101 Down: Why??? Because you have to show up for one extra class

# of yoga classes taken since Sept: 101
# of doubles: approx 15
# of triples: 1
# of times I did my laundry: countless


So last night I finally did my 101 class. According to the definition of the 101 day yoga challenge you do   

101-Days because you just have to show up for one extra day.

and basically in my mind it's because you can...what is one extra day after all is said and done?

I loved every minute of it and even though the last two weeks have been grueling practicing yoga every day and having some doubles thrown in...it has been so worth it. My body is so sore and I LOVE IT!!!

Last night in class Kate said I was an inspiration...which in my mind is laughable cos I'm far from inspiring. I started to think of what inspired me to get this done...Firstly my cousin Sue who is just an all round inspiration. She got me into this Bikram yoga malarkey and I truly love her for it. We live parallel lives on opposite sides of the earth and we often find that we have been doing and discovering things at the same time...Bikram was one thing that she gently nudged me towards and her gentle persistence finally worked.

When I first attended the studio the lovely Steve was just finishing his 101 challenege. Dude he made it real for me...he is so serene and always has a smile on his face...we got to talking and he told me he finished his challenge early!!! Lets just say when he told me what day he finished on my jaw dropped and my mind started working over time wondering if I could do the same... This dude is my hero nuff respect to him.

The lovely Claire and Joe the cutest couple on earth finished their 100 day challenge last week Friday in Paris...totally romantic. In my mind they held hands during the final savasana....err what can I say I'm a hopeless romantic.


Now I'm sitting here wondering what is next...I've been lovingly banned from the studio for a few days in order to rest up and will be back next week Thursday. This is a good thing because I know that my body needs to rest up and process the changes that are taking place from within. Unfortunately with the Christmas season I'm scared I may do more damage than good...I will show restraint....I will continue to blog but not as often. And I may even do another challenge God willing...but I think that once you have done 101 you stop counting and just keep going.

sidebar: I never got my forehead to my knee in standing separate leg head to knee pose..but I know I will one day.

100 Down: I'm Blessed and I'm Prettier

This morning was my 100th day!!!! I can't believe it y'all I can't believe I actually did 100 yoga sessions in the hot room...in 99 days!!! CAN I GET AN AMEN THANK YOU JESUS!!!! CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP. AH SHOOT LET'S JUST THROW A PARTY!

Class this morning was, simply put, AMAZING!!

On my 82nd class, the day I went back after the man flu,  the lovely Claire said "tell me when you get to 100 so I can come and practice with you". I almost cried when she said that. And true to her word she was there at 630 this morning along with her hubby Dennis. It was such a beautiful gesture and it meant so much to me. They got me a card and some spa magik dead sea bath salt...They so did not have to do that because it was more than enough being in class with me at that ungodly hour...I will never forget this until the day I die. I will be using the bath salt to soak in with my favourite glass of red wine tomorrow night. Claire has been a real inspiration from my first entering the Bikram studio she has always had a word of encouragement and her muscles are to die for...she says she only does bikram so there is hope for my arms yet.

I'm so grateful to everyone at Bikram Yoga Chiswick everyone there feels like family and I have so much love for them. Thank you for encouraging me and for helping me finish the challenge as you know how important it is for me not to fail this. It is true what they say: "how you deal with the situation in the room is how you deal with life." Many a time it was a struggle and I felt like giving up. But I saw it through with my own persistence and with the help of everyone there who cheered me on. What you put in to life and in yoga is what you get out of it. So here's hoping for that major positive shift in my life that I have been longing for for the longest time.

I definitely am feeling the effects of the last 100 sessions and all I can say is BOO YA!!!!!

Physically I am starting to get muscle in my arms. I've always hated my arms and always wear long sleeves even in the hottest summer. Come next summer I will be able to show them off next year.

People have said I look smaller...I don't really see it. I am going by the scale, which is bad I know. I'm not too happy with the numbers.  I hadn't seen a friend of mine since the beginning of the challenge and she said I do look smaller and my arms are getting defined (ever so slightly but the definition is there).

People also say my skin is glowing which makes me smile. I don't really wear makeup so this is good cos I really can't be arsed dealing with foundation and crap...Bring on the natural glow.

