Tadasana

Class Fourteen of Thirty

(7.45pm, 15th June, taught by Libby)

Before I start on class fourteen I guess I need to explain about the missed class. I had thought of calling this post "It's Mayhem on the M1" for that is why I didn't get to class on 14th June. I was working in Derby that day and left at 5, made good progress down the M1 until just before Junction 22 when I hit a tail back. Traffic news informed me that there had been an accident on the Southbound M1 between 22 and 21a and both lanes were closed to allow the air ambulance to land. This lead to a diversion off at 22 and rejoining at 21a, which in turn meant traveling a mile and a half and taking an hour and three-quarters to do so, which in turn meant getting home at 7.05, picking my kit up and deciding at 7.10 that I couldn't get into town, parked and on my mat in time for the start of the 7.15 class! To say I was a little miffed is something of an understatement! I had that classic thing of feeling sorry for the people involved in the crash and hoping that they were alright but at the same time wondering why on earth it had to happen in front of me - not very Yogic I know!!! On the up side there have been quite a few questions about where my blog is and what is going on, so it is good to know it is being read. Also I was missed at class - which is nice to know!!

OK, so back to Yoga. Class fourteen... It was a tricky one! Rachel had commented that I should move from my nice spot by the door where there is a gentle breeze from the draft under the door - apparently it is too cold (!) and I should challenge myself to practicing elsewhere in the room. So I moved to the middle of the room which was certainly warmer. That coupled with the touch of 'Prickly Heat' I had developed having got a little sun burnt at the weekend at the allotment (aggravated by an scratchy towel) meant it was a tricky class. Apparently I looked at one point like I was going to pass out and then later in the floor series I came over all emotional was fully expected to burst into tears at any moment! To top it all Libby made some comment towards the end of the class about the levels of energy and enthusiasm and I must has either made a groaning noise or pulled a face as it made Rachel, who was practicing next me, laugh! Have to say that had Rachel not been there motivating me by just being so damned flexible I might have given up and ended up on the floor - so thanks for that Rachel!

So Tree Pose - I like this posture. I like the fact that it helps lower the heart rate and allows me to refocus on my breathing to help prepare for the floor series. I still have to work on the flexibility to get my foot up and held so I can get into Namaskar (hands in prayer in front of my chest) but I am able to get my foot right up and well on the way to my belly button so it is just a case of practice, practice, practice! The other challenge is pushing my hips forward and lengthening my spine, but again I am sure it will come with time.

So now for a wee bit of Arboriculture (Get it? Tree-science!!!!)

This improves posture and balance and increases flexibility in ankles, knees and hips. It should help prevent hernia due to its strengthening effect on the internal obliques. Not bad for standing on one leg, eh?!!!

Now usually I would now be saying that I am off to practice my Savasana, but not today...I am now off to practice my yoga... Class Fifteen... Half way through!!!

Dandayamana-Bibhaktapada-Janushirasana

Day Thirteen of Thirty

(5.00pm, 13th June, taught by Rachel)

A tough one. Just wasn't really in the mood to be honest. Spent a lovely afternoon up the allotment dealing with the weeds and didn't really want to stop as I was really making headway! Anyhow, it is thirty day challenge and that trumps weeding so I dutifully made my way to the sweat-pit. It was a surprisingly busy class, and the energy was certainly up, I just wasn't. Having said that I did all of the postures and didn't sit anything out.

I have noticed a few aches and pains over the last couple of days so have started taking Glucosamine and Omega 3, will also get some Cod Liver Oil as well, see if that helps with my knees and may take a day of doing the 'if you have problems with your back' options during the class. I know that when I used to run I would often need to take a day between long runs during the marathon preparation to let my body settle down.

