Joy’s Journey- Day 24 Bikram Yoga- Going for the 30-Day Challenge!

Today is the first day I had to look at the calendar and count which day I was on with Bikram Yoga. Was it 23 or 24? and to my delight, today was 24!

Day 1 I had NO IDEA what I was doing or if I could survive 90 minutes of 105 temperature with 40% humidity, but obviously by taking one day at a time I am not only surviving but my Bikram Yoga ‘practice’ is improving little by little.

If nothing else it is showing me that I am dedicated and am willing to concentrate and work through everything that is unfamiliar…oh SO unfamiliar!

Like with most goals, simply showing UP and doing the best you can is the goal with Bikram Yoga. Do what you can- the right way- and you’ll receive 100% of the therapeutic benefit. So for that, I am grateful.

I’m not going to lie….it has not been easy. Yesterday both my arms felt heavy and stiff and actually ached, that even typing on the computer keys seemed difficult. Today I took it down a notch and was more gentle on myself and as a result feel more energized than tired. How cool to listen to your own body’s wisdom and when you do, you feel better! Imagine that for a concept?

Perhaps why I feel elated today is also because it is sunny and almost 80 degrees weather here on September 13th in Vermont. Hard to believe but so welcomed. It was only a week ago that we thought fall was here and that winter was just around the corner.

It is often said that it takes 21 days in a row with any habit, whether eating, working out, doing YOGA etc. and I have to agree this is true.

For me, my goal is 30-Days straight…and then this little voice in my head says but “Bikram” himself says give him 30-days and and you’ll change your body and give him 60-days and it will change your life!”

So who I am going to listen to? Myself or Bikram himself?

60-Days could be cool, after all I did recently turn 60 years old. Typically on my Birthday I’ll do that many pushups (and not the girl ones on your knees) for every year. I think I began doing that at age 55. 60 was a stretch, but I did it, but I believe I did rest this year for 10 seconds after 30 and continued on. So you see, setting goals is something I am quite familiar with.

So as I get closer to the 30-Day mark I decided to research what I can expect by going the full 30 days.

Can you change your life in 30 days? The benefits of a Bikram Yoga 30-Day Challenge

As mentioned above, Bikram Choudhury tells his students: “Give me 30 days, I’ll change your body. Give me 60 days, I’ll change your life.” While it seems impossible given the number of unsuccessful weight loss plans and other advertised fad exercise regimens out there, Bikram Yoga studios all around the world have been fortunate enough to see several students experience the truth of this statement first-hand.

30-Day Challenges are designed to help students delve deeper into their practice, refine their postures, and gain a better understanding of their body and capabilities.

What is a 30-Day Challenge?

The goal of a 30-Day Challenge is to take a class every day for 30 days and over time see the positive physical and mental changes realized by a consistent practice.

Are 30 days of yoga in a row too much?

Not at all. (Or so they say!) Bikram Yoga is different from most other forms of exercise. Because yoga does not tear the muscles, your body does not require time to repair itself between classes. Furthermore, Bikram Yoga restores health and brings your body and mind back to balance. It is safe to take class every day, even twice a day!

What are some of the benefits of a daily practice?

Most of the people who completed their Challenge have mentioned that they sleep better, gain flexibility and muscle tone, lose weight, handle stress better, smile more often, feel more confident in their appearance, see major improvements in their yoga postures, and find other forms of exercise and daily activities easier.

During a 30-Day Challenge you also have a chance to pay better attention to your body and to the physical and mental changes happening during those 30 days.

To the right you’ll see before and after pictures. I wish I had taken pictures of ME when I started for a comparison. One thing I have noticed is that I am kinder on myself, my body, my body image, my body weight and how I look in skimpy yoga clothes. For that, in itself, I am grateful.

I’ll end here with a picture of my favorite pose. Favorite, not because I love the ‘pose’ but because it is the last of 26 poses in the series and the ONLY pose you do one time….. and from Day 1, it is one of the few poses I could do!

I am currently taking Bikram Yoga at a wonderful studio in South Burlington, Vermont called Queen City Bikram Yoga. http://www.queencitybikramyoga.com/

It is an fairly new facility so it is up to date, clean, fresh, it has wonderful instructors and everyone is friendly and makes you feel welcome. They are currently running a 30-Day challenge for the month of September, so if I do “theirs” as well as the 11-days I had ‘under my belt before September 1st’ it means I’d do 41 days in a row. I’m not quite sure about that ‘yet’. One thing I will do is ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Joy Edgerton

802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com

www.DaveandJoy.com

Joy’s “Experiment” with 2 different QUANTUM ENERGY STRIPS & what she found….

