Tag Archives: Queen City Bikram Yoga

Joy’s 30 Day Bikram Yoga Journey- Day 1 vs. Day 30 honest assessment!

By | | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Joy’s 30 Day Bikram Yoga Journey- Day 1 vs. Day 30 honest assessment!

How I found Bikram, or how Bikram found me!

Really?

Promise?

OMG, that pose ‘standing bow’ is my least favorite of all 26 poses!

 

 

So let the fun begin. In case you have not heard my “Bikram Story” of why I began (or how I found Bikram) ….let me be brief and share.

At age 60 I was feeling tired- I was feeling discouraged due to having “tennis elbow” and having my activities restricted…. I was beginning to ‘feel OLD’ and concerned with my ‘functional fitness’ of being strong, flexible and agile…. and I was tired of looking down at my belly and seeing a ‘men-o-pot’. (aka, foreign flab around the belly !)

I asked my spirit what I should do and what would serve my soul best and I heard BIKRAM YOGA!

When I heard that loud “whisper”– or nudge from my inner-being, I wanted to ignore it or more accurately, I wanted to scream “NO WAY” and RUN! But you know the saying, “Wherever you go -there you are”!?? Indeed, why RUN from something that could potentially be the best thing that my body-mind-spirit-soul needs?

OK…. so first of all- I had no idea that the attire for women at Bikram could range from bathing suit bottoms, bootie shorts, shorts, capri leggings to long yoga pants. Close to 50% of the women wear the Bikram ‘bathing suit bottoms’ or bootie shorts….. and all but a couple wear a skimpy yoga bra top! Imagine me with a full lyra top with built in bra (much like a ‘spank’) and long bell bottom yoga pants. YIKES= the equivalent to a snow suit in 105 degree weather and 40% humidity! silly me!

During my 30-Day Challenge I bought 3 bootie shorts with built in ‘lycra-shorts’ under them, 3 capri pants and 1 pair of long yoga pants. Although the bootie shorts are the ‘coolest’ I rarely wore them – partly because I felt uncomfortable and revealing, but mainly because my body sweat so profusely that my legs were so sweaty I couldn’t hold some of the necessary grips or poses….

When I purchased the 30-Day Introductory package : 30 classes in 30 days for $30 I had NO INTENTION of doing Bikram for 30-Days straight….

but the ‘vibe’ of the ‘tribe’ in Bikram can be very encouraging and very persuasive and all of a sudden I realized I had made a decision to do 30-Days straight- if possible.

Day 1: Let’s just say, I survived! I had no idea how difficult or hot it would be. I felt ill-prepared for the stretching that was involved and having ‘tennis elbow’ pain made it even more difficult. I had done Bikram a couple of times in my 40’s but at age 60, with 20 additional pounds of weight, especially around the belly, I found it much more difficult to get in and hold a pose.

Day 2: I remember being much less anxious, because I knew what to expect, but I also recall feeling so unbelievably incompetent!!!! I’m a natural athlete and sports come to me with relative ease, but Bikram as I learned is another kind of beast. Surprise to me, I enjoyed the challenge and I loved the detox effect from all the sweating. It was exhausting but also cleansing.

Honest to God, around Day 6 or so, I began calling on my angel guides and ‘helpers’…. just as we were beginning the first breathing ‘posture’. Clearly some of them have to be able to help me with balance and yoga poses…. and I believe it helped.

Helpful HINT: TIDBIT to know! One thing I learned early on, it is important to SEE yourself in the mirror during Bikram. I tried many different spots throughout the studio and ended up in the back row, by choice, over half the time. As long as you can see your eyes, you can be anywhere.

On a couple of occasions someone put their yoga mat smack in front of mine and I couldn’t see myself in the mirror, which was more difficult with balancing poses. Also one day I got in the crack/line of the mirror and it was very disorienting. So, hint…. look at yourself in the mirror- as much as possible, even if you don’t like what you see!

Also doing Bikram is like in school where you don’t look at someone else’s paper during a test- well, during Bikram look at YOURSELF and no one else. If you look at someone else you’ll lose concentration- especially in a balance pose. What I learned is yoga is all about you and your practice…it is not a comparison ‘sport’.

I’m not going to share day by day (you can go to www.WorkWithDaveandJoy.com to read my many blogs) but I do want to share a summary of Day 1 vs. Day 30 with the Bikram Poses!

Pose 1. Pranayama (aka standing deep breathing) Day 1 the majority of my breaths were in through the mouth rather than the nose. My arms were tired by the first set and I had to shake them out periodically. I didn’t know HOW to do the OUTER BREATH or HA sound, which sounds silly, but it was so new to me. After the first pose I was already tired and my right arm (aka tennis elbow arm) was screaming. Help, I had 85 minutes to go and 25 more poses. Day 30 I was 90% better than Day 1. My breath has improved and my flexibility in my elbows and neck have improved!

Pose 2. Ardha-Chandrasana (aka half moon pose and hand to feet) Day 1 I could barely bend to the sides with straight arms…and forget about bending back. The first time I put my head back I got so dizzy I thought I may pass out and fall to the floor! bending down and putting my hands under my heels- yeah right? was not possible and there is no way I looked like a Japanese Ham Sandwich with my head on my knees. Day 30 my flexibility, especially to the sides has improved and I no longer get dizzy looking back. I believe these side-way bends has helped chisel some fat off my waist. Can I do the “head to the leg” or Japanese Ham Sandwich ‘pose’….heck no, but I improved so it looks like a HOAGIE sandwich….

Pose 3. Utkatasana (aka awkward pose, no kidding!) Day 1 I found it difficult sitting in ‘the chair’…it was more like sitting on a stool. Going on my tip toes HURT so much and my balance was poor. Putting my knees together and going down- ha-ha, not possible. Day 30 I could do all 3 of the poses in this one pose. Not perfect, but with balance.

