Are you a member of the Bikram Nerd Club (BNC)?

Nov 25, 2009

I’ve decided to compile a list of things that I believe make me a good member of the BNC club. Here you go:

- I constantly find myself focusing on keeping my knee locked (one at a time and at least for 30 seconds ) while changing my baby’s diaper.

- I've developed a mild case of OCD since I've started practicing BY. I've been repeating everything in multiples of three. No, I haven't told my co-workers to “lock the knee, lock the knee, lock the knee” or “push, push, push”, not yet :) but in a meeting I told everyone: “it’s essential to communicate, communicate, communicate” and to “escalate, escalate, escalate”. Everyone was looking at me with a weird face and I couldn’t figure it out why at first. I also told my 4 year old to “brush your teeth, brush your teeth, brush YOOOOUR teeth”.

- I am always cold outside of the Bikram room. No matter what the temperature is. I enjoy very high temperatures in general. I love sitting in my car with the windows closed and the A/C off, especially when the car has been sitting in the sun for hours and is very VERY hot outside, almost burning. Someone once commented “do you think this is a f@#$^ing Bikram room? Please turn the A/C on. I am dying in here”.

-I once dreamed I was participating in the BY Championship and chose the savasana as my advanced pose. I was so proud of myself. I was sure I was going to win. Then Bikram stood up from his chair and said "what the f@#$^ are you doing?". I woke up late that morning with a big smile on my face, in Savasana of course.

-I enjoy Bikram related videos: vintage ones, championship ones ... you name it. I like them as much as a good independent movie. I am also fascinated with Bikranisms, Bikram stories, TT pictures… anything related to BY really. I am waiting for my new license plate to arrive, something related to the subject. Hopefully, nobody steals my car while I am in class.

- I am looking forward to spending my vacation next year in a room with another 300 people. It’s going to be the highlight of 2010.

- I really want Bikram to jump on my back during stretching pose and give me a number. So prestigious. I shared this with some family members and friends, they worry about me. LOL

Just to name a few things :)

I compiled this list last year. My position has not changed. Since then I've attended the Yoga Asana Championship in LA, Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in both Las Vegas and San Diego, completed a couple of challenges ( one 60 and two 30),
received my BY license plate, attended Jim Kallett's seminar and learned how to lock my knee during Dandayamana Janushirasana ... well, a little bit longer ;) I've also met amazing Bikram yogis / yoginis and truly inspiring bloggers. Beautiful people. I love my life !!

New Bikram related dreams / goals:
- Lux Yoga retreat
- Practice at some Bikram studios in Europe
- Teacher Training eventually

Now, what makes YOU a member of the Bikram Nerd Club?

BYTT, see you around the corner

I need to postpone my BYTT dreams due to recent death in the family. It's sad. It's complicated. At first, I was heartbroken and cheerless about this decision. I've already sent the application, the medical waiver, the letter of recommendation to Bikram's HQ. Basically, all the documentation needed minus the money. I've also told the entire world I was going to TT and received overwhelming support from all my friends, fellow yogis, fellow bloggers, and especially the studio owner. She even posted my picture in the Teacher's Album along a little note stating "your teacher after TT Fall" or something along those lines. Now, how cool is that !!

For the last 2 weeks, I've been a little depressed and actually angry about everything. I felt like my dreams were taken away. BYTT in San Diego, so close to home and so far away. But I am fine now. A very smart person told me NOT to worry about TT and focus on myself and on my family first. TT will be there for me when it's the right time. It's true. I am not saying goodbye to my dreams, just a "see you around the corner".

To my fellow yogis going to TT this Fall,
I am not changing residence. I still live in San Diego :) and I am planning on practicing with you as many times as I can :) We'll hang out.

Love,
Ciry

BYTT Fall 2010 - It's official !!

I've been practicing yoga for 10 years now. However, this week marks my 1st BY anniversary !! It has been an intensive year. I started in Jul. I did my first 60-day challenge in Oct. I went to a seminar / posture clinic with Raj and Joseph Encinia in Dec. I visited the Yoga Championships in Feb. I did another 30-day challenge in March, Bikram Yoga TT Las Vegas 4-day trip in May. Someone recently asked me "What's next?" My answer, Bikram Yoga Teacher Training.

