What a Difference 10 Days Makes...

. . . As of yesterday morning, Day 10, Class 10 of my 30 Day Bikram Yoga Challenge is complete!

Although it has only been 10 days, it has been quite a journey so far.
I am happy to say that I am well on track to achieving my 4 Goals...

1. Routine:


My insomniac tendencies have been kept at bay.  Waking up at 4:20am every morning has quickly made an impact on that.  Unfortunately, my narcoleptic tendencies are still at large (Those naps are so damn tempting!!).


2. Flexibilty:


I have my good days, and I have my bad days.  I am learning that your body is different every day.  Sometimes I am able to put my forehead to my knee, and other days I'm struggling to grab my foot!  Either way, gaining flexibility is something that takes time.  I'm working on it...


3. Weight Maintenance:


It's kinda hard to tell if I'm losing weight, but I do know that I don't feel like I am gaining weight?  :)  I also feel less bloated, stronger, and I am starting to love the feeling of tight muscles.



4. Personal Sense of Achievement:


Come on, now... Waking up at 4-something in the morning, EVERY DAY for 10 DAYS in a row??  For me, that's a pretty fricken' amazing achievement in itself!


There are a few other unexpected's happening...

+My cravings are being curbed.
I normally enjoy french fries on a daily basis.. almost daily.  (Gross, right??)  Ever since I began this challenge, I've eaten fries probably twice-- Without even trying!!  That's odd for me.  *sigh*  I kinda miss my french fries...

+Caffeine intake has gone down.
That's a good thing.  Both for my body and my wallet :)  I haven't been taking advantage of my "treat receipt" at Starbucks by going back for a second trip after 2PM, and my headaches are less severe.

+More energy.
I definitely feel less sluggish.  That fact that my body is getting used to a schedule is probably a contributing factor :)

+My appetite has gone HAYWIRE!
This could be a combination of my increased activity, combined with my monthly-female-you-know-what paying me a visit soon.  But I am constantly hungry and constantly thinking about what I want to eat next!  Oooh... Cinnabon sounds SOOO good right now!  I wonder if I have time to pick one up before work... ??


So there you have it.  I am 1/3 of the way there, and already starting to experience some changes in my body.  Definitely looking forward to seeing the progress at the 2/3 point.

As a 1/3 of the way reward / motivation to make it all the way to the end, I bought myself a new mat:  Breathe  I LOVE IT :)

... and next time I'll tell you about some "characters" at my 5:30am class.  It's interesting...

My dearest blogspot...

...

We have always had an honest and trustworthy relationship, so I want to be upfront with you.
I've been spending a lot of time with a new friend.

His name is Tumblr.

I have no intentions of replacing you, blogspot.  You are definitely still my #1.  You waited for me, even when I wasn't ready.  You were a constant, even when I was flighty.  I appreciate the relationship that we have, and it's something I want to share with others... especially Tumblr.

Please don't be upset with me.  I'm doing this for us.
I think that this new development can bring us closer together.

I can understand your hesitation.  But I know that once you meet Tumblr, you'll see all the great things I see in him. One day I hope that all 3 of us can become really good friends.

edlynizms.blogspot.com , meet edlynizms.tumblr.com

I truly believe this is going to be a match made in heaven :)

*  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  * +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *  +  *

...on a side note: Day3, Class3 of my Bikram Yoga 30 Day Challenge is complete...  Yay!  :)

Are you...

... in need of a "feel good" moment?

... thinking that you just might be as good at what you do, as you think you are, but you're too scared to take that leap of faith?

... feeling as if you have a great talent, or a passion for something SO amazing, that you just want to share it with the world?

... feeling as if it's too late to pursue something you truly love?

... looking for something to inspire you to do great things?


I think I just might have what you're looking for right here:

Was it as good for you as it was for me?

I'll admit... I have a soft spot in my heart for The Wonder Years (one of the greatest TV shows EVER!!). So for me:

this display of passion

+

a handful of nostalgia

=  a "feel good" moment that I plan to keep in my pocket for rainy days :)

What a great way to start my 30 Day Challenge!