Pose 4. Garurasana (aka eagle pose) Day 1 There was no way my arms wanted to ‘twist’ into that crazy pose and it hurt!!!! but what was harder than that was the BALANCING on one foot. OMG! I am VERY right side dominant so the left foot stability was a joke. Still, I tried and may have been able to balance for a couple of seconds, max, on the left side. Day 30 Certainly not perfect but I could hold both stances the entire time, I could do the arm ‘twist pose’ without too much pain and although I could not, yet, wrap my toes around my calf, it was to the side and stable. whew!

Pose 5. Dandayamana-Janushirasana (aka standing head to knee) Day 1– really? The best I could do was hold onto my foot and stand on one straight leg. Right side, not so bad, left side I hopped around like a pogo stick on that damn left foot most of the pose. It really took concentration! Day 30 my stability has dramatically improved so much so that I no longer want to bolt when this pose comes! Still I am not able to kick out-hold the leg for the duration, or put my head to my foot…but the progress was significant.

Pose 6. Dandayamana-Dhanurasana (aka standing bow pulling pose). Day 1 – you can’t be serious! I had no idea how to even hold my heel from the outside, let alone balance on one leg and kick back. No way. From Day 1-30 this was my least favorite pose and when it was over I was always relieved. The only time I took a pee break during my entire 30 days missing one pose was with this pose. on purpose! Hard to believe I never sat out any poses that entire 30 days! Day 30 – I can’t say I even came close to mastering this pose 50%…. BUT I was able to get the grip better on Day 30 and at least stand still, even if I didn’t do the kicking back. The few times I did get the pose in alignment, I could only last there for 2-4 seconds. (I actually had night mares of this pose many times!!!)

Pose 7. Tuladandasana (aka balancing stick pose) Day 1- I have never had a perfect pose with Bikram but this one, for whatever reason, has come easier than most. My balance was a little shaky -especially on my left side, but I grew to like this pose. Day 30- I continued to enjoy this pose….my favorite!!!! Perhaps it also was the encouragement from several instructors who told me I GOT THE POSE! Confidence certainly helps- esp. when you feel so inept!

Pose 8. Dandayamana-Bibhaktapada-Paschimotthanasana (aka standing separate leg stretching pose) Day 1 who the heck makes up these names anyway? I’ll have to admit, this pose is where I relaxed a little and didn’t push or pull too much. I could reach the outside of my heels, but not UNDER my heels. I hung comfortably! Day 30- I began truly pulling on my heels and I almost can reach my head to the floor. Strength and flexibility have improved… and belly is smaller.

Pose 9. Trikanasana (aka triangle pose) Day 1- to my surprise I could ‘sort of’ do this pose however by the time this pose came along, my arms were exhausted and felt like they each weighed 50 lbs. Also my feet….sore! Day 30– I will never say this is a favorite pose as it is challenging but I think my “Triangle pose” looks ‘sort of’ like what it is supposed to. Able to go deeper and reach with straighter arms. Still a tiring pose!

Pose 10. Dandayamana-ibhaktapada-Janushirasana Day 1- I really have to bend my knee to even begin to get my head on my knee…and yikes, with a men-o-pot around the belly, bending over is not easy! Day 30- one of the poses that has improved due to flexibility and having a smaller belly makes the curling down and over, much easier.

Pose 11. Tadasana (aka tree pose) Day 1- One of the few poses that I knew and knew how to do, or thought I did. Why then was it almost impossible to pull up my right foot, rest it on my thigh and balance? Once again, that left side really needs help with balancing and stability!!! easier on the right side for sure, position and standing with stability. 30- Improvement for sure but why the left side is still difficult is hard to imagine.

Pose 12. Padangustasana (aka toe stand pose) Day 1- are you kidding me? I am so sweaty that it is hard to grip anything and everything slides. Asked if I could use a towel and was told not to. Day 30- sorry to admit, I didn’t even attempt it. I was still trying to perfect the TREE pose with grace and ease.

HALLELUJIA! on the floor. Balancing poses are done. Yeah!!!!

Pose 13. ahhhh, Dead Body Pose. 2 minutes of rest. Day 1- it felt awkward to just lay there without wiping sweat etc. Day 30- not only do I LOVE this pose, I enjoy it for the therapeutic benefits. I also practice my breathe in this pose. Good stuff.

Pose 14. Pavanamuktasana (aka wind removing pose) Day 1- I love this pose. Easy on both right and left side and even in the middle, though with a smaller belly I could get further compressed. Day 30- I still like this pose, and with a smaller belly, can do it better than on Day 1. Some times I can even grab my elbows, not just my wrists. Yeah!!!!

Pose 15. Sit-Up Day 1- hey this I can do. 🙂 Day 30- easy to do a sit up with good form and keeping the arms close to the head.

Pose 16. Bhujangasana– (aka cobra pose) Day 1- ouch, this hurts my neck and my arms! Could not come up more than a couple of inches off the floor. Day 30- not perfect but I can come up with ease to my belly button. Spine and back are getting stronger!

Pose 17. Salabhasana (aka lotus pose) Day 1- this kills my arms, esp. right arm due to ‘tennis elbow pain’. I could barely get my right leg up or my left leg up, and the cobra tail, really? Day 30- improvement for sure but took it easy with my arm/elbow pain and never put them under my body completely. range of motion improved though I doubt anyone would even know the 3rd part with my legs ‘as one’ was a cobra tail. 🙂

Pose 18. Poorna-Salabhasana (aka full lotus pose or “airplane”) Day 1- embarrassing how little I could actually lift off the floor. Arms were totally spent by the time we got to this pose. Day 30- I never really did like this pose but I have to say I was able to get UP more and more each and every day.

