Lucille's Yoga Adventure

Leader of the Pack

2011-10-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

I used to work in the high tech industry. At Winstar, I was a regional manager responsible for the marketing person working at each of the following locations: Seattle, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Irvine, San Diego, Phoenix and Denver. That was a fun job. I got to travel a lot and it was before 9/11 so it was an easy Southwest flight to each office. All of the sales offices were responsible for the exact same task - to sell broadband communication services to businesses in a specified building. The technology limited the locations we could sell in, thus the importance of the marketing team to help the sales people reach the decision maker.

But here's the point: even though each office had the EXACT same goal, the EXACT same formula, the EXACT same job titles and responsibilities, each office had a very particular personality. They operated in different ways, they had a different "tone," they were each radically different in style, and in performance. Who set the tone? Why the head honcho of each regional office, of course! The general manager!

So how does this relate to yoga? Easy peasy, actually. A few weeks ago, a visiting teacher from a studio owned by a very good friend came through town and taught a class for us at BHYM. I almost laughed out loud during her class -- not because she said anything wrong - well actually she DID same some stuff wrong (nothing huge, small stuff really) - she said the EXACT SAME wrong things that the studio owner had said when she taught at our studio two weeks earlier! And she sounded almost exactly like her studio owner. If I had closed my eyes, I might have thought it was the owner. It was amazing! And hugely insightful!

The same observation that I had way back in high-tech days applies to BY -- the general manager (or studio owner) sets the tone and everyone who works there pretty much follows suit. It's the studio owner whom is emulated - and for better or worse, the teachers that come from that studio have a similar teaching style! At times, to the point where the same intonations are made and the same emphasis is made.

So what? So if you are a new teacher, make note of your studio owner. Is he/she someone you want to emulate? Does he/she have a teaching style that you respect and want to mimic? If not, perhaps you should find a different studio, or at least travel around to learn from as many owners as you can! Because at some point, you will start to resemble the "personality" of your studio!

And even more important, as studio owners we have to ask ourselves, are we the best person we can be? Are we being the best teacher possible? Are we worth emulating? What is the tone we are setting at our location and do we want that tone to go out in the world? Because whether we are deliberate or not, we are being emulated and those who resemble us will represent us!

It is my intention that I am a studio owner, teacher and manager setting a tone that's worthy of emulation.

Legal and Financial

2011-09-16T08:07:00.001-07:00

This should have been the first post. Really it should have. Because before you can get a commercial real estate agent, before you can choose an architect, before you can do ANYTHING, you need a company, and you need some money.

You have to come up with a name. Do not choose your company name to be "Bikram Yoga (insert name of city here)" Bikram doesn't want you to do that, and besides, it is simply better for a wide variety of reasons to have a company name that is unique. So, pick something, anything. We chose a name that has special meaning to me and to Bill, and confuses most everyone else on the planet: Extra Feinschmecker, LLC.

We also chose to be an LLC. Talk to a financial expert to understand your options for organization creation - you can be an LLC, a corporation, a partnership (or LLP) or a sole proprietorship. Your finance person can help you to decide. We did the paperwork through LegalZoom.com. They were REALLY helpful and very easy and I would recommend them, especially if this is your first time forming a company. They provide support to all 50 states, and they will walk you through the process. If you have an accountant, that person can probably do the same thing for you, but because we were in Texas, I was from California, and we were registering in Alabama, it was just easier to go through Legal Zoom. We also used them to create our DBA. BUT we have since re-registered with the state and eliminated the LZ annual fee to be the person to take the company's mail. LZ can explain all that.

If you are married, like I am, and your spouse is a business partner, but not YET a certified Bikram yoga instructor (somebody has to make money in this family, and it ain't me yet!), you can be the only manager named in an LLC. Since we are married, the company automatically is owned by him too, but we are satisfying the rule that states that only certified teachers are owners. Bill will get there soon, just not yet. If you are not yet married, and you have a business partner, well, then you have to figure that one out for yourself.

Then we created a DBA (Doing Business As). This is the name that you will have on your checks, on your door, on your business cards. We chose "Bikram Hot Yoga Mobile." This was recommended to us by wonderful friends in the Bikram world as the "Hot Yoga" in the name will allow us to be included when someone googles, "hot yoga" instead of Bikram. Frankly, the Bikram name is completely unknown down here in the south, but people might know what hot yoga is. It was a smart decision.

Do your DBA before you open your bank account. I didn't and our checks have only the Extra Feinschmecker name on them, and so for every check I write, I have to add "Bikram Hot Yoga Mobile" on it. Pain in the you know what. If you do the DBA first, you can add that name to your checks. But if you open your checking account before the DBA, that's okay, just bring the paperwork in, because you will be depositing checks written as Bikram Hot Yoga and you don't want to hold up the line trying to explain why those checks go into an account with a different name.

Make sure you file all the appropriate information with the state. Bikram Yoga is a service and thus does not require sales tax be paid to the state, city, county etc, but any product that you sell, like water, clothing, electrolytes will require you to collect and pay sales tax. In Alabama, our sales tax is 10% (yikes!!), but that is divided up between a lot of organizations. When we first started, I went to the government offices and had the clerk there help me fill out all the paperwork. Even still, I ended up having to pay a $100 fine for making a mistake initially. Moral is, make sure you are paying your taxes correctly and thoroughly.

Make sure you get a resale certificate. You can take this document to Sam's club and register as a wholesaler and then buy, sans tax, your water and other items that you plan to sell. You will also need this number/certificate to register with your wholesale vendors (Shakti, yogitoes, etc). We are very honest about this. A lot of people load up their carts at Sam's with personal items, toilet paper, computers and TV's, and they don't pay sales tax. I don't think that's right, so we only utilize the sales tax benefit on the items that we will re-sell (and collect tax on then).

Bank account. We were blessed enough to have the money we needed to do our own buildout, so we did not need to have a top notch business plan or raise money (we did, however create an internal document that was really helpful). We are SO LUCKY!!! Good luck with that. Unfortunately I can offer you no guidance on how to beg, borrow or steal money, but I can say that in these times, finances are tight. We spent a lot of money to bring yoga to this town, but we are confident we will, eventually, in the future make it back and then some. But it will be a while.

Our one year anniversary is in October, and although we are covering all of our costs, we haven't yet made a profit. Meaning, all I have been paid so far is less than $5. On two occasions, I took money from the cash register to go across the street and get an ice cream cone. Some say that it's sweet payment! But even better than that, I have also been paid the satisfaction of knowing we are healing bodies. The money will come!

Designing and Building a Studio

2011-09-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

The information and advice I put down here is based on my 9-month travel across the US visiting a variety of Bikram Yoga studios and learning everything I could about building, operating and teaching at a Bikram Yoga Studio. It is also based on our own experience creating and now operating a studio for one year. Other people may have other advice, or design their studio a different way. This is just how we did it. And we have been told ours is the one of the best studios around - in regards to design and room operation.

STEP 1: FINDING GOOD PEOPLE

Even if you know your city like the back of your hand, get yourself a really good commercial real estate agent. We were lucky enough to find one who has bull dog determination and she was able to negotiate for things that we did not even know to ask for. Your agent will be able to provide you with very specific demographic information in the area, and although the swanky shopping area looked really good to us, the demographics showed that the surrounding area did not have the population we needed to support a studio. Our agent found us a building that was perfect – it had no interior supporting structures (meaning no columns in the practice room – this is HUGE), it had a lot of existing material that we could re-purpose for our own needs (like toilets, doors and lights), lots of parking (no parking is a show stopper) and the location was perfect.

Now, there are two ways to go with location. Actually three. The first is to buy a building or land and build to suit. If you have a LOT of cash (or access to money), this can be a great way to go, especially if this is a second career. Because when you are ready to retire, you can sell the yoga business and hold on to the building and charge rent! But know that you will be responsible for maintenance and a lot of up front costs. The second is to lease an existing building and build to suit. This is what we did. We paid for the entire construction, but we got a HUGE discount on monthly rent. We had about $300k upfront costs, but our monthly nut is pretty reasonable. The third option is to work with a new development and have them pay for most of the buildout. Your rent will probably be higher (You will always pay for the buildout cost in the end, know that), but you will have less up front costs to manage. If you do option 2 or 3, make sure in the lease you indicate that the heater, humidifier, mirrors and anything else that you can negotiate for (and that you pay for) is chattel; meaning, you can take it with you when you vacate the property.

When you negotiate for the lease, make sure you consider the CAM (common area maintenance) fees. Although your rent might be stable for 5 or 7 years, your CAM fees can fluctuate wildly, especially if you are the only tenant in a large strip mall. Usually the CAM is shared by all tenants, but if all the other tenants move out, you’re holding the bill for snow removal, lawn maintenance, taxes and insurance. So, look closely at that.

We got a 5-year lease. We wanted a 7-year lease, but we got a lower rent for less time. If you have a common utility meter (we started out with that, but they converted to separate because they could see huge problems thanks to our constantly pointing it out), make sure you establish a good way to split costs.

We had an unoccupied restaurant next to us and I had them put in the lease that they would not rent to a deep fried restaurant. They took it out of the lease, claiming they were assuredly do their best to rent to an upscale, healthy business. We got a deep fried place next door. Now they have been very kind, but the stink of deep fried food is not exactly what you want when you come out of yoga. And BE CAREFUL where you put your ventilation. Luckily we situated our vents as far away from the restaurant as we could, but every now and then, when I open the damper, the scent of fried shrimp can come wafting into the practice room. Damper is immediately closed.

Your real estate agent costs you nothing – she will help you for a full year after you lease to solve any problems with the landlord, and if you’re lucky, she will practice your yoga (give her a six-month unlimited package).

Then find yourself a really great architect and contractor. You can use some people in the Bikram Yoga industry, and that may be great for you. We chose to go local in order to have contacts for maintenance and warranty work. It totally paid off. Our heater went on the fritz just last week over the Labor Day weekend, and we got the machine serviced for free. We interviewed 3 architects, and we chose the woman who did the original work on the building before we moved in (it used to be a grocery store). We could see that she had built a beautiful structure before, and frankly, she listened the most to the vision we wanted to create and she understood what we wanted to do. She built some amazing plans, and really pushed the engineers hard when they either over designed or under designed the room. She had a lot of experience, and she knew the local laws and was able to make a few shortcuts that saved us a lot of money. She also understood that we wanted something beautiful, but that would last and require not a ton of effort to keep clean. So she designed it that way.

We also interviewed 3 contractors and chose the one that could get the work done faster than the others (they were also the least expensive). It ended up taking four weeks longer to build out, but other studio owners tell me that that is pretty good – other studios have gone 4-5 months over schedule.

Oh - and the best help around? A good partner. My husband is a CPA - he is our company's CFO and general sanity checker. His support and balance is invaluable. If your spouse is not your business partner, talk to Lisa Ingle. She and Steve have the best partnership I have seen and they make it look easy. But they have a fabulous strategy that works.

So that’s the first installment – get good help. Next will be the list of must have’s in design.

Some thoughts on making the most of your training

2011-09-04T13:44:00.000-07:00

Written for our very own Teddy, but if you are preparing for training and this helps you, again, have at it!!

You are about to embark on an amazing journey and have a life-changing experience. Here are some things to think about to make the most of your training:

DRAMA – you will encounter people who are very burdened with drama. If it’s at all possible, bless them and be on your way. The time it takes to be involved with drama is time that could be much better spent learning the dialogue, learning about yourself, learning from Bikram, sleeping. And if you feel the need to engage in drama of any kind, take the opportunity to let it go.

TEACHERS – for every person who gets on the podium to teach a class, whether it’s Bikram himself, Emmy, Rajashree or the dozens of visiting teachers, take time afterward to note what you liked about his/her class, what you disliked about the class, what you can take with you as you develop as a teacher yourself and what you reject. Seriously – jot down some notes.

YOUR PRACTICE – You are not there to impress anyone with your standing bow. You job is to suffer so that you can understand how to extend compassion when you get up on the podium. Your practice will go to shit. Don’t worry about it – it will come back after training. Just do the best you can and try the right way. Bikram will yell at you (if you are lucky), and that’s okay – that means he cares. And he will call you out if you are being lazy – but he will show you amazing compassion if you are in pain. He can tell the difference.

ISSUES IN THE TISSUES – Chances are, emotional/psychological stuff will come up – and there will very possibly be a time when you break down, either in posture clinic, or in the practice room. That’s okay, go with it! I purged a lot of sorrow from my body in the practice room – I cried, I wailed and nobody cared. Well, everybody cared - they cared enough to allow me to have the experience and not stop it. I hope you get the same experience.

POSTURE CLINICS - You will get some amazingly accurate feedback, and you will get some feedback that will leave you scratching your head. Don’t worry about it – they are critiquing you based on a moment in time and their feedback may or may not reflect how you really are. So as you progress in posture clinic, have a personal goal every time you get up to deliver a posture. Whether it’s to be louder, to get the dialogue 100% correct, to channel nerves into positive energy, to get up first, to get up last, to have fun. Whatever the goal is, have it established in advanced and make note of how well you achieved your goal. Then use those results to identify your goal for the next posture.

LIVE IN THE MOMENT – You will be pushed so far beyond your daily challenges, and that is a huge gift. If, in week one, you say to yourself, “I can’t do this for nine weeks,” that’s GREAT! Because you will learn that you can’t think of nine weeks without going insane, then you won’t be able to think about one week, then you won’t be able to think of the next posture and THEN you will figure out that you don’t have to! All you have to think about is whether you can do the pose you’re supposed to do right now, and if you can’t, that’s okay, but then ask yourself again – “can I do this?” And if you can, get up and do it! Don’t worry about ANYTHING but the moment you are in. Then you’ll learn to live like that all the time and it’s so incredibly freeing.

THINK LIKE A TEACHER – Immediately start putting yourself in the mindset of a Bikram Yoga Teacher. You are no longer a student (except that we are all always students); your time at training should be used to consider how you can utilize the information you learn to help others – not just yourself. Sure, if Emmy can help you to improve a posture that you are having trouble with, then by all means, take her help! But remember HOW she helped you and think about HOW you can use the same information as a teacher.