I have also noticed people smile at me when I'm walking down the street. The lovely Laura said it is because there is an internal light in  me that is shining through...so imma let this little light of mine shine

Mentally I am STRONGER...granted I get Bikram brain every now and again but I don't feel as depressed as I did before I started.

I used to have little panic attacks and dwell on stuff making my situation feel worse then it was...now I deal with it or let it go. Once in a while I do dwell on stuff but definitely not as much as before.

I have a voice now. Before I really didn't have the confidence to say what I felt...I now know that my opinion counts and I know that I am important if I wasn't I wouldn't be on this earth. End of story.


Spiritually there has been movement and I feel more in tune with the Creator. I haven't stepped foot into church since way before July to the disappointment of some people and I don't feel bad about that. The yoga has been my meditation with God as He made me and dwells within me showing me what I am capable of. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

95 Down: It's all about savasana baby

The last week I've been taking full advantage of the final savasana and all I have to say today is this:
If I could bottle up the final savasana and sell it I'd be rich and there would be no war. 

Taking the extra minutes I have realised that the healing truly comes from that stillness...Not only does your body cool down but it has given my body a chance to really recognise what the last 90mins were about and do it's cellular level work. Plus I kind of feel all high and go of into a litte dream world. LOVE IT!!!!

 

 

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91 92 93 94 Down: The best weekend

I have had the most amazing weekend and it was all Bikram related surrounded by genuine people I love with all my heart.

91 Down
Friday for my 91st class I went to Brighton and practiced at Bikram in the Lanes, alongside Caroline a dear friend of mine. I was scared I wasn't going to do well and had a minor panic attack on the way up but it was fine...I did enjoy it but there is no place like home. The rest of the day was spent eating the most delicious raw food...life could not have been any better thanks Caroline.

92 Down
I had a revelation in class. This year I HATE CHRISTMAS!!!  Towards the end of class the lovely Andy made a comment about Christmas, in my mind I said "fuck christmas!" and burst into tears. Yesterday was the first time I acknowledged to myself that I'm not happy about not going home (Zimbabwe) for the holidays. It's about family not loneliness.
 Saturday night was Bikram Yoga Chiswick's christmas party and it was lush. Yes I got drunk as I have no control when it comes to alcohol. But it was gooooooddddd!!!!! There was ZUMBA it was amazing and every single person who attends BYC is lush  I LOVE EACH AND EVERYONE!!!! Nope I'm not still drunk.

93 and 94 Down
0640 woke up hungover
0725 dragged my carcass out of bed
0800 left  home
0845 walked into the building saw the lovely Shvorne at reception and just shook my head.
0900 I was in class!
I honestly thought it was going to be like my red wine saturday where I felt it was pointless being in class but it wasn't. It felt like the best hangover cure in the world. I was so transformed I did a back to back double and I LOVED IT!!!!!

I discovered a way to love on my tummy... I am holding a grudge against my belly for not being smaller. Caroline suggested that I love on my tummy. And today it happened. I was meant to be standing with my hands down by my side but for some reason they were on my belly and the next thing I knew I had formed the heart symbol... just over my belly button...tiny steps to acknowledging my belly.

85 and 86 down: Anxiety

Peeps I'm not sure this can be done...I handed in my schedule to the folks at BYC trying to slip in triples alongside back to back doubles and needless to say I got rumbled hehehe....which I deserved plus I really don't think they would want to be carrying this lump of lard out on a stretcher. After speaking to the lovely Kat and Charlie I walked into class with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. And an 'I can do this' frame of mind. As soon as we started the pranayama breathing I got anxious and I couldn't catch my breath my heart started beating fast....and I was like "well damn looka here it's gonna be like this is it??!!??!!" I had to stop take stock and breathe in gratitude and breathe out anxiety....that didn't work...I started having a conversation with myself...

me 1: I'm gonna leave the room and sit outside for a bit
me 2: if you leave the room they'll say your body is giving up
me 1: no they wont shut up!!
me 2: yep they will...look at you the yoga truck is dragging your carcass across the road
me 1: ok imma sit on the mat for a bit
me 2: go for it but you won't get up again
me 1: sod you i'm sitting down

Just before standing bow I collapsed onto the mat and sat there until standing separate leg stretching pose...attempted that then sat down again until standing separate head to knee (my fav posture even though I still can't get my blooming head to my knee yet) and from then on I was semi alright I didn't leave the room owing to stubborness.

