Week 6 and 7 are over! I’m down to only 2 more weeks. Can you believe it? The exhaustion of cramming and memorizing dialogue in my head has finally ended. 90 minutes of how to get into, out of and hold 26 postures is supposedly in my memory bank! Over the last few weeks we have been in posture clinics once or twice a day with our assigned group of 20 other yogis. All of us coming from so many different places… the Accountant from Thailand, the Luxury Tour Operator from Switzerland, a Fencing World Champ from Columbia. All here for the same reason. To teach the yoga. Conversations have shifted to people talking about getting on the teaching schedule in their home studios and the date of their first classes. It’s like an out of body experience to hear my friends talking about it because that means that I will be teaching when I leave here too! Such a scary and daunting thought but so exciting at the same time. So much more goes into the yoga than just the dialogue that goes along with Bikram Yoga. Inspiring my students and understanding the body is completely another part of this process that will only come with time from teaching.
Life in the “yoga bubble” has become second nature. I no longer panic at the thought of so many yoga classes ahead of me or the long days. It’s just what I do now. I refer to my hotel room as “home” and I have “neighbors”. Everyone has staked their claim in the yoga room. The right side is crammed with people mat to mat. I’m not sure if they prefer it because it’s close to the door but the real estate is tight! They left side of the room is more spacious. I’m always on the left side! One day I told my friend that my “energy” is off when I practice on the other side of the room. We got a good laugh out of that. I didn’t even realize it came out of my mouth! That was the moment I realized I was officially on my way to becoming a yogi! Constantly surrounded by people. Sitting through the posture clinics with them. Mat to mat with them in yoga class. Drowning out their conversations when I’m trying to study. Sometimes I can’t wait for the peace and quiet of home and other times I know I will miss so many great friends of I have met here. Friends I will have for life!
As usual here, there was no shortage of inspiration in the last 2 weeks. There are days here when I walk into the yoga room and the heat hits me and all I can think of is the movie “The Hunger Games”. The phrase “May the odds be ever in your favor” repeats in my head. The night Ulises Calatayud taught our class was one of those days. Ulises owns 5 studios is Mexico and if you ever have the opportunity to take his class, I would highly recommend it. He taught with discipline, precision and compassion. He encouraged people to stay in the room and to stay on their mats for the entire 90 minutes without giving into distraction of moving around and being disrespectful. There is an incredible energy in the room when we are all focused at once and give 110% of our strength to the postures. Definitely one of the best teachers and best classes I have had here!
The following week my energy was really low. I didn’t even have to ask anyone if they felt the same. I could see it written all over their face. I thought this is it. I’ve seen it all. I’m done. I’m over this. I’m ready to go home. That day Ky Ha walked into lead our posture clinic. Ky is oringally from Texas and teaches in London. He started practicing Bikram Yoga in 2003 based on a recommendation from a friend, but with some hesitation. He didn’t want to leave the “macho-ness” of the gym and he was by no means FLEXIBLE. Ky found Bikram Yoga was changing his life! Ky became a certified teacher in 2004 and with a lot of hard work, inspiration and motivation he became the International Asana Champion in 2007. Ky is a no nonsense kind of guy. Check you baggage at the door and do the work. He advised us to teach and practice our yoga with intention and integrity. Always push our students so they don’t remain status quo. Again the topic of mind over matter came up. It’s all in your mind how much you are willing to change but you cannot change your perception over night and that’s why Bikram Yoga is a practice for life. Ky talked about finding that balance in our yoga. He encouraged us to be FEARLESS in our practice but not stupid. We should know when to push ourselves and when to listen to our bodies, but never let the negative thoughts get in our way.
It was difficult and incredibly nerve wrecking to be here on the other side of the country last week when hurricane Sandy was approaching New York. I am so grateful that all my family and friends are safe and the storm has passed. I miss everyone so much! And now that I know you are ok, I can say I’m thrilled I am missing the long gas lines and the slow return of electric! Of course, I am still sending you good thoughts from sunny California!
Two more weeks and counting!
