Bikram 101: Do Not Try. Just Do.

Author: Me / Labels:

There's no denying it... Taking on a Bikram yoga challenge of any length takes some serious planning. Work travel, long weekends away, time with family, drinks and meeting up with friends, hectic work/school schedules... They can all become obstacles to truly completing a challenge.


But there's no need to panic or be overwhelmed at the idea of getting your practice in with everything else you've got going on at the same time. Good gosh no! The idea behind the 101-day challenge (or any challenge length, for that matter) is to go every day. Every. Single. Day. Which makes it important to think of your yoga practice part of your natural day. Just like showering. And work. And sleep.

Here is what I have done to help make the addition to my day easier once the challenge begins:
  • Told everyone around me that I am doing the challenge, that it is a huge priority, and therefore will have limited availability after work most days.
  • Rescheduled a tropical vacation away with my husband for early May.
  • Put in place a plan to get to work early, that way I can avoid feeling trapped and have to work late.
This may or may not work for you. But the bottom line is to not let your practice be something you have to "try to fit" into your day. Just make it a regular part of your day. Period.

As one wise character once said, "Do. Or do not. There is no "try.'"

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Let's Let The Healing Begin!

Author: Me / Labels:

Yep! That's right... We're about to embark on an epic journey to begin healing our bodies. And how are we going to do that?

With 101 consecutive days of Bikram yoga, starting January 1, 2010!

What is Bikram Yoga?

Invented by Bikram Choudhury, Bikram yoga is a 90-minute series of 26 hatha yoga asanas (postures) practiced in a room that is heated and very humid.

(Some like to call it "juicy!")

Why 101 consecutive days?

There are different "challenge lengths" in Bikram yoga. Here is a break out of how each one helps and heals your body...
  • 30-Days: A readjustment period... You're getting your body primed for an on-going practice. Just getting through a 30 consecutive day challenge is a difficult for most people. It can be difficult to mentally commit yourself to going to class for 30 consecutive days.
  • 60-Days: In the 60-day challenge, the second 30 days are where you get to the "emotional stuff." While you experience the mental exhaustion "here and there" in the first set of 30 days, you experience it far more frequently in the second set. Anger. Tears. Hysterical laughter. It all comes out here... Both in and out of class.
  • 90-Days: This is when your body suddenly (or so people claim) changes shape. You will notice in the 30 and 60-day challenges that muscles and body parts tighten up. But the third set of 30 is when you start to see the yoga practice pay off physically in your body. You've been feeling it up until this point... But now you can actually see it. You can see your "yoga bum" starting to take shape.
  • 100-Days: Ten extra days, just to make things a nice big number...
  • 101-Days: Because you just have to show up for one extra day.


Rules of the challenge...

  1. The purpose is to go to class every day, for 101 consecutive days. So try to commit time to it every day. However...
  2. Doubles count. So do triples, quadruples, quintuples... But the point is to go every day consecutively... So try to only do multiple classes in one day if you really need to.
  3. No home practice. You must practice in a studio. A certified Bikram studio.
  4. Bikram's Advanced Series classes count. But, they count as one class.
  5. Challenge starts on January 1st and ends on April 11th. But if you have to start late because you are on vacation for the holiday, that is okay. Do multiple classes to catch up.
  6. Have fun!

Who can participate?


Heck! Anyone! Young, old... Sick, healthy... Employed, unemployed, fun-employed... Long-time practitioners... Even those who have never even done a yoga class before in their life! All are welcome! All are encouraged!

What are the benefits?

So many!
  • Reshapes your body.
  • Tones and strengthens your muscles.
  • Increases balance and coordination.
  • Stimulates an adjustment of your metabolism. (Need to lose weight, this will help. Need to gain weight, this will help.)
  • Reduces stress.
  • Flushes the toxins from your body.
  • Clears your mind.
  • Improves the nervous system.
  • Strengthens self-control.
So, are you ready to enter Bikram's torture chamber and heal your body? Join us! The epic journey begins in the new year!

Namaste!

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