Mass yoga!

My Bikram Yoga studio partnered with Living Social this past weekend and offered 20 yoga classes for $20 – a 91% discount! Over 3,600 people took advantage of this amazing offer, which means that my studio is now one of Toronto’s hottest spots – both literally and metaphorically!

Yesterday, for the first time ever, I took a class that was filled beyond capacity. My studio normally fits 40 comfortably, but there were 56 people in the class and 28 were brand new to the yoga. Mats were on top of each other and it was impossible to lift my arms over my head sideways in any of the postures without hitting my neighbours.

As I began practicing, I realized this was a very different class. I was still doing Bikram Yoga, but the energy in the room was unlike anything I had experienced before. The teacher positioned me front and centre so that the newbies could follow my lead. I felt strong and energetic. I was able to execute some of the harder postures that I normally struggle with effortlessly.

This made me think about what it’ll be like to practice in a room with over 300 teacher trainees in San Diego in a couple weeks. The experience will be even more heightened, because I will be practicing alongside people who are as passionate about the yoga as I am. I’m sure the energy and excitement will be extraordinary – at least for the first few classes (before sleep deprivation and dehydration set in).

The brimming classes at my yoga studio are likely to continue for a while, so there’ll be more opportunities for me to get use to practicing with lots and lots of people very, very close to me. Hopefully the studio’s popularity lasts until after I return from Teacher Training – I can only imagine what it’d be like to teach a class that full!

The Dialogue Dilemma

I set a goal for myself that I want to accomplish before I board the plane to San Diego next month. I want to know the dialogue fully and completely. The reason for this is twofold:

1. Every single person who has gone to training before me has recommended doing so.
2. I want to sleep! Sleep deprivation is guaranteed at TT, but is worse if you need to stay up studying dialogue for the next day’s posture clinic.

I’ve made pretty good progress towards my goal. This morning while I was getting ready for work I was able to learn Rabbit Pose. That means I have only two more to go! BUT, with the exception of the first six poses (up to Standing Bow), I’m not able to recite any of them effortlessly. I have to think very carefully about each line, which means instead of 10-second postures, most of mine are about three minutes!

Up to now, I haven’t had much opportunity to practice in front of live bodies. Last week two teachers at my studio made me say Half Moon Pose in front of my studio owner while they did the posture. I was super nervous, but did it without making any mistakes. It was just longer than 60 seconds. Now every time I go into the studio, they make me say another posture. Nerve racking, but good experience for me.

Getting my head around the dialogue has been incredibly challenging. You see, I’m an editor, so it’s very hard for me to not correct the grammar. It’s actually affected my professional life. I’m more likely to overlook shoddy grammar these days at work and many of the emails I write are short and directive – just like Bikram’s dialogue.

Probably the most challenging aspect of learning the dialogue is the inconsistencies in language. For example, in the standing series, all of the postures start and end just a little bit different. Same deal with the floor series. My solution to this dilemma is just to focus on the “meat” of the posture and not worry too much about beginnings and endings. I figure I’ll have time at TT for that.

There are also slight variances in the use of certain words – for example, “the” versus “your.” There doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason to it and as much as I try, I can’t get it right. Ultimately these nuances may not make too much of a difference when I’m actually a teacher, but I’ve been told they are important in posture clinics.

For those of you who are learning the dialogue, take solace in the fact that the floor series postures are much, much easier than the standing series. I have learned these very quickly – all within the last week.

I’m really looking forward to actually using the dialogue in posture clinics and eventually, in the future, when I’m a teacher, in my classes. As much as I find it challenging to learn, I enjoy saying it and see its value.

The balancing series

Last week I was feeling really bad. I thought a flu was coming on as I had several of the classic symptoms: nausea, sore muscles, cramping, headache. But it somehow felt different. Like I was off balance. And Bikram Yoga, which usually cures all my ailments, was actually making me feel worse. Halfway through class I'd get dizzy and nauseous and my feet, hands, and calf muscles would start cramping. By the end of class, I'd have a pounding headache and my muscles would spasm for hours after. I was also highly irritable and was having trouble concentrating and focusing on simple tasks.

After a few days of this, I hopped onto Google and started doing some research. All the symptoms I was experiencing pointed to one thing: an electrolyte imbalance.

The condition is not uncommon among Bikram Yoga enthusiasts, as we lose excessive amounts of fluid during class. But I wasn't dehydrated: I typically drink 2.5 litres of water before I practice, a litre during, and another litre after. Plus I take an Emergen-C after each class and often treat myself to a coconut or vitamin water. So no dehydration issues. Quite the contrary: All that water combined with all that sweating was flushing out the minerals my body needs to maintain balance; hence, the imbalance.

