Yoga Tonight

Photo via Coffee and Yoga.

Sometimes I get what I like to call the 4 o'clock waver. I'm sitting at work, less than an hour left 'til I get to peace out. I'm planning to hit up the Hot Room for a sweaty Bikram yoga session, but then... I waver.

What about a lazy night at home?

A date with the Hubs?

What about baking cookies in my PJs?

All of a sudden my mind's bouncing around about how hard the Standing Balancing series is going to be, about how I'm under-hydrated or hungry. Surely there's something more relaxing I can do tonight than yoga. 

It's sad, really. Frustrating. These silly thoughts!

Yoga is my relaxation. Yoga is my meditation. Yoga kicks my ass so I can let go -- fully, finally. Especially on the days when I waver, yoga is what I really need.

And let's be honest: if you can, YOU MUST!

See you at the 5:30pm class, yogis :) Here's to kicking yourself in the bum so you can get your yoga in today.

Photo via A Yoga Journey. 

Bikram Yoga Minneapolis on Black Friday

It was snowy out on Black Friday, so the heat felt great!

I'm way overdue to post about my adventure to Bikram Yoga Minneapolis during Thanksgiving weekend, but I'm excited to share about my visit to the studio. Also keep an eye out for several Minneapolis-themed giveaways today.

Instead of getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of Black Friday shopping, my cousin, a friend, and I toughed it out in the Torture Chamber. We were workin' off all that food from our family feast.

Photo by Joelle.

Last Friday I brought my cousin Joelle and her friend Matt to Bikram Yoga Minneapolis for an intense first class. Even I was surprised by how humid it was in there!

Joelle and Matt are Bikram badasses.

Minneapolis' studio is a beautiful space with artsy details, cool lounge chairs, and colorful decor. The hot room was a little cozy but we fit quite a few yogis among the two rows. 

Here's the studio space.

My only wish was for a new carpet. That Minnesota humidity can make things a little stinky! But that breeze at the end of class? Heavenly.

Loved the decor.

Our teacher Lori led with energy and spirit as she delivered a crystal-clear dialogue. My favorite was the way she pronounced "squeeeeeze" during Eagle as though she was wringing out a towel with her words. It definitely motivated me to wrap my legs tighter and sit deeper into second set!

I was super proud of Joelle and Matt for getting through class and performing some impressive postures. They are natural Bikram yogis, that's for sure! Both said they felt a little lightheaded at times and thought they might pass out, but they made it :) Whew!

No guns allowed... except those sexy biceps you bring to class!

After our showers and a refreshing Zico Lima Citron, we chatted it up with locals at the studio, Lori, and the studio owner, Martha. I realized that these ladies run a tight ship at Bikram Yoga Minneapolis and truly have a deep passion for the yoga, for teaching it the right way, and for sharing it with others.

When I handed her one of my business cards, Lori immediately mentioned her love for the phrase "at home in the hot room" on the card. 

The cards that help me yogavangelize!

"That's one of the best parts about this yoga," she said. "Anywhere you practice Bikram, you bring a little bit of your home with you."

I couldn't agree more, and I felt right at home at the Minneapolis studio. Hope to be back soon to take class again and teach one day! Namaste, Minnesota yogis.

Our lovely teacher, Lori. 

Here are a few words from Joelle's reflections on her first Bikram class. Great job, cuz!

As I stand, the sweat is everywhere: pouring off my arms, running down my legs, dripping down my face and nose, and turning my stomach into a shinny, glossy pool. The towel underneath my feet is soaked. 

I’m almost out of water. My head starts to slightly spin as I go into the next pose and hold it for what seems like five minutes. Pretty sure if was only about 30 seconds, though. 

A gush of cold hair whooshes down from the ceiling and hits my face. I breathe it in, close my eyes and exhale a very long, happy exhale. Time for a shower. It’s not until after my shower that I realize how incredibly loose, free-minded, and amazing I feel.

After class, a clear mind hit, a sensation of refreshing wonderfulness, no back pain, muscles all stretched out. It felt amazing. Bikram yoga. Mmmm!

Some of the awesome details in the studio: a note about how to lock the knee, and a stunning print of a pregnant yogi.

Thanks again, Martha and Lori and the Bikram Yoga Minneapolis team, and to Joelle and Matt for rockin' their first class. 

Check out the upcoming posts from some Minneapolis Etsy sellers to win local goods!

Eventually, In the Future

 

Juliana and the Boss himself. Love those Bengal tigers!

One of my favorite parts about this blog is that it's put me in touch with some amazing Bikram yogis, teachers and bloggers out there, including the lovely Juliana, also known as Dancing J, over at Keep It Locking!

Lately I can't stop thinking about those crazy nine weeks and how excited I am for them :)

I recently chatted with J on the phone about her amazing Teacher Training experience and her transition into teaching after the nine weeks. It was lovely catching up and getting the inside story from a talented Bikram teacher on how to prepare, get the best out of training, and live a balanced life afterward. Here are some bits from our convo! 