Post 19. Dhanurasana (aka bow pose) Day 1– not sure why this is so hard, and can’t figure out how to kick and keep my legs together. oh well… Day 30- I still don’t know how to roll UP on this and kick legs way up… and keep my wrists straight. Something to work on. Also VERY difficult on my trap area, which I can’t understand.

Pose 20. Supta-Vajrasana (aka fixed firm pose) Day 1- I could stand on my knees and look up- that was IT! When I attempted to look back I thought I’d pass out. No need to pass out on the first day….so I stayed there in kneeling position. Day 30- I can actually do the pose now… on the second round of this pose I can not only go to the floor, but put my head on the floor and hand up over my head. WAY more flexible.

Pose 21. Ardha-Kurmasana (aka half tortoise pose) Day 1- stretch felt good and because we can bend our knee as much as needed, I could ‘sort of’ do the pose. Still this belly has to go. Day 30- Smaller belly now and easier to bend OVER the belly and get my forehead on the knee. Can’t straighten the knee but getting closer.

Pose 22. Ustrasana (aka camel pose) Day 1- hands on my hips, that is all I could do. leaning back and even looking up made me dizzy. Day 30- wow, I can do it. full back bend, strength and agility.

Pose 23. Sasangasana (aka rabbit pose) Day 1- silly pose. I sort of rested in this one and didn’t have the strength to pull. Day 30- smaller belly, able to roll over and compress and actually pull up. I still tend to use this as a ‘resting pose’.

Pose 24. Janushirasana avec Paschimotthanasana (head to knee pose with stretching pose) Day 1- since we can bend the knee as much as possible to still get the therapeutic benefits, this was an OK pose on Day 1…though I definitely need help with stretching. Day 30- much better on Day 30 and although I can’t get my head on my knees in the leg ‘out’ position, I am getting closer.

Pose 25. Ardja-Matsyendrasana (spine twisting pose) Day 1- felt like a good stretch. Day 30- LOVE this stretch and partly because I know it is the END! I can certainly twist more today than when I started. My spine seems so much stronger and supple.

Pose 26. Kapalbhati Vajrasana (aka blowing in firm pose) Day 1- strange breathing…. but knowing it is helping remove toxins, I did the breath as best as I could do. Day 30- ahhh, I love ending the practice with this breath. From here it is back to DEAD BODY POSE and 2 minutes of pure bliss.

Days 1-5 I didn’t drink electrolytes and was having a difficult time recovering. I was tired for hours each day and my ‘work life’ took second place. I just didn’t have the strength to do it all, and my priority was my BODY and ultimately my own ‘self-care’.

To counter act my fatigue I also began drinking a supplement called Tavala TRIM, which gives you energy and focus, boosts the metabolism and is a bronchial dilator- which really helps with breathing. (also used by many for appetite suppressant/cravings and for ‘fat-weight loss)

Also, I placed a Quantum Relief Strip above and below my elbow for my “tennis elbow” and they helped bring energy to that part of the body, making it easier to do the full 90-min. practice. You can learn about these products by going to www.TryOurSamples.com.

I love hearing others stories about their Bikram Yoga Experience, whether it is a 30 or 60 Day Challenge or what it has done for you. I will continue my ‘practice’ and my goal is to find a good balance with yoga and weight training at the gym. I believe my flexibility and strength will enhance daily activities as well as sports.

In closing, here is a couple of words of wisdom! LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. DO ask what it needs and how you can serve it. Follow your heart, your inner guidance and intuition! Fuel it properly- after all, it is the only body we have!

Joy Edgerton

802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com

www.DaveandJoy.com

Joy’s Journey. Today is Day 30 of my Bikram Yoga 30-Day Challenge!

By | | , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Joy’s Journey. Today is Day 30 of my Bikram Yoga 30-Day Challenge!

Today is September 19, 2017. 30-Days ago I wasn’t sure this day would ever arrive….you see on August 21st I signed up for my first Bikram Yoga class- in hopes of restoring my body, mind and spirit.

I know many people, men, women and even children love yoga and have encouraged me over my lifetime to give it a try, but up until a month ago I had no interest. It sounded boring and overly repetitive, at best!

Then a month ago I had a heart-felt talk with myself and asked my body, mind and spirit (soul) what it needed. I was tired, I had ‘tennis elbow’ due to overuse playing tennis, using the computer and lifting weights and I was discouraged. I was looking for something- and had no idea what that ‘something’ would be.

When I heard the loud “whisper” back telling me I need BIKRAM YOGA I wanted to ignore it, only I couldn’t. Why ask if I don’t want to hear my inner truth- right? So I looked up local studios in the Burlington VT area, dusted off an old Bikram for Beginner’s book (not sure why I still had it after a few classes back in the early 2000s) -then I made a personal commitment to do (or try?) Bikram yoga for the full 30-Days.

When I signed up there was a new student special, as is with most- if not all Bikram studios throughout the world. $30 for 30-Days. You can take as many classes as you want or physically can, in those 30-Days. I had no idea if that would mean 1 class, 5 or 20….and I certainly never thought I would or could do 30 classes in 30-Days.

Birkam Choudhury says to give Bikram 30-Days and it will change your body and give it 60-Days and it will change your life.

When I signed up for the 30-Day pass I had no other goal than to do one day at a time. The Bikram studio is 105 degrees of ‘heat’ and 40% humidity!!!!!

Day 1 I was petrified…. and although I had no idea what I was doing, with great instruction I did each of the 26 poses as best as I could, never sitting one out…. and I survived. (barely I may add, but I kept coming back!)

Now looking back Day 2-30 is a blur….but if you want details you can check out the MANY blogs I did during those days at www.WorkWithDaveandJoy.com. Some days were easier than others and there were those amazing days that I felt extremely strong….and then some days it was all I could do to complete the 90 minute class and keep my arms straight and glued to my ears, which for someone with ‘tennis elbow’ was a challenge!

