Tag Archive | Bikram Yoga

Brilliant!

Sep17

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This really stuck with me today. It can’t express how I feel any better.  It also reminds me of what I need to do in my life. What I think about constantly, but don’t follow through with. That I need to just speak and not walk on eggshells. That I need to do more for myself and what makes me feel good.  

I want to thank, Rachael, a friend on Facebook. One of the very few friends that I have on Facebook, that I have never actually met in person. I adore your drive for life. For peace. For health. For education.  ♥

xo

Shrink Yo’Self – My 1st Assignment

Jan4

Shrink Yo' Self in 2012

The Assignment… What are your Goals for this Challenge?

Goals, huh, that is a hard one for me.  I am GREAT at setting goals for myself, but completely CRAPPY about actually doing them for myself.

Sunday I weighed 177.2

Today, Wednesday, I weighed 176.4

I am also not a New Years Resolution person, because of just my last of follow through for myself.  Don’t get me wrong, I am reliable, plan stuff all the time, show up to all the gatherings, keep promises within my friends and family and also help meet my children’s goals… just not my own.  It was coincidental for me that it just happened to be the beginning of the year that I was looking around for some new challenges to kick-start me a little bit.  Since Thanksgiving I have just lacked on my exercise.  I have still been going to my Weight Watchers meetings weekly though.  This coming Sunday will be my 15th week.  My starting weight was 185.

So, back to my goals…

#1… To lose at least another 5 pounds by the end of this challenge, February 29th.  I will stick to my WW Daily Points and work hard not to dip into my Weekly points unless necessary.

#2… I will drink 100 plus ounces of water each day.  I have a 30 ounce cup and also a 24 ounce water bottle that I keep with me at all times.

#3… I will exercise at least 3 times a week.  I will set dates with myself to ride my bike.  I will set appointments to go back to Bikram Yoga.  My absolute favorite kind of exercise.  I will not let myself make excuses.  I will figure out how to get exercise in as much as I can.  I need to stop just blowing this off.

#4… I will keep this weight OFF!  I will do what is needed to stay on track and keep it of forever.  This is a huge goal for me since I always seem to put it on and 10 times as fast.  It sucks, but is true.  It needs to be a major focus this time around.

I am looking forward to the support I know I will get from this challenge and also learning some new things about myself.  🙂

xo

7th Week… 7th Weigh-In

Nov15
Yesterday Kim and I weighed in for our 7th time.  I was up a pound.  I was happy though.  I know that sounds weird, but I had a pretty festive weekend at NASCARwith my Husband and some friends.  1 pounds was a good thing and I was so happy that it wasn’t more.

I feel pretty in control most days now, but would like to try to lose more each week.  This less than 1 pound a week still seems so slow.  I know it is the perfect way to lose weight, but, sigh, it just seems so slow still.  2 of my other girlfriends that I am doing weight watchers with have both lost about 10 pounds in the same amount of time, or less.  I know that they have more weight to lose then I do, but I just feel like it is all relative.  I haven’t been getting upset about it now though like I used to.  It is always just a thought that lingers in the back of my head.
Today I did my 10th Bikram Yoga class in the past 13 days.  It felt great!  I am hoping that I will start seeing results over the next couple of months.  I am also hoping that if I keep to a minimum of 4 days a week it will help get this weight off of me.
On December 10th I am doing a 12k with my Husband and my friend Kim.  I need to start walking a bit and building up my strength that way as well.  I have found that walking is funny.  You can’t just get out there and think that you can walk without cramping, getting blisters and getting dehydrated.  It is important that you work up to your goal.  I learned this from training for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day last year.  Today I was going to walk, but didn’t get to. Tomorrow I will try again.  🙂
xo

9th Bikram Yoga Session in 12 Days

Nov15

I am feeling pretty proud of myself sticking to something that is so good for me.  Last night was my 9th Bikram Yoga session in 12 days.  I am still a bit sore, but definitely not as much as when I first began.