DIALOGUE. DIALOGUE. DIALOGUE. You are going to hear some crazy stuff, and there will be people there who will try to convince you that at some point you can lose the dialogue and teach an equally (or better) class using your own words. It’s tempting, but don’t believe them. The dialogue is a poem, a meditation and you will see the power of it as soon as you get on the podium.

STAY IN THE BUBBLE – As much as you might want to contact your friends at home, keep your phone on, go check out LA, do your best to refrain. Just stay in the yoga bubble – you will never have this opportunity again and the more you immerse yourself in it, the more you will get out of it. You may not think so at the time, but trust me on this.

YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL – By this I mean that you should not expect special treatment of any kind. And believe me, you will not get it. And that’s a gift too. Your job over the next nine weeks is to follow the rules, and if you break the rules, pay the consequences with pleasure. Consider it an opportunity to absolutely, completely let go of your ego and just do it. Hold on to your self-confidence, but let go of your ego.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF – Stay hydrated, keep your electrolytes up. If you are in major pain, take motrin (or whatever) before you go to sleep, but NEVER before class. Eat well, eat PROTEIN, listen to your body and eat as well as you can.

CONNECT WITH KEY TEACHERS – You will find some teachers that will speak to your heart. You will say to yourself, “You are my person.” When you find that person (or persons), make sure to introduce yourself to him or her. Say something that will allow them to remember you later. Then follow up after training and tell him or her that they made an impression.

BE KIND TO THE STAFF – These guys are working for FREE and they often get less sleep than you do. If they are short with you, have compassion. They are having to ensure that 400 people are having their intended experience, and they are taking care of Bikram too. Believe me, they probably won't show it, but they are suffering as much as you are. Just in a different way.

TRUST THE PROCESS – They will tell you this so much you’ll want to throw up on it. But it’s true; this process works. It seems wacky and strange at the time, but it works. So utilize it and give in to it.

MAKE FRIENDS AND HAVE FUN – You will meet people from all over the world who are just as passionate about the yoga as you are and you can make friends for life. Many of the people from my training found their life mate – what a wonderful thing! Maybe you’ll have the same experience, wouldn’t that be great? But no matter what, know that the time will pass quickly. Savor every moment, even the really hard ones. You’ll never have an experience like this again.

Finally, know that we are rooting for you! There are a lot of people who are cheering you on, who are providing support to you and sending you strength and happiness and health. Breathe it in!!

Learning the Dialgoue

2011-08-29T12:41:00.001-07:00

So, it's been years since the last post. Lots of change. More on that later. The focus of this post is the following article I wrote last year. It evolved from thoughts I had about my own experience in trying to learn the dialogue, and it includes guidance based on my experience as a public speaking instructor and a student of communication studies. Please take what helps you and leave behind the rest. Enjoy!

Learning the Dialogue

A Handy Guide for Teachers Who Struggle

I was, by far, the worst person in my group. Everyone groaned when I got up to deliver my dialogue. It took me six weeks to learn the first part of half moon. At training, I studied the dialogue every waking moment (even in lecture, I confess), and yet I just couldn’t get it right. When I graduated (and I was really surprised that they gave me a diploma), I felt I didn’t know it at all. I was so desperate after training, I drove 500 miles to meet with a hypnotist to help me overcome my inability to memorize (her name is Mary Holmes and is on FB – she is AWESOME and in LA!). Despite my struggle, I was determined to learn the dialogue, and over time, I did. But it took a while, and I continue to learn; I continue to refine. Here’s an article that might help those who struggle like I did.

If you are having trouble learning the dialogue, consider why. For most people, the trouble lies in one or more of the following:

Trouble memorizing
Public Speaking Apprehension
Misunderstanding the dialogue

I’ll discuss each of these challenges below and offer some solutions to overcome each problem.

TROUBLE MEMORIZING

In my own experience in training, and observing others in training, it seems that people “of a certain age” have more trouble than their younger counterparts memorizing the dialogue.

More mature folks, I believe, are challenged when asked to use another person’s words unless they can thoroughly understand what they mean, what they imply, and then they need to make those words their own before they can use them with ease. This takes time. Because many younger people are still familiar with what’s referred to in the world of pedagogy as the banking model of learning (make a deposit of information, withdraw said information when needed), they more easily are able to memorize the dialogue and pull it out on cue. If you’re one of those people, good for you!

But I have also seen, entirely too much in my opinion, an inability by those who learn the dialogue easily, regardless of age, to keep the dialogue pure after a while. The easy learners often lose it and end up using their own words after they’ve been up on the podium for six months or so. Take caution rock star performers – please keep your dialogue!! For those who struggle, take heart – in my experience, the people who work the hardest to learn the dialogue, own it for life.

For those of any age who have trouble memorizing, here are some ideas to help:

Know what kind of learner you are. Here is a link to information on learning styles: http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/ You could have one or more style, and this site offers a questionnaire that will help you to learn your most dominant learning style. Here’s a discussion related to a few different styles.

Are you an auditory learner? If so, you will learn best when you hear the dialogue over and over again. Tape yourself or another person and listen over and over again to the pose said THE RIGHT WAY. Don’t listen in posture clinic or in class to people who say it the wrong way – if you do hear it incorrectly, then make sure you say out loud (quietly) the right way. That will eliminate any programming your brain will take on with the wrong words. And take notice, if you learned half moon best from hearing it 350 times in weeks one and two, you will probably need the same number or more to learn the rest of the poses.

Are you a visual learner? If so, you might have to look at the words, over and over again. Say the words out loud as you read them and then say them again with your eyes open looking at bodies. Many people who are visual learners close their eyes when they recite the dialogue in posture clinic so they can see the words on the paper in their mind. This is a good step in the learning process, but work to transfer your visual learning from words to bodies because as you know, you will eventually have to keep your eyes open when you teach. Also, this is important, try to get your body facing the same way as the “teacher” delivering dialogue in posture clinics – you have to train your eyes to look from the mirror out to the students doing the yoga – it is a completely different place for your mind to process. If your podium at your studio is large enough, ask your studio owner if you can sit on the podium during a few classes (while the teacher is teaching a class) to just listen to the dialogue and watch the bodies from the other direction. It will help you A LOT.

Are you a tactile learner? When you say the dialogue, you may need to use your arms and legs to help you memorize. Remember, you can’t jump up and down or put your body in toe stand when you teach, but you can touch your right hip when it’s time to say, “push your hips forward, little bit towards the mirror, opening up your hips and pelvis.” And that little touch to your hip can be the cue you need to remember the words. When I say, “streeeeetcccch” while teaching dialogue, chances are you will see me pull my fist from a high to a low point. When in posture clinic sitting and waiting your turn, LOOK at the bodies (hopefully from behind the teacher) and how they move when you hear the dialogue said THE RIGHT WAY and mentally attach the words to their movements. Allow your mind to do the postures even though your body won’t actually be executing. The more you attach the words to a feeling (physical or emotional), the better you will learn the dialogue.

Do you learn best in social or solitary settings? If you are a solitary learner, take some time on your own to study, but work with people too – remember that although it may not feel good, you will have to teach the dialogue among people so you have to get used to it.

The obvious key to memorizing the dialogue, whatever kind of learner you are, is repetition. You have to put in the time to learn it. The only thing that’s even close to a short cut is to practice before and after training at studios that are loyal to the dialogue so you don’t pick up all those phrases that veer from what’s correct. But even so, OVER and OVER and OVER is the key. And when you leave training, keep working it. This is not easy, but one of the best ways to learn the dialogue and really get it down is to tape yourself teaching a real class, and then do two things: (1) Listen to the class you just taught and compare it to the dialogue. Identify the posture that needs the most work and work that one until you have it verbatim. Continue from there. (2) Take the class from the tape you made (yup! Do the poses!) and pay attention to your timing, to your voice and to your enthusiasm. There’s nothing like taking your own class to help you make appropriate adjustments to your timing, enthusiasm, and enunciation.

And if your studio is not dialogue driven, try your best to find and work for one that is. My experience is that studios that use the dialogue religiously are the most successful, by far. And if you want to be successful, you will work for, and hopefully eventually own, a dialogue driven studio.

Finally, if you are one of those people who are in week nine of training and you feel like you hardly know the dialogue, take hope. Don’t give up. It could take you a year or more AFTER training to really learn the dialogue and that’s perfectly okay. Just keep trying the right way and you will get the benefit. Sound familiar?

PUBLIC SPEAKING APPREHENSION

If you are one of those many people who fear public speaking more than death, then GOOD FOR YOU!!! Congratulations on facing your fear through yoga! WOW!!!

Public Speaking Apprehension (PSA) is a real condition and is manifested in the body through a variety of ways. As a stressful event, your body assumes fight or flight symptoms: the hypothalamus flashes signals through the nervous and endocrine systems of your body to produce a surge of chemicals into your bloodstream. You may sweat profusely or you may get blotches on your skin. Your voice may sound shaky which can make your nervousness accelerate. Oh and all those words you memorized and know by heart? They can just disappear! Over the short term, it can be exhilarating; over the long term (i.e. a 90 minute class), it can be exhausting. In short, PSA can affect your ability to deliver the dialogue successfully, but you can overcome it!!

Ironically, a lot of the things we do in yoga can help overcome public speaking apprehension. Before you get on the podium, go to a private place and do a few slow pranayama breathing exercises. Just enough to calm you down – don’t pass out. Then when you start to teach, BREATH NORMAL – in through the nose, out through the nose. Try not to hold still as a statue – this will actually increase your body tension, and that tension will then manifest in your voice. Use your body to release your tension – but move with purpose to emphasize the dialogue, not compete with it.

Try to channel your nervousness into two emotions: Passion and Compassion. Before I teach every class, I tell myself to teach with Passion and Compassion. My passion is evident through my voice, my motions, and my enthusiasm for the yoga. My compassion can be seen by understanding and communicating that everyone must do the best they can, the right way. But I don’t know what’s going on in anyone’s mind or body. I can share my enthusiasm, and certainly encourage each and every student, but I never scold or berate anyone. Nerves can highjack passion and compassion. So keep those words close to your heart to remind yourself and take comfort in knowing that it’s about the yoga, it’s not about you.

Do your best to know the words inside out, bones to skin. The more you can rely on your ability to really KNOW what’s coming next, the less nervous you will be. And of course, the more you practice teaching, the more competent you will become.

Here is a link that offers a number of suggestions for PSA, but pick and choose what is appropriate to teaching Bikram hot yoga. The recommendation to “not memorize” won’t work in this case. But knowing the gist of the pose and being able to talk your way through it can help you if your nerves have left your mind blank!

http://www.roch.edu/dept/spchcom/anxiety_handout.htm

MISUNDERSTANDING THE DIALOGUE

Believe me, I was the biggest doubter out there. When I got my first copy of the dialogue, I retyped the first six poses and made it grammatically correct. I was incensed by the incorrect verbiage, I HATED the visual descriptions, and I argued with everyone that cobras didn’t have one leg! But here’s the strange thing that happened: as I gave in and taught the dialogue, I noticed that those words really worked!! They were succinct, and they gave people the information they needed when they needed it and silly sayings such as, “you have to make up your mind to use your 100% strength in half a second” was actually wonderfully effective in allowing people to catch their breath and then gain the confidence through the words to do the next pose to the best of their ability, the right way.

There are many reasons we use and adhere to the dialogue when we teach Bikram yoga. Here are some of them:

1. It provides you with everything you need; nothing you don’t: It is designed to communicate how to do each posture while keeping your mind engaged and focused. It gives you the instruction you need to do it the right way for the most benefit within a specific time frame. You may even find over time that you hear something new, even though it’s been there the whole time; your body and mind will hear what it needs as it needs it and will respond accordingly.

2. Trust in the timing leads to strength in the postures: By regularly hearing the same dialogue over time, you will learn to turn off your conscious mind and allow your subconscious to hear what it needs in order to execute the pose the right way, the best way it can. And when you start to trust the process, your body will then know how much time it has to push to exactly the limit it needs to get the full benefit. When you trust the instructor to teach the posture the right way within the right time frame, you yourself can trust your body and your mind to respond in the same way.

3. Collective movement equals collective energy: You will find that when everyone in the class moves together to the best of their ability, the collective energy is palpable and will help you to have a better class. That’s the power of the dialogue – when everyone works together do what they can the right way, the collective energy helps each member of the class.

4. Open eyed meditation improves the mind/body connection: Over time, the connection you have between your mind and your body will become stronger and stronger. So strong, in fact, that you will, with a regular practice, have the ability to turn off your conscious mind and allow your subconscious to hear what it needs in order to execute the postures to the best of your body’s ability. And by turning off your conscious mind, you grow to develop a laser sharp focus in the moment of the posture. That calm, sharp focus will transfer to other parts of your life outside of the studio, and again, over time, you will find that you can calmly and with focus make your way through what used to be very stressful situations.

Talk to a senior instructor who really understands the dialogue (although I have a lot of mentors, my #1 go to person for understanding the dialogue is Diane Ducharme) and learn as much as you can from him or her how the body responds to the dialogue, how the mind makes connections to the body and what actually happens when you use the dialogue the right way. You will be blown away by how smart these silly words are!

And then watch the bodies from the podium. You will see it for yourself! It’s incredible! Watch people respond to your words, watch how they make micro adjustments to improve their body and their pose. Watch how they turn off their monkey brain and trust the process. Over time, you will see the power of what you are teaching. It’s amazing!!! Alternately, pay attention when teachers veer (sometimes wildly) from the dialogue – notice how your mind stays engaged, not in a good way, but often in a questioning or critical way. You will see that students who practice without hearing proper dialogue often won’t improve, they won’t be able to get that deep peaceful meditation, they won’t have the amazing healing that I know you have felt from the teachers who, with passion and compassion, teach dialogue.

Make the commitment for yourself to adhere to the dialogue and use it 100% to the best of your ability, the right way...for the rest of your life. You owe it to yourself and to your students.

Best of luck to you, enjoy every moment of the teaching experience - even those that feel horrible! You'll love to tell the horror stories later!