On September 1st, the studio I go to (Queen City Bikram Yoga, which I highly recommend) started their OWN 30-Day Challenge. http://www.queencitybikramyoga.com/ Now I had a decision to make. Do I continue on with my own 30-Day Challenge AND then add on and begin a full 30-Days in September? If so, that would be 41 days in a row and that seems daunting!

Today is Day 30- for ME and my personal 30-Day Challenge… and I haven’t yet decided if I’ll continue on, but for sure I’ll CHAMPION MYSELF on doing what I once thought was 100% impossible. My husband has been ultra supportive in every way possible, even so much that he did 8 classes with me!

Today my husband Dave gave me a sweet CARD with a gift certificate in it for a pedicure and manicure combo. A nice treat. Heart

Looking back, I am so happy that today is Day 30 and that I accomplished what I thought was impossible! I do love big challenges in life…. AND along the way, I had FUN, challenged myself, made new friends and found a new ‘sport’ aka “practice” that I know I will continue.

From this day forth, I am thinking I’ll let my body decide how often to do Bikram Yoga. Right now it says 3-4 days a week, mixed in with my familiar activities of weight lifting, occasional tennis and ‘walks’ will be a beautiful balance….but only time will tell.

In conclusion, I highly recommend everyone trying Bikram Yoga and doing an introductory package so you can do as many (or few) classes as you want in 30-Days. I heard so many people in class share their experiences on overcoming physical challenges and injuries and how the THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS of BIKRAM made a huge difference in the quality of their lives. That’s what its all about!

For me, my ‘tennis elbow’ has improved and my flexibility and my balance is MUCH better than before! I breathe differently, which is great as I have always been a very shallow breather.

I melted many inches of FAT off my body, in particularly off my belly area, as well as legs and hips.

I did NOT lose any weight on the scale as of today, (bummer!) which shocked me as I thought I look like I dropped 5-8 pounds, but ya know what, my clothes fit better, I can wear my ‘tester’ jeans now and I feel like I am getting my ‘sexy’ back, after menopause. (Yup, my men-o-pot is smaller, thanks to Bikram!)

Make an investment in your health. Try something new, take a risk, even if you are not good at it- trust me here, I have never felt so incompetent in my entire life as I have while doing Bikram yoga!

Although I now KNOW the poses and am 100% better than when I began, it is a life-time ‘practice’…. and there is NO competition – other than against yourself.

Care to share YOUR feedback with your Bikram Yoga – or if you ever ever done 30 days or 60 days in a row? I’d love to hear from you! Thanks for reading and supporting me on my journey!

Joy Edgerton

802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com

www.DaveandJoy.com

(Products to enhance your body, mind & spirit) www.TryOurSamples.com

 

 

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

By | | , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on 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 Bikram Journey… Days 19 & 20 BAM….What Hit Me?

By | | , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on 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

 

Remembering Why I Started…. Joy’s Journey with Bikram Yoga and Beyond!

By | | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Remembering Why I Started…. Joy’s Journey with Bikram Yoga and Beyond!

I don’t know about you but I must thrive on goals. I don’t know if that is normal but most of my life it seems like I am setting goals- planning the execution (usually creatively) and then hopefully remembering to celebrate when I actually attain them.

Sometimes in the past I have built up to attainment and then when I reach it there is a let down….or I forgot to actually ‘champion myself in attaining whatever goal I set out to attain’.

Has that ever happened to you? Always striving to arrive and not really enjoying the process ?

In mid-August I decided to slow down and enjoy each and every day in a new and different way. Since yesterday is the past and tomorrow is the future, enjoy TODAY for it really is the “PRESENT”….and today is all we have.

Recently I began Bikram Yoga. When I joined it was with an intro of 30 days for $30….. meaning you can take a class each and every day for 30 days. BAM! I don’t know when I created the goal to do Bikram 30 days in a row, but it has become my goal.

Funny thing is a month ago I never would have expected to do yoga EVER….and now here I am. What happened?

Our bodies create opportunities to have things show up if only we listen. My right elbow was my guide here as it became painful to play tennis and lift weights so I went ‘inward’ and asked my body & soul what it needed and I heard LOUD AND CLEAR, Bikram Yoga. ???? Really???? (By the way, without a sore elbow I can almost guarantee I never would have choose yoga.)

I could have fought it, however at age 60 I am old and wise enough to act when I hear that ‘special whisper’. I admit that sometimes in my life I have ignored that inner voice….and it took a lot longer to get where I wanted to go with the detour. Not good or bad, just a longer journey.

Several people who know me well have asked what changed where now I not only wear yoga clothes as I always have, but actually I am now DOING Yoga? Why did I begin and why am I driven?

Each and every day I wake up and remind myself why I started. Like most 12-Step programs…. one day at a time.

So 20 days ago I look at myself in the mirror. I didn’t cry but I also wasn’t totally excited with the woman looking back at me in the mirror.

I have always been healthy, strong and lean but the lady in the mirror looking back at me looked different. Confidence was missing in her eyes! So I talked to her and heard some reasons why I ought to consider the shift and why Bikram Yoga would be good for ‘her’, aka ME. Although I have gracefully embraced my age, I have not embraced my body since menopause.

The most driving reason I am doing Bikram Yoga is I want to be healthy/flexible and have a healthy longevity. I have a family I love, that include grandchildren and I want to be vibrant and healthy so I can see them grow up and can be a part of their world- and their children’s world. I’m in a loving marriage and want to be healthy together til our last breath.

Yes, perhaps across the board I am healthier than most women my age, but it still doesn’t mean anything unless you are happy with how you LOOK and FEEL!

I see my parents and in-laws age and although they are vibrant in their own way in their mid to late 80s…. I personally want to be able to travel and explore and have the strength and health to do so well into my 90’s, if I choose.