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This morning my carcass was back in the studio with bells on at 630 in the morning. OMG it was amazing so different from last night one of the best classes yet...I was so close to finally getting my hands on the floor with the second part of tree stand on the way to toe standing...YEAH!!!!! I fell out and couldn't get back to it but my tippy fingers touched the ground for a millisecond (incremental changes y'all). I even talked myself into partaking of bow pose and I got into it quicker than usual and held it longer than usual.

Hopefully tonight's class will be as good as this mornings. I hope I didn't jinx it.

84 Down: I'm BAAAACCCKKKKK Y'ALL!!!!!!!

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I stepped into the room after 4 days of being at deaths door (ok I exaggerate). Being back in the heat and doing the 26 postures felt so good. I plonked myself at the back of the class right near the window just in case I passed out or had a coughing fit but none of that happened. On Saturday I did one class and the lovely Fed came up to me during standing forehead to knee...there I was comfortable doing my modified version and he was like "Come on  Nikki you can do it" and I did I finally stood there in the first part of the posture...CAN I GET A WHOOOP WHOOP GRRRR!!!!! Granted I didn't get the full Bikram grip but hey if it takes another 81 days to do this then so be it. But do you know what this incremental step means? It means I'm finally losing inches on my tummy and it also means I'm getting stronger!!!! COME ON!!!!  I decided that in the first set I will do my modified pose then come the second set I will do the first part with strength.

Yesterday I did another back to back double. Why do I keep doing this to myself...honestly I hate back to back doubles my mind sabotages every single posture...I need at least an hours break before the second class.

I'm trying to catch up on the missed days and I still aim to have 101 classes in 101 days so the 10th of December is my cutoff day. The lovely Charlie has banned me from doing triples....but i may end up sneaking some past him....*shrugs shoulders*

I'm so glad to be back bikraming.

81 Down: Man Flu

http://www.mdnews.com/news/hd/2011_32/hd_655464

I woke up with a sore throat and thought it'll pass soon as I get a hot honey and lemon down my neck...nah it stuck around. So I decided Bikram would sweat it out and get me feeling all healthy again. I pushed myself and got through the class way better than I did on Sunday and I thought yep I've kicked this effing cold in the butt.
I got home gargled with salt and water and even considered doing some urine therapy but I'm not there yet...nuff respect to all the urine therapists out there.

I woke up feeling rough as old boots...throat as if razors were setting up for a residencey. I have decided to not go and practice my 82nd class which means I won't reach my goal of reaching 90 classes by the 29th unless I don a triple or am able to get out of work early on some days. I'm cool with that as I need to listen to my body and rest up. Besides I don't really want to get any of the lovely people at BYC sick so it's best to stay away while I'm at the contagious stage.

So tonight it's off to bed with some baileys as I feel it soothes the throat hot lemon honey and ginger....boooooo

80 Down: Red Red Wine

Last night I met up with a friend who I hadn't seen in ages and the red wine started to flow (only one bottlle) while we nattered on. I really do not think that I had a lot to drink. This was the first time alcohol passed my lips since starting the challenge. I didn't get drunk but I was aware that I might be dehydrated in the morning so whenever I woke up last night I would gulp down some water. I also drank 2 litres before class...but none of this prep helped. Today was the very first time I wished I had not step foot in the studio. I was stiffer than a mofo...I felt heavy and sluggish and stiff. A headache took hold about a half hour before class ended. I wasn't hungover...well I didn't think I was hungover but man oh man...yeah with Christmas coming up I don't think I'll be partaking in the red juice anytime soon if I'm going to feel like this.

77 Down: Bring it on!!!

Last night class was...well... it was...all I can do is shake my head at the thought of it. Soon after Eagle Pose my heart started to beat like a mofo and it didn't calm down for a second. I thought I was going to have a mini heart attack. I found myself unable to do triangle as much as I hate that posture I do always try to attempt it. On the belly down series I thought I was going to beat a hole in the floor with my heartbeat!...But somewhere in the back of my mind I heard Joe Swanson from family guy shouting "BRING IT ON!!!"... that didn't make my class stronger but I tried to do at least one of each posture with the exception of bow pose which I have now come to utterly detest.

Truth be told I'm scared of going to my next class which may be tonight as I can't do Saturday...we'll see if I can get off work early.