...and by the way, today I completed Day 2, Class 2 of The Challenge!  Yay me :)

*sigh*

I have been moved.
I'm moving....
I am on the move...

Namaste, ya'll...

This morning, I completed my first class of my 30 Day Bikram Yoga Challenge... *whew*

I am not a beginner to Bikram Yoga.
Actually, I've been taking classes here and there for the past 3 years.
I have never been able to discipline myself to make it a habit... and I should have.

For ya'll who don't know what Bikram Yoga is, allow me to copy and paste a spiel from one of my favorite sources:  Wikipedia :)

Bikram, or hot yoga, is a series of yoga poses done in a heated room, which is usually maintained at a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Yoga at this temperature promotes profuse sweating, which is believed to help rid the body of toxins. It also keeps the body very warm, and therefore more flexible.

There are many benefits of practicing Bikram Yoga, and different people have their own personal reasons for putting themselves through this "torture chamber."


I have decided to share a few things that I hope to achieve from completing this 30 Day Challenge:

• Routine

I consider myself to have insomniac tendencies.  I blame it on [Kuya ].  He is definitely an insomniac.  Me? I only have tendencies.  Sometimes I just can't force myself to sleep.  And other times I can knock out for hours.  Or fall asleep in the middle of the day.  Wow.  I may have narcoleptic tendencies, too.  Crap.  Even more so, my body needs a routine.  I'm hoping that going to yoga every morning will help mold my body into the routine it so craves.

• Flexibility

So, I used to dance.  (I'm not gonna say that I used to be a dancer, 'cause I believe that I still am a dancer at heart, it's just unfortunate that I have been outta practice for awhile)  Being outta practice, you start to lose things- like your flexibility.  It sucks.  Getting older makes you realize these things.  I plan to start dancing again, so I'm using this challenge to help regain some of that flexibility.

• Weight Maintenence

Notice I didn't say weight loss.  Not that I wouldn't mind losing some pounds, but that isn't my main focus.  I'll just say it:  I love food.  I do believe that one can find happiness in french fries and cheese and coffee.  I want to be able to enjoy the foods that I love, and not have to worry about being overweight because of it.  I have come to terms (for the most part) with my curves, and I am no longer ashamed of them.  I just don't want to add to them.  :P

Besides, I just bought 2 pairs of Super Skinny jeans from American Eagle, and I want to be able to fit into them whenever I feel like wearing them!  Haaa...

• Personal Sense of Achievement

What can I say?  I am a competitor at heart.  My greatest challenge will be overcoming myself.  It takes a lot of mental strength to force myself to sleep early, AND to force myself to wake up early so that I can squeeze in a class before work.  I want to believe that my will is as strong as I know it is.  I almost feel as if doing this will remind me that I have the mental capacity to do anything I set my mind to.  Sounds kinda cheesy, right?

Fortunately, I have an accountability partner, [Japapino].  Hooray!  He has happily agreed to embark on this journey with me.  Hopefully we can keep each other in check and make it to the finish line together..

So here are the details of the Challenge:

• All participants need to complete 30 classes in 30 days, starting the first class attended between September 19-21 (I started today, the 19th).
  
• All participants may complete up to 2 classes per day to make up missed classes, or classes that you will miss.
  
• There is a mid-term.  To continue the Challenge and to bypass the mid-term, participants must have 14 classes completed by the end of the 15th day.  If you don't have 14 classes, you have to pass a mid-term, which is rumored to be DIFFICULT.  *Yikes*
  

Here's MY challenge:

[PW ] and I leave for our Honeymoon / 1st Year Anniversary trip on October 15th...

Which means I gotta double up classes on 4 days... CRAP.

Ha.  I'll keep you posted.  Namaste, ya'll...

Fly Like an Eagle

[photo credit: Carl Chapman ]


"Life is meant to be a never-ending education, and when this is fully appreciated, we are no longer survivors, but adventurers."

David McNally

Even Eagles Need a Push