Tiburon means Shark

2009-11-19T22:24:00.000-08:00

I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge this morning. First time in more than six months. I’ve seen a lot of these United States in that time, but with all due respect to the rest of the nation, there is NO PLACE more beautiful than San Francisco and the North Bay Area. It just warms my heart to be here. The hills are green, the sky is sparkly blue and the air is crisp and clean. Even the freeways are beautiful – I forgot how amazing it is here. Okay, the state is in a mess, there’s no doubt about that, but wow, it’s just absolutely breathtaking here.

I got back to Sacramento late on the 10th. Pulled up to Robyn and Cindi’s house and Higbee was so excited to get out of the car – she bolted right to the front door. She was so excited to see her little buddies Zoey, Dexter and Emily. Apparently she was so excited, she went into heat!! I’ve been running errands since then, trading out summer clothes for winter ones, getting the car serviced, my teeth cleaned and so on. Seems like being “home” means doing chores!!

Friday night, though, was our traditional food and wine night – Cindi cooked an awesome dinner and we enjoyed it along with several bottles of wine. After a relaxing and lovely repast, we sat to watch a movie, but everyone was so beat from a long week (and full bellies), we all crashed. It was so great to hang with my girlfriends – Robyn referred to me as her sister, and it felt really good.

Now I’m at Edith and Eckhard’s place in Tiburon. Secured a wonderful cottage to enjoy with Bill for the month of December. Also got to watch the opera last night – it was GREAT!! Here’s the deal: The Metropolitan Opera in NYC does a simulcast of their operas – and the Mill Valley movie theater shows them first as a live simulcast, and then later in the week, as a repeat. The live show is on a Saturday afternoon, so last night was the repeat – but who cares? It was marvelous! Last night’s performance was Turandot, which was quite dramatic, and it was strange to see people dressed up as Chinese singing in Italian – but the highlight still puts shivers down my spine – “Nessun Dorma” is absolutely spectacular. So this makes my third opera ever – the first was a long time ago, Hansel and Gretel, and just a few weeks ago I got to see The Elixir of Love with Liana in Houston and now this one – I have to say, I’m kind of getting hooked on opera – who knew?

I’ve been so crazy with activities, I feel like I haven’t had much time to reflect on this trip and what I’ve learned. Obviously, the highlight has been Bill – I can’t even begin to describe how blessed I feel to have met him – I am truly the luckiest woman in the world. But in addition to that, I feel strongly that I’ve learned so much about Bikram Yoga. I made the absolute right decision to go out and seek examples of the aspects I want to have in my studio – community, successful operations, excellent and efficient design and of course, further understanding of how to teach and how to use the dialogue to help people improve their health. My studio, wherever it will be, will be spectacular – I know what I want and I know how to create it.

On My Last Leg

2009-11-12T09:23:00.000-08:00

NOTE: I'm home, but have to catch up on blogs. I wrote this last week, but couldn't get internet access in Vegas. So here it is......more later!!!

I left Houston several days ago. I was sorry to go, and Higbee, who has become the South Boulevard mascot, was sad to leave all her friends too. After teaching a total of 41 classes, I packed up my stuff, hugged everyone goodbye for now, and started the long ride home.

First though, I got to enjoy Liana & Lucy Day!!! We had so much fun together! We started with an 8am class, then did a little tour of our favorite places – went to Anthropologie, Restoration Hardware, and then had an excellent sushi lunch. Our afternoon was even better!! Bought some new jeans at The Gap, then we bought each other “Holocaust Rings” (you have to have seen, “The Hangover” to get it). And then we went to the movies and saw, “Where the Wild Things Are” The only thing that was good about the movie was that it finally ended. HORRIBLE – do not waste your money. It’s dark and depressing and not at all happy in any way shape or form. But I got to sit next to Liana and we both wore our beautiful rings!!!

Then 3 long days of driving ---- 500 miles each day to finally arrive in Las Vegas. I’m here for the last stop on the trip – Fall ’09 teacher training! Strange, this adventure started with training and now it’s ending with training! Very apropos and not even planned, but it’s funny how that works out.

Bikram taught last night’s class and he was in classic form. It was a very energetic class and in his typical Bikram style, he gave us wonderful direction and threw in some irreverent comments about Emmy and Rajashree. He shocks on purpose, I think, but even so, no one can teach a class like Bikram.
This morning, though, we had an equally energetic class! Misha, whom I met in Minneapolis, was able to teach. She has taught make up classes, but this was her first time on the podium with all 300 students in attendance. Misha is a protégée of Diane Ducharme, and even in Minneapolis, she taught a strong class, but on this one, she hit the ball out of the park. She used almost straight dialogue, and she connected so well with the students. She encouraged us, she supported us, and she just rocked the podium. I was really impressed, not just with her ability, but with the power of the dialogue. When you use it, your class is almost guaranteed to be powerful. It’s amazing how you can focus, how you get the information you need in an efficient manner, how you can push beyond what you think you can do when the dialogue is provided properly. Misha did a great job, but she certainly had a leg up because she knew the dialogue inside and out.

I’ll be here for a few days, will help where I can, practice as much as I can, and then I’ll head back to Sacramento. Am ready to be home. Have to get ready!! Bill is coming in December, but before then, I’ll be taking a quick trip back to Houston to see him as soon as he gets back to the US. I am so very excited about the next adventure!!

Sending love to all!

Deluge!!!!

2009-10-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

First of all, thanks to everyone who has sent good wishes via email or Facebook and of course my five buddies below who are happy for me and for Bill. He returned to Africa last week and it was hard to say goodbye, but the good news is that his month stint will be up soon enough and we will be together in November/December.

So I haven't JUST been falling in love since I got back to Houston - although some would say that's enough. But wait.....there's more!!

Bill and I went to New Orleans to scout out locations for a studio. We found a few places on Magazine Street, which borders the Garden District (old money) and the Irish Canal (up and coming gentrification). The first place, which had parking, was a former Hollywood Video and it would have been a perfect location, but the landlord/managing partner of the building was, to put it kindly, not so kind. It wasn't too hard to determine that he would not be a person I would want to work with over a long period of time. The second place also offered parking, but was entirely too big -- a pretty cool building though! Formerly a funeral home, then the recording studio for Nine Inch Nails. If those walls could talk!!!

But there had already been a bid on the building, so that didn't work either. The third opportunity was a PERFECT fit - a beautiful former warehouse for sale, it would be great to build out, but there was no parking included in the sale of the building. And no parking is a show stopper.

Perhaps another trip will be in the cards in the future. We'll see. By the way, that's Bill smiling in the warehouse-wonderful smile, huh! In addition to studio scouting, we got to stay in a beautiful B&B, and for me the highlight of the trip was sitting with Bill on the porch of the 1900's structure watching it rain like crazy a few feet beyond our sanctuary, while the street cars splashed through giant puddles and we sipped on wine with Higbee sitting at our feet. It was a beautiful afternoon.

I also went to San Antonio to attend yet another seminar with Diane Ducharme - I'm starting to stalk this woman!! I've seen her in Palm Desert, spent a lot of time with her in Massachusetts, attended her seminar in San Antone -- and guess what? I'm going to see her in Vegas on the way home!!! In any event, I learned so very much from the event, and also got to see a bunch of friends from training - Jill, Carlos, Casey and Mani!

I'm pretty sure I win the prize for seeing the most people from Fall 08 training over the last year. At some point, I'm going to go through the yearbook and make a list. I'm guessing I've seen at least a third of the US students from training. Another bonus from this adventure!

And of course, I've been teaching. Since I arrived in Houston, I've taught 33 classes and yesterday, I taught 4. That was an amazing experience. Overall, I feel just great. I have been able to put to use all the things that Diane has taught me, not just about my own teaching, but also about how to help people with physical problems - most importantly is how to encourage them to not be afraid of their bodies and do the best they can -- the right way. Every time I come out of the studio, I can't help but feel I have the best job in the world. I have the honor of helping people improve their lives. What a wonderful profession.

Have also been spending some time with my wonderful "little sister" Liana. We bonded when I was here in June, and this time, we got even closer. I got to go with her when she bought her new car, and last week, we went to the opera together - it was a dress rehearsal, and we were definitely in the nosebleed section, but "The Elixir of Love" was wonderful and very apropos for both of us!!

So it's been a deluge, not just of the rain this season, but of love, laughter, learning and leaning (that's the best alliteration I could come up with that refers to the yoga).

I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

p.s. Bill, I'm still drenched and soggy from the rain - will post a pretty picture of me in new glasses tomorrow when I have a better chance of not looking like a wet rat. xo

Back in the Saddle Again

2009-10-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

I have returned to Houston. Am teaching like a madwoman – putting to use all the things I’ve learned on my trip. It makes a difference – I am so much more confident and comfortable up on the podium. I’m able to give people with bad knees guidance so they won’t hurt themselves, I understand the poses better and I know the dialogue more and more and more. I just LOVE this path!!!!!

But here’s the real reason I’m back in Houston:

A few years ago, when I was in the total dumps feeling sorry for myself and rather hopeless about a future partner, I went to Safeway. As I was checking out with my single person's basket, the checker, a rastafarian guy with dreads, asked me if I had found everything I needed. I looked in the basket and told him, "well, all the food I need is in there, but there's no man in that basket!" He replied, "Don't worry, he's on his way." I looked up, a bit shocked and said, "Excuse me?" He again said, "He's on his way, custom made, just for you." I almost burst into tears and said, "I've waited so long!" And again he said, "Don't worry, he is coming, custom made, just for you." I held on to those words, and after a while, really started to believe it.

He's here.

His name is Bill. I was introduced to him in July when I was in Houston. Cheryl, a teacher at the Houston studio insisted that I meet him, but by the time I had agreed, he had already left for work. Bill does accounting for an oil company and works 30 days in Algeria , and then has 30 days off. I gave Cheryl my email address and my blog address, and Bill started to email. We kept up a correspondence, and then talked on the phone when he got back to Houston and I was in Massachusetts . He made a quick trip home last month to attend his mom's funeral in Kansas, and we spoke even more. And when I returned to Houston , we actually got to meet in person. And all I could say was WOW. He has a killer smile and eyes that light up a room. He is intelligent, articulate, interested in a variety of things, likes good wine and does the yoga. He's an adult.

I feel very different this time. I'm not jumping up and down excited, there aren't chills all over my body (well, most of the time) and I'm not super giddy. I just kind of know that this is the right one, so I'm going with the flow of it - not pushing one way or another. It feels so right.

So Bill is going to come to California after Thanksgiving. We are going to make a tour of Northern California. He'll fly into San Francisco , and then we'll head up to Marin and into the wine country (he's a big fan of french wine, and I'd like to introduce him to some good California reds), then on to Sacramento, up to Grass Valley to see one of his sons who lives there and then down hwy 49 to Yosemite . I wanted him to come to the Bracebridge dinner, but he'll have to return to Houston and get back to Africa before the dinners start. That will have to be something to look forward to.

After the priest gave my mom last rites at the hospital before she died, I asked her to do me a favor. In her typical crusty New England style, she said, "WHAT." I asked her that when she was out of pain and floating around checking up on us, to help me find my man. The right guy. She looked at me in the eye and said, "Lucille, your father's already working on that." Very UNtypical response, and one that shook me to the core. Those were her lasts words to me. But I think together my mom and dad have come through and although I had to drive all over the friggin U.S. to find him, he's finally here, custom made, just for me.

Land of 11,842 Lakes

2009-09-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

WROTE THIS SEVERAL DAYS AGO - BUT JUST GOT IT ALL POSTED. SORRY FOR THE DELAY.

Greetings from Minneapolis, Minnesota! This place is a series of contrasts. On the day I arrived, Mark brought me to the classic Nye’s Polonaise room, which was, I’m certain, quite the fashionable place to be in its day. It’s still crowded and there’s karaoke, of a sort, at this place, you get to sing the classics with the piano player. That’s in the main room, the room next door has the famous

“most dangerous polka band in the world.” I think the only danger they have now is of falling off their chair. Or maybe getting gummed to death by the accordion player. I’m pretty sure she forgot to put her teeth in before show time. But then right down the street there was the place where Prince became famous and the more modern places are packed too.
Donja know now that the people here sound a lot like that movie, “Fargo.” Prairie Home Companion is produced right down the street, and at the gas station the other day, the guy behind the counter said to Mark about me that, “that girl doesn’t talk English like we do.” But the Walker art museum has a beautiful collection, and the architecture and town design is fabulous. People here are very progressive, recyclers, and kind of granola-ey. It’s fascinating!

Went shopping at the Mall of America, but I also stopped at the jam packed Wedge food co-op for some supplements and free range chicken.
We’ve been having a spectacular Indian summer.

The days and even nights are warm, and the beauty of the place is certainly enticing, but when Mark mentioned that there are days in the winter that are 30 below ZERO, the decision is easy and I will certainly be gone before I experience that contrast! The city is truly a tease – Friday night we at outside at a really nice Cuban restaurant, but finally, tonight, I can feel the cold air just waiting to blow in.

Mark and I went to training together and are fast friends. We went camping for a few days on the bluffs by the Mississippi river. Strange that I’ve seen the last part of the river before it flows into the gulf, and now I’ve been to nearly the start of it! We just went for a quick trip and didn’t pack a lot of food, so for dinner we went into the nearest town for food. Had a hell of a time finding a suitable restaurant (meaning not fast food), and finally ended up finding a Mexican place that looked ok. Here’s the irony – it was called, “Chula Vista!” It was nearly a year ago to the date that we had our first meal at the Chula Vista in training. Gotta say, the Fairmont Acapulco restaurant was much better than the one in Minnesota. After a good night’s sleep and a great morning hike, we packed up the camper. Unfortunately, the campsite was on quite a slope, and when I tried to saddle up the camper to the trailer hitch, I bingled it and lost the camper –

it started rolling down the hill and nearly went over a cliff – despite attempts by both me and Mark to slow it down and stop it! It ended up hitting a small barrier (probably designed just for that) and the treacherous drop was avoided. I laughed like crazy at the escapade, Mark was a little rattled.
I’ve taught twice here and practiced a lot more than that. It’s been wonderful to see Martha’s studio – she is very well known as a passionate and excellent senior teacher. I took her class once, and even though she is 8 months pregnant, she still kicked my ass. She has an amazing “you can do it” attitude, and an incredible ability to withstand the heat and humidity despite

her condition. She is a great teacher.
So is Mark. He has great passion, and compassion. I love his energy, his humor, and his ability to get people to go beyond their expectations. His practice has improved considerably and he looks strong as well. I’m very impressed.