As I'm heading out to San Diego in September for Teacher Training, I was particularly motivated to find a solution… and fast! Some people recommended adding sea salt and lemon to my water, others told me to eat bananas (which I loathe) and other potassium-rich foods. I didn't think any of these were viable options for training. I mean I was symptomatic doing one class a day -- what would happen when I was doing doubles five days a week?

I paid a visit to my local health food shop and purchased a bottle of Essential Electrolytes. A Bikram Yoga Teacher Trainee before me had mentioned taking these during training and never falling ill. So I figured I had nothing to lose.

The bottle says to take one to three pills before and after “athletic or strenuous activity,” which I did that very day. The Bikram class that followed was a dream! I was full of energy, my head was clear, and no cramping or spasms during or after class. The next day I did a double -- both classes were a pure joy.

I think I've been suffering from an electrolyte imbalance for a while, but have just come to view my symptoms as the new normal. Sometimes when you feel bad for so long, you become numb to it and accept it as part of life.

I've found my solution to help me get through Teacher Training, well a part of it anyway. If only there was a pill I could take to help me memorize the dialogue!

Making a List, Checking it Twice

It's the summer time: Scorching days, warm nights, patios, beaches, tank tops, flip flops... It's the best time of the year! The only bad thing about summer is that it comes and goes so quickly. In a couple weeks we'll start to be bombarded with "Back to School" ads. This year, those ads will have relevance for me again as I'll be heading to yoga school in September!

Bikram Yoga Teacher Training is 60 days away. And while that still seems pretty far off, time will fly by (especially since it's summer). So this morning, I started my BKTT Packing List. Now, I'm not usually one to make such lists. Often you'll find me packing for a trip an hour before I'm suppose to be at the airport. But teacher training is a big deal for me, so I feel like I need to be uber prepared. That, and I'm just so darn excited about it; the more I can think about and plan for it, the better!

French Press, Brita, kettle, and water bottles top my list -- hydration! Then comes a can opener, cutting board, and knife -- food preparation! Followed by cleaning supplies and yoga gear. Oh and earplugs are somewhere down the middle -- need to protect myself from the Bollywood movies blaring at 3am.

My list is already two pages long and will likely continue to grow over the coming weeks. I'm very thankful to the bloggers from trainings past for their helpful tips on what to bring. (Check out Yoga Boot Camp for a very comprehensive list!)

Please feel free to share your lists... would love to know what others are planning to bring!

Let's resume the dialogue!

In May I travelled to Naples, Florida to visit my parents who live there half the year. Each day, I'd sit by the pool and study dialogue until noon and then head out to practice at Bikram Yoga Naples. I was able to get a good grasp of postures 1 to 4 (Half Moon to Eagle). The teachers at the studio down there were really dialogue driven. It helped reinforce what I was learning.

Five months before I would leave for training and I had a head start on the dialogue. I was thrilled!

Then life took over. When I got back, work was busy, my social calendar was full, and I no longer had the time to devote to the dialogue. So I put it on the back burner.

And now...

Teacher training is only two months away! My dialogue studying must take centre stage. I'll need to learn at least two postures a week if I want to know the dialogue fully by the time I board the plane to San Diego.

Yesterday, one of my teacher friends gave me his copy of the dialogue (bound and laminated!) that I can use to study. Starting tomorrow, I will concentrate and mediate and think very deeply about the dialogue. It'll be my one point of focus over the summer months.

I've found that studying the dialogue line by line and repeating it until it's committed to memory is most effective. I'm also going to record myself saying it and listen to it continuously on my iPod. Do you have any other tips or tricks to share?

Destination Bikram Yoga Teacher Training

After a two and a half month hiatus, I thought it was time to re-launch into the blogosphere. Not sure how committed I'll be to writing regular entries, but this does provide me a space to share my thoughts and feelings as I prepare for my nine-week stint as a Bikram Yoga Teacher Trainee this fall. Yup! It's official: Yesterday I mailed in my application. (See photo of me in the post office, holding said application just before I dropped it in the mail.)

While I had my paperwork in order a month ago, I held on to the application in case I changed my mind. My leave of absence from work was approved and I pretty much told everyone about my plans, but I still had reservations. A couple weeks ago and after months of rumours, the location of the training moved from Las Vegas to San Diego. To be honest, I found the idea of studying to be a yoga teacher in Las Vegas to be oxymoronic. San Diego on the other hand, is the perfect spot! So the decision was easy once the new location was announced. It just felt right for me to be going. And everything has since fallen into place. The stars are aligned!