Much of my life I have concentrated on my physical body and my physical health- perhaps spurred on by body building at age 30. (Once again, another goal…can I do it and win after giving birth to 2 children 4 and 5 years prior? I needed to prove to myself that I could! Much like with 30-Days of Bikram Yoga)

Ahhh, the ultimate shape and size….body fat, etc. OK, so I proved that I could reach a lean (unhealthy I may add) 8.5% body fat and win my category in a Body Building competition but that didn’t make me any happier. In fact there was such a let down after that experience that I still can’t shake to this day.

Fast forward 30 years and the health I am seeking today is more well-rounded. Not just the physical beauty aspect of what one sees in the mirror, but the soul-spirit connection. Although some people think going to a zen yoga class that is gentle with spiritual music may feed my soul better, right now the challenge (mentally and physically) of Bikram Yoga is where I am at and fuels the challenge!)

Ultimately I want to love, appreciate and enjoy who I am in the world. Don’t we all? Since making ‘MY SELF CARE’ a priority it has shifted into other areas of my life. Hallelujah!

Yes, without question part of the transformation is still the PHYSICAL BODY and one ‘must do’ is melting my men-o-pot (belly fat) so that I am a healthier and lean post menopausal woman. Belly fat is toxic, unattractive and honestly, very difficult to have when trying to do yoga poses. (no kidding!!!) Not to mention, clothes just don’t fit the same when your belly is large.

CAREER & LIFE

Working with TAVALA is very gratifying on many levels. I enjoy mentoring other people who want to improve their lives either with their health (which includes WEIGHT LOSS with Tavala TRIM, or being PAIN-FREE and have vibrant energy with the Tavala Quantum Relief Strips!) Learn more here: www.DaveandJoy.com

TAVALA for Wealth Building and Fueling Dreams!

I know that having additional income in all households offers additional options, no matter the current level of wealth. It’s about a shift in consciousness with abundant thinking….not just MONEY! When we have abundant thoughts we think beyond ourselves…which led Dave and I to discover an amazing organization that is doing great things throughout the world, for women. (And when women are empowered, face it, families and communities are empowered!)

We recently partnered with an organization called WEA, Women’s Earth Alliance http://womensearthalliance.org/ and are donating 5% of our customer sales to their organization each month. This includes any of the products off our website, www.DaveandJoy.com or even through our sampling site, www.TryOurSamples.com. It may not sound like a lot of money, but in time, we hope it will add up to being able to make a difference in the lives of many.

So there you go… today is Day 19 doing Bikram. I am actually looking forward to my ‘practice today’. Will it be perfect? YES and NO. Yes for ME, as I’ll do my best, and that is all they ask at Bikram. If you can do it – DO IT, and if not, at least do what you can… but do it ‘the right way’.

I doubt the majority of my poses today will actually look like those in a Bikram book- but this is OK. Today is another day, another opportunity for self-care and self-love. By filling MY CUP daily I am in a great position to help others in my life and beyond.

So what is YOUR goal? Your STORY? Mine is ever-changing and I like the changes. It’s all about today and eventually tomorrow, but I leave my story from yesterday at the door. Life Coaching taught me that!

If you are inspired to share your journey or how you may be able to relate, let me know. I’d love to hear. If you have ever set a goal similar that seemed insurmountable like 30-Days of Bikram Yoga is for me, please share.

If you are looking for a way to become the better version of you in the HERE & NOW, perhaps I can offer guidance. I am a Transformational Life Coach although I don’t ‘practice’ that, rather I incorporate it in my life and in my Tavala business.

Joy Edgerton/ Transformational Life Coach/Busines Coach

802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com

www.DaveandJoy.com

 

 

Bikram Yoga- more than 1/2 way there! Funny Description of Paige’s 1st day.

By | | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Bikram Yoga- more than 1/2 way there! Funny Description of Paige’s 1st day.

I couldn’t sleep well last night and I began to wonder if it is my BIKRAM YOGA “practice” that is shifting things internally and messing up with my night time sleep schedule….and day time energy slumps. They say it gets easier and I can expect to BECOME MORE ENERGIZED – but WHO is they anyway? 🙂

Yesterday was Day 16 of doing Bikram daily. I began to question if what I was doing….a 30-Day Challenge was actually good for me and wanted to hear others experience of what it did for them! So I googled and found many great stories, videos etc. but THIS one put a smile on my face and I continued to read on and actually ‘champion’ her successes.

….and this is where I stumbled upon this part 1 of a gal, Paige Williams, who shared her Bikram story in Oprah Magazine. http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/paige-williams-60-day-bikram-yoga-makeover/all

This girl, Paige, was 80 pounds overweight, divorced, out of work, and deeply in debt. OK, so none of those are me, except I am a 60-year old woman who had never done a BIKRAM challenge and someone, much like Paige, who wants to make peace with my body while balancing my body-mind-spirit connection. Oh and add one more thing, I’d love to drop at least 10 pounds in these ‘infamous’ 30-days. (I’d like to say where the FAT could melt off, but I guess I will have to just wait and see.) One thing I know, a woman with a ‘men-o-pot’ around the belly can not bend into poses easily.

So here is how it was described in Paige’s article. Paige needs a physical and spiritual overhaul. Can 60 days in a Bikram hot-yoga studio really undo years of damage? and this is where it got funny-and accurate.

OK -SO I NEED A PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL OVERHAUL too, I agree. CAN 30-DAYS OF BIKRAM HELP ME?

Paige writes: “The teacher wants me to make a Japanese ham sandwich. To my knowledge, I’ve never seen a Japanese ham sandwich, but as I understand it, I’m to stand bent with my face to my shins and chest to my thighs in perfect vertical union—I am the sandwich.