We went to see a movie made locally called, “Into Temptation.” Mark wanted to see it as there’s a woman in

the movie who practices at the studio. I wasn’t exactly too thrilled with the idea of what I thought was a movie about prostitution and sex shops. But it wasn’t really about that at all – it was about redemption in a way and it was so well done, I was crying at one point. If they end up doing a

nationwide release, go see it. Or rent it on Netflix. See? That’s what I’m talking about – contrasts. This place is full of them.

Michigan Sunsets

2009-09-12T06:36:00.001-07:00

I betrayed the Motel 6 chain, but really, they betrayed me – the hotel I wanted to stay in was poorly run, smelly and dirty. So I’m at another number – Super 8. Good enough for a night in Wisconsin. It smells like cows here. But not so happy cows – Happy Cows come from California.
After a week at Eileen’s I’m exhausted. She lives a life that I would not have the energy to live. She’s a single mom with three kids, a business, a busy personal life and an extended family. She handles it all well, with grace and 95% of the time, with a great big smile. Not so sure I could pull that off. But we do what we must at the end of the day, don’t we?I arrived on Thursday evening, tried to get here for the sunset, but wasn’t too heartbroken when I missed it – I’d been traveling west for two days and had been staring at the sun plenty long enough. Friday got my hair cut and highlighted. Everyone on Facebook has seen it and yes, it looks great! Thanks for the compliments! After we dropped the kids off at their dad’s, we took a bike ride around town and watched the sun set over the lake. Eileen lives in the western most part of the eastern time zone, and on the east coast of Lake Michigan, the sun sets over the water very, very late in the day. We enjoyed a couple of beers on the beach and then had an outstanding dinner in town.
Over the next few days we helped Eileen’s mom (she’s still Mrs. Dwyer to me) finish up and prepare to go. After something like 26 years, she is moving to Florida to get out of the northern winters. She’s amazing – she sold her house, gave away most of the contents and sold off the rest, and Eileen’s brother Edward is going to drive down only a carload of clothes and mementos. Pretty brave for a 79 year old!!! We helped pack up the last of the stuff, join her for church, and did other chores before Mrs. Dwyer went to the airport. I was so happy to get to see her and help out.

Saturday afternoon we went to the catholic church; Sunday we went to Eileen’s alternative church – it’s spiritual but not religious – and it was an interesting study in contrasts. Saturday was full of mostly senior citizens and we did the usual “sit down, stand up, kneel down” routine, and I have to say, there were very few people smiling. The sermon was not so memorable, they talked about Ted Kennedy’s funeral, and that’s about all I can remember. At the second church, it was bless the pets day, and it was pandemonium – dogs barking, kids laughing, they even brought kids up to the altar for a little talk. I guess that’s typical. It was happy, funny and joyful – in my opinion, a wonderful alternative – but hey – different strokes.

We got to go sailing on the lake on Monday. So this summer, I’ve been boating in the Pacific, the gulf, the Atlantic and now on the Great Lakes – how cool is that?

Eileen’s kids are wonderful. They are sharp, independent and funny. They had their first day of school on Tuesday and I got to take their picture before they boarded the bus. Well, actually Joseph and Audrey boarded the bus – James goes to another school so he was driven.

A kid that James knows was killed in a boating accident over the weekend. It shook up the town and made everyone realize how precious their kids are – the sorrow could be felt for days – life is short – you just never know!!!

And on that note…..sending love to all.

I heart NY

2009-09-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

Drove across New York to the tune of $25 for the toll road, but I got an “I heart NY” bumper sticker. I’m not 100% sure it’s true, but it does chronicle my short ride across the Empire State. Highlights included lots of hedgehogs on the side of the road sitting like sentinels, and a view of the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile – maybe the hogs were there to salute the giant hot dog!

Spent the night in the Niagara Falls/Buffalo area. Another Motel 6 – brand new and really nice! But it was strange being in that town. There were no young people there – most folks were 50+, I’m guessing the younger generations have left to find greener pastures. Stopped in Target to pick up something cheap so that I could get some cash back from the purchase, and three different women nearly bumped into me as I was shopping around the corners. “I’m Sorry,” “I’m Sorry,” “I’m so, so sorry.” Was the response I got for the near misses. I thought about that. What did they have to be sorry about? Why would they apologize for not bumping into me? “Excuse me,” or “Pardon me” might be a little more appropriate, but even that seemed a bit unnecessary. In addition, I just couldn’t imagine any man apologizing for nearly walking into me – they might expect an apology, but to give one? I just don’t think so! So it made me wonder about the women in the area and how much (or rather little) power they had in their lives. Wasn’t there long enough to give it a more thorough exploration, but still, I wondered.

Stopped at Niagara Falls. I went there when we lived in Erie. The first time was in the winter with a school group – I remember getting out of the bus, looking around impressed, and then getting back in the bus – it was too friggin cold to give it a good look. The second time was with my dad and grandmother. It was a warmer day, but still really overcast and wet. I remember getting one of those plastic rain jackets and going on the boat by the falls. I think I did it by myself while my dad stayed with his mom – I thought about that and how they let me explore on my own even as a young person. Probably one of the reasons I am such the adventurer now. But this time, WOW – it was a spectacular day – picture perfect!! Beautiful blue skies – amazing views and Higbee and I had a great walk around the state park and looking at the rivers, falls and the woods in the area. It was a fun morning, and I got yet another sticker for the camper.

Crossed into Canada to make the shortcut into Michigan. I was surprised at how easy it was – I fully expected a closer inspection – and thought for sure I’d have to raise the popup, have the dog x-rayed, but the guy just asked me a few questions (he didn’t even raise an eye when I told him I had been on the road since May to visit yoga studios), and we continued on to Canada. It looks a little more like Europe there. The architecture looks like Northern Europe, and the signage, well, that is exclusively Canadian. The re-crossing back to the US was just as easy except for the LONG lines as the border. The bridge that I took over the waterway showed spectacularly blue water though, wish I was able to capture an image of it.

Then another long drive to Eileen’s. Whew. I broke all the rules on that trip – stayed exclusively on the interstates, drove WAY longer than I was supposed to, ate crap from rest stations, and arrived absolutely spent.

But even though I can already detect a cold winter breeze here, it’s truly beautiful. I know why Eileen lives here. More on that later.

Massachusetts by the Numbers

2009-09-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

1 Awesome experience with Diane
2 Sibling visits
3 Massages
4 Manninos
5 Teaching opportunities
6 Hundred miles
7 Lobsters
8 Really good friends

Tomorrow I leave Massachusetts and head for Michigan to see Eileen and her family. This has been such a special part of the trip, and not only for the opportunity to hone my teaching skills and learn from Diane. I have found a very dear friend in Sunny and I have been lucky enough to know Linda, Terri, Terri, Danielle, CJ, Jodi and Sam. Each has been really special in his or her own way.

I’ve got to spend a little time with siblings, and visit my mom’s old haunts, thus removing, some might say, some haunting of my own.

A very productive trip. Yesterday after leaving Terri Almquist’s house and heading west back to Sunny’s, I felt a little sad. The light in the sky was much lower, indicating the end of summer (and it’s been quite cold in the evening – summer here lasted about 2 weeks), and it was a literal turning point. I’ve finished going east, for the most part, and will head west again.

We’ll see what this next leg of the adventure brings. There’s LOTS of good things out there, tomorrow will bring more.

Zenith!

2009-08-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

Well, the stars moved around the last few days and I was able to teach this morning for Diane. Wow. Just W.O.W. The experience of teaching itself was so much fun and absolutely wonderful. The feedback from Diane afterward was even better.

So yesterday after I got word that I was going to be able to teach for Diane, I got in the car and ran a few errands. Checked the navigation button on my iPhone to be sure I was heading in the right direction and when I looked at the photo on my home page, I realized it was time to change it and move on. I said to myself, "I need to get rid of that." Funny how you get what you ask for. When I parked the car at the first destination, I grabbed the phone and it flew out of my hand and smashed face down onto the gravel. It wasn't exactly how I had planned to do it, but I did get rid of that photo!! Luckily the machine still worked, and I was able to see that there was an Apple store just a few miles away. Plans changed and I high tailed it to get myself a new whiz-bang 3G device. I has a much faster and a greatly improved navigation device. I used the old machine exclusively to get from California to here, but heading west will be easier navigation wise.

But I got here - I was able to accomplish my goal of teaching for Diane. I can't tell you how good it felt. Well, that's not true, I AM telling you how good it felt.

First of all, the people at Diane's studio are wonderful. They are happy, supportive and most of them have a serious medical condition that is improving as a result of the yoga. Hugh is about 70 years or or so, and is bent over like a willow in a heavy storm. I think Diane said he has rods in his back - you can't see his face if you are more than 5'5" as he is so bent over. But he is kind and alive and enjoying the yoga. He's amazing. There's another woman who had most of her liver removed - it's grown back (which is not unusual) but is has grown back in perfect shape (which IS unusual). It's got to be the yoga. There are other people in there who are fixing all kinds of ailments. It is very much like a hospital ward.

But you'd be surprised to see everyone, regardless of their condition, doing the yoga THE RIGHT WAY. They are wonderful.

I introduced myself and laughed immediately at how lucky I was to be on that podium. I told everyone they were really lucky to have Diane and her teachers and they all agreed. Then the class started. I was very much in my head, trying to remember all the things I've been working on, but laughing through it all and enjoying the class immensely. At one point I said, "lock your toes" and just started to laugh and everyone laughed along with me. I wasn't very nervous, mostly excited. Of course, I also couldn't see Diane in the back - a few tall people were in front of her so I could not see her furiously taking notes between postures. Which was good.

When class finished, everyone applauded and I was just jumping up and down on the podium - glad I didn't break it!! It was SO MUCH FUN!!!!! Then of course, everyone had their final Savasana, and I left the room.

After class, Hugh came out and said how much he enjoyed it and he paid me a wonderful compliment. He said that it was obvious I am a happy person, "and that's what we're really looking for, happy people." I'm so glad that Hugh was pleased. That just makes me smile from ear to ear.

Then after everyone left (and they were ALL supportive and kind), Diane and I went up to have breakfast and talk about how I did.

I love Diane Ducharme.

Let me say this -- if you are a Bikram Yoga Instructor and you have a chance to get feedback from her, DO IT!!! It will inspire you, it will help you, it will make you a better teacher by a millionfold.

Diane's feedback was so awesome. The recommendations she made were not just in the corrections, but in the way she explained WHY I needed to say it as it is in the dialogue - "move your knees to the right, upper body to the left" (as opposed to legs to the right - you can't move your entire legs). That's just a small example. Her method, her way of saying it, her explanation helped me to fall in love with the dialogue even more.

And for those who worked with me during training, yes sirree, I do love the dialogue. You can pick your jaw up off the floor now.

The more I use this thing, the more I love it. The more I understand the beauty of each word and the order of things. There is a reason for each and every word, and anyone who thinks they can teach this yoga without the dialogue hasn't taken the time to really understand it.

I am humbled by the beauty of it and I aspire to understand it as Diane does, just as I aspire to look at (not for) the floor behind me.

I got to take a photo of the photo of Diane and Emmy at the Advanced demonstration during our training - it's in the bathroom at Diane's studio (obviously a little dark in there). I took the photo to send to my friend Mark who is evident as one in the crowd just above Diane's head and to the left behind the podium -- he wanted to see what the picture looked like. So here you go my friend -- this photo has a new meaning - it's a reminder of the day I got to teach for Diane!!

Sending love to all

On Being a Traveler

2009-08-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

I've been on the road now for four months. And as many yogis in the Bikram world know, we are in a fascinating stage of evolution (note the correct spelling - I hesitate to even use the word, desiring to avoid any association with someone starting a rogue process of yoga with a derivation of that name - those in the know will know what I'm talking about) in the formation of a stronger, better, greater Bikram community.

I am at the edge of it all.

It's such a strange feeling to be an observer in all of these things. As a journeyer, I am not directly involved in anything going on around me. I get to watch, I have no desire to engage in the drama of day to day life around me- part of that is because it simply doesn't belong to me, but also because I am getting more and more comfortable in simply not attaching to those things that used to draw me in - I'd have to offer my opinion, I'd have to get my nose in other peoples' business. But now, as a result of the yoga, of my years, of my experience, of my desire to live a little lighter, it just doesn't concern me.

I am watching this Bikram franchise / co-op evolve with lots of excitement. I don't have a great deal on the line financially YET - so it's the existing studio owners who are doing the initial heavy lifting on how this will play out. I am fascinated at how quickly the people in the community have gone from fear based reactions to excitement, positive perspectives and hope for an awesome organization. Of course, there are a few flies in the ointment, but overall, it's pretty fun to watch. I am invested in the outcome, of course, as I will open a studio soon, but still, at this stage, I'm in the periphery.

I'm planning to start heading west in a week or so. It will be interesting to go in a different direction. May have the chance to work with Diane, may not. It's another strange thing - working with her and getting feedback was one of the major reasons I took this trip, but a lot of the major reasons for this journey have fallen to the way side. That's not to say I don't want Diane's feedback - I have already learned so much from here via the workshop she held in Auburn, via the feedback she gave to Jodi and just by hanging around her. If I can teach for her, it will be icing on the top of the cake - if not, that's just something I get to come back for (or have her come to my new studio for!).

West....how far west will I go??

This trip is taking on a life of its own. I am just an observer and a learner. I do wonder - when I finally stop the vehicle and plant some tomatoes, to what extent will I continue to just observe? How will that feel?

I'll find out soon enough. For now, I just live the day.

Sending love to all.

Mom, John, Mom, John

2009-08-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

I’m really falling behind on this blog. So I’m going to skip forward and maybe, hopefully go back to the awesome yoga weekend.

