There were many times when a moment seemed forever, yet the week went by so, so quickly! I would like to create several in-depth posts, but my friends Time and Energy say to lump things together:
Muscles: They got a little tighter this past week, but are over all nice and relaxed. Many people are tightening up and tightening up. I'm drinking an exercise recovery drink after each class, perhaps that is helping.
You in the blue: Each class I make sure I know what color I'm wearing as Bikram yells out corrections to the person in the blue, red stripes, etc. Most times, you don't really want to be corrected by Bikram. Bikram: "You in the blue, what posture are you doing?" It took a while for yoga brain to remember what posture he indeed was doing, me: "Cobra." Bikram: "What the hell do you think your doing?" I didn't know what to say. A moment later - huge sigh of relief. He was talking to the guy in front of me who was also wearing blue.
Energy in the room: With 300 people doing yoga together, I thought I'd feel all sorts of energy bouncing around. Somehow I feel it within me, going into a posture a bit more, sometimes feeling a bit stronger. Feels great. Met someone this week who experiences the same thing.
Smell: Sense of smell is definitely heightened, even with a cold.
Emmy: Bikram's senior teacher, Emmy, taught most of the morning classes this week. She's amazing! She's 81 and has been teaching Bikram Yoga for over 30 years. I have heard that when she's teaching the advanced class, she does the postures along with the class for the heck of it.
Quitting: We got out very, very late most nights this week (read 1 am - I'm back at the Ilikai by 7:30 am) After I got home and started prepping for the next day, or maybe I should say the same day, the thought of saying aloha to Bikram certainly crossed my mind. But I'm still with the program!
Posture Clinic: We have moved to smaller groups for the posture clinic now, about 50 to 60 people per group. They have a really good way of rotating us, so that we are always with some of the same people, and some different people too. So far I have completed three postures (reciting the dialogue) and have done quite well. We are critiqued by Bikram staff and/or visiting senior teachers who, thus far, have had absolutely excellent and helpful comments.
Zombie: Some day this past week (Wednesday?) I felt like a total zombie. It didn't stop at feeling like one. At lunch, someone asked me what was wrong with my eye. My eye lid was swollen and started to turn a lovely shade of blue. It wasn't that way when I got up in the morning. Bug bite? Burst blood vessel? Who knows? It didn't hurt or itch, just looked colorful.
Posting: As mentioned above time and energy are at an ultimate premium, so posting will happen on Sundays.
At one with Jack Lord: Uncle Al, a friend through Wesley, has a condominium at the Ilikai. He needs to be in the hospital right now, but insists that I use and stay in his condo. Hmmm extra sleep - I think I'll take him up on his offer!
Psychologist: I wish I knew more about psychology. This whole experience would be so fascinating to watch. At this point people are more on edge, some a bit angry or aggressive. Nothing overly bad at this point, but certainly noticeable. What will the next phase be? Week three is supposed to be a rough one. Will I break, or continue with the flow?? May the force and flow of energy be with me. LOL! (maybe I shouldn't laugh...)
Tour guide: I had access to a car this weekend and so played tour guide to a couple of the people I study with, a woman from Hamburg Germany and a woman from South Florida. We had lunch at a funky Japanese restaurant, went to a couple of look-outs, hit a bakery or two (Leonard's for malasadas and Liliha Bakery for cocoa puffs - not the cereal!), and of course went to Costco and the health food store.
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1 comment:
I love hearing about Emmy. Hope you say more about her.
I am so impressed with your stamina. I really doubt that I could do it. But then motivation is everything, and you obviously have it. It's an incredible experiment you're doing with yourself. Perhaps this blog/journal will deserve a write up in some chronic fatigue journal.
As for psychology, I'd say you're learning what you wanted to know as you go. From personal experience and observation. Clearly people are having very natural reactions to stress, and that has to be complicated by the knowledge that it's self-inflicted stress! Easy and natural, though, to project it onto the teachers, especially when they have the style of B: "What the hell..." Hmmm...that's not my learning style. How are you doing with it? Maybe it's helpful to push you through such endurance. ButI often wonder if a kinder (not necessarily gentler) way could work too.
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