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!

Dreamy Photos

All photos taken by the talented Corey Arnold.

Icy dreams. Fishermen. Arcticness.

Such are the topics in Corey Arnold's striking images. Check out his blog here.

Can you imagine what it feels like to be so far away?

Be Beautiful, Keep Warm

Hallie of HalPal28 on Etsy crafts some adorable and super warm stuff. She's local, too!

Today's giveaway comes from the lovely and talented Hallie from this Etsy shop. She features hand-knit hats, scarves, and headbands that have been knit on Chicago buses. Adorable!

For the Winter Extravaganza, Hallie's offering a custom gray and chartreuse earwarmer. Perfect timing for this giveaway: we're seeing flurries in the Chicago area today!

Wonderfully inspired knits.

Here's Hallie's description of how she was inspired to make it:

The pencil sharpener in the photo was the inspiration for this vintage treasure. My grandfather recently let me dig through boxes of his things, looking for treasures. I found this magnificent old chartreuse and steel pencil sharpener, with led marks all over it. After a few days of staring at it on the shelf, I realized I had colors of yarn that matched it perfectly. I ran to my yarn chest and then held them up to the pencil sharpener, and to my delight, they were identical. 

Talk about awesome crafting inspiration!

See below to win this earwarmer.

Here's what Hallie has to say about her shop: 

Everything in my shop is hand-knit by me, all around the city of Chicago. I knit on the bus, I knit on the El, I knit on benches by the river or blankets on the beach. I try to waste almost nothing-- finding a way to reuse even the tiniest scraps of yarn, recycle vintage buttons, and package knits in paper from grocery bags or leftover muslin from window curtains. 

I am inspired by color-- especially slightly unusual color combinations. I'm also inspired by the people who wear my creations. I love the idea of people I don't know in places I've never been to wearing things that I knit. I'm hoping to someday unexpectedly run into someone wearing something I made. 

Hallie's incredible shop also features hats for men, women and babies!

Hallie will be staying local this holiday season. She's excited to experience the city of Chicago in all its dazzle and delight.

As she says, "There's so much light, spirit, and good food!" She'll be dabbling in craft shows, selling her creations in a few stores, and visiting The Elmhurst Art Museum, which now carries a few of her things.

Hallie's goal for the new year is to find a way to sell handmade items in person and meet her customers more often. 

To win the gorgeous gray and chartreuse earwarmer above, please:

• Leave a comment below with a story about how you survive the winter's cold.
• Check out Hallie's etsy shop and tell a friend about her beautiful handmade knits.
• Heart HalPal28 on etsy. If you buy something from her shop, you'll get five entries into this contest!

Also note that Hallie is offering 10% off to all Alive in the Fire readers. Just enter "YOGA2010" as a coupon code when you check out. Thanks, Hallie!
Reminder: if you click "follow" on the blog or tell a friend to follow it, you'll double your chances of winning!

 

Congrats to Shuling, who won the Water Bobble from Healthy Green Goods. Enjoy!

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!

Hardcore Supplements for the Extreme Yogi

Photo by my talented husband from our trip to San Fran last spring.

Are you one of those crazy Bikram yogis who practices five or more times a week? Do you run before class? Do you regularly do doubles?

Are you currently participating in a 30- or 60-day challenge?

I've got some hardcore supplements you should try. They will make you feel strong, hydrated, and pumped, like this:

Yup, that's me, workin' out for my sister who needed photos as part of her personal training certification.

Plus, they taste great, can be added to a variety of smoothie or drink mix recipes, and allow you to fuel your body for optimum performance.

The first is a line made by Hammer Nutrition, which I've mentioned before on Alive in the Fire. I placed an order with Hammer to try their endurolyte pills (electrolyte replenishers) and they sent me a whole package of goodies, including gel, whey mix, chocolate Recoverite drink mix, and some awesome information on all their products and the athletes who use them.

Hydration is a beautiful thing.