So today is about Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee Pose. This is a bit of a grim one. It looks oh so simple but it isn't. I have found it does help if the step to the right is quite a wide one. I bizarrely find the instruction about turning on feet (or is it heels?) difficult to follow - one of the first signs of Yoga-brain setting in. Tucking your chin right in does make it easier to get your head to your knee. Then of course there is the issue of making sure you don't fall over - more inner thigh strength I am told! As for the dialogue... there are another couple of great bits in there... I am aware I have a Thyroid gland, I think it is in my throat (I seem to remember having an art teacher at school who had something wrong with hers and she had an operation which left her looking like she had had her throat cut!) however I was unaware of the existence of a Parathyroid. Thanks to the wonders of Wikipedia you can click to find out about them both (Thyroid - Parathyroid) (Apparently the Parathyroid was the last major organ to be identified in the human body having been firstly discovered in an Indian Rhinoceros by Richard Owen in 1850 - see learn about Yoga practice and human biological history as well!!!) The downside of this posture is the fact that by the time it appears in the series the sweat is really flowing so there is lotsof it running into your eyes as your head is facing downwards and the fact the your throat is well and truly choked... not nice, and apparently it is Rachel's least favourite... methinks there will be many a student breaking open their piggy banks, raiding the rainy day account and borrowing the kids college fund to buy the opportunity to teach this posture as part of the studio's Charity Class on 11th July where students get to teach the teachers... (More details available from the studio.)

What's that I hear...you want more science?! OK:

• Slims the abdomen, waistline, hips, buttocks and upper thighs

Need I say more? Is this not enough?!!!!

Yep, it's Savanasa time.

Trikanasana

Class Twelve of Thirty

(10am, 12th June, taught by Sharan)

Only an average class today. I enjoyed it, don't get me wrong, but it just didn't quite get me like some of the classes earlier this week but then I guess that is just the luck of the draw. I was fairly tired, though I had slept well, and I made sure I ate properly before class. I am not going to let it worry me but it is a shame it wasn't any better. I managed to get almost all of the postures down - even though it was today's blog-posture, Triangle, that beat me! It was quite weird actually... I was in the middle of the first set and thought to myself that I was feeling a little tired and that despite the fact I may like the idea of sitting out round two I was going to work through it. We then got to the end of the first set and all of a sudden my body literally took over and I was on the floor! I have heard about mind over matter, but this was matter over mind!

Of all the postures in the whole of the Beginning Series, this is the one that I don't seem to have made any progress on. I dread it as I know it is coming up (I know, thou shalt not anticipate postures!). I don't seem to be able to get my thigh parallel with the floor, it hurts like hell to hold it and I find it almost impossible to remember to breathe! Grim, grim, grim!!!

So today is all about Triangle... as you may have picked up I HATE THIS POSTURE! It is just so damned difficult. I just don't seem to be able to stop my feet from slipping. I have been told time and time again it is a question of inner thigh strength... I don't think I have any!!! The other thing is the sweat on my feet, again it makes standing steady a nightmare. I would say this was all excuses but at home, out of the sweat-pit, I can do this!!!

Want some science? Here you go:

• The only posture in the world to improve every muscle, joint, tendon, and internal organs
• Firm hips, thighs, waistline!
• Most important posture to increase hip strength.

It may feel like hell but clearly it is worth it!!

You guessed it, it's Savasana time.

Dandayamana-Bibhaktapada-Paschimotthanasana

Class Eleven of Thirty

(5.30pm, 11th June, taught by Sharan)

Yayee, a great Friday class, and especially after yesterday's class! It started well...I arrived for a 5.30 class in time for a 5.30 class! I popped my mat down, went and got changed and came back and my heart stopped... I had a neighbour (not in itself a problem), but I was going to be practicing next to Rachel... OMG, I was going to have to be on my best behaviour! But you know what, it was one of the most inspirational classes I have had. The shapes that woman throws are amazing!!! It was great to see how the postures should look. As you know I do like Standing Bow-pulling Pose... however the depth and grace in which Rachel expressed this posture was quite simply amazing. Now I know that sounds like I am gushing, and there may be a small element of that, but there is something simply breath-taking about watching the effortless expression of postures by someone who knows that they are doing! (Let's not forget the grace and beauty of Ezak Garcia!) The other thing that was nice was the odd little whispered encouragement or suggestion that I needed to go deeper, or more importantly breathe! (I know, naughty, but nice!!!)

Today is Standing separate leg stretching pose. This is one I struggle with. I made a bit of progress about six weeks ago in terms of a better and stronger bend forward but the thing that messes with my head is the whole holding the heels thing... I get it, in theory, but the practice is just tricky!! I almost managed to get my head down tonight, but on the whole I find it very hard to keep my knees locked out to allow me to have the deep leg stretch... How many classes have I heard 'lock your knees/legs David'? (The answer is probably too many!! Will I ever learn?)