I was planning on going to TT next Spring with great difficulty but when they announced that TT Fall was in San Diego everything just opened up for me, like a flower petal blooming :-)

I am very excited about this opportunity. I just hope to have enough time to enjoy The Process and blog a little bit about the experience.

I created a new space for the TT.

Delicious Japanese Ham Sandwich !!

This is just a small post to "record" a major accomplishment!!

When I started Bikram Yoga, almost 11 months ago, I couldn't grab my heels during Pada-Hastasana, the lovely Japanese Ham Sandwich that I adore ( see my URL :)

Well, last night, the teacher asked me to demo it for the rest of the class. She stood up next to me while I was in this posture and went over the technique (pointing at my grip, my arms, my locked knees and ..."no room for light or air anywhere, just like this, perfect"). Then I got a big round of applause. It was so flattering!! I am turning red as I am writing this. How silly!! I am happy yogini today :-) This was a major accomplishment.

This is one of those postures that I never knew if I was doing it correctly. For me it's hard to tell without the visual. I sometimes wish the classes were video taped so we could see ourselves afterward and work on improvements.

Do you ever wonder how you really look like during Standing Separate Leg Stretching pose or Balancing Stick or Full Locust? I do it all the time!! And YES, you can always take a small peek in the mirror but the moment you do this, you are out of the posture.

Happy Earth Day everyone !!!

And remember "Don't Be Mean, Go Green" ...unless you practice Bikram Yoga of course ;)

Mission completion

Monday 6:30 pm
Tuesday 6:00 am and 6:30 pm

And with three classes within 24 hours and a nice compliment during Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose, I finished this mini challenge. It didn't feel as glorious as my last 60-day challenge, I must admit. But it was a good one considering that I managed to go to class almost every single day during the busiest time of the year at work, March Madness.

As mentioned in my previous post, I've decided not to extend the challenge to a 60-day one because of a 5-day business trip coming up and some family obligations. This doesn't mean that I am quitting or anything. I am actually getting ready for a new challenge starting tomorrow, April 1st. It includes Bikram classes (x5/wk), power yoga (x3/wk) and lots of running. It's actually more intense but it takes less time. I can do power yoga and running at lunch time but no Bikram studios around here, plus I only have 1 hour for my lunch. I am calling my new challenge "Operación Bikini 2010 - Las Vegas countdown" hahaha. I am going to swing by BY teacher training for a couple of days this spring. I am very excited about it!!

Have a good day!!

Day 24 - 25 -26 - Almost there ... [ class 25,26,27]

I feel like the rabbit in Alice - I'm late! I'm late, for a very important date! No time to say hello, goodbye! I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!".

Tomorrow concludes my 30-day challenge. Mission accomplished. Well, as long as I go to class tonight and do a double tomorrow night. Initially I was debating between a 30-day and 60-day challenge. I've decided to revisit my options on day 29.

Well, it's not optional at this point. My boss just dropped a bomb a couple of days ago "Be available in April. We are going to have a 5-day offsite retreat". OK, here you go. I was a little disappointed at first. Last night I spend 1 hour adding and subtracting days. Let me explain. I officially started this challenge on March 1st but I've been going to Bikram class nonstop since 2/16, that is 12 extra days. I know, going backwards is cheating BUT ... I thought I could just consider doing 18 more classes and voila BUT it's not going to work. First, I won't be able to do 5 doubles at a later time. Second, I have other family responsibilities. I am not feeling bad about it. I am just going back to my 5 days a week practice. It's all good!! Maybe one day I'll be lucky enough to do this every single day of my life :)

As for my last three classes...On Friday, I woke up early and wrote in FB "nothing is going to stop me from "taking off like a 747" this afternoon, not even this bad cold!!! Gosh, I am feeling like crap". I went to the 4:30pm class with fever but I managed to stay in the room. My mantra is actually "never NEVER leave the room". I was back at the studio on Sat for 4:30pm and Sunday for 10:00 am. I couldn't breath then but now everything is clear. Feeling great again!!