Today was my 8th class at the Bikram Yoga.
I think, I do say, I just think that today might have been the day.
I finally started feeling a sense of progression. (In my mind this was the pose I was doing. In reality you do not want to know.)
The amazing thing is not only physically but also mentally.
That being said, the physical acceleration might just have to do
with my mental progression.
I decided to take my mind to a different level - before, during, and after the class. I had one consistent focus no matter how my poses were progressing today.
I told myself,
“I will keep having a genuine internal smile throughout the entire class.”
For those that are missing out on my point – It is a way of saying relax and enjoy the moment. Stop focusing on others, stop focusing on where you want to end up and how much better you want to be. Just cherish, enjoy and fall in love with where you are at.
Today, Instead of ‘huffing’ my breathe when I could not finish a pose, I smiled and embraced the joy of the progression. It was amazing, I truly enjoyed the class today more then any other.
I also am starting to learn what my body needs as in nutrition to survive the 90 minutes of exercise in the heat.
Today’s Nutrition:
- 1 large glass of water 2 hours prior class
- Bowl of oatmeal with berries and dried cottage cheese, 2 hours prior
- A spoon of unpasteurized honey and hour prior class
It was great, I was not hungry or dehydrated.
3 Lessons for my yogi friends:
1. We too often give up to quickly on the things we want to do in life. If I used my first few sessions as an indicator of Yoga, I would have quit and missed out on all physical benefits and mental awareness.
2. It is critical to know where you want to end up. BUT, never at the cost of losing sight of the reason why. It is the Why that will keep you going when most will give up.
3. Just enjoy where you are at. We live in this fast paced, results oriented world we have all created for ourselves. Slow down, and just enjoy the moment.
Thank you to all those that are supporting and guiding me with their experience.
The ipad 2 Contest has just started. Many simple ways to get your name in a ballot.
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Living in the moment = Happiness. Happiness is where you are not where you going!
Thanks Fred for the great post!
The only place to live is in the “now”!
Great post!
Great point, Fred: That your physical progression has a lot to do with your mental progression. The two – mind and body – really do need to work together.
Also love the goal of having an “internal smile” as you worked through the class…Great tip.
Richard
Richard, I just got back from yoga. This ‘internal smile’ concept has truly made the joy of my experience and my physical progression sky rocket.
We just do not smile and enjoy the process enough. Imagine how powerful this would be if we were aware of it in all aspects of our lives.
I truly believe, we would be living a complete different life. Our physical tasks would be the same but our enjoyment and effectiveness within them would be completely different.
Hi Fred
I have seen LOADS of swimmers who forget nr 2. They simply dont know WHY they are training 20+ hours in the pool per week….
It is so important.
On the point about enjoying Max Simon just wrote a great blog post that really struck me.
http://getselfcentered.com/goals-getting-in-the-way
The big question. “Are your goals getting in the way of your happiness?”
That one I will ask some of my swimmers today
All the best
Mads
Mads, you have hit the nail on the head. You cannot possible continue training for 20 hours a week every week and do not clearly know the reason why.
Thanks for the post
Yeah – that is also why it ALWAYS puzzles med how many of my swimmers can not answer the question “why do you swim”
Most either say “I dont know” or they give a standard answer that is very easy to see through when I ask just a little bit. Sad
Now I have reached the point in my career where i simply send people home from practice if their mind is not there. “It is better to enjoy watching a movie on your couch than being at practice and not knowing what you are doing there”
That statement tend to chock most (wannabe) athletes.
Mads, that is awesome. I so agree with you. Their lack of awareness of being there will also impact the other athletes.
Start every practice with them answering why they are really there. In time they will start going home and really think about it. Might not happen the first night but it will create a habit of thought.
Fred,
Sounds great. I think the next time we go for a soul surf you will be flexible enough to tear up the waves!
Remember readers; Do one thing a day that scares you, it will get you out of your comfort zone.
Mick out!
Mike, can’t wait to hit the surf board in Australia.
Powerful words my friend. Thanks for sharing.
Excellent stuff Fred, you are loving it and that is great. I really believe that it helps a lot of people.
My first time I wanted to die afterward and then the most wonderful thing happened, I felt better than I had in YEARS. You know that feeling from when you were a little kid and you woke up refreshed and happy? That was it for me and I was hooked.
For all of you who think of Yoga as wimpy stretching, I assure you are wrong about Bikram Yoga. It is hard and so much more.
I truly did not care for it for the first 5 times. around the 6-8 times I felt such an improvement in my mental state that also reflected in my physical ability. For some reason my 9-10 time I was feeling very dizzy and nauseous.
I am excited to get back to it on Friday.
I have also heard a lot of people saying that “they hate that new age, touchy feely type stuff”. There is none of it with Bikram Yoga. no talk of Chakras, no chanting, no crystals, nothing. Just pure focused instruction.
Another common statement I hear is that Yoga is for girls. Well, first of all it is extremely hard and the girls that go their can kick your backside. And even though mostly women go, from my experience it is about 1 guy for every 5-7 women, it will improve every aspect of your body and mental life and that is for everybody. If you see the people that have been going for a long time you will understand why you should be going. So even though mostly women do go, is it because they are smart? the answer is yes!
The focus you need to create is amazing. Lose a little focus and you fall.
I sure hope it stays that way – 1 guy to 7 women.
But really, I would challenge any of my MMA fighter friends to give it a shot and they will struggle.
That looks like it hurts!
I would imagine it does if you tried to do it with the lack of flexibility.
It is amazing to watch what some of these people do in yoga class. When you look at them you would never imagine they would have so much strength in their muscles.
Very humbling.
A genuine internal smile…I like it.
Great post
“I will keep having a genuine internal smile throughout the entire class.” that is the SPIRIT.
Make sure you keep that smile throughout your day experiences.
Starting something new takes courage and vulnerability and sometimes letting go of expectations and just riding the wave – being in the “flow”. Watch young children and you’ll see a ‘beginner’s mind’ at its best – not concerned about outcomes but enjoying the journey. Simply BEING. Magical.
Lovin’ your 3 lessons.
What a great lesson you have reminded me of. I think I am going into Moksha with some sort of expectation as I am trying to compare it to Bikhram.
My next class I am going just for the sake of enjoying the moment.
thanks for the great reminder