Excited

Tomorrow will be 30 days on the Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis Method and I am very excited to weigh-in (crazy, I know) and take measurements to see my results so far.  60 more days to go and wonder where I will be by then?! 

I feel great and am loving each and every workout.....so looking forward to making TAM a part of my life!

Tracy Anderson Method - Metamorphosis!!

So......okay, it's been a few months since writing.  Work has been crazy, life has been crazy, 2011 has been quite the busy year so far but it's all good.

Like clockwork (so weird), right around April things were just getting too busy and I haven't been able to make yoga as often as before, which is fine, and I totally accept.  I mean, I'd love to go, but when you have to get work done, you have to get work done and I have to accept that gone are the days of when I can leave whenever I want and make up the hours later.....at least for now.....

SO - comes into the picture, Tracy Anderson Method - Metamorphosis - Hipcentric.  I had read about Tracy Anderson before on Gwyneth Paltrow's blog/newsletter GOOP, and had already watched ALL of the infomercials online from her website and pretty much became obsessed with this new "method."

So, naturally, I bit the bullet and ordered the set of DVD's.  I have not been happy with my weight lately and would probably keep getting worse, but I refuse to go above my highest weight, which I won't say online, but a girl's got limits!  Enough was enough and Lord knows I hate the gym and now that we live further out, I haven't done any outdoor workouts, besides, it rains so freaking much here, what's the point?

Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis (TAM - also the abbreviation for Tracy Anderson Method - check out her 30-day method book, which I found out after the fact, that you should start with her book and "graduate" to Metamorphosis) Hipcentric (the beauty is it is personalized to your body type), was delivered to me on Friday, May 6th.  Exercise program started first thing Saturday morning, May 7th.  Dynamic Food Plan started Monday, May 9th.  Today is Tuesday, May 24th and so far, 12 pounds lost, and about 5.5" total lost from bust, waist, hips, thigh, and arm.

Need I say more??!  It works and it's going to keep on working as the workouts change every 10 days and she follows aesthetics that I follow such as less weight, more reps.  Read up about her and if you're thinking about doing it - just do it!  :)

2011 - So far, so good

Well, eventhough 2010 had a blip towards the end, and a tough decision had to be made (bye-bye drama!), we were able to ring in the New Year at an amazing 5-year anniversary party of some very dear friends.

2011 has started off on some very positive notes in my world and I feel very grateful. 27 Bikram Yoga classes in January, so far for February going on classes 6 and 7 tonight, including the advanced series which I am incredibly happy I have been able to start and incorporate into my practice this new year. It's funny how things happen but I have always believed that "things happen for a reason." People, learning, timing....it's all there and it all comes to us when we need it and them most.

Our housewarming party this past weekend went VERY well, and that makes me happy also! So many amazing and fun people from past and present were in attendance and just made the entire night a blast! I haven't had that much fun in a while...it was great. And it couldn't have happened without all of those amazing people that have been in my life and that made the effort to attend.

Well, it's Wednesday, hump day, and it feels like it...looking forward to yoga tonight! Is it 5 yet? ;)

Dwelling, dreaming, and concentrating…

(I had the opportunity to guest blog for the official Bikram 101 blog site today and this was it! You can find the main blog site at bikram101.blogspot.com)



“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” --- Buddha

The individual journey that we all experience together in the Bikram Yoga room are each very unique, changing, and challenging and follow us outside the yoga studio, whether we like it or not. When we are in the hot room, we are to use our body over mind; to listen only to the teacher’s words and to allow our bodies to do as they say. It must be a tremendous thing as a Bikram Yoga teacher to watch so many people all in the same room all going through very different things at the same time and to have such influence on those experiences, encouraging patience, progress, and change.

The quote that I am sharing today is one we should all try and remember each and every time we set foot into the yoga studio (and every other place, for that matter.) When we are struggling through balancing postures, do not dwell in the past and give that second set all you’ve got. When we are feeling overheated and lightheaded, do not dream of the future posture coming up (in my case Camel!) We must remember to concentrate our minds on the present moment of where we are in each and every posture, whether we are able to fully balance in standing forehead to knee or not; in each and every way with our co-workers or family members, we must remember our breath and our yoga. Whether our forehead is touching the floor in separate leg stretching (or not), or whether we can or cannot “lock the knee” or are still working on that solid lamppost base, we must remain in the present.

What we must remember and be mindful of is that each and every day, whether it is a “good” or “bad” day, we are on this spectacular journey through our bodies and minds and are learning so much from our instructors, each other, and ourselves through each and every breath we take. This is our journey and we are so incredibly lucky to have found this path and to be able to experience its wonders together. Happy Bikram 101 yoga-ing!

Heidi, a Community Banker by day, lives in Portland, OR and practices at the SE Moreland Bikram Yoga studio. This is her fourth year at this studio and had practiced several years prior to finding her “yoga home.” This is Heidi’s first challenge and she hopes to one day attend teacher training and open her own Bikram Yoga studio to continue sharing her passion for this wonderful practice. She is inspired daily by all those that practice alongside her and loves discussing love, food, and life!

Awesome Quote

"The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth." -Chinese Proverb.

So true. Just had to share.

Friendship Divorce

You know, it never ceases to amaze me how when I am going through something in particular that different sources of wisdom seem to come my way to help guide me through my particular dilemma.

A couple of weeks ago it was an article in a banking newsletter about communication. This time, it’s via Gwyneth Paltrow’s offering called GOOP and it’s about, yup, you guessed it, Friendship Divorce.

World, you are amazing and thank you for such wonderful and sage advice! I thought I would share with everyone and hopefully you will be helped by this article as I was. I just finished reading it and it made me feel SO much better and helped me realize what steps I need to take and gave me some good, new perspectives surrounding friendship and what that means to others and to me. Enjoy!

http://goop.com/newsletter/71/en/

Class #34 - Worst Class Ever! (Or Best?)

A few of my Bikram teachers have emphasized how this yoga is so wonderful in so many ways and that is why we love it. I agree. They talk about how you can come into the room one day, or for many days in a row, and just rock it and have a great practice and the next day just have the worst practice of your life. I agree. This yoga is a very humbling yoga which I really appreciate and boy did I appreciate it for class #34.

I don't know if it was because I did a double on Saturday or what the deal was but Erica's Sunday morning class was the worst class I have had in quite some time. Like full body cramp, every tiny muscle in my body was just aching and I was sweating big-time buckets. It was crazy, I barely made it through class and I most definitely got hit by the Bikram yoga truck. I needed that. I needed to work through all of that and I am glad I made it through. I'm going back tonight for more but have fueled up on electrolytes, coconut water, and lots of water, so no more yoga truck for me I hope!!