Between now and September 19, I need to memorize the 26 postures that make up Bikram's beginning yoga class. While I don't "need" to go to training with the dialogue fully memorized, I want to. This is because I value my sleep (which will already be compromised at training) and can't imagine having to pull all-nighters at this point in my life. It might be a feasible solution for those who are younger, but I no longer fall into this category. My university days of staying up all night cramming for exams are ancient history. So over the next 11 weeks, I will be spending a lot of time immersed in Bikram's dialogue. People will think I'm crazy as they hear me muttering to myself, but it's all for good.

Very excited about what lies ahead. Leaving the comfort of my home and job to become a yoga teacher is one of the crazier things I'll have done. But I'm really looking forward to the experience and the changes in my life it's sure to inspire.

My 60-day yoga shopping spree

During my 60-day Bikram Yoga challenge, my social life has been non-existent. Before this, I'd go out a few times a week and would easily drop $50 each time. So you'd think that I've been able to save money (which would be very good given the cost of teacher training). But no, I've not saved a single penny. All the money I would have spent on food and alcohol over the last two months has gone into my ever-expanding yoga wardrobe.

Now, I've never been a fashionista. I'm a sensible girl (some might say frugal) and usually opt for function over fashion. For most of my life I had no particular affinity for shopping; however, over the past two months I've discovered the joys of retail therapy. While you won't find me buying designer shoes and handbags, you will find me eyeing new arrivals at Lululemon and on shaktiactivewear.com. They say the first step in overcoming a problem is admitting that there is one. Folks, I've got a yoga wear shopping addiction!

A new Hot Class Bra at Lululemon? I'll take one in black, lavender, fruity tootie, and lagoon please! I haven't even gotten home and I'm already fantasizing about getting the Hot Class Shorts in each matching colour so that I'll have full sets. Then I'll get an email from Shakti Activewear -- free shipping, one day only. They don't even have much inventory online, but I manage to spend $150 before the offer expires at midnight.

Now I mentioned in an earlier post that I've been able to expand beyond my comfort zone and feel "pretty in pink" in the hot room, but this is ridiculous. I use to have one drawer reserved for my workout wear -- now I have three. I have so many yoga outfits that I probably won't have to do laundry for a month while at teacher training.

But oh how I do love those outfits! I love putting them on and I love watching myself do Bikram's 26 asanas wearing them. Let's admit it -- Bikram Yoga does appeal to our narcissistic tendencies. I mean, where else are you encouraged to look in the mirror for a full 90 minutes? While at first watching yourself as you attempt the poses can be awkward, with time you come to appreciate the movements of your body and the progress you are making. Wearing cute outfits only serves to heighten the experience.

As my 60-day yoga challenge comes to an end so too must my 60-day yoga shopping spree. I need to start putting my money into my "Bikram Yoga Teacher Training Fund." After all, I can't think of a better place on earth to sport all those new yoga outfits!

Yoga for the Type A Personality

Growing up my mother practiced yoga twice a week (she still does to this day). While I was exposed to yoga at a young age, I never really got it. I'd watch my mom stretching on the floor or doing a headstand in our living room and think she was a bit out there. My dad thought so too, as he chose more conventional forms of exercise -- running and weight lifting.

When I was in university, I became a huge gym buff. There was a period during grad school where I exercised for two solid years without missing a single day -- 730 days in a row! And I followed in my dad's footsteps -- opting for a daily regimen of cardio and weights. One spring I decided to sign up for a Hatha Yoga intro series. The classes were okay, but I never felt like I was working out, so I'd squeeze in some cardio before or after to compensate.

I continued to do yoga on and off (mostly off) during the next six years. I'd choose Ashtanga classes, which I found more vigorous -- all those sun salutations would elevate my heart rate and sometimes I'd even sweat. But I never had a consistent practice because I always left feeling like I hadn't done much.

Then I found Bikram Yoga and everything changed. It was by accident really. I moved downtown and was looking for a yoga studio in my neighbourhood. The Bikram Yoga Centre was the closest. It took me a while to actually get there. A few times I called to find out how long the classes were (I didn't know they were all 90 minutes) and no one ever answered, so I'd use that as an excuse not to go. When I did finally make it to my first class, I had no clue of what I was getting into. Everyone had beautifully sculpted bodies and were wearing next to nothing. I felt really out of place.