I would say I look more like a jelly roll. My flabby abdomen won’t let my forehead anywhere near my knees, and my legs tremble as I try contorting myself into a position my body neither recognizes nor endorses. The goal is to concentrate on stretching and breathing, but I’m fixating on my unpedicured toenails. And the neon paleness of my legs. And the fact that I probably should have shaved.

The students around me are tanned and toned and very nearly nude. Every body glistens. We’re in a Bikram yoga studio, after all, where the heat is set to 105 degrees and the humidity to 40 percent, to facilitate flexibility. The men wear nothing but shorts; the women rock hot pants and halters. Because I’d rather lick the sweat-soaked carpet than bare my wretched flesh, I have on the hot-yoga equivalent of a snowsuit: calf-length sweatpants, a jog bra, and a T-shirt. I’m huffing harder than a serial killer. And we’re only on posture number one.

Posture number one of class one of day one. Assuming I survive, I’ll make the ham sandwich and about two dozen other postures every single day for the next two months, for the notorious 60-day Bikram challenge. I’m subjecting myself to “Bikram’s torture chamber,” as founder Bikram Choudhury himself calls this insanely intense regimen, because the program promises renewal from the inside out—because suffering inside this hot room may be my surest path to survival out in the world.

I need to change so many things about my life, it’s hard to know where to start. I need physical and spiritual transformation, from the mental to the muscular to the molecular. I need to stop treating my body like a landfill. I need stability, which I haven’t seen in so long, I’ve forgotten how it feels. I need a reset button.

“Do this yoga for 60 days and it will change your body, your mind, and your life,” says Choudhury, a former Indian yoga champion who lives in Los Angeles and who is, depending on your viewpoint, either a beloved lifesaving guru or just a really flexible guy who got lucky, and rich, with an idea and a persona. Bikram students believe, and I hope they’re right, that Choudhury’s heat-centric, copyrighted sequence of ancient hatha yoga postures is a transformative agent like no other; testimonials the world over suggest this yoga eases the symptoms of a range of maladies—depression, diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, migraines, arthritis, back pain, and heart disease, for instance—while relaxing the mind and slimming the body.

“Can’t you just do all that by, like, running every day for 60 days?” a friend asks. Good question, but the answer doesn’t interest me. None of my past fitness activities—racquet sports, cycling, jogging, gym circuit training, kickboxing—seem catalytic enough for the depth of change I’m after.

I’m not a renovation; I’m a tear down. And I’m hoping Bikram is my bulldozer!”

So here I am….JOY, not Paige and I began questioning if what I was doing was sane, smart or worth it. I can say each and every day is different- for example Day 17 was TODAY and I felt GREAT. I could balance stronger, I was less tired (despite not sleeping well last night) and honestly if I had to, I’d actually be able to do a 2nd class later today, which they call a ‘double’! (Now that I think of it, I believe it was the TAVALA TRIM drink I had prior to class today that made a difference) I’ll have to try it tomorrow! www.DaveandJoy.com

Am I going to stick it out? You bet. How could I come this far and not complete the 30-days? I’d truly let myself down if I quit now. 30-days straight or admit I don’t have what it takes.

I began Bikram when I listened to my inner self/my voice tell me this is what my body needs. I wasn’t thrilled to ‘hear’ the message but I believed it to be true.

If you won’t listen, then why ask- right?

I began my personal 30-Day Challenge on August 21st and September 1st Queen City Bikram Yoga, where I go, started their 30-Day Challenge. If I do just mine, COOL, if I do the studios’ it will take me to 41 Days Straight. What do you think? Think I can do it? Think I ‘should’ do it?

I look forward to the day when walking into a Bikram yoga studio is as comfortable to me as walking into a gym or fitness center. The familiarity of a cold 20 lb. dumbbell could really excite me! but in the meantime, I’ll see what YOGA can do for this less-than-limber 60 year old body.

If you happen to live in Burlington VT and would like to join me, message me. My husband joins me 3x a week and the more the merrier!

Joy Edgerton/ 802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com/ www.DaveandJoy.com

FIND ME ON FACEBOOK!

Joy’s Journey: Half Way There- no turning back: Days 15 &16 Bikram Yoga

By | | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Joy’s Journey: Half Way There- no turning back: Days 15 &16 Bikram Yoga

On August 21st I stepped into Queen City Bikram Yoga (http://www.queencitybikramyoga.com/) here in South Burlington, Vermont. It was a ‘spiritual decision’- as I had recently asked my BODY what it needed….and I heard the loud ‘whisper’ of Bikram Yoga.

If I didn’t believe that our spirit knows best I would have ignored the ‘whisper’ but I had recently injured my elbow due to over use playing tennis, and I needed and wanted another physical outlet….but NOT YOGA.

OK, so today was Day 16 and my 16th day in a row doing a daily PRACTICE of Bikram Yoga. True, it IS a practice…. and an overwhelming feeling of being incompetent with each and every practice. Some days are easier than others but learning to allow and release feelings of not being good enough or being too competitive simply had to be thrown out the window. Instead I am taking one day at a time and my body, mind and spirit appreciate that!

There have been days that my body really wants to rest and not ‘sweat’. And perhaps because being a quitter is a sensitive subject, I am promising myself that not only will I continue Bikram but I will complete 30 days straight!

Bikram said “Give Bikram Yoga 30 days and it will change your body. Give it 60 days and it will change your life.”

Why Bikram now at age 60?

Discipline/Health/Flexibility/Functional Fitness/Detoxification/Weight Loss.

What happens when you take the word IMPOSSIBLE and split it into 2 words?

I’m proud of myself for listening to my inner self. In business when I listen it is always without question, a great decision.

Perhaps Bikram will slow me down enough to realize that life is not a race to the finish line and to appreciate each and every new opportunity.

