana — making sure the alignments are correct and that each step of the set-up is done properly and in the right order. These teachers run vigorous classes and will provide personal corrections frequently. I almost always learn something new in each class.

4) The Drill Sergeant: These teachers mean business. They move between postures at a rapid pace and may even hold some postures a little bit longer than is typical. These are tough classes — my heart is always pounding and I feel like I am being pushed to my very edge, but afterwards I feel like a champ.

During each week, I try to take classes from teachers with a variety of styles. That way I am able to work on my alignment, my mind/body connection and get a great workout. Thank you to all the Bikram Yoga teachers for sharing a part of themselves with us in each class.

Fellow yogis, do you like to take class from different types of teachers?

The Circle of Life – Taking Stock and Making a Plan

March 17, 2015March 10, 2015 Hot Off The Mat Self Improvement, Yoga and Life Bikram, Bikram Yoga, Hot Yoga, Meditation, Yoga

We did an interesting exercise at my recent yoga retreat that I wanted to share with all of you. It is called The Circle of Life and it is a great way to take stock of where you feel that your life is on several dimensions, and then use that knowledge to identify one or two aspects of your life for improvement. I found it very interesting.

Here is the diagram which I borrowed from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition‘s website. As you can see, it is a circle divided into 12 slices, each labeled with an aspect of life: Creativity, Finances, Career, Education, Health, Physical Activity, Home Cooking, Home Environment, Relationships, Social Life, Joy and Spirituality.

Here is how it works. Continue reading →

I Am Beautiful

March 10, 2015March 9, 2015 Hot Off The Mat Class Experiences, Yoga and Life Bikram, Bikram Yoga, Hot Yoga, Meditation, Yoga

Yesterday I discovered that I am beautiful. I guess that sounds kind of egotistical, and shallow, but I don’t mean it that way. In fact I don’t mean it in a physical way at all. I mean it in an “I’m at peace with myself” way. In an “I respect myself” way. In an “I love myself” way. Not in a “let me model for Vogue” kind of way, because, believe me, they wouldn’t want me. This is what happened.

I was at my regular Bikram yoga class, looking at myself in the mirror as I struggled with my alignment in bow pose, and I almost did a double take. Who was that woman in the mirror, working so hard, yet so peaceful? Her leg was shaking, but she was strong. Her hip was not properly aligned but she was working on it. Her head was crooked but she adjusted it. She was so focused and persistent in her pursuit of excellence, I broke into a big smile. Hey, that is me I realized. And I felt proud, and beautiful and strong. And then I fell out of the posture.

So reality set in, but the feeling stayed with me and I wanted to share it, because we all need to find our beauty in the mirror. Rather than focusing on what is wrong with what we see, let’s focus on the effort we are making to turn things around. Rather than focus on our flaws, let’s acknowledge the improvements we are making. Let’s see the passion and the progress. Let’s find our own beauty — the strength we have found to enter the hot room day after day to work on our body, our mind, and our peace.

I am beautiful. And so are you.

Fellow yogis, please share this post with the beautiful ones in your life.