I made it through that first class and even managed to do all the poses. At the end, I felt like I'd just run a marathon. I was physically and emotionally spent. It was exhilarating! Completely different from any other yoga class I’d ever done. I could barely walk the next day -- awkward pose had given my thighs the workout of a lifetime. I went back a couple days later and bought a 20 class pass, which I went through in less than a month. Right after that, I bought a year membership and haven't looked back. I was hooked from day one.

So why am I recounting this story? Well, the reason why other forms of yoga never appealed to me is because they didn't mesh well with my personality. You see, I'm Type A -- I am competitive, achievement-oriented, and always looking for my next challenge. I don't want to waste my time performing actions that aren't going to produce results. And with Bikram Yoga, the results were immediate. Within weeks my body started to look and feel different. And no matter how many times I practice, the yoga is always challenging. Plus it demands a high-level of athleticism. Perfect for my personality.

I don’t think I’m alone. Many of the teachers at my studio have an intensity about them that is characteristic of a Type A personality. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Are you drawn to Bikram Yoga for similar reasons?

Wondering if you're a Type A? Take this short quiz to find out.

Pretty in pink

Something bizarre has happened to me. It's occurred to me before, but it was blatantly obvious in this morning's Bikram yoga class. I was standing on my tippy toes in the second part of awkward when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. There I was, ballerina like, wearing my pink sunrise shorts and standing on my pink towel. Pink?

Let's go back a bit.

Growing up I was a bona fide tomboy. I spent my days digging in the backyard and making mud pies (much to my father's horror). While my younger sister only wanted to wear pink dresses and play princess, I wanted to wear my brown overalls and play cops and robbers. My mother tried to get me into dresses and would often give them to me for birthdays or Christmas. I refused to put them on and they'd hang in my closet until my sister was big enough to wear them.

When I was a teenager, I decided that black was the only colour I'd wear. Everyday -- head to toe -- in black. You'd open my closet and not a single garment of any other hue could be spotted. I even dyed my hair black and wore a dark shade of lipstick that looked almost black. This went on for years and years. And when I finally did introduce colour into my wardrobe, I stuck to browns, greys, blues, and greens.

This tradition of sporting dark colours continued until only recently. Most of my early yoga wear is black. Then I got a bit braver and added some blues -- dark at first, but eventually lighter shades. And then last summer, I bought my first pair of pink leopard print shorts and picked up a pink sports bra to go with them. I felt hugely self-conscious the first time I wore this outfit, but I got a lot of compliments and came to like the way I looked in it. So at Christmas, I bought myself a couple more pairs of pink shorts and eventually added pink towels and a pink mat to the mix. Pink has even started to pervade my attire outside the hot room.

Why this sudden change?

My theory is that Bikram yoga has opened up my mind to new possibilities. If someone were to have told me two years ago that I’d consider becoming a yoga teacher, I would have laughed. Me? A yoga teacher? It was so far removed from my reality at the time – I didn’t even work out let alone do yoga. But now it is my reality. It’s funny how something can enter your life that completely changes your perspective and trajectory. Bikram yoga has done that for me. It has forced me to step outside my comfort zone and look at my life in an entirely new way. It is redefining who I am, influencing my likes and dislikes, and evolving how I interact with and experience the world around me.

So the tomboy of yesterday now sees the world in colour. And the future has never looked brighter!

The 60-day versus 60-class debate

I'm currently doing a 60-day Bikram Yoga challenge. Over the weekend, I did a double and when one of the other students at the studio asked me why, I said so that I'd finish the challenge sooner. A teacher overheard and reminded me that it's called a 60-day challenge, not a 60-class challenge. And part of the challenge is to carve out 90 minutes each day during those 60 days to practice. According to Paul Askew, "If you do a double or triple one day, then good for you. Makes you stronger, but it does not count for 2 or 3 days." (See Oh My Bikram for more on this topic.) I'm a purist at heart, so I've had to recalibrate.

I started this challenge on February 14 (for reasons related to the day that I won't get into here), which makes today day 40. I've done four doubles during this time. Because of all these doubles, I actually went back to count a couple classes I'd done before February 14. I realize now this is cheating. So using February 14 as my starting point, tonight's class will bring me to 44 classes. But I still have 20 more days ahead of me. And because I'll have to add one extra day for good measure, I'll officially finish my challenge on April 15 with 65 or so classes under my belt.

Can you believe I was late for work yesterday morning figuring all of this out?

