Blissful Bed

I just slept 5 hours and I have to say it was delicious!!! I did have a dream that my teeth were falling out, I forgot what that means! I am having dinner with the Dublin gang tonight and looking forward to some proper socializing without having to run and get ready for the next class or lecture.
Monday is our first anatomy test and posture clinics are starting. I started to go over my dialogue today and felt like I had forgotten everything, must be from just waking up, I hope!!! Anyway, stressful times are coming and I am going to try to keep 2 postures ahead of the clinics if possible.
Bikram was away last night and we actually got out of our evening lecture at 11pm. Its was so surreal to get out before my head totally started hitting my lap in desperation of sleep (Karine has a photo of me sleeping in my lap, too funny). It was soooooo good to get back and have a good night's sleep.
Tomorrow is all about studying. Hopefully my brain can retain some information. Its still overcast here and this morning it looked like we would have a storm coming in. I hope tomorrow is nice so I can go for a swim and study out by the pool! ( No, I am not on holiday, damn it!!)

What is Yoga?

I found out it is everything. The way we are with all our surroundings, internally, externally. What we need/dont need. What we do/dont do. How we interact with everything. Very interesting lecture, I wish I hadnt been so tired. Another really cool lecture was from a speech therapist from LA. We were taught how to speak from our diaphragm rather from our throat. It was an excellent 2hrs and a far cry from some of the ego-filled lectures we have been getting! I really dislike name-dropping, its annoying!
We have our first anatomy test on Monday. I think I will do ok, just some memorization. Lots of people are having major panic attacks about the test. I wonder how they will deal with posture clinics.
I cant wait for tomorrow after our last class of the week! All I want is to sleep! Sad, I know. At least I am still here and trying to remain strong.
Namaste.

Some of us need Anger Management Classes

Maybe all of us will need it by the end of next week! Things are getting heated up and not just in the yoga room. Today during our morning class with Emmy, one of the male trainees suddenly got up and started yelling and cursing about how the class was supposed to be only 90 minutes, why was it taking 2 hours? Then one of the staff tried to calm him down, and I thought for sure the trainee was just going to clobber him, then a bunch of the more muscular men trainees surrounded him and tried to calm him down. Geez, I thought this was a safe sport! Anyway, he stormed out of the room flipping everyone off and has now left for good. I guess these are the molecular emotions, which come in many different forms. Women usually cry. I havent cried yet, I cant wait!
Its absolutely pouring at the moment. We were advised on not swimming in the ocean due to sewage pouring out during the rainy season, so no ocean swimming for awhile! Who said this was going to be a holiday?

I'm a Bit Batty

We had a great posture clinic last night due to a small nocturnal mammal diving around the room. It was as if there was an airplane doing stunts because everytime the bat came anywhere near a section of the room everyone would suddenly take cover and scream (well, just those that fear flying creatures, which included both men and women). It was a nice change after listening to 312 people recite the same posture over and over and over again. Anyone who knows me knows I love bats and so I was satisfied to just sit back and see what type it was!
We got out of watching a Bollywood film as Bikram gave us a choice. Thank goodness!
We had our first class with another senior teacher this morning, Emmy. I think she is from Austria originally, and boy is she tough. She wants a bucket of tennis balls to throw at people who are doing their postures incorrectly. I think I will have to warm to her way of teaching.....slowly......!!!!
I have to say I have met so many cool people and some not so cool people( you know who you are), but all in all, more great than not.
Well, off to another lecture and I think we definitely have to watch a film tonight (joy)! I'm trusting the process, but Bollywood films somehow didnt come into what I thought the process was. But hell, what do I know?

A Little Rock and Roll, Mexican Style

We had our first earthquake at 1am this morning, not a huge deal for me and Barb, growing up in Los Angeles, but loads of people were a little freaked out. It reminded of home, ahhhhhhh.......
Anyway, we had our double class today and our lecture was pretty interesting, as we had Dr. T. teaching anatomy. Our books won't arrive until Friday, which is a bit frustrating, but what can you do??
I can see how this is becoming more like Groundhog Day by the minute. My blog will probably will get pretty boring as each day is becoming more and more the same. So I apologize now.

I Feel Zen-Full

Happy Sunday! Yesterday's class, I was sooooo tired, I just got into the zone and relaxed. I have to say it was one of my best classes this week, and I'm hopeful there will be many more to follow!
Had breakfast with everyone from the Dublin studio. They are just the most fantastic people and I love experiencing everything with them! I couldn't ask for more generous, loving, compassionate companions! :)
After breakfast we all went down to the beach and ended up buying lots of comfy dresses and sarongs. I have a feeling I will be living in these the next 8 weeks. Its fun talking down the prices and I have to say, Shirley is the best at it!
Barb and I went for a pedicure at the spa in the hotel, and I nearly fell asleep, it was GORGEOUS!!!! I think I will do that every other week. Its just what I needed.
Barb is sooooo much better and able to eat today! She found a necklace she wants and has decided that will be her reward at the end of training. Once again, I am just so proud of her, she had a really tough first week. I can only wish her better weeks to come!
Well, with tomorrow all will begin again. I will remain focused and conscience of my body and as always trust that all is good and everything will make sense(hopefully soon). I know this yoga is the best thing I can do for myself and my own unfound strengths will begin surfacing. I am blessed to be here. Namaste and smiles to everyone!

I Love Saturday!!!!

