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Written by Laurie English
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Friday, 19 November 2010 00:00 |
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I've been married for seven years now and decided to look into pole dancing. I took my first group class and a private lesson this week. Nothing like a full-length mirror and a pole to show you how flexible, or in my case, inflexible you really are.
When the instructor asked us to spin around the pole using our upper body strength and do the splits simultaneously, I could only think, "You've got to be joking!"
For whatever reason, I decided then and there that enough was enough. Two kids and six years of full-time inactivity with regards to exercise were about to END. Not only was I going to do the splits, but I was going to get into shape.
I'm not a boot camp kind of woman, but I knew I needed something to get my butt into gear....Bikram's Yoga came to mind.
I went to our local studio and they were offering a first-time student class pass: one week of unlimited classes for $20.
Sign me up!
Splits here I come. |
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Written by Laurie English
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Saturday, 20 November 2010 00:00 |
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So, I realize that the grace and ease that I want to have while pole dancing is only going to come through some hard-earned sweat. I've got to get in shape.
I survived my first Bikram's Yoga class. To say the room was hot would be an understatement. I remember at one point lying on my rented yoga mat and having difficulty breathing because the air was so densely hot. One of the many humidifiers in the room was at my feet and I was longing for a cool breeze just so I could take a deep breath.
Luckily my one and only goal for this class was to stay in the room for the whole 90 minutes. Success. I stayed through to the finish.
I was quite insanely proud of myself. I realized more of my physical limitations and I had to catch my breath, a lot, but I made it through.
One of the things that impressed me most was the teacher's emphasis on giving 110% in each posture. There are 26 different postures. I want to give 110%.
I can do this.
Someone asked me after the class, "How was it?"
My answer,"Well, I've birthed two children; I can survive this." |
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Written by Laurie English
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Monday, 22 November 2010 00:00 |
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Well, I've done two classes! There are two Beginner Yoga books at the studio. I see that Bikram promises you a new life if you take his yoga class everyday for 2 months.
I like the idea of that.
Today's class, the focus was little improvements. |
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Written by Laurie English
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Sunday, 21 November 2010 00:00 |
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I am on my second day of doing Bikram's Yoga. I've done some searching on the internet and am quite impressed. Bikram, the founder of Bikram's yoga worked with president Nixon, Quincy Jones, Kareem Abdul Jabar....
Looking at my class brochure the 26 poses are printed on the top and bottom. It looks quite impressive and well thought out.
Each class is a beginner's class going through those same 26 postures.
I like the structure.
Going to class today I heard something new..."Most people live in 2nd gear. Try living in 5th gear."
I can relate to that. |
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Written by Laurie English
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Tuesday, 23 November 2010 00:00 |
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I've been having a hard time with some of the Bikram Yoga poses. In particular, there's a pose where you stand on your left leg and with fingers interlaced under your right foot you go from that leg being bent at the knee (foot down) to stretching the right foot out so it is now parallel to the floor. Once that feat is accomplished, elbows are tight around the outstretched calf (no "chicken wings flapping") and you touch your forehead to your outstretched locked knee.
Well, I was struggling.
So I'm with the kids at Walmart and I get the urge to ask my five year old if he can do this pose. And, sure enough, he does it!
I can't describe the matrix moment that I had. It was surreal. I was thinking this was the bitch of all poses and here my five year old does it like it's nothing. NOTHING.
I had to just pause my mental tape of what was hard and weird and difficult and reevaluate my approach to this yoga practice.
Really, if my five year old can do it, I can do it.
My focus for this Bikram class: surrender and ease! |
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