Truth be told, I'm glad I still have another 20 days to go. I'm enjoying this challenge immensely and the journey's been incredible. While I struggled to get to class in the first 20 days, the 20 days since then have been a real joy. Practicing yoga is the highlight of my day. Friends and family have commented that I look happy and healthy. And it's true. My eyes seem brighter and my skin is glowing. My body feels amazing, my outlook is positive, and I'm sleeping like a baby.

It's also done wonders for my practice, as everyday I try to focus on something new. I've seen improvements in my standing bow and believe I'll be able to touch my forehead to my knee in standing head to knee for longer than two seconds by the end of this challenge. It's also given me confidence that I'll be able to survive teacher training, where you practice 96 classes in nine weeks. And hey, now I can check that box on the application that asks if you've ever practiced Bikram Yoga for 30 continuous days -- not once but twice!

Two-thirds of the way through my 60-day challenge and all is well. I look forward to what the next 20 days will bring!

Signs of Bikram devotion

The Bikram Yoga Centre always draws a large crowd on Monday evenings. It seems that everyone wants to detox after a weekend of transgressions. As the week progresses, fewer and fewer people come to the evening classes. By Thursday, I can actually stretch out my arms in Poorna - Salabhasana without hitting my neighbours. And by Friday, well, I have no neighbours!

Last night the studio was packed as usual and there was virtually no space in the change room before class. Jen, one of the regulars (who does come to the Friday class), was spotted amongst the crowd putting lotion on her knees. When asked, she said it was because she had developed sores on various parts of her body from the yoga. "Bikram Stigmata!" I exclaimed.

Bikram stigmata? Well, it's a term I only learned myself a few months ago (from Twitter no less). Apparently, those of us who practice the yoga a lot, develop calluses where our skin regularly comes into contact with our mats. I have them on the tops of my feet from fixed firm, my knees from camel, my chin from locust, and the middle of my back from... I don't know where exactly. Lying in savasana?

While they're not pretty, I am very fond of my Bikram stigmata and wear them proudly. In fact, you'll often find lifting up my pants or pulling off my socks to show them to people – my very own battle wounds from the yoga I love so much. A sign of my devotion to my practice.

Back to the packed change room last night. When the conversation of the stigmata came up, all the women present (and there were a lot) started comparing their marks and lesions. And those who didn't sport them, looked upon those of us who did in awe. Carol, who completed a 365-day challenge last October, told us she had to resort to wearing capris half-way through, as her knees were just too raw. Others talked about applying shea butter to help reduce the irritation or removing the towel over the mat during the offending poses to prevent the stigmata from worsening. We compared and we shared. It was a real Bikram bonding experience.

So the next time you're taking a class or in the change room, check out those around you to see if you can spot the signs of true Bikram devotion. If nothing else, it makes for great conversation.

One of these things is not like the other

I did another double today, and even though the two classes had the exact same 26 asanas and two breathing exercises, they were very different. Not only was my body different, but so too were the teachers. This got me thinking about the teachers who have guided my Bikram practice over the last year and a half. While they were all trained by Bikram himself and were required to learn and deliver the dialogue in the same way, they bring something unique to their classes once they get home. Let's look at the teachers who led my classes in the last 24 hours:

Paul McQuillan (Friday, March 19 at 6:30 pm) -- Paul is an actor and brings a fair deal of theatrics to his teaching style. He's a great teacher to have if you're a first timer, as he's very encouraging and will demonstrate the poses. He's got some classic lines, and even though he says them every class, they never lose their entertainment value. For instance, he likes to point out all the sexual benefits of eagle pose and when rabbit pose comes around, he tells us how before he started doing yoga, he was only 5 foot 2. The absolute best thing about Paul's classes is the yoga chant he sings while we're lying in final savasana. It helps me meditate and absorb all the benefits of my practice, and brings the class to a peaceful end. I've never had another Bikram teacher do this before, so it definitely makes Paul's classes unique.

Richard Browne (Saturday, March 20 at 10:30 am) -- Richard is the newest teacher at my studio, having just come back from Las Vegas in December. He's a Bikram purist; his dialogue is verbatim what you learn while in teacher training. In fact, as I've started to learn the dialogue myself, I find his classes to be particularly helpful. Richard jumped into teaching full force and quickly established himself as one of the toughest teachers at the studio. He likes his classes to be hot and when his students complain about the heat, he responds with "there's no such thing as too hot!" I have a usual spot when I practice, which is in the hot part of the room. But when Richard's teaching, I move to the cool spot, by the windows. And so does everyone else! It's the only way we can make it through. Richard's passion for the yoga is unlike anything I've seen before. He delivers the dialogue in a strong and confident manner. If only he could turn on the air!