That being said I have decided to finally do the post about 5 things I love about Bikram Yoga. For I know my friend Cassandra is reading this saying why the hell di you love Bikram if you go through torture. So Cass this is for you.....

5.people outside of the yoga studio have told me my skin is glowing...gotta love a compliment.

4. I love that competitive spirit...it's not competing with anyone else except myself for I know I can do better. On days I consciously go into class and dig deep my postures are like BOOM...WHAT YOU CAN'T TELL ME NOTHING!!!! You see the improvements bit by bit and nothing can take that feeling of accomplishment away.

3. Sometimes I walk into the studio feeling depressed and worthless...I come out feeling like a million bucks!

2. Unconsciously practicing yoga when you are doing mindless tasks like brushing your teeth. While waiting for the kettle to boil I've found myself standing on my tippy toes doing awkward pose and wishing that I could do that one posture with my shoes on in class. Cos I can stand high on my tippy toes with my shoes on.  Why does it feel easier and deeper to do standing bow at work while waiting for the elevator to come when no one is around?

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1.The feeling I get after camel pose...granted I can't get into the full expression yet and can only get my fingertips on my heels in the second set. I love the whoosh head rush and the heart beating so fast but my breathing is calm...I LOVE it.

(This list is in no particular order except for number 1.)

71 Down: Water FAIL

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Today I couldn't resist the call for water. I managed to hold out until we got down to the floor but the call was too strong. The sound of people opening their bottles just had me reaching for my water bottle. Since around my 15th class I have not been drinking water while on the mat. Through out the day I have been drinking approx 3 litres so I believe I'm proper hydrated before I go into the room...thus not having water be my distraction and I am a firm believer that it doesn't cool me down it just uses up energy if I sip and sip and sip away in class...so I only drink water once we have finished the final breathing exercise.
But today was a different story I was sooooooo thirsty soooo very thirsty. I did chastise myself once I took my first sip. At least I didn't collapse with thirst. Maybe I shouldn't take my water bottle into class...hmmmm

66 down: Namaste

About 2 weeks ago Helen put this up on the wall in the yoga studio. I simply love it.

Namaste is such a beautiful word. One meaning that resonates with me is "the light in me acknowledges the light in you".

Lately I have been surrounding myself with people who lift me up and I hopefully lift them up as well. This challenge has made me realise that no matter what negativity is going on in your life it is always better to put a positive spin on things...cos honestly there is no need to be down or bring people down with you.

I was talking to my lovely cousin Sue over the weekend...and I was going on about how I really don't know what I want to do in my life and how I thought this journey would somehow make clear to me my role in this world. She in turn told me not to say I don't know what I want, but to say I am rediscovering who I am and what I want out of life! I LOVE that I am on a journey of rediscovery and yes it is going to take more than 101 days. But so far on this journey I have discovered friendships and rediscovered a love for self. The adventure continues.

Namaste peeps x

51 Down: Exhale on Three!!!

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Somewhere near the beginning of this journey I vowed that during this challenge I would do a triple and yesterday I did my triple!!!! I did the 0630, 1500, and 2015. I had the day off and instead of lounging around the house and basically seeing my day off work as a green light to pig out and veg I took to the "torture chamber" and loved every single frigging minute. For the first 2 classes I stood at the back near the window. But the final class I reckoned that if I stayed in the back row I wouldn't push myself so I went to the front near the window. And I did 23 out of 26 postures in the 3rd class.

This past week I have started the class with positive intentions during pranayama breathing. Before I used to count 1,2,3,4,5,6  2,2,3,4,5,6  3,2,3,4,5,6 and this used to drag on and to be honest I hated it cos my shoulders ached. My tummy relaxed and my breathing sometimes got shallow instead of getting stronger. This week I decided that when I breathe in I need to think positive with the intake of breath and with the out take exhale the negative.

inhale in self-love, exhale self-hate
inhale self-confidence, exhale low self-esteem, 
inhale can do, exhale can't do
inhale faith, exhale fear
inhale self-preservation, exhale self-destruction


I believe this helped with my triple because when my third and final class of the day was upon me and we were doing the breathing I realised I was breathing in deeper than ever before and at the end of the posture I felt I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR STRONG!!!!  Able to move on for the next 90mins.

Also this week I decided that I am not doing a 60 day Bikram Yoga challenge. Nope I'm going the whole 101 days!

Will I triple it up again??? MOST DEFINITELY.