Oh joy, only one class today, yippeeeeee! I do love the classes, but I am soooooo tired and my body is just pooped. We didnt have lectures last night, which was just great, Barb and I came back to the room and watched a video. Fantastic.
My practice is getting better and better. Bikram has corrected me on a couple of postures, which I never realized I was doing incorrectly, what an honour. My body is getting used to everything and I am able to do more and more during class. Believe me, when I started, I thought I would be sitting the entire time. Mind over matter is my mantra now.
Barb is still really sick, but getting better everyday. I cant imagine having the vomiting and nausea all the time and having to do the class, shes tough and getting through it. I am sooooo proud of her for not quitting.
I recited half moon in front of Bikram last night and he said I was very sweet. What a huge relief to get it over with but Im soooo happy he liked the way I taught the posture. I know I have alot more work to do on teaching but this gave me a huge boost of confidence!
Well, Im going to just relax after this class and look forward to what next week will have to offer. I heard its gonna get tougher! Yippee???

"Sean of the Dead" yoga style

Imagine this huge crowd of glazed-eyed yogi's, hunchbacked, dripping in their own sweat, dragging their two wet towels with all their strength they can manage, clutching their soaked mat, while they move slowly through the exit of the studio, to their individual cubbies. Yes everyone, this is what I get to experience twice daily!
Last night we were up until 2am watching a 3hour Bollywood film. Just as I had feared, I am now being made to sit through these films. I really just dont get it, it must be a culture-thing because my brother-in-law from Mauritius loves them too. Bikram had the sound sooooooo loud, I was thankful for my earplugs, but my god, how we all suffered. My sister ended up laying on the floor with her head tucked under the chair. It started to look like a war-zone, with all these bodies on the floor or curled up in any posture they can sleep in. I've come to the conclusion that I have no choice but suffer through these films, who knows, I could end up really enjoying them( I think its a conspiracy)!
Im off to my second class of the day and hope for a better one than this morning. Bye for now!

I drank, I stretched, I vomited

Actually, I nearly vomited, not quite. We had our first 2 class day yesterday, and anybody who has attended TT before, you understand my heading!! Lasts nights class was my worst EVER!!!! Thank goodness I did not cramp up and convulse as some did, but I truly wanted to just crawl out of the room (my first time to ever even think this). Well, happy endings abound, and I did not leave the room thanks to a visiting teacher, Wendy. She gave me the option, if I wanted to leave to go ahead but I chose not to and that was a huge step for me mentally, because my mind was really all over and all my focus was on how miserable I felt, but I made it!!!
On a happy note, I finally got to go down to the ocean and take a quick dip after class last night. It truly was what I needed after such a crap class last night!
Well, off to class this morning, and I am trying to clear my mind of last night's class and just be in the present. As Bikram has said to us, we have nothing to lose because we had nothing to start with in the first place! Ok Boss, I'm going to trust the process! Namaste

I think they gave my bag to a couple gorillas....

Hi everyone! Well made it to Acapulco in one peice, though my luggage took a bit of a beating, everything thank goodness arrived safely!
We are attending our very first yoga class in approx. 1hr and we have been given numerous instructions on what to eat, wear, drink, how much to drink, etc. etc.... Lots of info. but I know it will be crucial for the next 9 weeks!
Barb and I are settling in to our little room and have met soooo many cool people so far (there are 312 students here in total). The surroundings are gorgeous with peacocks and flamingos outside by the pools which have waterfalls and lots of flowers around. We have been told weekends are for studying only and not to venture out to participate in other activities! Im gonna listen to what they suggest!
We had a lecture with Bikram, he is AMAZING!!!!! I didnt really know what to expect but I really loved everything he had to say, so insightful and inspiring! He will be teaching the class tonight! I told everyone that I did training to his CD at home and Vindaloo came to know his voice as much as me! (Vindy is my dog for those who dont know).
Well, will write again when I can, hello and love to all my friends and family!

Here is a photo of a few of us from Bridget's hens weekend! Loved the bunkbeds!!

Here I go, into the abyss known as Bikram's Torture Chamber

I'm packed and ready to go! My last day at work is tomorrow, it will so strange not going into work for the next 10 weeks!
Of course I caught a nasty cold right before I'm due to fly out on Saturday, leave it to my immune system to pick the best times for colds:( Anyway, no going back now! I want to send a special thanks to my physio, Colum Slevin, who is fantastic at healing all my ailments! I'm due to see him tomorrow one last time before TT, just hope the old body stays healthy and strong for me!
I just read that Jenn will be at TT so I'm super excited to meet her, anyone who is interested in Bikram training should log on to her blog, its very insightful!!!
Well everyone, stay tuned, next entry will be from Acapulco, Mexico!

Well, time is speeding up now and I feel prepared/unprepared. Sometime I think, what the hell are you doing, are you crazy??!!! Then I think about why I'm doing this crazy thing and realize that this is what I want to do into my old age, teach Bikram's style of yoga! This soothes the doubting side of my brain for awhile! Of course I have no choice now, I'm doin it!!
Nearly forgot, I just heard from someone that Bikram is planning on teaching the entire time of TT and that Craig has resigned...........anyone else hear anything different?? Yikes is all I gotta say! Late night Indie movies here we come... :) Anyway, goodluck to all you trainees coming on this journey with me, cant wait to meet the few that have signed in on Facebook!