Carmen Diaz Pollak (Saturday, March 20 at 12:30 pm) -- Carmen hails from Chile and she's been at the studio for about a year. While I don't speak a word of Spanish, you'll often find me in her Spanglish class on Saturdays, where she teaches the first set of each pose in English and the second in Spanish. If you've never taken a Bikram class in another language, I highly recommend it. Not understanding the words can help you focus more on your practice. For a bit of Spanish flair, Carmen changes up the dialogue for the set up of hands to feet pose. She likes to say "move your hips right and left like rumba, salsa, cha cha cha..." And in balancing stick, instead of saying "your body looks like a T as in Tom," she says, "T like Tremendous!" Carmen has a warmth and energy about her that is very inspiring, and I find her classes to be calm and peaceful.

Each of these teachers (and all teachers for that matter) injects their own personality into their classes, making them their own. I often get asked if I ever get bored of Bikram Yoga, given that each class is exactly the same. My response is that each class isn't the same at all. When you combine the differences in my body and mood each day with the different approaches of each teacher, you realize that no two classes are ever the same. And that's what keeps the yoga interesting!

The cat's out of the bag!

I guess this blog is more widely read than I thought. When I arrived at the Bikram Yoga Centre last night, one of the studio's newest teachers (fall '09 graduate) berated me for having to find out about my plans to attend Teacher Training via my blog. Of course he did this in front of the other students and teachers -- so the cat's officially out of the bag: I'm going to be a Bikram Yoga teacher! This being public knowledge is both good and bad.

The good news is that I got lots of positive encouragement from the teachers, who said I'm totally ready and that my practice is very strong. One teacher, who actually taught me my first class a year and a half ago, said she was thinking about me the other day and how I'd make a good teacher. Funny thing is that they all agreed I'd be a really tough teacher, which I've always thought myself. I'm very focused and disciplined as a student, so I'd expect this to carry over to my teaching. No half-assing it in my class!

The bad news is that so many things still need to fall into place before I can pack my bags. For starters, time off from work is required. I don't have intentions to teach full-time, so I need to come back to something. Then there's the matter of location -- "Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in Las Vegas" sounds like an oxymoron to me. I'm hoping it will move somewhere tropical -- like Hawaii or Mexico or Costa Rica! I’ve been told it doesn't matter where you do the training; you'll be so engrossed in it that there's little time to explore your surroundings. Still, when I tell the story for years to come, I want to say it was somewhere other than Vegas.

Deep down I did want to share the news with a broader audience, so I'm glad it’s out in the open. I'm so grateful for the support I received from everyone last night. I left the studio feeling on top of the world! Fingers crossed that it works out!

The 10,000-hour rule

In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell argues that 10,000 hours of deliberate practice is required to reach the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert -- in anything. I was thinking about this while lying in savasana last night (my mind was wandering) and started to do the calculations. I've been practicing Bikram Yoga about five times a week since August 1, 2008. That translates into 585 hours, a far cry from the 10,000 needed for true expertise. At this rate, I won't be a Bikram Yoga master for another 25 years!

Part of the reason I want to attend Teacher Training this fall is to help me evolve my practice. What better way to do this then to practice 16 hours a day, six days a week, for nine weeks? It'll be a once in a lifetime opportunity to focus solely on my yoga, without the other demands of life getting in the way.

From the stories I've heard, Teacher Training is no cakewalk. A typical day starts at 8 a.m. and goes until at least midnight, and includes two Bikram Yoga classes. Some days don't end until dawn, and you get only a few hours to sleep before it all starts again. I'd be lying if I said that the whole thing doesn't scare me. But I also know that my passion for this yoga surpasses almost everything else in my life and becoming a teacher may be the most important thing I do. If I can help inspire others the way my teachers have inspired me, I will be happy.

While Teacher Training will give me another 500 hours of practice under my belt, I’ll be in my late 50s by the time I become an expert if I’m bound by the 10,000-hour rule. Truth be told, I’m more interested in the journey than the destination. Practicing Bikram Yoga is something I enjoy and the rewards are inherent in the practice itself. Over the next 25 years, I look forward to sharing my passion for the yoga with others. Achieving mastery is gravy!

Notes from today's posture clinic

This morning's Bikram class was especially quiet for a Sunday, probably due to Daylight Savings Time and people not wanting to get out of bed an hour earlier to do yoga. The fewer number of yogis in the room meant that the teacher had greater opportunity to focus on each of us individually. And lucky for me, she was willing to break away from the dialogue and give us some tips to help us take our practice to the next level.