Hammer's got quite a variety of flavors available -- everything from your standard chocolate to espresso and apple cinnamon and Montana huckleberry. I believe they mainly target marathon runners and bikers, but their products are great for any endurance athletes. I probably wouldn't use their stuff everyday unless I was at Teacher Training or doing a challenge, but the endurolyte pills and any of the endurance products would make a double class (or triple, or whatever) a lot easier to survive.

Check out their site for more ideas on how to improve your endurance and athletic performance, the deals and programs they have going on right now, or place a quick order. Their customer service is great and you'll be set to go crazy in the heat!

I also highly recommend CeraSport which carries a line of rice-based electrolyte hydration drinks. Their powder mixes are probably my favorite, ranking up there with Ultima Replenisher and emergenC. The pomegranate acai flavor is fantastic! 

These flavors beat all the other ones I've tried so far.

Their shipment also included some detailed info on the science behind hydration. I decided to try the CeraSport with some frozen coconut water icecubes and a chunk of dark chocolate. What a tasty mid-afternoon treat! It felt tropical, too :)

Fancy and tasty. You can't go wrong there!

If you need more advice on where to shop for kick-ass supplements, I'm your girl. Hope all you Fall 2010 teacher trainees are enjoying your last few weeks of madness!


Enjoy your week and namaste.

Congrats to Ultima Winners

Sad but true update, friends: Ultima is only able to ship to domestic addresses (within the U.S.)! So sorry I didn't announce/ know this earlier. So an updated list of winners:

Cassi

Miss Fit Bliss

Catherine of Back to the Mat

Lz of 101 Days of Solid Concrete Lamp Posts!

Christian of Scrap of Paper

Catherine, LZ and Christian, please email me with your mailing addresses. I sure hope you're all stateside ha!

A Happy Yogi, Keren and Lala: big apologies. I really wish I could send you some samples :( I encourage you to use the coupon code online and make an order, though. And/ or whenever you are in the Chicagoland area, let's meet up for a homemade smoothie with added hydration!

Please email your mailing address to me at koontz.rachel@gmail.com and I'll get your sample pack sent along!

Apologies that I couldn't share some sugar-free hydration goodness with ALL of you, but I do encourage you to check out their site. They do free shipping on orders over $30. And as Annie Law posted in my comments section, there's also a limited time coupon that'll give you $7 off your order AND free shipping. Just go to their online store and use the coupon code "yogayoga" for the deal. Thanks Annie, and Ultima, for contributing to this great contest!

Please keep an eye out for upcoming giveaways, and follow the Twitter feed for play-by-play updates on Alive in the Fire as well. Tweet at me and let me know what you're up to, too...or what awesome Ultima concoctions you're mixin' up!

Monday Night Blues? Try a Break, Baby!

Relaxin' in the summertime is required. Photo via Pixelatedhologram's Flickrstream.

It's a Monday night in the middle of summertime: can you feel it?

The weekend went by too fast and work today felt like forever.

You're crankin' the AC but you can't seem to get enough of the cool air.

All you're dreaming of is a long night drive, a little time at the beach house, an afternoon picnic to break up the mid-day doldrums. Maybe you could use a romantic evening with your special someone, no distractions, no questions asked. Or weekend getaway in the mountains?

Yeah. I'm there.

Or, if you're like me, you're simply interested in getting out of the house to mix it up after dinner. And since you've skipped the usual evening yoga class, you find yourself at a local pub/cafe where there's lively live music, interesting-looking characters and relaxingly-dim lighting (dim enough that hopefully no one will notice that you're all by your lonesome tip-tap-typing away on a little netbook!).

Tonight's one of those nights when I'm taking advantage of 100% relaxation in order to inspire my 100% dedication (coming to a Bikram studio near you...tomorrow!). As much as we'd all like to pretend it's not true, even we Bikram crazies must admit that there comes a moment when we need to back off a little in order to re-formulate our love for the yoga.

I suppose it's like they say: too much of a good thing, and it's not worth anything.