Last night my friend Elizabeth, her Son and I went together.  The room was hot.  I immediately started to sweat.  It felt great!  I could feel my muscles start to loosen up.  I felt strong in my practice.  A little wobbly, or nauseous at times, but strong.  I can feel the change finally starting to happen.  I can’t wait to see what I will be feeling like after my 20th day.

I plan on only missing Thursday, Saturday and Sunday this week.  I will be in Sedona with my Husband for Saturday and Sunday, so I think that is a pretty good excuse.  I think 4 out of 7 isn’t too bad either.  Still perfect to stay in check and with a healthy program.

I keep having people tell me how they are scared to go due to the heat, sweating, etc.  I keep telling them it is all normal and once they go and then go back again a few times it will become addicting.  They will feel amazing.  Can you tell I have found something new that I really like?  🙂

xo

7 Bikram Sessions in 8 Days

Nov11

I was so happy to make yet another Bikram Yoga session last night.  7th one in 8 days, and I am feeling pretty proud about that.  I am so happy that my friend, Elizabeth, has been wanting to go with me and carpooling over.

My practice last night was pretty strong.  The room was actually cooler, which I think makes a pretty big difference in what you are burning and your heart rate, but I still sweat a ton.  I also felt great last night!

I’ve seemed to have pulled an upper hamstring.  I have just been taking it easy and trying to have the strongest practice that I can. After my practice this morning I will have 2 days off, then back on Monday.  I am hoping that will be sufficient time to heal and be back to being able to stretch without having to worry about hurting myself.

Have I told you?  I love Bikram Yoga!!  🙂

xo

6th Practice in 7 Days

Nov9

I actually feel really good right now.  I had a quick bite to eat at home after my Bikram Yoga practice tonight.  Took a nice shower and headed for bed.  I feel a bit slow and sore behind my right upper hamstring, but that is about it.

I was so happy that Elizabeth wanted to go again today.  It was her second time this week and my 6th in 7 days.  I felt stronger in my practice tonight, which is what I was shooting for.  I was also trying to stay more focused.

The room didn’t feel as hot tonight.  I think that was because the fans were on a little higher than normal.  It felt good though and I have no complaints.

At the end of our practice and during our final savasinna Jon, our instructor, read us his favorite poem.  He said that Bikram’s Wife read it during one of her sessions…

Rudyard Kipling
If 

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!

I look forward to going back tomorrow.  🙂

xo

5th Bikram Yoga Class, Oh So Good

Nov9

I am gearing up for my 6th Bikram Yoga session in the past 7 days tonight.  Monday was my 5th night, my Second Son’s 2nd and my 4th sons 2nd time, just not his 2nd in a row.

I was a little leery to let my 4th son, who is only 6, attend a session after school.  After a long day, a hungry child needs to eat and chill.  He insisted though.  He does love yoga, so I let him come.  On the way he had some water and a ZBar. After about 15, or 20 minutes into the session I noticed that he wasn’t doing the poses properly and seemed fidgety.  I let it go for a while.  After about an hour I couldn’t let it go any further.  He was trying so hard.  He looked exhausted.  I stood up, took him by the hand and grabbed his water.  I sat him on the couch in the cool air of the front room.  Filled up his water and made sure he was okay.  He just seemed tired and a bit dehydrated.  After sitting with him for a few minutes, I took him to the restroom to pee, had him rinse his face in cool water and head back to the couch.  I went back and continued the last 10 minutes of my practice.  By the time I came out he was much better.  When we got home, I put him on the couch with a plate of chicken breast and some ice water.  He was perfect after 20 minutes.  I have to give him credit for such a little guy.  With no pressure from me, he sure does try hard.  Such a great little guy!!

As for my 2nd Son and I and my friend Elizabeth (it was her first class), we made it though.  I was a bit tired and shaky through my practice that night, but was so happy I went.  I am hoping tonight that I will feel a bit more energy and strength, as I am feeling a bit tired at the moment and hungary for the second night in a row.  It will be good to get out of the house and away from the kitchen. I am so happy that my friend Elizabeth asked me to go with her again today.  So great!  🙂

xo

Bikram, 4th Day in a Row!