Have YOU ever done 30 or 60 days straight of Bikram Yoga? If so, I’d love to hear from you.

Joy Edgerton

802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com

www.DaveandJoy.com

Need to earn additional income? Ask me about TAVALA. I’ll mentor you for free. Stretch yourself in a new way….like I am with Bikram Yoga. Give me 30 days and I’ll help you earn $500 or more. Give me 60 days and I’ll help you set up for residual income month after month.

How Many Calories Get Burned During Bikram Yoga?

By | | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2 Comments

Today I was curious about how many calories I burn daily doing 90 minutes of Bikram Yoga… so did a little research. I read several articles and got various numbers so I won’t quote any in particular, but I did like this particular article I read and thought I’d pass it along. This article is written by Benna Crawford.

Hot yoga classes are hot exercise choices for increasing numbers of fitness buffs. The combination of challenging sequences and serious sweating makes them an attractive option for a weight-loss program.

Bikram yoga is synonymous with the style of yoga practiced in a heated, humidity-controlled studio designed to induce sweating while focusing on a standard asana routine. But weight loss equals calories expended, so it’s worth knowing just how Bikram stacks up against other calorie-burning exercise programs.

Counting Calories

Weight loss follows a simple algorithm: fewer calories consumed than calories expended. The Mayo Clinic points out that each pound is worth about 3,500 calories, so if you carry a calorie deficit of 500 calories a day, you can lose a pound a week.

Burning those calories is where it gets complicated. Aerobic activity that challenges the cardiovascular system is the number one calorie burner.

Low- to moderate-intensity aerobic activity, like most yoga routines, burns a high percentage of fat as fuel. Increase intensity with exercise like sprinting — or a demanding yoga routine — and you draw on greater amounts of carbs and protein for fuel. But high-intensity exercise burns more calories overall, so the tougher your workout, the more you lose. Building muscle mass through strength training also cuts calories because even resting muscle burns fuel for energy.

High-intensity yoga provides a vigorous cardio and resistance workout.

Bikram Protocols

Bikram’s hot yoga requires a series of 26 fixed poses, performed under the guidance of a trained instructor in a heated studio.

The poses are traditional Hatha yoga moves, but the performance is a kind of yoga boot camp. The room is heated to approximately 104 to 105 degrees F with a constant 40-percent humidity. During the 90-minute class, participants typically run through the routine twice. Bikram’s website claims that the heated studios quickly warm muscles and increase flexibility so you can work safely with a greater range of motion. You will sweat, so you will notice a water weight loss which does not translate directly to fat calories burned. But you work hard — a Bikram class is challenging enough to be an aerobic workout — and yoga poses use body weight for resistance, so you do some muscle building and high-intensity calorie burning.

Bikram Calorie Burn

Bikram yoga burns more calories than many other forms of exercise and yoga styles. According to Everyday Health’s Yoga Calorie Counter, a 160-pound person performing Bikram yoga for one hour uses 726 calories, compared to 508 calories for Ashtanga and Power yoga classes.

Most Bikram classes are 90 minutes, so the calories burned per session are 1,089 for Bikram versus 762 for other intense yogas. The Mayo Clinic calculates the caloric cost to a 160-pound individual for one hour of high-impact aerobics at 533 calories. For singles tennis, the cost is 584 calories, for swimming laps 423 calories and for stair treadmill 657 calories. As a bonus, yoga’s ability to reduce stress and increase fitness improves your chances of sticking to a diet.

Precautions

Bikram yoga is not for everyone. Hypertension, glaucoma, pregnancy, some forms of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease are all reasons to check in with your doctor before signing up for a hot yoga class.

If you do add Bikram to your calorie-burning strategies, drink plenty of water to counter the effects of vigorous exercise in a hot room. As the exercise boosts your metabolism you sweat more to maintain a healthy core temperature. In a hot studio with other sweaty bodies, your evaporation system has to work harder to release the extra heat. If you experience weakness, fatigue, dizziness or headache in a hot yoga class, you could be in danger of heat exhaustion or heat stroke and you should seek immediate medical attention. end of article.

So there you go. What I gained from this article for ME is Bikram Yoga good for me at this stage in my life. Today was day 12 doing Bikram in a row.

They say give Bikram 30-days will change your body and 60-days will change your life! Two weeks ago I was nursing a tennis elbow. I couldn’t play tennis due to the pain and working out at the gym had its limitations as well.

I sat quietly and asked my body what it needed and heard a rather loud “Whisper” : “Bikram Yoga”. Really???? I don’t even like yoga. But I listened and here I am enjoying the many benefits of Bikram Yoga.

Although I have NO IDEA if I have lost a pound on the scale, I do know that already my clothes are fitting better AND my flexibility and balance have improved a lot!

If you are stuck in a fitness routine that may no longer be serving you like I was consider sitting quiet and asking your body what it needs to keep you healthy and fit. You may be surprised that it is a new exercise program that you never would have imagined on your own.

Two products that seem to be supporting my new fitness activity are electrolytes to replenish the minerals I lose in sweat, and Quantum Relief Strips for balance, chi, energy to my body.

I’d love to hear from you. Do YOU like Bikram Yoga? Have you ever done 30 days in a row? Did you get fit, more flexible and lose body fat doing Bikram Yoga?

Joy Edgerton

802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com

www.DaveandJoy.com

Joy’s Journey- Day 11 Bikram Yoga at 6:30 am? Are you kidding me?

By | | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2 Comments

Today is 11 days STRAIGHT that I have been doing Bikram Yoga. I had plans for the day that would cut into our usual 9 am class, so we decided to get up early and take in a 6:30 am class.

Not a problem for Dave since he is an early riser (4:30-5:30 am) but for me it was a stretch!!! I don’t know about you but the mornings I ‘have’ to wake up at a certain time with an alarm clock, I never sleep as well the night before. I think it is fear that I may over sleep. So to say I ‘may have got 4 hours of sleep’ is accurate.