Also, see below for some of my favorite posts on Juliana's blog.

Sweet photo from J's Teacher Training.

Juliana is a graduate of MIT (Engineering) and UCSB (grad school engineering) turned Bikram yogi. She says, "I respect myself for changing paths. It's the best decision I've made. I don't actually know any Bikram yoga teachers who set out to teach. We are all accidental yogis!"


On finding the right balance post-TT:
Teaching and freelancing is nearly ideal. It's always a game of keeping your balls in the air and juggling it all, but it's totally worth it.


On benefits of being a yoga teacher:
The best part is seeing people change. Where I'm teaching now, it's fairly small, just me and the main teacher/owner. I see people change, sometimes really quickly, and it's fun to have that. I would definitely choose a smaller studio over a place where it's more like "assembly line" yoga. This way, it's really authentic and very spiritual.


On practicing and teaching:
Keeping up with my practice has never been so hard now that I'm a teacher. It's a pain in the ass to go back to the studio after you've already taught a class or two. And during Teacher Training, your practice gets so bad! Standing head to knee? Yeah, right.


On class sizes and applying the dialogue:
During smaller classes, I really learned how to teach. You have to give real corrections. Big evening classes are so easy. They give you a lot of energy. It's tricky once it gets bigger, though. You almost don't even see everyone. If you use some peoples' names, it gives the illusion that you see everyone!


Class size makes a huge difference. You don't teach the same class to a large group as you do to a small group.


Your training doesn't end when you finish Teacher Training. It's like, 'I can say the dialogue. Now what do I do with that?!'

Juliana in Triangle in front of The Bean in Chicago's Millenium Park. Beautiful!

On her experience at TT: 
Some things get exaggerated. It's insanity at the time, sure. But I remember thinking, 'This isn't that bad.' It's no worse than being in college. For all the bitching that people do, it's good to get your asses kicked.


I got tons out of it, but it's what you make of it. It's your choice. There's nothing stopping you from sleeping through lectures.

Learning the dialogue, I looked at it like poetry. I would break it down, look for repetitions, and pay attention to the order. I'd ask myself questions like: why is this phrase being repeated? Why do the pieces have to go there? On paper, nothing makes much sense, but when you're talking to a moving body, everything becomes clear.

Killer Standing Bow + ridiculous mountains = bliss.

Favorites from Keep it Locking:
A post on amazing classes.


Thoughts on preparing for Teacher Training.


"Every moment is the peak experience of your life," says Diane from Bikram's talented staff. Here are a few of Juliana's peak experiences.


The yogi hiker and how climbing mountains will transform your practice.

Thanks again, J, for your honesty. Keep up your awesome yoga!

Illinois Yoga Asana Championships @ Whole Foods Lincoln Park on Saturday

My friend Lindsay and I are going to be checking out the Illinois Yoga Championships this weekend. Hope to see you there! I'm excited to watch the talented yogis perform! They will be doing these poses:

• Standing Forehead to Knee
• Standing Bow
• Bow
• Rabbit
• Stretching
• Two other postures based on personal preference

Judges will be looking for posture alignment, grace, movement, stability, confidence, balance, general appearance and stage presence. Whew! It's going to be intense! And, um, awesome. For more info about the event, see here.

The event is sponsored by Bikram Yoga Andersonville.

Coming Up in the Letting Out the Domestic Series: Products You Don't Want to Miss

Hey readers, are you getting tired of reading about products that are popping up in my life?


Like the fact that I'm super pumped about CSN Stores, where you can shop online in over 200 stores and discover awesome kitchen ware or a chic bar stool? (Frying pan, anyone?)


Well, too bad :)

I wouldn't post about anything I wouldn't recommend to my very own nephew, Zeke. What a cutie, eh? Miss you, Big Z!

Ha, but seriously: I hope you're not feeling spammed here on the blog lately. I post reviews, but I post them from the heart. I'm very careful about what I discuss on Alive in the Fire and I approach product and service review with a skeptic's eye.


Bottom line is this: if it's not a product I love, use, and would buy for a friend, you won't be reading about it here. Other key factor: the blog will never be overtaken by posts which are not focused on the yoga. Ever.


Lately I'm pretty passionate when I find a blog that sticks to the topic it promises to be about. If you have a yoga blog, it should be about THE YOGA. If you post about culinary arts, I want to see food pictures. If you're a writer writing about your craft, I don't want to read about your dog. 


Unless your dog is the topic of your latest novel, or somehow managed to stand on his head, or something ridiculously cool like that. And in that case, you should post some pictures too!


I'll admit: occasionally I stray from the yoga and bring you my insights on cooking, biking, art, pumpkins, relationships, living by sustainable and green methods, or the music that's playing in my speakers. Or my awesome family members, local events, or chillin' with Seth Godin.


I hope you don't mind me mixing it up, but I often find that these areas of my life do inform my yoga practice, and vice versa. And that's a great thing! I would highly encourage you to do some serious thinking about how you are living the life of a yogi, not just practicing yoga.