My brother looks like my mother. That’s new. I drove up to New Hampshire yesterday to see my brother John. I hadn’t seen him since my mom’s funeral. He has always looked like my dad – strong face, square shoulders, I have photos of him on his boat in the Caribbean after my dad died, and he looked like the spittin image of my dad in his prime. But yesterday, all I could see was my mom and it was the strangest feeling. Comfort, loss, uncertainty, and mostly love.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve come to peace with my mom. She and I had our moments, well, years actually, when we battled like demons. In my opinion, she lived from a position of fear and every piece of advice, every command, every statement that she uttered came from fear. I totally resented that. In retrospect, my perspective was not entirely true, but it was to some extent, and I’m okay with that now. Seeing her childhood home, spending time with the (general) type of people she grew up with, and just a little distance since she died has allowed me to understand her a little better, and I guess, to forgive her and me as well.
So my brother looks like her. It was strange to see a part of her in him. Out of the corner of my eye I could see her mouth, her smile, and her love.

I went to the body worker again this week and as he did another little reiki session on me, I got a huge surge of love from my mom – it was really wonderful. Turned out it was her birthday – I realized it later, so maybe that time I got the birthday gift.

People used to tell me all the time that I looked like my mom. I didn’t see it, but they said I had her high cheekbones. I’ll take that, but I won’t take her fear. John said I looked better than I had in years (thank you Bikram yoga!) and that I had a wonderful sense of comfort and peace about me. (again, than you Bikram yoga!). I have been working hard over the last year to evolve, and I guess it’s showing. He also liked my general plan to relocate and open a studio.
John looks good, he seems happy and he has a lovely life in Portsmouth. He is planning to sell his condo and boat and buy a bigger boat (I always think of “Jaws” when the words, “bigger” and “boat” are combined) in order to live on it. A 50 footer I guess. That should be nice. His former wife Barbara joined us for a bit – she also looks great, and then John and his son Sam took me for a sail. Haven’t been on his boat since my dad and dog died. It was like visiting an old friend. The tide was super low – perhaps from the incoming hurricane that’s supposed to hit this weekend – John said that it might be pulling the water out to sea. But it was fair sailing yesterday! Saw a ton of buoys holding lobster traps. Got my mouth a waterin’ and after we tied the boat off, we went to a fish hut and I got a lobster quesadilla! D-Licious!!

It was good to see family. I’ve been pretty distant from my siblings and it was good to reconnect.

Sending love to all.

Yummy Yoga Week, part 1

2009-08-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 16 10:40pm

Whew! I am exhausted. Here’s a quick rundown of the last week:

Tuesday, August 11: Class at the Auburn studio and then an hour drive into West Roxbury to do advanced with Diane. Great group lunch and then return to Spencer with Sunny to get the B.E.S.T. body work I’ve ever had. Jim straightened out my neck. For years my head did not sit on my body right and he was able to get it straight. I seem to have better balance now and maybe some clearer thoughts….but time will tell. He also did some reiki on me and that was even better. His hands were at least six inches away from me but I could feel the heat coming off of them and I saw colors – LOTS of colors – peacock greens and blues mostly, but also warm summer yellow and robin’s egg blues. Wonder-full. He said all my charkas are wide open and I have lots of happy energy. That made me feel happy – big surprise there!

Wednesday, I taught a class for Sunny, but I had to pick up the popup from the RV repair shop first – got the tires replaced and the tail light repaired. Got lost on the way to the Auburn studio from the shop and was late – I HATE being late – so I taught a fairly good class, but it could have been better, if I wasn’t so rattled. Then I took Sam’s class and he was funny and energetic. Nice.

Thursday, had a meeting with my finance guys in Boston. I am with a fund that has an office in SF (in my dad’s old building) but is located here (in my mom’s city) and I wanted to meet with them to learn more and see what was going on with everything. Turns out American Idol was doing try outs in the building, so there were guys in black suits and ear pieces and freaked out kids all over the place. It was fairly surreal. Didn’t see Simon or any other judges, but they were there. It was a good meeting, once I got through all the melodramatic singers, but I was pissed when I had to pay $40 for parking. But on the other hand, my fund doesn’t pay any other visitors’ parking, so I guess that’s a good thing. Then I went to the airport and picked up Jodi Chmelwowski. That’s not how you spell her last name, but it’s close enough. Jodi was one of the first people I met at training. She was with me in the youth hostel and she knew about as much of the dialogue as I did when we started. She is a rock star now though, and I was so happy to see her! We drove through Boston and got a really great tour of the city, but not on purpose. Despite the GPS function on the iPhone, we got completely lost and took about 3 hours to get to Diane’s place in West Roxbury. The iPhone said it would take 17 minutes. When we finally found our way, we got to stay in the “yoga house” that Diane has by her studio. It’s really cool. While Jodi took a class at the studio, Diane and I talked about everything – how training could be one day, the magical healing powers of the yoga, the evolution of the business (it’s all good), and life in general. Then Jodi returned and we had dinner and talked more about…..you guessed it….yoga.

Friday, got up early and went to the studio. Jodi taught the 7:30, which Diane and I took (along with a bunch of other “mature” folks), and then Diane taught the 9:30 and I took that one too. I’ve done plenty of doubles since training, but this was the first back-to-back double I’ve done since the infamous triple day with the afternoon double that landed me in the clinic at training. I gave that a few thoughts, but quickly brushed it out of my head and just did the class. Was pretty good I must say – didn’t sit out any poses except for one set of locust (I am no Melissa Sebastianelli). Then we got to sit in on a private that Diane taught and THEN I got to sit in on the feedback that Diane had for Jodi. It was so comprehensive, compassionately delivered, and is going to make a strong teacher a total rock star. I asked Jodi to send me her notes on what Diane said because I need to get all of those corrections. Diane has somewhere a list of common errors fairly new teachers make and she should publish them. Or at least share them with me. I’m fairly confident I make most of those mistakes.

THEN….we got cleaned up and left Diane to do her own thing. Jodi and I had lunch in an Italian restaurant around the corner from the studio and enjoyed a Mess of a meal. “The Mess” is a combination of lasagna, penne pasta and eggplant along with an added ingredient of your choice – Jodi had sausage, I had shrimp. DE-LICIOUS (but not as good as the lobster). Then after a tiramisu desert, we went in search of my mother’s childhood home in West Roxbury. Wasn’t too hard to find, considering how often we got lost. We went to the door and knocked and rang the bell, but even though the main door was open (and just the screen was closed) no one answered. So we took photos and looked at the back yard. It was a pretty house and I’m glad I got to see it. It is on a hill and the back yard slopes down quite a bit – which explains why we almost always lived in a house with a friggin hill.

Long drive home to Auburn with lots of Friday afternoon traffic. Then began the awesome yoga weekend. More on that later.

Sending love to all.

Cape Cod Memories

2009-08-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

When we lived in Loveland, Ohio, my parents made the decision for us to spend one particular summer (the WHOLE summer) in cape cod at the “compound” at Maushop. The only relation it had to the Kennedy compound was that they are both located on Cape Cod. Other than that – no similarities whatsoever.

While the American Royalty enjoyed lush and lovely accommodations, we were in rustic cabins with outdoor showers, one toilet and barely a kitchen. But we loved it. We absolutely loved it. It was one of my best summers ever – spent mostly on the beach reading, swimming and getting entirely too much sun (for which my skin is now angry). I didn’t get in nearly the trouble that other siblings managed to find (and those stories will go untold), but it was excellent nonetheless. After that summer, we returned often as my namesake, my mom’s sister Lucille, lived there, and although the whole summer was not

an option, several weeks during the warm months were always enjoyed.Whenever I go to the cape, I remember those days. Carol King’s “Tapestry” was the definitive soundtrack for that first summer, but other songs like “keep on rocking me baby,” anything by James Taylor, and that song by Wings that had uncle Ernie in it was a big one (as Aunt Lucille was married to Uncle Ernie). Smiley faces, bell bottom jeans, floppy hats and those glass/poly clackers were huge. You could hear those clackers all over the community – “clack…..clack……..clack……clack clack clack clack OWWWWW”. Oh and “Jaws” came out around the time.

Not too many people in the water that summer.

Got to return this weekend to visit my cousin John and his family. John married Melissa several years ago, and her mother still lives on the cape. They have two kids who are BEAUTIFUL in so many ways. Arrived on Saturday and met them at the beach club. It was a little more fancy than our days on the cape. You had to dress in the locker rooms before you could go onto the beach, and they provided towels and chairs. Oh – and from the beach, we could actually spot the Kennedy Compound. We’re moving up in the world! But honestly, it was pretty comfortable and mostly it was great to hang with John, Melissa and kids.

Then that evening we returned to the place J&M had been married for a clam bake. Now this wasn’t the traditional clam bake when you dig a hole in the sand and put a big fire in it and cook shellfish over it. This was a dress up clam bake, one that helps out the local dry cleaner because you are nearly guaranteed to spill butter on your fancy clothes. But surprisingly (and with several well-placed napkins and bibs), I remained butter unstained. And that was a Big Surprise. I ate two

huge --- and I mean HUGE lobsters (that is a dinner plate the lobster is sitting on -- not a salad plate, and not a paper plate - and that corn is HALF an ear!)

and as many long neck clams as I could stuff into my belly. It was awesome!!! I also met some lovely friends of Mary (melissa’s mom) who is a kick in the pants herself. She is like the everready battery – she never stops – and she has a wonderful sense of humor.Sunday while J &M, and Mary and a nephew played golf, I got to hang out with young John and Nick. They are going to be six and seven I think, or at least they will be in first and second grade. We did some driving around trying to find a dog beach for Higbee, but alas no luck. No dogs allowed during summer months. Unfortunate and frankly, rather stupid in my opinion. So Higbee returned to the house unsandy and unsalty and we then returned to the Oyster Bays club for some beach time. Watched the boys create what John called a “Herman Crab” habitat, wrestled quite a bit with them,

and then we visited the Four Seas Ice Cream place.

It’s famous – Jackie O loved the fresh peach – I tried that the first time we went, but the second time, I thought the Pecan Penache was much better.
We did a little switcheroo and I convinced the boys to sleep in the camper while I got a comfy bed

inside.

We were all happy. Then on Monday, I spent the whole day with John on memory lane. We returned to Popponesset beach and the former “compound,” which, to my ultimate dismay, has become entirely too gentrified. They have paved the roads with clam shells, which is pretty, but the kids now can’t walk barefoot because they’ll cut their feet. They’ve surrounded the “cabins” (which have been updated and now cost for 4 days what we paid for the whole summer) with other houses and I swear you couldn’t have either a good fight or hearty sex without having it heard by at least six abodes. It was pretty, but it was also pretty foo foo.

I am just grateful for our days there back when it was a little simpler and there was a lot more room to park.
At the dinner table, John and Melissa ask the boys what their highlight and their lowlight was for the day. The boys notified us that playing with me and Higbee was their favorite part of the day (which was an honor) and when I asked young Nick what he thought my highlight was, he said with all seriousness, “seeing me”. It’s nice to see he’s self confident!!!
I love my cousin, and I was so happy to see what a beautiful life he has created. What a great guy and oh – Melissa ain’t no chopped liver either – I am happy to call her a good friend.
Sending love to all.

Advanced.....advanshmanced - hahahahaha!!!

2009-08-04T18:21:00.001-07:00

Okay - I know I have to catch you all up on this adventure. I got to tour the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville (for two days - wahoooo!)

and it was amazing -- I had a very intense two day drive up to Massachusetts full of tire blow-outs and road side adventures. I'm now staying at my friend Sunny's place in Spencer, Mass with a view of a lake and on a road that looks entirely too much like Perkins Row in Topsfield where we used to live. It's beautiful and deja-vu --ee.

But today - oh today - I got to go to West Roxbury - where my mom grew up by the way - and practice at Diane Ducharme's studio.

Diane is my heroine - she is my guru - although there are other people in the Bikram world that I love, respect and learn so much from, Diane is the one who inspires me, who has provided guidance that has helped so very very much, and who will continue to help me to grow to be a passionate and compassionate yogi.

Today I got to practice at Diane's studio. We did the 9:30 class, and then at 11:30 (or so) I got to do my very first advanced class, led by Diane. It was fabulous. First of all, it gave me a new perspective on the "beginning" series, and a newfound respect for Bikram's brilliance in choosing the postures and the order of the postures and the dialogue for describing them. They truly, and for the most part, can be done (or at least the set up can be done) by nearly everyone, whereby the advanced postures can kill you if not done properly -- literally. I'm not kidding. If you don't have the strength to hold yourself up, you can fall on your head and break your neck. You can tear tendons and muscles you didn't even know you had. But if done properly and with respect (and with a lot of warmup -

thus the "beginning" class beforehand), you can experience a deeper stretching, and a greater strengthening than ever before.

You should have seen it - here are these amazing yogis beautifully, gracefully, with strength and agility, moving into one pose and then the next - and then there was me - with my tongue hanging on the side of my mouth in deep concentration, struggling and groaning, slipping, crooked and sideways trying my best, usually falling out and snorting at myself laughing so hard at my goofball attempts. But it was fun, and it's my intention to hold on to that lightness and playfulness. I've never been super bendy, but I am somewhat strong, so I'll do the best I can and just enjoy the process - because really, that's what it's all about, isn't it???

I have to say though - I am improving my regular practice. Today, for example, I was able to hold the balancing postures (all of them!) for nearly the entire full minute on the first set. This is a huge accomplishment for me - and I have to say, that I got my inspiration from Summer Bennet who said to me in Port Orange that one day she decided that she wasn't going to fall out any more and then she didn't. So I took that attitude and guess what? It worked!!! I'm also getting deeper in many of the stretches and postures. It may not seem like much to many, but I can tell, and it feels good. I am grateful to every person who has provided feedback and inspiration, and believe me, there have been a lot on this journey.

I'm going to work with Diane for a few days. We have to find a set of dates, but before I go there, I have to work off the rust I've accumulated on my teaching. I've taught about 5 times since I started this journey in May and the last time I taught in Charleston for David Kiser, I was shocked, SHOCKED at how the dialogue did not flow from my lips. And here, the dialogue better be flowing - these guys up here are purists. I have to knock that rust off.