Still I am dedicated and committed to do 30 Days straight of Bikram Yoga. You heard me….30 straight. I have heard of some people doing that and even knew 1 person who transformed his body from bent over and in back pain to thriving in 30 days! Cool for someone else but honestly never expected this of me. But as you may remember, I asked my body what it needed and heard is a loud whisper “Bikram Yoga” and the rest is history. (Don’t ever ask your body, or your soul/spirit if you don’t plan on listening or going into action!)

I figure if I can do this PHYSICAL CHALLENGE….then I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.

Incidentally what IS my next goal? (aside from surviving and thriving with Bikram for 30 days straight?)

I have heard it been said that a goal should be so big that it scares you….. and if your WHY doesn’t make you CRY then it’s not BIG ENOUGH!

OK, so here is my goal and it won’t make much sense to anyone unless they are also with TAVALA, the network marketing company Dave and I work with.

My goal is to reach 14 Karat Gold by the beginning of November, 2017, and be the first in the company to reach that level – by or before the leadership Paradise Cruise. Not only does that double our income we are currently earning (6-figures +) but we would then also receive a $10,000 bonus. For this to happen we need to bring others on the TEAM up with us and that is the exciting part. TEAM= Together Everyone Achieves More!

So – how does all of this relate to Bikram Yoga?

 

When you are disciplined in one area of your life, it passes over to others. Discipline with Bikram Yoga includes the Body, Mind and the Spirit. When I am strong in ALL of those areas, I am unstoppable!

Incidentally, the Quantum Relief Strips help with that balance of energy & focus!

Have you ever done 30 days of Bikram Straight? I’d love to know! Also What is your GOAL and your WHY?

Joy Edgerton

802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com

www.DaveandJoy.com

Joy’s Journey, day 9 Bikram and other ‘Insights’ for the Day!

By | | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Joy’s Journey, day 9 Bikram and other ‘Insights’ for the Day!

Today I enjoyed a little more time than usual before getting out of bed. My body needed the additional rest and we had decided to do our Bikram Yoga class at noon, rather than 9 am. Luckily I looked at my cell phone around 8 am and saw a message from the owner of the yoga studio. “There are only noon classes on MWF.”

“Oh, Okay”. We quickly adjusted our mindset and our plans and decided to go to the 9 am class. Isn’t it nice to be flexible in your thinking and in your schedule?

Isn’t it terrific to be your own boss and have flex time to go and workout and do things when you want without asking for time off? or living someone else’s schedule?

I can’t even imagine having a boss other than myself. Time flexibility is important in my life and has been for decades.

So, one of the ways we enjoy our early morning time is by visualizing, meditating, journal writing and setting the stage for a powerful day. When we take the time to do those things it ALWAYS helps bring out the best that any day can offer. We always begin our days with Gratitude as well. Gratitude IS the best Attitude!

One thing we watched this morning before Bikram was Oprah Winfrey’s inspiring words. It is worth watching, I guarantee!

 

Day 9 for me (Day 2 for Dave)- doing Bikram yoga… so proud I haven’t missed a day since joining. I’m proud of myself because it takes time and lots of energy to do a 90-min. yoga workout in 105 degree heat…. and have the energy and stamina to go on and also have an impactful day helping others on our team.

Each day, like anything else, seems to get a little easier. Still hard, because doing it the RIGHT WAY is the challenge. No short cuts with Bikram and doing it correctly yields the best therapeutic benefits.

Body image….hmmmm, I have to work on this one. When I had a tight, lean body with 12-17% body fat I was proud to show my mid-section but since menopause I have been embarrassed as I literally grew a ‘men-o-pot’. I know I need to get over it and will. I have promised myself…. especially after today, as the cotton tank top that I was wearing was drenched to the core and just weighed me down.

I read in the Bikram book to stay off the scale and I think it is a good idea. But, you think I listened? I rarely weigh myself but thought with all the sweating I’d certainly drop at least a pound or two a day. Not necessarily! Day 2 I was down 2 lbs. and then today up 3. So no scale for me. I did however try on my one and only pair of jeans that I call my “tester jeans” and noticed that not only can I zip them up, they are ‘wearable’. Good sign.

My reasons to begin BIKRAM YOGA: #1 reason is Therapeutic exercise for flexibility and longevity in life. (avoid injuries and stiffness as I age)

My #2 reason is to get in ‘shape’…. both mentally and physically. Yes, this means improved focus and drive in life but I really would like to get back to my pre-menopausal size.

Yes, dropping 15 lbs. and leaning out around the belly is HIGH on my list, I won’t lie! Weight lifting, walking and tennis were not working and I have been nursing a tennis elbow, so I am hoping that Bikram will help heal that injury and prevent others.

Once again, armed with the right tools for getting the best results. Electrolytes in my cold water to sip on throughout the session, a full Quantum Relief Strip below the belly button. Those QRS are amazing as they truly do help bring energy to the places needed most in the body. Don’t know where “those places are”- no worries, the body is intelligent and will attract energy to the parts of the body needed most. Similar to Reiki energy.

 

 

 

Are you practicing Bikram or are you involved in a form of exercised that is feeding your body and your soul? If so, I’d love to hear about it. When we take care of our physical body we also fill up our ’emotional and spiritual’ body which I call the ultimate Self-Care!!!!

Sweat is FAT CRYING. I feel like I am cleaning out the old and breathing in the new. Thank God I listened to my body 10 days ago when I heard the ‘whisper’ to do Bikram Yoga.

Interested in learning about the TAVALA TRIM or Quantum Relief Strips? Go to www.TryOurSamples.com

 

Joy Edgerton

802-846-7530

joyedgerton@gmail.com

www.DaveandJoy.com