It's just like the Bikram quote my lovely teacher mentioned the other day in class. As the Boss himself says, "I have the biggest swimming pool in Los Angeles. But I don't know how to swim."

The point is true here, too: even if you've got the best resources in the world, they'll do you no good if you don't know how to put them to good use. If you push too hard in a posture and compromise integrity so you can fake depth, you get nowhere. And even we obsessive back-to-back doublers know sometimes a little break -- a day or two away from the Torture Chamber -- can do some good for inspiring your practice and bringing it to soar to new heights.

The lovely Joanna over at Lock the Knee posted about this recently, after returning from her Sequoia camping trip and discovering that -- hey! -- balancing stick posture is way more fun if you're lookin' for some seriously heart-pounding cardio.

That's what I am talking about here: finding ways to appreciate with new compassion the postures which we generally take for granted, or simply tend to make our personal enemies during class.

Often a quick break will help us realize what we've been missing all along.

It's like the crazy, mandolin-rockin', bass-thumpin' band I'm listening to is singing:

It's the freakin' weekend, baby, I'm about to have me some fun!

Alright, so it's still Monday night -- but if you wanted, you could make the choice to take a break from your mid-week blues, maybe even take a one-night breather from the Bikram, or break out of your very genre (that's right, I'm witnessing a country band cover a ridiculous R&B song like it's their first and foremost style of expertise). Surprise yourself! Breathe a little! You never know: it could do wonders.

Some unexpected Monday-night mandolin in place of yoga class. Hells, yeah! Photo via MSync111's Flickrstream.

What Graduation Really Teaches You: You Need the Bikram

Photo Via A. Yakovlev's Flickr Photostream,

What a weekend! Caps and gowns, dinner reservations, visiting family, traffic, crowds, diplomas, convocation speakers, thunderstorms, tours of the town, late nights, early mornings and more. Who knew hosting graduation could be so hectic!


Pretty quickly I realized: I’ve fallen into a valuable routine with my Bikram yoga and when I go more than a day without it, man,

I’m cranky,


I’m tight,


and sometimes it hurts, but I need this yoga!

Word to the wise: if you’re balancing a busy weekend of juggling time with family, celebrating, hosting and entertaining your guests, and making convocation on time, find a way to fit the Bikram in, too…or you will go crazy.

Photo Via Captain Skyhawk's Flickr Photostream.

Dreaming of the Future: Bikram Teacher Training

Photo Via Roz Yoga Training.

So as you may or may not know, I'm about to graduate from Northwestern University with a degree in English (creative writing), which means I'm at that time in my life where everybody's asking:

what's next?

what are your plans?

where are you going from here?

I'm hoping to do someday is embark on the yoga adventure of a lifetime -- 9 weeks in the torture chamber with Boss himself! -- and then make a lifestyle of teaching others how to live and breathe Bikram.

It's true: I can't wait to be one of those little 747s taking off in the crowded hot room someday. And right now, I have faith that it will happen... it's just a question of when.

So, have you completed teacher training? If so, first let me say I'm so excited you've encountered this blog! I hope it resonates, prompts you to contemplate your practice in new ways, challenges you, inspires you, and helps you have a good time thinking about your Bikram adventures.

I also hope you'll share it with others, inviting them to offer their ideas and feedback as well!

And if you're an active and enthusiastic instructor, I'd love your thoughts on your TT experience...

• First and foremost, how did you survive?
• Best moment? Worst?
• What was your strategy for keeping in touch with family, friends and loved ones during training?
• How did friends and family react when you announced you wanted to adopt the yoga teacher lifestyle?
• Did you do any fundraising prior to training? I mean, $10,000 ain't cheap... (I'm hoping to apply for a scholarship myself!)
• Anything in particular you couldn't live without during training?
• Best Bikram quotes/ memories?
• Did you have a job lined up prior to training? How did you manage the transition toward teaching?
• Anything else?

Photo Via Roz Yoga Training.