Ok a wee touch of Friday night science:

• This posture cures and prevents sciatica.
• It helps the functioning of most of the internal organs.
• It improves the tone and flexibility of the thighs and calves.

I know it is quite a short post, but off to perfect Savasana... Especially as tomorrow is an evil devil-spawn posture (Trikanasana)!!!

Tulandasana

Day Ten of Thirty (or a third of the way through!!!)

(6.00pm, 10th June, taught by Rachel)

Top class! Lots of people, lots of heat and lots of energy! Many thanks going out to both Rachel and everyone in the room for keeping the energy up!! Was quite surprised that it went well as it started a little strangely. I left work, hot footed it down the M1 from Northampton, picked up my yoga gear, dealt with the Narborough Road at rush hour, panicked that I was going to be late, arrived at the studio all hot, red and sweaty only to be greeted by Libby looking radiant, chilled and somewhat confused as to why someone was there so early... I had rushed to a 5.30 class that didn't actually start until 6! D'oh!!!

Not sure if it is the determination, the energy in the room over the past 5 classes or what but it honestly feels like my practice is getting stronger. I know, having said that I will probably die in the sweat-pit tomorrow like I did last Friday! Unfortunately it isn't the whole class that is feeling strong, just odd moments, but they are getting more frequent and lasting for longer... A great example of this was Standing Head to Knee... as you know, not a favourite of mine and not a posture I have been able to get beyond the first stage with... tonight Rachel complained that the front row were not in the posture and she wasn't going to stop until we were, so I just bit the bullet and sucked it in and got the standing leg locked, the other leg up, straight and locked out!!! (Well I know how awful it can feel when you are trying hard and someone causes the class to stall and all you want to hear is '...and change'!) It was amazing, it felt like I held it for a good 30-45 seconds and had I had more time I might even have been able to try and get my elbows down and my forehead to my knee!!! As ever the Bikram is messing with my head. Will have to see if I can get to the same place again.

So today is all about Balancing Stick, and yes I was hauled up to demonstrate. However, what Rachel didn't know was that I had spent every spare moment today thinking my way through the posture, where my body should be and how it should feel... and you know what, it paid off. Without wishing to sound like the big 'I am' I have to say I did myself proud! Maybe I will try that with some other postures and see if it has the same effect. If I am honest I still can't say I particularly like the posture. It is one of those that sounds oh so simple... think about it, stand on one leg and straighten out your body pointing forwards and backwards like a capital letter T... easy... or is it?! Not only does it feel that your body has to go down further than horizontal, your shoulders are popping out as your keep your arms up and you have to contend with the fact that your heart is ready to leap straight out of your chest. OK the dialogue does suggest that this posture will raise your heart rate, but what it doesn't explain is quite how much it will be raised and quite how odd your racing heart will feel. Still if the dialogue is to be believed it is strengthening the chambers of my heart.... that's got to be worth a little bit of feeling odd, hasn't it?

OK, to the science:

• Good for control and balance - quel surprise!
• Improves physical, psychological and mental powers.
• Firming of the hips, buttocks and upper thighs.
• Strengthens the heart.
• Increases lung capacity.
• Great for bad posture.

Blimey, not bad for a 'simple' little posture that doesn't even require you to bend over, spin on your head and lick the back of your knees! Aint this yoga-lark great!

OK, time to work on my Savasana...

Dandayamana-Dhanurasana

Day Nine of Thirty

(5.30pm, 9th June, taught by Rachel)

Not quite as head-rushingly, yoga-buzzingly, toe-tingly good as yesterday's class but still enjoyed it! Good energy and managed all bar a couple of the postures. Nope, it wasn't Camel... I got into Triangle and immediately lost any power/strength I had in my legs so unfortunately it was sit down or fall down, and my elbows hurt like hell so the full Salabasana was not forthcoming tonight... but I tried my best and at the end of the day that is all I can do.

It appears that my quandary from last night has been taken out of my hands... it appears that my blog has been read by Sharan and Rachel and I will be doing standing stick tomorrow! Me and my big mouth...oh well, methinks I may have to do a few practice postures tomorrow at work in between meetings!