There were four poses in particular that she helped me with today:

Standing Head to Knee (Dandayamana - JanuShirasana)
This is definitely one of the toughest postures in the series. In fact, it took me an entire year before I could kick out my leg.

The advice that the teacher gave me is not to use my hands to hold up my leg. Instead, I need to fully contract my thigh to keep my leg outstretched. As a test, she suggested letting go of my foot while in the pose to ensure that my leg is doing all the work. If it moves at all, my hands are helping to hold it up.

Standing Separate Leg Stretching (Dandayamana - Bibhaktapada - Paschimottanasana)
I'm a rock star in this pose! I can easily touch my forehead to the floor, and my spine is perfectly straight from the coccyx to the neck. But, as the teacher pointed out, it's too easy for me to touch my forehead, which means I need to take a narrower stance. Instead of four feet, she suggested I step out two and a half feet. I tried this in the second set and it was impossible to touch my forehead to the floor. As she explained, touching your forehead is a goal you need to constantly work towards. To get maximum benefit, it should always feel challenging. I guess I'm no longer going to be a rock star in this one!

Cobra (Bhujangasana)
Cobra is one of those poses that I can sometimes do really well, but it's hit or miss. Rather than keeping my toes and heels together, the teacher suggested I separate them. Then she stood on my feet as I lifted up my chest. Voila! I instantly achieved much greater height than I usually do. And I could really feel it in my lower back.

Locust (Salabhasana)
I'm able to achieve pretty good height with my legs in the third stage of Locust. I've never seen it myself, but teachers always comment that I'm very strong in this posture.

Today, the teacher suggested that I push my weight more forward onto my shoulders, which will allow me to get my legs up over my head (as in the picture to the left). It seems that I'm relying solely on my arm strength to lift my legs, and that my shoulders aren't touching the floor at all. She said that because I already have good height with my legs, getting my shoulders on the floor will enable me to reach the full expression of this pose.

Lots of great advice in today's class. Despite practicing this yoga consistently for almost two years, there's still so much more for me to learn. And I'm up for the challenge!

Double trouble

One of the most exhilarating experiences you can have in Bikram's torture chamber is sticking around after class to do a second one. This is known as a double, and the idea of it scares most yogis.

I try to do a double every second Saturday. I usually make the decision the night before. It means spending Friday night at home, with a bottle of water in place of a bottle of wine. My yoga bag is much heavier on double days, because I need to bring a fresh towel for the second class. I also bring a small snack to eat in between classes, to prevent my blood sugar from plummeting by the time triangle pose comes around again.

The first class of a double series is mentally challenging -- I keep thinking that I'm going to have to do this all over again. The second class, on the other hand, is mental bliss. All those random thoughts and worries that usually pop into my head completely disappear. My mind is quiet and I can focus 100% of my energy and concentration on my practice. Because of this, my second class is often stronger than the first and more fulfilling. I walk out of the hot room at the end of the 180 minutes feeling elated and with a great sense of accomplishment.

I'm a bit of a celebrity when it comes to doubles at my studio, because I do them with such regularity. One teacher calls me "Double Trouble," a moniker I quite enjoy. Doubles are also great preparation for Teacher Training, as they're part of the daily agenda.

Is a triple on my future horizon? You bet it is! It's something I'll set my sights on after my 60-day challenge is complete.

The art of perfection

You may have noticed that my blog has undergone a redesign since my last post. In fact, if you checked it last night, you'd have noticed that it went through six or seven redesigns! I was up well past my bedtime trying to find the perfect look for my blog. Which got me thinking about my approach to most things in life -- I'm a perfectionist.

Back in grade school, I'd rewrite my essays by hand over and over again if I made one mistake. As a graduate student, I'd stay up all hours of the night trying to craft the perfect sentence for my thesis. When I began my career, I’d work obscene hours to ensure the work I produced was flawless. I've eased up on myself since those days, but my perfectionist tendencies still exist and are definitely at play in my Bikram Yoga practice.

Last fall I started to think about Teacher Training, but I convinced myself I wasn't ready because I hadn't mastered all the poses yet. I fall out when I try to touch my forehead to my knee in Dandayamana - JanuShirasana and can't for the life of me hold Dandayamana - Dhanurasana for a full 60 seconds. When one of the teachers at my studio asked if I was considering Teacher Training, I explained that I didn't think I was good enough. She was surprised by my answer and told me I had one of the strongest practices she'd seen, much stronger than hers had been when she had ventured off to training. After hearing that, I started to look around at other people (even though you shouldn't compare yourself) and realized that I do have a great practice, which Teacher Training will only help me "perfect."