Sometimes it’s important to make a comparison with a product so others can make an educated decision which product is best for them.

Let me share a recent ‘experiment’ I did with 2 different STRIPS, that help with pain/discomfort….and bringing Quantum Energy to parts of the body that need it most.

I have been doing Bikram Yoga for 3 weeks now. Today is Day 22…. in a row! I believe in the POWER OF QUANTUM ENERGY…as everything IS energy. I had heard a friend tell me that when he wears the Strips with Quantum Energy to YOGA that his balance and energy is better. When you think of it, it makes sense.

The brief 1 minute video below explains how the Quantum Relief Strips work…check it out.

So now you can understand how the STRIPS work, here is my experiment I did in the last two weeks.

I compared two different Strips on the market, from 2 different companies. Both hold Quantum Energy and both work…. but how do they differ and which one do I feel suits ME better? That was my experiment.

The real reason I started Bikram Yoga was I had a ‘tennis elbow’ which limited my activities of tennis and weight lifting. I knew I needed something so I sat quietly and literally asked my BODY and SPIRIT what it needed. I literally heard BIKRAM YOGA.

Yikes, I didn’t want to hear that as I don’t (or didn’t) like yoga and would NEVER have chosen that on my own….but the voice was a loud whisper that I chose not to ignore. Now 3 weeks later I am loving my new practice and my tennis elbow discomfort is almost gone!

So, what does this have to do with STRIPS for discomfort? I began placing the Quantum Relief Strips on my elbow area, cutting each strip in half and placing above and below the elbow joint area. It really helps with discomfort and inflammation. In fact, I can not imagine doing Bikram in the beginning without the Strips. In addition, I placed a half of QRS (Quantum Relief Strip) on my dan tien, just below the belly button. It is great location as it is an energy source in the body and helps balance the CHI and CHAKRAS. (As I mentioned a friend swore his balance improved in yoga doing this and I needed all the help I could get with MY balance!)

I really believe the Quantum Relief Strips have made a huge difference in the past 3 weeks…and truth be told, the “QRS” (as well as other Strip) are intended to be worn daily for keeping the body healthy, the chi and energy in flow and for ‘health and well-being’.

Last week I stumbled upon a Mylar bag of an older version of a STRIP with Quantum Energy (called the PowerStrip) … it was something I have used in the past before the Quantum Relief Strips were created. I decided to make a healthy and realistic comparison between the two Strips and to honestly assess which is better for me.

Day 1 using the older Strip version: I placed a half PowerStrip above my elbow and also below my elbow joint. I also placed half below my belly on the dan tien. I went to Bikram Yoga. Now keep in mind, Bikram Yoga is done in a studio that is 105 degree temperature and 40% humidity.

Within 30 minutes of sweating the strip started to peel off. Luckily due to the sweat, I was able to ‘press it back on’ over and over so that it actually did adhere most of the class. Each class lasts 90 minutes. Could I say this actually lasted the full 90 minutes? I suppose I could, unless some of the active ingredients on the exterior were sweat off, which the way I sweat, is a possibility. As soon as I left the class and my skin began to cool off, the Strips came off completely.

The half Strip below my belly lasted all day thanks to my waist band of my yoga pants. When I did remove it, I had a rectangular imprint in that area that looked and felt like a sunburn. Perhaps the heat of the room ignited the ingredients in the strip? That I don’t know.

A couple of days later I went back to the Quantum Relief Strips and placed them in the same areas on my body. I went to Bikram Yoga 2 days in a row. Although the Strips were still adhering in all three areas through two 90-minute classes and 2 showers, I removed them and applied a new ones. Each strip is effective for 48- hours.

For me, and this is only a personal observation, but FOR ME the Quantum Relief Strips work better and adhered superior to the PowerStrips. Are both products good products? Yes, indeed they are, but for me and my active lifestyle with Bikram, baths, showers and occasional swimming, the Quantum Relief Strips, hands down, are a better value. The cost of both products is approximately the same (PowerStrips are slightly higher in price) although for the Quantum Relief Strips through TAVALA, the cost for both customers and members is the same. $54.99. (USA pricing)

Interested in buying the Quantum Relief Strips? You can buy a single pack (or more) 14 strips = a 28-Day supply. Simply go to www.DaveandJoy.com

Interested in trying a SAMPLE 2-pack of the Quantum Relief Strips go to www.TryOurSamples.com You’ll find information on that website that will help educate you on the benefits.

