Friday 31 August 2012

Bikram Yoga






Happy Friday everyone !  Its a miserable looking day in Melbourne today, I can't wait until Spring...
One more sleep, and Im hoping that miraculously the weather changes to sunshine and blooms....a girl can hope.

I have been busy with client training, my training, searching for new healthy recipes and cooking, I can't believe its almost September ! Where did the year go??  Yesterday I took my first ever Bikram Yoga class and challenging it was to say the least.

A couple of friends have been singing its praises and have been trying to get me along to a class for ages, yesterday was my first.  I was so nervous, anxious and unsure of how my body would react in 40*c heat for 90 minutes.  These are such normal reactions when you push yourself out of your comfort zone.  The challenge for me was more mental than physical.

I think I drank 3 litres of water beforehand to make sure I was properly hydrated (I'm still going to the toilet from it :) Walking into the dimmed, HOT room for the first time was daunting but having Nicki and Fiona there with me giving me lots of calming words of encouragement really settled the panic and I was fine.

The first part being the (warm up) was tricky, just trying to get used to the heat and focusing on the poses was challenging as you're competing with different elements of heat, lightheadedness, claustrophobia (for me)  where's my escape route, and mental fatigue.  After the 4th pose you can start having water, and then I was fine.  I think I looked at the clock twice throughout the session which was encouraging as I thought I would be willing down the minutes, 90 minutes is a long time to be in a hot room, so I thought - but I did it.

I found that it wasn't as difficult as I initially thought, of course the more you practice the more flexible you become and stronger, but having a good strength base and being flexible it was a little easier to get into (or attempt to get into) some poses.  Im not very good at stilling the mind so when it was time to Savasana (basic relaxation pose) I did have a little whisper with Nicki - didn't go down well with the yogi....we were somewhat chastised about it.  Im impressed I went 90 minutes without talking - much !

The challenge for me was the heat and willing the mind to stay in the room and finish the session.  I was relieved when it was over , desperate to get out into normal temperatures.  I felt a little hazy but calm, refreshed and bizarrely soft and limber.  My body felt great, all stretched out.  I was quite tired that afternoon, would have been perfect if I could fit in a cheeky nanna nap.

Im glad I finally gave it a go.  It would be something I think I would continue, a great compliment to my fitness schedule.  Being a runner, I think the calming and stretching properties of the sessions would be hugely beneficial and complimentary to the muscles and body.  I do now have a 10 day pass so Ill have to try and schedule in a few more sessions.  Im looking forward to the challenge again, especially that of getting the poses right and holding them stronger.  Interestingly I am sore today, almost as if i have weight trained back and shoulders.  Gotta be good !


So if you're thinking about trying something different, something to challenge you a little and get you out of that comfort zone, Bikram Yoga might be something to try.  Would love to know more about your experiences.  Have you tried it before?  What was your experience like? Are you a devoted follower?

Hope you enjoy your day

Namaste x



Saturday 25 August 2012

Humanity...



Give happiness a workout today ! I try to teach my kids that doing something seemingly ordinary makes you extraordinary....These clips capture some inspiring moments....if you have kids share these images with them..I would love to know how they respond....

Happy Saturday !



21 Pictures That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity

People aren't always awful. Sometimes, they're maybe even just a little bit wonderful. Here are 21 pictures to remind you of that fact.

1. This picture of Chicago Christians who showed up at a gay pride parade to apologize for homophobia in the Church.

This picture of Chicago Christians who showed up at a gay pride parade to apologize for homophobia in the Church.
(Michelle Gantner / Maladjusted Media)

... and the reaction from the parade.

... and the reaction from the parade.
(Michelle Gantner / Maladjusted Media)

2. This story about Japanese senior citizens who volunteered to tackle the nuclear crisis at Fukushima power station so that young people wouldn't have to subject themselves to radiation.

This story about Japanese senior citizens who volunteered to tackle the nuclear crisis at Fukushima power station so that young people wouldn't have to subject themselves to radiation.
Source: bbc.co.uk

3. This picture of two Norwegian guys rescuing a sheep from the ocean.

This picture of two Norwegian guys rescuing a sheep from the ocean.

4. This sign at an awesome bookshop.

This sign at an awesome bookshop.

5. This poll about what Snooki should name her child.

This poll about what Snooki should name her child.

6. The moment in which this Ohio athlete stopped to help an injured competitor across the finish line during a track meet.

The moment in which this Ohio athlete stopped to help an injured competitor across the finish line during a track meet.
17-year-old Meghan Vogel was in last place in the 3,200-meter run when she caught up to competitor Arden McMath, whose body was giving out. Instead of running past her to avoid the last-place finish, Vogel put McMath's arm around her shoulders, carried her 30 meters, and then pushed her over the finish line before crossing it.
Image by The Daily Call, Mike Ullery / AP

7. This exchange between a 3-year-old girl and a shopping center.

This exchange between a 3-year-old girl and a shopping center.

8. This note that was handed to a waiter along with a $20 bill by an elderly lady in his restaurant.

This note that was handed to a waiter along with a $20 bill by an elderly lady in his restaurant.

9. This sign at an awesome Subway restaurant.

This sign at an awesome Subway restaurant.

10. This picture of a villager carrying stranded kittens to dry land during floods in Cuttack City, India.

This picture of a villager carrying stranded kittens to dry land during floods in Cuttack City, India.
Image by Biswaranjan Rout / AP
Image by Biswaranjan Rout / AP

11. This sign at an awesome drycleaner's.

This sign at an awesome drycleaner's.
Plaza Cleaners in Portland, OR, helped over 2,000 unemployed workers who couldn't afford dry cleaning. The store's owner estimated that it cost his company $32,000 dollars.

12. This photograph of a man giving his shoes to a homeless girl in Rio de Janeiro.

This photograph of a man giving his shoes to a homeless girl in Rio de Janeiro.

13. This picture of a firefighter administering oxygen to a cat rescued from a house fire.

This picture of a firefighter administering oxygen to a cat rescued from a house fire.
(TOM BAUER/Missoulian)

14. And this one.

And this one.
Image by Chris Butler / AP

15. This interaction between a Guatemalan girl and a tourist she just met.

This interaction between a Guatemalan girl and a tourist she just met.

16. This gesture from a neighbor.

This gesture from a neighbor.

17. These photos of two children collaborating to rescue a dog who had fallen into a ravine.

These photos of two children collaborating to rescue a dog who had fallen into a ravine.

18. This note on a young family's check.

This note on a young family's check.

19. This exchange between a protester and a soldier during a protest in Brazil.

This exchange between a protester and a soldier during a protest in Brazil.
(Imagens/ TVBA)

20. These pictures of a man jumping into rough waters to rescue a stranger's Shih Tzu in Melbourne.

These pictures of a man jumping into rough waters to rescue a stranger's Shih Tzu in Melbourne.
Sue Drummond was walking her beloved Shih Tzu, Bibi, on a pier in Melbourne, when a fierce gust of wind picked him up and hurled him into the rough waters of the bay. A passerby, Raden Soemawinata, who happened to be on the pier that day to scatter his grandmother's ashes, wasted no time in stripping down and diving into the bay to rescue the animal.
(Photos: Chris Scott)

21. And this photograph of two best friends on a swing.

And this photograph of two best friends on a swing.
Source: volobuev.

Article Source : Buzzfeed.com