Every now and then I take a moment to acknowledge all I've learned on this trip. I am so very amazed at what I am learning. I will have a studio soon - and I know that what I've learned on this trip will absolutely, positively, help me to have a powerful, successful, amazing place, full of passion and compassion.

Thanks to everyone. I love this ride.

P.S. The photo of everyone in Sun Salutation is from my training last year when they did a demo of the advanced series -- that's Diane in the middle, Bikram on the left and 80+ year old Emmy on the right -- they are awesome -- and I mean that in every sense of the word. The photo of me and Diane was also taken at training - I believe it was the day before graduation - but I was a zombie - and I look like I have a huge head, but really, it was just the camera angle. I am not Sasquach. Oh and the gargoyle is on the Biltmore mansion (more on that in a later post) and the lake is from tonight's sunset from Sunny's windows.

Love to all!!!

I am Inman

2009-07-28T06:01:00.001-07:00

I read “Cold Mountain” several years ago and I figured this guy Inman was a figment of the imagination. I mean, really, how could a fellow spend a year wandering around the Blue Ridge Mountains? How hard is it to get home?

Well, I have to take all of that back. Here I am in Asheville, armed with a compass in the car, a more or less accurate GPS and mapping system in the form of my iPhone, and until now, a fairly reliable sense of direction. But none of that seems to be effective here. Every friggin turn I make is wrong, I have constantly had to turn around and back track, and a destination that should take 15 minutes has taken more than an hour – more than once in the day today.

Here’s part of the problem. Every friggin road has at least three names. Some regular name (that’s entirely too similar to the road that crosses it, like “Fairview” and “Fairmont”), a state road name (like 210) and some other numerical name (like 74). Secondary to that is the fact that there are no street numbers, so when you’re looking for 802 Fairview/240/74 for example, there’s no way to tell if you’ve gone past it or have even reached it yet. And even though the car compass is fairly accurate, because there’s no point of reference like an ocean or ONE mountain (there are about a million around here) and because the roads wind in every direction up and down and around, getting turned around is pretty much guaranteed.

Oh and did I mention that in this fairly small town of 74,000 people, there are about 5 highways that curve, wind, cross, circle and intersect?

So Inman, my apologies. The fact that you made it home even for a day to impregnate Nicole Kidman before getting shot by the home guard is amazing.

I wonder how the Yankees were able to capture this part of the state – how could they find their way? But then I’m guessing the rebs were equally as lost most of the time – as evidenced by Inman, who grew up in these hills.

As beautiful as it is here (and yes, it is amazingly beautiful) I could never live here – I’m not sure I’d make it home in time to get pregnant…..oh, never mind.

Charleston Chew, part deux, and adieu

2009-07-27T06:15:00.000-07:00

I’m sure it’s

a Wizard of Oz analogy – I finally found my Charleston Chew candy bars – right at the Charleston KOA campsite!!! I did really love it there – the lake, the fish in the lake, the rainbow over the lake, and the friendly people at the campground. The town of Charleston is beautiful. Spent a day while I was there walking around the historic neighborhoods and went on a tour of a house built before the revolution – and it had artifacts inside from that time. Amazing. And considering that there was no air conditioning or electricity, they did a great job designing houses to allow air flow and natural light. Beautiful. Despite the crowded tourists, it wasn’t hard to find quiet alleys and streets that showed whispers of a time long ago.

I have learned so much from David Kiser. He took time to show and tell all about how he designed and built out his studio. I spent hours asking him questions, and he was not only patient, he answered questions I didn’t even know to ask!! Again, I’m certain I will have a much better studio as a result of this visit. Big thanks to David for showing me his beautiful place.

Also got to see some friends from training - Rachhpal and Mani. Mani is teaching at David’s studio, and Raj is a regular. He’s not teaching at the moment, he travels too much for work to make a schedule. I love this strong community of people all over the world!! And they are cool and interesting to talk with – I’m so lucky!!!

So after a week of Charleston, it was time to go. Headed south on highway 17 to Wilmington, NC. Went past a lot of beach towns. Didn’t get to see the ocean, in fact, I didn’t see much of anything –The scrub pines get so thick when given the chance to grow unencumbered. And on a part of this stretch, there was a very distinct indication of leaving a town (no more houses) and entering a town (start of houses) and in between a whole lot of nothin’! As someone who hasn’t spent a lot of time in the south, I’m intrigued the by number of houses I’ve passed with black women sitting on their front porch with five or six kids on her lap or around her.

It literally looks like something out of a history book. It makes me feel good to see that kind of family love. Frankly, though, I don’t know how they do it – it’s so hot, there’s no way I’d let some sweaty and sticky kid sit on my lap.

Crossed into North Carolina – That’s the 11th state since the start of the journey. Just as I paid for my 2 nights at the Wilmington KOA and started to set up, a mother of a storm came up and absolutely POURED. I’m still fascinated by these summer storms. Quick, intense, and it releases the pressure of the hot air – just a little. When I pulled into the site, there was no water anywhere, but afterward….well….just take a look.

The next day I toured the U.S.S. North Carolina.

My dad served on that battleship in WWII. It was a self guided tour, but there was plenty of information provided and they allowed access to almost every corner of the ship. I especially liked how they would provide information on the specifics of the thing (a weapon, the ice cream machine, the mail room) and then a story from a sailor about his experience with that thing. We went on a tour of the ship when I was about 7 – that would be 40 years ago – I got a little teary thinking of my dad, but then was happy that he survived the war and got to feel a little closer to him as a result of having been there. I was also glad to get out – after nearly four hours I had to get off the ship, couldn’t imagine being on it for 4 years. In the older photo, my dad is on the right. The picture of the machine below it was used to calculate the trajectory of the missiles that fired off of the ship.

My dad started off working one of the smaller guns on the deck and eventually got promoted below deck to work one of those machines.

I was surprised at the rather large people on the very lower decks – as I

watched a very rotund man trying to haul himself up the ladders, I thought that he might be in some serious trouble if he had a heart attack – they’d have a big challenge getting that guy up out of the ship!!
I went to Wilmington expecting to fall in love with the place. I figured it would be a lot like Charleston with historic homes and lovely tree lined streets. It wasn’t exactly like that, but similar enough. Even so, although I liked the place, I did not fall in love with it. Can’t exactly say why, it just didn’t grab me like other towns have.

I like Asheville. Haven’t even been in the town yet, but I love these blue ridge mountains. Haven’t seen mountains since I left Arizona, so this is a welcome change. It’s cooler up here too. Had another gusher rain on the drive here, and Higbee’s side of the camper is all wet. I have to get some sealant and repair the seams of the camper top. Am definitely looking forward to the adventures of Asheville.

A note on RVers. It is surprising to me to see the people who are driving these enormous beasts. Over and over again, I encounter old men with hearing aids and canes driving semi-sized RVs and towing cars behind that. Watching them climb into their rigs makes me wonder if they’ll survive the ascent. How they are able to drive those things is beyond my understanding. So while you’re driving out there, seriously, give them lots of room. Chances are they can’t see you – their cateracs prevent it!!

Sending love to all.

Charleston Chew

2009-07-20T09:52:00.001-07:00

I've been here for four days so far, and have yet to find a Charleston Chew. I've searched through mini-marts, gas stations, grocery stores and gift shops, but no luck. That doesn't seem right to me. Perhaps here, though, Charleston Chew has a different meaning. I took Higbee for a hike around the lake at twilight on the nature trail. Came back with giant chunks taken out of my body and a bloody back - the mosquitoes nearly picked us up and flew away with us!!! Of course I did not even consider Off! -- again, in California, we don't have bugs. Or at least not enough to worry about.

But it is beautiful here. Spent yesterday as a tourist. Went to Boone Hall, the oldest plantation still in operation. And no, they don't make Boone's Farm, although I have to admit, that's how I remember the name. The house is fairly modern, built in the 1930's, but the land has

several hundred year old oak and pecan trees, lots of fields full of tomatoes, melons and peppers, and beautiful structures.

Probably the most memorable sight was the 90 oak row of trees.

The guide said it is the only oak row with that many trees, and not a one has been destroyed in a hurricane. I got to sit in on a Gullah presentation.

A wonderful man talked about how the Gullah language (a derivation of English and the Angolan language, still used today) helped to unite the slaves and provide a common

communication tool. He ended the very informative presentation by having us stand up and stomping and clapping like they do at the prayer halls. I got to use a tambourine, and I have to say, I've got rhythm! It was so much fun!!

Then I walked over to the former storage and loading building on the river that leads to Charleston and saw a guy catching shrimp and other fish.

Afterward a refreshing bus tour that went to the outskirts of the plantation, Higbee and I drove over to the ocean, and had a great walk along the water.

White, sugar-like sand and warm water (but not as warm as Key West) made the ocean really welcoming, but giant signs said no swimming allowed due to big undertows. I met a lovely family with a great dog that Higbee got to play with - and they invited me to stay with them in Asheville!!!

We'll see if I get inland that far.

Sending love to all!!!

Georgia On My Mind

2009-07-16T20:10:00.001-07:00

July 16

I had a really nice night in the motel 6 outside of Jacksonville last night. Brought in my down comforter and giant oversized pillow to get them totally dry and cranked the air conditioner down really low. Even with them, I got cold in the night, but snuggled down and slept well. The irony is that I had just written an email to a friend about how I've been staying without air, and there I was spinning the electric meter.

Got up in the morning, did the Higbee walk and got cleaned up. Drove into Georgia, was really pleased to see a new state. But for some reason I was really tired and felt like I had to close my eyes. Got smart and pulled over to take a 30 minute nap with the car running (yup used up more fuel) and when I woke up, I got two candy bars and a diet coke to shake the sleepies. Not a great thing to do healthwise, but it worked!!!
Drove into Savannah, and wow what a beautiful town!!! It's a fairly small town, just over 100k residents, and the historic areas are amazing. I'm certainly not the first person to say thing, but the live oaks were dripping with moss. The architecture is stunning, and the people are super nice. I was in the bank a few years ago, it was a bank that I visited often and knew most of the tellers, and the guy said, "can I help you maam?" I replied, "maam? What? I'm not a maam!" The teller then quickly replied, "Are you here with your mother, young lady?" Well, guess what? Here again, I'm a Maam again, and I actually appreciate it now and like it (maybe I’m getting old). I use it too, and it feels good.
Went on the tour of the Williams-Mercer House. The home was owned by Jim Williams (and his family still owns it) and both the home and owner were used as inspiration for the book and movie, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." Again a beautiful home. I love how Savannah has fairly small parks strategically placed all over the town. Maybe 5 blocks apart, there's always a park that's filled with oak trees and usually a statue or monument. Even in the heat of the day, it's relatively cool in these parks and lots of people use them. So do dogs, but here (as opposed to Houston) people pick up their dog’s poop. And yes, I actually spotted the quintessential southern gentleman - wearing a seersucker suit and a wide brimmed hat!
I got a parking ticket -- my first traffic violation on the trip. I parked the Sequoia on a meter, but the trailer was behind it without a meter in a yellow zone. I couldn't talk the meter maid out of the ticket (she was all business) but ended up moving the rig forward and had to pay for two meters. But here's my take on the situation: I'm guessing that the ticket and the extra meter money is less than the cost of a possible smash up that might have occurred from being parked wrongly.

Higbee and I walked all over town. When I hear people say, "oh, she's so beautiful!" I tell myself they are talking about me! So when I say, "Thank you" I really mean it!! And I walk a little taller being recognized for my stunning beauty!! Hahahaha!!! We walked by the oldest bar in town, and it smelled like it – a couple opened the door to walk in and the stench of spilled bear wafted out and nearly knocked me down!
Before I left Savannah, I enjoyed a really nice meal on the sidewalk at a small restaurant near the river walk. Four giant, juicy scallops, each on a new potato cut to the size of the scallop in a lovely buerre blanc and greens. I wasn’t sure it would be enough, but I honestly had a hard time finishing the meal! Had a nice glass of wine with dinner, and then had to sit at the table for a while and wait for the effects of the wine to dissipate. That’s the problem with having this clean yoga body – I can’t drink more than a glass of wine! When I was working up in Tahoe, I had a half bottle of wine each night (with macaroni and cheese), and the only effect was a considerable “puffiness”. I don’t ever want to go back to that kind of eating and drinking again, but I would like to be able to drink more than one cocktail and be able to walk a straight line!!

July 17

Spent the night in yet another Motel 6 on the outskirts of Savannah. First time I had a run in with the seemy side. Was completely asleep and the phone rang. Groggily answered and listened to a guy offer his services in a very graphic and vulgar way. Barely got off a sound of disgust and hung up. Then woke up fully and wondered how that happened. Called the front desk, and they said someone had called in from an outside line and asked for my room number. I told her that I was concerned for my safety, and she said she’d ask the police to patrol a little closer than they usually do. I checked to be sure the bolt and latch were on the door and put my trusty dog on alert. I figured with those precautions, I’d be fine, and returned to sleep for the rest of the night.

Drove over to Beaufort – Eileen has insisted that I see the place, but I didn’t have time for much other than a drive around the antebellum homes. Eileen – I promise I’ll go back and get a Gullah tour. Then continued north to Charleston and met up with David Kiser at the only Bikram studio in South Carolina. What a beautiful studio!!!! I’m really impressed.

But more on that later.

I see fire....I see rain!

2009-07-16T06:54:00.001-07:00

By the time the stuff dried out as much as you could expect in a very humid environment (and yup, it rained again mid-morning), it was so late in the afternoon, that I decided to back track one more time and make a last ditch effort to see the shuttle take off at 6:00. So I connected the trailer to the Sequoia yet again, and in the process, realized how many stickers I’ve accumulated. I really like it that I have memorabilia to show the miles I’ve traveled and the things I’ve seen.