Nov7

Yesterday was my 4th day in a row to Bikram Yoga.  I am so proud of myself.  Not only am I proud of myself, but my 2nd Son (10 years old) went with me for his 2nd day in a row.  Isn’t that amazing?  I think so! As my instructor Jon says, “Ignite the fire!”

We went yesterday, running in as we were hoping that we didn’t get there too late.  My Son did phenomenal!  Me on the other hand… I was not able to balance very well and my feet were feeling ache and cramped.  I got though it though.  With grunts here and there.  Deep Breaths and a big smile on my face.  It was so worth it!

My Son woke up and came into my room to tell me that he was pretty ache today.  I told him that he well should be.  He is working muscles that he has never worked before and he did it two days in a row.  Most 10 year olds have never done anything like that in their lives.  I told him that I was sore and exhausted too, but going to try to go back as soon as I can.  So… I am going back today too… 5 days!  Woo hoo!  🙂

xo

6th Week… 6th Weigh-In

Nov7
It already feels like Sunday, yesterday, was days ago that I had my 6th week weigh-in at Weight Watchers and my 4th Bikram Yoga class in a row. Wow! Time slowed down and sped up all at the same time.
My weigh-in went okay yesterday.  I was hoping to be at least a pound down, but I was only .4, but I will take it.  It isn’t a gain and it isn’t the same as last week.  I know what I did, which was several factors actually.  I am accountable and next week will be better, I hope.  LOL!!  A lot of fun weekends ahead all though the new year, so I am going to have to be really good during the week days and plan out my weekends accordingly.
I can do this right?  Right!  🙂
xo

My Bikram Boys

Nov5

What a fantastic day today was!  Hung out this morning, had breakfast with my family, cleaned up a little bit then started to get ready for my 3 day of Bikram Yoga today.

5 minutes before my friend Kim was to be at my house to pick me up I went upstairs to ask my Boys who wanted to go.  My youngest, he’s 6, jumped up and said he was going.  Automatically.  My send oldest, he is 10, said he was going too.  My 9-year-old said no.  I told my oldest he was going, since 2 others were and he needed to come the most.  For my own personal reasons.  We found them something comfortable to wear and Kim was there in a flash.

The 3 Boys got to the studio and I laid out their towels.  They don’t have their own mats.  I am going to skip to the end, because all I really have to say is that they all… no WE all… the 5 of us that went today made it though the class famously.  It was fantastic and I am so proud.

We were laughing on the way home, because my friend Kim said that she only looked at me a few times like she wanted to fing kill me.  LOL!!!  Guess who wants to go back tomorrow though?  She does!!  My oldest was saying in the car, in between laughing at Kim and I, that he felt frustrated and didn’t want to go again.  Unfortunately, that is exactly why I told him that he needed to go.  It is hard to explain, but he really needs it.  I also told Kim on our way home that I was really wanting to cancel my massage for tomorrow after Weight Watchers and go to the last free class for this week.  She was all for it!  I was so happy to hear it.  She also looked at me with her red face, sweaty curly hair and tired eyes and said that if I change-up our appointments she will go.  The Boys piped in and said they wanted to too.  Wooo hooo!  Again, so proud!

I am a little bit sore in some different areas today then yesterday and the day before, but I feel really good.  I am hoping that I can go as much next week as I did this week.  I will have to look up the membership prices again and go for it.  I don’t want to stop this time and have months go by again when I am on such a great roll.  Go Kathleen go!

Alright, I need to talk a little bit about my Boys.  Wow!  90 minutes with a 6, 10 and 11-year-old.  they didn’t complain, talk, or anything of the sort.  They did the whole class… yes a whole 90 minute Bikram Yoga class and they were all amazing.  They amaze me each and every day!!

I am really hoping my Husband will go with us tomorrow too.  We shall see!  🙂

xo