Are you putting what you learn in the Hot Room into practice outside those walls?

And if not, what's stopping you?

If you haven't started practicing the yoga in your everyday life, you haven't started your Bikram journey quite yet. As we say in Standing Head to Knee: start by locking the knee. That doesn't mean jamming the leg back without pulling up and tightening all of your muscles in your leg and hip. That doesn't mean kicking your heel out before you have a solid foundation. That doesn't mean moving beyond Step #1 until you've got it down and you're ready for Step #2. Period. 

"If your knee is bending, posture hasn't even started yet." Bikram's words.

So get your foundation. Rock solid, concrete, one piece, lamppost. (Whoa, I just typed that from memory! Sweet.... Yoga teacher in the making, what what!)


Anyway, philosophical ramblings aside, I hope you're enjoying what you read here at Alive in the Fire. And I also hope that you know I'd love to hear your feedback if you have any ideas about what should change! I love getting messages from you guys, and I trust in your opinions, I'm curious about your ideas, and I'm so, so grateful for your support. I love hearing from you!


Alright, so down to business. We've got some ridiculously cool stuff lined up. I literally have a list of about 20 posts that are in the works! So stay tuned.

Fiery Posts to Look Forward To

• CSN Stores is generously gifting another few items to Alive in the Fire as part of the Letting Out the Domestic series. Very soon I will be reviewing their hilarious and awesome "Enter" welcome mat and these beautiful tea strainers. Both can be found at AllModern.com, a sweet site with hip style. I really love their wall art selection, too. Those sticky wallpaper cutouts are so popular now, it seems! The Hubs and I keep oogling over pretty things to hang up in our place. We're also desperately seeking a unique and sleek coat rack. We located this gorgeous calligraphy-inspired one, but it's a little pricey. Might have to wait for Christmas!
• Hammer Nutrition carries some ridiculously awesome fuels & supplements for endurance athletes. That's right, Bikram yogis, you qualify! Their line is great not only for long-distance bikers and runners but also people looking to sweat a bunch, keep hydrated, and stay strong throughout a workout. Highly recommended especially if you're considering a double class. So far I've tried the electrolyte pills as well as several drink mixes. I will do these tasty products justice in a full post within the week! I may also feature a contest on the site coming up, so keep an eye out.
• Another electrolyte drink mix provider, Cera, shipped a box out my way to share some of their juice boxes and dry powder mixes with me. Can I say, amazing?! Their flavors are so delicious and fancy, including my favorite: pomegranate acai berry! These mix so well with coconut water (I recommend pineapple VitaCoco) and are even tastier than EmergenC, which I am a big fan of. Although I did also recently discover EmergenC's Berry Blue flavor, which provides vitamins and electrolytes. I'm pretty much becoming an expert on this stuff :) I feel like by the time Teacher Training rolls around I'll have too many to choose from! Hoping some of these companies will consider sponsoring me during those nine weeks, actually. I'll be postin' up a storm about how much their products are saving me in Bikram's Torture Chamber!
• Spa time: say aaaaaaaah. So I've been spoiled lately -- well, sort of. I've had several massages in the last month, but in part because my neck and back have been giving me a bit of trouble. (Get away from the computer when you can, yogis! Get to class!) Anyway, I hit up Egea Spa as well as Flow Body and Mind Connection recently and had SUCH a lovely time at each. Easily the most talented massage therapists I've ever visited, and some of the most relaxing and comforting treatment you can find locally in Evanston. And both are in walking distance! Love, love, love. I'll post more about the treatments I had, my recommendations, and pricing. Also coming up: a post on these awesome eucalyptus sea salts donated by Walsh Natural Health on Central Street. A beautiful shop!
• Yoga mat cleaner and a reusable compact shopping bag I bought from Healthy Green Goods on Dempster Street. Knowledgeable and helpful store owner (she's a pediatrician too!), great products, inspiring philosophy behind the shop. Highly recommended. I'll also be writing about the dangers of neoprene and ways to find safe, stylish, modern adult lunchboxes soon. And water/ water bottle safety!

Is your head swimming yet?

Me too. 

Here, another wedding picture to break up the long post. Thanks for reading!

But I promise these will be worth a read, especially if you're interested in shopping in a way that's green, healthy and affordable. It takes a lot of patience to be all three, but it can be done!

Another shameless plug, before I head out to class. If you're in Evanston this weekend, please visit the Green Living Festival (Saturday) and Bike the Ridge (Sunday)! I will be attending each, and would love to meet up. I'll even have my nifty business cards for Alive in the Fire along :) I would love to chat with you, learn more about your yoga story, and spread the word to other Evanstonians!

Hope to see you there. Namaste and Happy Friday, peeps!

Focus Forward Friday: Double Feature

Focus Forward Friday:
A weekly ritual for deepening your Bikram practice.

Today's focus: Bikram rules the universe of the hot room. And what does he say?
"When you die, I will jump and down on your grave shouting 'LOCK THE DAMN KNEE!'"