Do you enjoy helping others? Interested in a home-based opportunity? We are looking for other leaders to spread the Quantum Relief Product throughout the world. Please inquire. It is FREE to join.

Dave and Joy/ Global Leaders

802-846-7530

info@DaveandJoy.com

www.DaveandJoy.com

 

 

 

Joy’s Bikram Journey… Days 19 & 20 BAM….What Hit Me?

Day 20 today. I left my Bikram Yoga Class today and asked my husband, “Did you get the License plate number”. He replied: “License plate, What are you talking about?” Me: “The truck that HIT ME broadside today during yoga!!!!”

OK, so we all have good days and bad days, right? and in Bikram yoga, it is no different. Yesterday I bounced into class all peppy, 20 minutes early. I did a first ever in my Bikram Yoga 30 day challenge- I positioned myself in the FRONT ROW, where I could see myself in the mirror…. my whole self.

It seems like I mastered poses I had not before, OK, mastered is an exaggeration, but honestly there is something about staring into your own eyes for 90 minutes that was very powerful. During those 90 minutes I actually begged for my YOGA guides to help me. Surely we have yoga guides, right?

The only error I made yesterday is I wore what is equivalent to a snowsuit in Bikram (long Prana belled at the bottom yoga pants and a ‘spank type’ built in bra type of top…long in length! The heat could not escape even if it tried. BUT- it didn’t matter. It was a great “practice”….one of my best.

Most women- even the full figured gals, know that wearing less clothes in 105 degree heat with 40% humidity is the way to go. It’s not unusual to see women in bikini bathing suit type bottoms (you know they MAKE Bikram bottoms like that and they cinch at the sides?)…always with a skimpy sport bra. (The fancier the criss-cross in the back, the more popular). OR, they wear bootie shorts or capris, but rarely does anyone wear what I wore….and it will be my last time. The only benefit is I could WRAP my sweaty foot around the ‘bell’ and hang on during poses better.

Today I went INTO yoga tired. Perhaps it was because it was Day 20 in a row and I didn’t sleep well the last two nights, or because I had experienced 2 hours of body work 2 days ago and felt like I was recovering from the healing massage. I KNEW going in today that I felt ‘weaker’ but I still showed up and gave it my best.

My best today, was OK -nothing earth shattering AND I knowingly positioned myself in the BACK ROW. Typically in the back row you can still see yourself in the far distant mirror but not today. Unfortunately, (or fortunately) today I could not see myself at ALL because of where the instructor was perched upon the box. So, from now on- I will, no matter what, be able to have eye contact during the session.

Some well-meaning friends and even family think I am a bit EXTREME with this 30-day challenge, but I don’t think so. Yes, it is a physical and mental challenge for sure, but I like where it is taking me.

If you are inspired, check out BIKRAM yoga in your area. I believe most studios offer an introductory 30 Days for $30 package. If you are in Burlington Vermont I highly recommend Queen City Bikram Yoga, http://www.queencitybikramyoga.com/ owned by Marla Ceppetelli.

I think I have experienced at least 7 of their instructors and they are all fantastic! In her own words she says: “Welcome to Queen City Bikram Yoga. We are so happy you are here. Why? Because all of our students and teachers took a first class. We all were trepidatious. We all survived and we all feel better!

There are no requirements to come to class. You can come to any class on any day. If you feel nervous, excited, worried, self-conscious or not good enough to come to class then you are like the rest of us.

You can do this yoga whether you are old or young, injured or fit, sick or healthy, happy or sad. It is never too late to feel better. All you need to do is show up and be prepared to change your life.”

When I went into my first class I was petrified….truly- but I felt at home and welcomed. I had NO IDEA that I would take on my own challenge and do BIKRAM 30-Days in a row when I began. I was simply taking it one day at a time, and still am.

THEN the studio decided to conduct THEIR 30-Day Challenge for the month of September. Yikes, if I do that it will take me to 41 days in a row. Am I “up for it?” I have no idea. Like I said, one day at a time.

So what are you doing to challenge yourself?

Challenges are fun as long as you are also gentle on yourself and realize that there will be ‘good’, ‘better’ days or an occasional ‘rotten day’.

Enjoy the process…. and Don’t postpone JOY.

Joy Edgerton

802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com

www.DaveandJoy.com