In the case of Bikram yoga, I see perfection as an art — it’s a process I’m going through to master the series. And even if I never am able to stay in standing bow for a full 60 seconds, the journey I’m on to get there is transforming me and making me a stronger person.

It's Hump Day!

Hump Day on a Thursday? While the term usually refers to Wednesdays -- the middle of the week -- I'm using it to describe where I'm at in my current Bikram Yoga challenge. Later today I will practice my 30th consecutive class, officially marking the middle of my 60-day challenge!

Today is a real milestone for me. I've had a steady practice since I was first introduced to the yoga on August 1, 2008 (my Bikram birthday), doing 4 or 5 classes a week without missing a beat. But I've never completed a full 30 days in a row. It's not that I couldn't physically do it, it's just that life often got in the way.

Committing to this challenge has meant putting the yoga at the centre of my life. My evenings are devoted to my practice. I can't work late or go out with friends. I have to watch what I eat, and drink at least 2.5 litres of water throughout the day. I need to go to bed at a decent hour to ensure I get adequate sleep. And I've pretty much weaned myself off alcohol and coffee. These are pretty big sacrifices for me, but it's paying off. The yoga has become part of my daily routine now -- it's a habit -- so it's a lot easier to get there. In fact, it's the highlight of my day.

So today's Bikram class will get me over the proverbial hump... It's all downhill from here! I look forward to what the next 30 days will bring.

Is water essential for Bikram Yoga?

Last night's Bikram Yoga class wasn't without its share of excitement. I had a feeling the class was going to be different, which was confirmed when I approached the studio and saw two huge utility trucks parked outside and several workmen tearing up the road in front. And then I read the sign on the door: "The studio has no water today due to a water main break. Classes are running as scheduled, but there's no drinking water, showers or toilet facilities." For a half second I considered using this as an excuse to skip out on class #28, but of course my bulldog determination wouldn't let me.

My biggest concerns were drinking water (I usually gulp 40 oz during class) and washing the makeup off my face (the idea of having my mascara pour down my face by the time we hit the balancing series didn't exactly appeal). Both concerns were quickly alleviated -- the teacher was handing out free bottled water and a fellow yogi offered me a cleansing cloth.

The absence of water didn't dissuade people from practicing -- the class was packed. And since the water had been off since the noon class, the odour in the studio was especially pungent by the time the 7 pm class rolled around. So no water and a packed and smelly room. Despite these less than ideal conditions, I had a great start to the class. And when the drilling began during standing separate leg stretching, I breathed through the distraction and focused on my practice.

Overall, class 28 was solid. The only downside was walking home after class feeling especially dirty and dehydrated.

Facebook, Twitter, Blogging... have I become a social media junkie?

In 2007 I joined Facebook. I was admittedly one of the last of my friends to do so and only sucumbed after numerous invites from people I trusted (I was skeptical at best). Then last year, I began tweeting. It started off slow. My first tweet was in February 2009 ("I'm having breakfast for dinner") and then silence for four months, when I suddenly had a lot to say. Today I started this blog. I've been thinking about it for a while. I'm at a crossroads in my life and will make some important decisions over the next few months, which I need more than 140 characters to express. So here I am. Enter Chrissy D. into the blogosphere!

So why Japanese Ham Sandwich as the title of my blog? Well as anyone who knows me knows, Bikram Yoga is my greatest passion. And one of the poses I do exceptionally well is Pada-Hastasana, or hands to feet pose (it's part of the warm up series). The dialogue while you're in this pose goes something like this: “there is no air or light, from the side you look like a Japanese ham sandwich.” Now I've never had a Japanese ham sandwich, nor am I likely ever to have one (since I don't eat pork), but the phrase is catchy and since I'll likely be blogging a lot about Bikram yoga, it seems fitting (that and the first six names I tried were taken).

I'm currently doing a 60-day Bikram yoga challenge -- I've completed 27 classes, so I'm nearly at the halfway mark. The journey so far has been incredible and I've experienced a whole range of emotions. The first week and a half I felt happy, then came sadness, followed by anger. My body is also reacting -- I've become "sleek" in appearance (or so said the man practicing beside me last night), and I'm craving healthy foods. Over the weekend I stocked up on organic energy bars and fruit and nut snacks. Sure beats the full-fat muffins and chocolate that usually carry me through the morning. The healthy eating seems to be agreeing with me -- last night's class was one of my best in this challenge.

So there's my first-ever blog post! Check back to read about my Bikram challenge and other random things that I'm likely to share.