Tonight's posture is Standing Bow-Pulling Pose. I have to say that I am quite partial to this posture and am often found on one leg, kicking my other leg up and back whilst in the kitchen making tea! However, as with all of this yoga business it isn't as simple as all that. I can get nice and deep into the posture on my right hand side, however I find it a hell of a lot more tricky on the left... All very weird! One thing I did find very useful was a class that was taught by Libby who suggested that once you were in the posture, but before kicking back, that you lean back and then kick. It really helps get the back bending and the back leg into a position so it can be kicked up and back. Then there is the who issue of the arm out in front, aiming straight at the mirror in between the eyebrows, chin to the shoulder and lowering the body down. I can get up to this point then it really starts to get tricky! Getting my body right down tends to send me flying forwards. I guess that the deeper and further into the expression of postures that you go the more difficult it gets and highlights the need for a good solid foundation. The other thing that can through me is the weird changes in blood pressure and circulation. Of all of the postures this is the first to give a really good, guaranteed head-rush if I do it properly.

So ready for some science?

• Apparently this is a perfect example of the tourniquet, or damming, effect of yoga as it transfers the circulation from one side of the body to the other which helps flood organs with fresh blood. (Though would explain the head-rush!)
• It helps develop concentration, patience and determination (as per the last posture).
• It is also great for firming the abdominal wall and upper thighs and tightening the upper arms, hips and bum. (I knew I liked this for a reason!)

Being the bit of a saddo I am I have booked Wednesday 30th June off work and have now worked out that I can do a Beginners (Normal) class followed by an Advanced class and count my Advanced class as number 30 which should make for an interesting final class. (Anyone who has attended, or watched an Advanced series will know that the class is very different but is an absolute scream as some of the postures defy gravity and what is physically right and proper! A great little video of a guy called Esak Garcia demonstrating some of the advanced postures can be found here. It shows some seriously beautiful yoga... oh well one day... who am I kidding?!!!)

As ever, off to practice a little light Savasana.

Dandayamana-Janushirasana

Class Eight of Thirty

(6.00pm, 8th June, taught by Rachel)

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL YOGA!!!!! The class ended over 3 hours ago and I am still on a high from it! I have not had a class like that in ages... it was AWESOME! (Even seriously considered doing a second class!!) Thanks going out to Rachel and all my fellow Bikram-bunnies for keeping the energy up and making it a great class.

It was rammed in there tonight, another '4-row' class i.e. the front row was up against the front mirrors. I have to say that being that close to the mirror was quite a trip! It meant that I was able to look deep into my eyes and almost psych myself out... When it got to Camel I was able to look myself in the eye and challenge myself not to wimp out, and do you now what, I think I managed to pull off the best couple of Camel sets I have done in a long time, if not ever!!!! (Even thinking about it is bringing back the high!)

Today's posture is Standing Head to Knee. Now this is a posture I struggle with. The key is the locked out standing leg. Now in theory that should be easy enough but believe me it aint. I have yet to pull off anything that even resembles what this posture should look like. It is said that this posture helps teach patience and I have to say that never a truer word was said! I think I have yet to be able to hold a single set in the first part of the posture ('just' on one leg, knee locked out, holding the other foot from underneath with all fingers & thumbs in the grip) for the whole length of each expression. What I have noticed, however, over the past 6 weeks or so is that I am less 'wound up' by this posture. In other words I am letting the fact that I don't seem able to stay balanced on one leg for two minutes wash over me!!! Having said that it would be nice every so often to be able to kick my leg out and hold the posture for more that 5 seconds before falling over! Still I am sure that all good things come to those who wait - and as this posture is said to help develop determination that would seem to be the case.

In terms of the science:

Apart form the obvious patience this posture helps to build it helps tighten abdominal and thigh muscles, helps increase flexibility in the sciatic nerves as well as strengthening leg muscles. According to the dialogue it also helps strengthen the ligaments around the knee.

Now I have something of a quandary... Posture of the week is Balancing Stick - do I volunteer to demonstrate on Thursday as that will be my Tuladandasana post so would seem somewhat timely, having said that not one of my favourite postures... not sure, watch this space! Well I am off to ponder this and how I am going to stop my mat from smelling(!) as a practice my Savasana