Made the drive up to Titusville and was looking forward to stopping in for something healthy, but with the camper attached, I had to choose carefully where I pulled in. Not that I had much of a selection to choose from. Ended up at a hamburger joint – didn’t recognize the name, but apparently it’s a chain - and got four cheeseburgers the size of a coaster and about as thick. They were disgusting, but I ate‘em, along with a diet coke to cut the grease. The funny thing is that the cardboard hamburger wrappers had photos of the chain’s biggest fans and a little story that they told why they loved the burgers so much. They were mostly kids – pimply faced, obviously obese, and in my opinion, not necessarily the best image, but then I’m fairly certain I’m not the target audience for the chain – I’ll never eat there again.
I found the same spot I had on Sunday afternoon, and got my chair, binoculars and camera ready for the launch. While I was waiting, two women and a young girl came to see too. They forgot their camera, they forgot their binoculars, so I let the girl look through mine to see the shuttle while we waited for the countdown. Got the twitter message that there were no holds on takeoff, turned on the car radio and all of a sudden we were 30 seconds to liftoff.

It happened quickly – much more quickly than I anticipated. All of a sudden, you could see the big billowing white smoke all around, then fire and lots of it. And then the shuttle took off….like a rocket! It rose in no time at all, I was surprised that I got off as many shots as I did, and it was beautiful. Really beautiful to see such an amazing feat of science. Wow. Then when the shuttle was high in the sky, the wave of sound hit us. It wasn’t windy, but you could feel it. The closest thing I can use to describe it is the sound of a train that you get when there’s a tornado – although I haven’t been in a tornado since I was a kid. But it definitely was a wave that hit us all.
The little girl asked to look through my binoculars right in the middle of the launch, but I didn’t let her. I considered it for a few seconds and then I selfishly thought, “no, I drove 4,000 miles to see this, you can come back and see it again kid.”

When it was all over, I started the trip north. Guess where I’m staying? You got that right! I’m at outskirts of Jacksonville, named in many songs, I’m not sure why but the sound does have a ring to it, and hope to rise early and get up to Savannah tomorrow. I’ll get to Charleston on Friday. I’m looking forward to that!

Okay, time for some sleep. No internet here, I’ll post tomorrow.

Damp, Moist, Wet, Dewy, Clammy, Drenched.....

2009-07-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

.....moistened, muggy, pouring, raining, rainy, saturated, showery, slimy, slippery, slushy, soaked, soaking, sodden, soggy, sopping, soppy, soused, stormy, teary,teeming, water-logged, watery, wringing-wet.

I'm all of that.

As a true California girl, I have no concept of summer rain. It stops raining in California in April or so and doesn't start again until nearly Halloween. This idea of afternoon showers has, at best, become an interesting phenomenon to me. Not something that I consider as having repercussions.

So the day started out on a very exciting note as my friend from training, no, not just my friend, my AWESOME GROUP ONE BUDDY Summer was driving over to the east coast from Tampa to meet with me. I got a little computer work done and then we met at a great little restaurant in New Smyrna Beach. As a bonus, I also got to see Carola, who also went to training with us. We had a great lunch together, talking, of course, non stop yoga - yoga postures, yoga people, the drama of yoga training, etc. Then Carola had to leave to take the 4pm class and Summer and I spent time talking about, yup, you guessed it, yoga, but this time in relation to the things I've learned on the road and how it may apply to her objective of starting a studio in Tampa. I have to say that our conversation confirmed yet again the value of this trip. Seeing other studios, learning what I want and what I don't want, how to take the best of what others have learned will help me to really get my studio going in a great direction. I'm so excited!!!

While we sat and talked at a lovely little coffee shop very close to the beach, I marveled at the giant black (and I really mean BLACK) clouds in the air and then when the rain came, it came in buckets - it was literally like liquid air. The drops were not drops but baseball sized, and they were nonstop for at least 30 minutes. It was amazing to see. I had left Higbee in the car with the windows down, but it wasn't any huge deal to find the car a bit wet. Guess the rain came down straight. Had it occurred to me that anything else might have had lowered windows??? Nooooooo - not even a thought!

Then we went to the Port Orange studio, which is owned by Traci, who also has the New Smyrna Beach studio. It was a nice place, and Carola did a great job teaching. I'm so excited to see all my peeps from training as such strong and wonderful instructors. Very different from each other, but really great. It's so heartwarming to think I'm part of such a great group!!!!

After practice, we went to dinner together and again, laughed and talked yoga. We recalled some of the funny things we experienced in training and, interestingly enough, although you'd think the 4th woman who was with us and who had just got out of training could relate to our stories, she didn't laugh nearly as hard as we did. A perfect example of "you just had to be there."

We said some heartfelt goodbyes and I drove back to the campground. It did not occur to me until I pulled into the site and saw the GIANT puddles along the road to the camper that I might be in trouble. I had left every single window panel open, and when I approached the pop-up, I knew I was in for a wet night. The cooler, that had the lid on, was about half way full of water, I opened the camper door and the water started to run out, the beds were literally sponges, and the bedding was drenched. The good news in all of this is that the microwave, radio,

fridge and other electronics were fine. No shorts or electrical problems. Whew!!!

So I spent an hour using the blow dryer on the less moist mattresses (note to self - memory foam dries faster than egg shell carton foam), pulled out the dry sleeping bag packed away and reserved for colder climes and had a damp and humid night. Ironically, I woke to dreams of being surrounded by snakes in the desert. Haven't given that a lot of thought yet.

So this morning, everything is out and trying to dry, but like in Acapulco, it can only dry to the extent of the humidity. It's still pretty clammy here, so I'm not expecting everything to get solidly dried out before it gets compacted. Hopefully farther north I'll have the chance for that.

I'm wet, moist, clammy, starting to get moldy, but the concept of warm afternoon rain is still fascinating to me.

Last of the Key West Photos

2009-07-13T12:17:00.001-07:00

Have been on the Space Coast for two days - catching up on chores, getting some internet work done. The shuttle launch last night was scrubbed, so I'm heading down for another attempt this evening. Got to practice at the New Smyrna Beach studio this morning - great class! Small, but well done by the studio owner Traci. She is certainly loyal to the dialogue and I like that.

Here are a few more photos from Key West - then hopefully I'll be posting images of the shuttle launch

tonight!!!

Okay, it's nearly impossible to set these photos in a particular order and forget about getting captions with each one. Way too hard to manage with this program. If anyone knows how to do that, let me know. So here's a quick description of the photos -- First, my buddy Danny. He has become a very dear friend and one I will cherish forever. Thanks for showing me your fabulous life Danny!!! Second, that's me at the zero mile marker for highway 1. Maybe I'll make it to the top in Maine, and get another shot. Won't that be fun!!! Then some extra photos of the fishing expedition. Danny was great with Higbee - she really enjoyed playing with him. Next is the lemon shark -- you can't really tell how friggin big he was, but you can get a feeling for his lemony color. Next one of the bonefish I caught. He's fairly small, but he put up a really good fight. Then on to the cat pee smelling Hemingway house. Wonder how Pappa himself would feel about that nasty smell? The colorful black servant statue is one of a pair that used to sit outside the front door. Its opened hands were used for placing calling cards before phones were invented. Pretty cool idea. Then just exterior shots. Okay - gotta run.

Sending love to all.

Miami's Nice! .......Mostly

2009-07-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

A very exciting and wonderful couple of days! On Thursday, Bishnu Gosh day, the Key West Studio was closed, so Danny took me fishing. He is a seasoned captain and has a reliable boat he named after his grandmother. She’s a tough old gal. Higbee, Danny and I set sail in time to meet the incoming tide at the major channel. That’s where the tarpon feed. Tarpon are the giant game fish that everyone goes for in south Florida. They are real fighters and like to jump out of the water. They’re also beautiful and big and silvery in color.

We saw several arcing over the crest of water and were hopeful. We made several passes drifting from the red buoy to the green one, but alas no one hit the line. So we sped off in a westerly direction to the outer islands. Danny found a spot that’s been reliable in the past and it did not take long for the line to start tugging. I caught several beautiful silvery bone fish (which we released),
and Danny caught some other type of fish that was quickly dispatched and used as shark bait. In no time, the shark pole (which had been sitting in a brace against the back wall of the boat) emitted that telltale “zzzzzzzzzzzzz” sound of the line zipping out against the drag. Danny helped me out initially, and then using the waist pocket thing that helped me to steady the pole, I pulled in a GIANT black tip shark! We got some good pictures – while Higbee was peering over the edge of the boat, the shark rose up and showed us his giant teeth – I’d heard about the set that go inward so that when a doomed victim tries to pull out after an initial bite, shredding of the flesh is guaranteed. There’s nothing about those shark teeth that I’d like to experience up close. Had seen a bit of “Jaws” on the 4th of July, and that was good enough. Of course, it didn’t take long after releasing that nasty beast that yet another was on the line. It was a lemon shark, aptly named for its beautiful yellow coloring. I didn’t a good shot of it, but Danny estimated it was over six feet long and about 75 pounds. It was a workout to bring it in, but it snapped the line before we could get it close enough for good pictures. That’s ok.
After I caught my breath from all that fishing work, we moved over closer to an island and spent the afternoon relaxing in the water. While Danny scraped the moss off the bottom of the boat, Higbee and I played near the shore – the tidal pull was really strong, and you didn’t have to be out too far to realize that it wouldn’t take much to get dragged out to where those sharks were. So we stayed pretty close! The sun is fierce out there, so I kept my shirt on and lathered up with sunscreen often. The water felt and tasted really salty – I’m guessing with water temps at around 85 degrees, evaporation explains it. Before I knew it, it was after 7pm, so we motored back in to the channel to get a second shot at the tarpon at the next tide. Again, we saw huge schools of fish rising and even saw a few people in other boats hook a few, but we did not get one. That’s okay – I was pretty tired, and frankly didn’t need to work the rod for another 45 minutes. Danny said that big tarpon can take hours and hours to reel in.

A quick note – Higbee is a great boat dog. I was really surprised at how calm she was during the bumpy ride out to the far islands and how she behaved while fishing. This dog is really impressing me during this trip!

On Friday morning, I packed everything up, and made one last bike ride over to the Hemmingway house. Went on the tour and heard some great stories about the writer, who, in my opinion, has done some amazing work (Old man and the sea) and some not-s0-great-stuff about the drama of drinking (Sun also Rises). I could take or leave his writing, but the house – well, the house I would take in a second!! What a beautiful place – well designed, lots of windows, lots of space, just need to get rid of those smelly cats. Apparently Hemmingway’s boys brought home a lucky 6-toed cat for helping out at the docks one day, and that one cat has multiplied to 44 on the property, many of whom carry the extra-toe gene. Despite its beauty, the place smells like cat pee, and that has to go. The hotel staff said the neighbors have called in animal control to get them to reduce the population, but those lucky cats are lucky. Despite several attempts with several agencies, they are still there and thriving (and peeing).

Took the afternoon yoga class from Terry, and I was so happy that I had such a strong class! Drank a Zico before class and it gave me that little extra zip required to rise above the humidity. I was strong and had relatively good balance – especially when you consider that I was swaying on a boat for hours the day before, I was happy that I was able to hold the poses most of the time.

After a tasty dinner at a Cuban restaurant with Danny, I reluctantly departed the island. I figured I had to get going – otherwise I’d never leave!!! It was a great trip, and I’ve made a wonderful friend in Danny. He’s someone I’ll know for the rest of my life.

Barely got off the keys alive that night – a little too late I realized that I didn’t have much gas left in the tank and rolled in on fumes to the first open station on the mainland. Strange, when I had filled up before going out, I encountered a couple in the midst of a heated battle. She was telling him to turn over the keys, he nearly beat her up. It was ugly but they eventually drove off in separate directions. Then when I was gassing up on the outbound trip, I heard another couple arguing, and then out of the dark came two people screaming and yelling at each other. She stormed into the station store, and when he came in shortly after, I decided to get out and away from that place. It seemed like that area had bad couple juju. Danny said later that the heat and humidity set people off.

Spent the night in a really nice Motel 6 – the nicest one I’ve been in yet – it must have been another hotel before. The plan was to skip Miami and head straight up to the space coast to see the shuttle launch. The launch was delayed a day due to lightning strikes in the area, so I drove around Miami Beach to see the Art Deco architecture and outrageously dressed people and then took a relaxing ride up the coast. Am now in New Smyrna Beach, and will be here for a few days to practice at the nearby studios, meet my friend Summer and tonight, watch the shuttle!!

Okay, time to get some errands run and go find a good spot for the launch!!

Sending love to all.

Key West - the key to my heart?

2009-07-09T20:26:00.000-07:00

July 8, 2009, 8:30 am

The Douglas House – room #15

I’ve been in Key West for four days. I love it here! Danny, my friend from training, has been my local connection, and he has been a fabulous tour guide. His friend set me up at a dog friendly hotel a half block off of Duval Street, the main drag (and that is meant in many ways) in town.I moved this morning from Room #7 to a smaller, less lit and more expensive room. I understand that it is considered nicer because it’s been upgraded, and it is lovely with new slate floors, a granite-topped wet bar, and a lovely bathroom. This room, however, doesn’t have the kitchy kitchen and wonderful windows that I had in room 7. But it’s still very nice and Higbee is welcome, and that’s enough for me.

Key west is really wonderful, and about half of it is for sale. Seriously, nearly every other house in old town has a for sale sign on it, and Danny said that the prices have dropped by about half. The local residents are once again able to afford to buy a home. That’s good! But I’m not quite sure who’s going to buy all this very hurricane prone property – at its highest point, the island is only about 10 feet above sea level.
I practiced at the Bikram studio on White and Truman yesterday and the day before. Danny taught a good class – he is definitely true to the dialogue and used it well! I understand where he gets his guidance, as yesterday I took a class from Terri, the studio owner and she kicked. my. ass. Between her strong encouragement, the heater beating on my back throughout the class, and the intense humidity, I was really overwhelmed. I sat out several poses – I can’t remember being that affected since training! Terri went to training with Diane Ducharme and wow, she teaches a very strong class. I’m impressed and am convinced that Danny will grow with Terri’s encouragement in his teaching and in his practice.

Took the day off of yoga today and spent the morning with Higbee swimming in the Atlantic. She really had a good time until I made the mistake of pulling on her tail while she was swimming back to shore. I used to pretend I was drowning with Ripper and she would swim out and then let me drag behind her. I guess Higbee is not a lifeguard – she was miffed and wouldn’t come back in the water for a while! Well, I won’t do that again! Came back to the hotel, gave Higbee a bath and then swam in the pool. Read under the tree and then cleaned up myself and while Higbee slept, I went for a bike ride around the island. Even though it was super hot and humid, it was nice to be on two wheels. I was too late for the Hemmingway house tour, I’ll make sure to do that before I leave this place, but I did make it to Mallory Square for the sunset. Everyone on the island goes there to watch the sun set in the ocean, and cheers when it hits the water, but at this time of the year, there’s an outer island in the way. Even so, it was beautiful, and some lucky girl got an airplane proposal just a few moments before the moment!!! I wish I could have seen the couple – I’ve never seen (or participated in) a proposal.
Met Danny for dinner for a vegetarian lasagna – it was made with the meat of Brazil nuts, and lots of vegetables. Delicious, filling and good for you! By the time I rode home, it was dark, and I was able to smell the night jasmine – there’s something magical about the pungent smell of flowers at night – only to have it ruined by the equally pungent smell of rotting garbage. The beauty of a hot and humid place!!

Here are the things I love about Key West and I would like to have in the place I choose to live and open a studio: First, the colorful atmosphere – the buildings are friendly and cute, there are bicyclists everywhere, and the people are relaxed and happy. Second, the gay population. I know I’m generalizing a lot here, but I really enjoy being among a community of artistic, strong, and intelligent people who are often DINCs. Danny put it well when he said that the transvestites in town have suffered so much in the past, they just don’t give a shit and they’re out to have a good time.” I’m not happy that anyone suffers, but I am glad for the resulting attitude of enjoying life. Third, the wonderful flora – there are orchids growing in the trees, there’s lush growth (and in the evening, lushes) all around. It’s so comforting to be under beautiful trees and plants. Fourth, the sense of community this place has. Having the advantage of being with a local, I can see how everyone knows everyone else and gets along. Last (for the moment), the ocean. It feels so good to have a large welcoming body of water nearby. Of course I know that all of these observations are made as an outsider and I am not involved in the details and dramas of day to day life here. But it feels good at this place. I’d like to find something similar to this somewhere else. The strange thing is that I was driving around a few days ago and realized that this place reminds me of Sausalito! It’s obviously a lot cooler there than here, but there are a lot of similarities. So who knows? Perhaps this great big trip around the US will land me back in my own back yard. We’ll see.

Sending love to all.

On Traveling Alone

2009-07-04T21:51:00.001-07:00

JULY 3, 9PM

I passed into the Eastern time zone this afternoon. Have traveled more than 4,000 miles since the start of this journey and despite a few bingles with the camper, have had a very pleasant and interesting journey! Sure, there are moments when I feel lonely, and when I really, REALLY want to share a funny or insightful moment with someone important, and tonight, on the eve of spending yet another holiday alone, I’m not so psyched. But here it is in a nutshell – I’d much rather spend time with a faithful dog than waste it with a man who is unworthy of my time or my love. I deserve someone who loves me wholeheartedly and with joy, and who is worthy of the same in return. Oh - and who loves my dog too!!! And the super bonus plus is that I have a lot of really wonderful friends. I am so grateful for each of them.

Long driving over the last few days. Left Mississippi, crossed Alabama along the gulf (and yes, it is very beautiful!!) and went into Florida. Drove around Pensacola to get a feel for the place, and liked it!! But here’s the funny thing – I drove all over New Orleans with the camper in tow – even through little roads in the French Quarter – and no problem. Yesterday while in Pensacola, however, I ran into a dead end street. Should have been able to make a U-turn, but didn’t cut it close enough and backed into a small brick wall while trying not to jackknife the camper. Put a wiffle ball-sized hole into back of it – this poor camper is getting quite the workout – it’s like a sailboat – every time I take it out I have to do another repair.

So tonight I’m on the outskirts of Tampa at yet another Motel 6 – On these one night stops, a hotel is cheaper and more convenient than setting up the camper. I’m out in the boondocks, not sure why there’s a hotel way out here – but there are a lot of truckers here, and other people who look like they have a profession I’d rather not know about. But it’s clean and Higbee will keep me safe. Guess what’s next door?? Can you guess? A WAFFLE HUT!!!! A woman in Mississippi told me they are like cockroaches – they multiply overnight and you can’t get rid of them! I’m shocked at the number of Waffle Huts I’ve seen – even this afternoon at a gas station, the garbage can was overflowing with Waffle Hut styrofoam coffee cups. I can’t get away from them – no one can!!

Crossed the bridges of Madison County this afternoon. Also came across the Suwannee River and sang a little song. Realized that Ponce de Leon and other explorers hundreds of years ago must have found the waterways much easier to traverse than overland slogging as the trees, kudzu and underbrush are so thick – I couldn’t imagine the creepy crawlies in there.

But that imagination got a taste of reality later in the day. At the rest stop this afternoon, Higbee and I enjoyed walking around the grass – she rolled and rolled around and I spent some time swatting at clever mosquitoes. On the drive south, big bugs – REALLY big bugs kept hitting the windshield, not as profusely as the bees on 5 in California, but these were so big I wondered if the windshield would crack. Then when I pulled up to park at Motel 6, there was a little gift that made me grateful that I wasn’t spending the night in the camper. In the middle of the parking lot right at the back of the RV – designed for semis (my truck and camper look like a tonka toy compared to these big vehicles). There was a big SNAKE. I asked a few truck drivers hanging around to identify it as good or bad (“all snakes are bad”) so one guy with sneakers kicked it away from the vehicle so I could let Higbee out without worrying whether she would get attacked. Just returned from our evening walk and saw enormous spiders and toads. Hopefully Higbee won’t get hooked on them. Apparently they are addictive.

How is it that you get tired sitting in a vehicle for 9 hours? I’m bushed and headed for bed. Tomorrow will be a continuation south, hope to make it to the entrance to the Keys and then on to Key West on the 5th.

Wishing everyone love and happy basking in their independence – whatever that may be!!!

Red Sticks, Big Heads and Dirty Water

2009-07-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

Got to see the Johnson Space Center on Sunday. Mission Control, walked inside a space shuttle, saw some very very large rockets. Bob – I know your buddies think that landing on the moon was a hoax, but man, it’s an expensive one!
Left Houston reluctantly, but it was time to move on. Learned so much from Joani and Mike and the other outstanding people there. I really felt at home. I will return some day.

I’m sitting and sweating in the pop-up in Biloxi, Mississippi. People on either side of me are enjoying their beer a second time and burping the way I used to in the heater when I was in college (I was able to get the coils to vibrate the sound so intensely, it sounded like a train – little did I know that the guys downstairs could hear it too – always wondered why they never asked any of us out). Well, I’ve grown up a little and have decided to move on tomorrow. No reason to relive the past. I’ll consider tonight as karmic pay back and that’s good enough.
As I crossed into Louisiana yesterday, I said out loud, “Louisiana – get me some crawdads and hot sauce” and shazzam – on the radio comes, “looking for some hot stuff” by Donna Summers. I thought that was pretty cool. I also appreciated the better roads of Louisiana. Yet another camper near disaster – was bouncing across the very poor road in Texas, minding my own business, and then a guy drives up next to me waving like a maniac, cranking his arm into a 90-degree position, which caused me to look in the right rear mirror and the friggin door to the camper had popped open!!! I pulled over and found that only the screw of one of the extra jacks had fallen out. Whew! Could have lost the tool box, Higbee’s bed, the fridge, and a few other items.

Robyn, I realized today that I left the handy log in Houston, or maybe it fell out too. That would have been a big one to avoid for the car behind me. Oops!!!Enjoyed seeing the signs in French in LA – my favorite was, “Grande Tete” which means, “Big Head.” Maybe the guy back in in Barracho Station woke up in Grande Tete. Spent the night at reliable Motel 6 in the Red Stick (Baton Rouge) and was disappointed to learn that the ribs place that was recommended by the front desk guy was out of business. Alternative was Taco Bell. But I got to enjoy my first Waffle House for breakfast!!! Did not eat a waffle, however; enjoyed a couple of fried eggs, hash browns, sausage and WHITE bread. There was no choice for wheat or English muffin – it was white bread or nuthin. And lots of butter, and no sugar substitute. I knew I was in the south. Since then, I’ve seen, and I honestly kid you not, at least 65 other waffle houses. Who eats all those waffles???

There’s one next to the campgrounds, but I found a local place right on the water nearby. I’ll break fast there tomorrow.

Stopped this afternoon in New Orleans. Told myself that I had no need to see the devastation. But as I approached the exit for the city, I just had to pull off, and I felt a bit like I did driving into SF for the first time after the Loma Prieta quake in ’89. What would I find of a city that I loved? And in both cases, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had imagined.

The thing about NO is that it’s in a steamy swamp, so there will always be paint coming off of the wood and there will always be buildings in disrepair. And yes, I did find quite a bit of that as I drove around (the amazing thing is the power of the Kudzu plant – it was growing all over the abandoned houses) but I also saw a lot of Tyvek – which means a lot of buildings were in the midst of repair. And the good news is that NO got to keep their natural canopy – While Galveston lost their trees to Ike, NO got to keep their beautiful oaks. Much better.Continued on to Mississippi. Decided to take the scenic route and have been following hwy 90 for most of the day. Beautiful old houses, but this area too has been devastated by hurricanes. Don’t know if it was Katrina, but there are a lot of foundations with no structure above it. A guy I talked to on the beach said that many Antebellum homes were destroyed, as were a lot of the mom and pop beach restaurants. What’s replacing them are chain restaurants (can you say Waffle House?) and high rise condos. Kind of a shame.

The trusty Motel 6 was booked solid for a family reunion, and after trying other places without luck (not many places here take dogs), I chose a campground. As I said, it’s not great, but it will do. I usually don’t like hassling with the camper for just one night, and I do feel I made a wrong choice by staying here (there’s more than burping going on, no need to detail), but I was ready to stop driving and I’ll be moving on soon enough.
Took Higbee to the beach this evening for a swim and a walk. Conveniently ignored the No Dogs sign (it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission) and we waded out nearly a quarter mile with the water coming only to my knees. It wasn’t the nicest ocean I’ve ever been in, but the sand is beautiful! Unfortunately the water got worse when Higbee pooped in it. I tried to run over and get it, but by the time I got there, it had floated away somewhere, so to make up for it, I used the plastic bag to pick up trash on the beach. Filled the bag in no time. We are even.
Tomorrow it’s time to move on. Will stop in Mobile, Alabama – heard it’s a beautiful city (similar to NO but not as many beads) and would like to see it. Then on to Florida. Since I’m not doing Independence day in DC, I think I’ll head down the state and join my buddy Danny for some fishing in Key West. Have never seen it, so I might as well check it out! I think the water will be bluer – that will be nice!!!

Sending love to all.

Southern Hospitality - liquified.

2009-06-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, June 24

An interesting week. Have been practicing a lot of yoga. But then, when you're living in a yoga studio, and there's 44 classes a week to choose from, you are pretty much guaranteed to practice a lot of yoga. Between that and the intense humidity outside, I got myself pretty dehydrated, and so a few days ago decided the best solution was a hearty piece of beef. I love beef. I know a lot of yogis are vegetarians, and I totally respect that, but my body needs cow flesh every now and then. That sounds gross, but call it what it is, and then there are no deceptions.

Friends at the front desk (and I have to say, EVERY person here at BY Houston has become a friend - they are wonderful) recommended the Houston's restaurant right down the street. Have never been before, even though I can picture the Houston's in San Francisco on the Embarcadero. As a sola diner, I decided on the bar so as not to take up a full table or booth at the busy restaurant. Brought a book to keep me occupied while I waited for my prime rib (that wasn't cheap by the way), but opted for the more hip and functional iPhone. Sent a few messages, checked facebook, looked for movies in the area. Then my meal arrived. I put the machine down and gazed at a beautiful piece of meat and some lovely cous cous. Immediately before I could even pick up my utensils, the drunken fool on the nearby stool started to comment on my meal. "that cow's gonna kick you, it's so rare" was one of the milder statements. I tried to be nice, but after a while it was getting ridiculous - when he sloppily told me he needed some private stretching lessons, I quickly finished my meal and left. Grrrrr.

That scenario has been bothering me for several days, I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps because it was a blatant reminder that I dine alone (and really do prefer intelligent companionship), perhaps because I saved up to have a great meal and by not telling the guy to bug off, it was ruined, perhaps because the contrast of this drunken fool to the wonderful people I've experienced lately was so great. In any event, I will take from it the lesson to tell the universe what I will and what I will not allow into my life. And what I deserve is certainly a great deal better than that experience.

Have visited some really great places in Houston. Yesterday I visited the museums and got to see a terrific presentation on diamonds - although they showed some really stunning jewelry,

I was most interested in the science of the rock - and how the electrons line up in a way that makes them special. Also got to see the terra-cotta warriors from China. Wow - they were really

amazing - and to think they were created more than 2,000 years ago.

Also took a stroll around Rice University. My friend Keith (an alum) said his statue was on campus, but I found only one, and it was definitely not him. Beautiful old buildings and stately trees lined the roads, and really YOUNG students! How does that happen? They seem to get younger every year.

Last night Liana and I went to see "The Hangover." We laughed nonstop for nearly 2 hours and man, I needed it. Yes, it's raunchy, but it is really funny. There's one part where someone calls someone else and "asshole" with a very strong accent. Reminded me of another situation years ago. I hope someone else remembers too.

This afternoon Liana and I are driving up to The Woodlands to visit the Bikram studio there. Karen Waxler from my training will be teaching the 6:30 class, and I understand it's an amazing studio. Looking forward to seeing both.

Okay, time to go.

Sending love to all.

UPDATE: Friday, June 26

Got to drive up to The Woodlands and see the studio up there. Wow -- it is VERY fancy, maybe a little more fancy than you need in a Bikram yoga studio, and Karen did a great job. Excellent dialogue. She inspired me to get even more and more and more down verbatim. It was a great trip and Liana was fun to travel with.

Attention All Certified Bikram Instructors

2009-06-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

Diane Ducharme Posture Clinic

Saturday, August 15 Teacher Only Seminar!!

10am CLASS    NOON to 3ish SEMINAR

hosted by Bikram Yoga Auburn MA

On Saturday 8/15 Diane Ducharme is giving a seminar for all Bikram Yoga Teachers.

Topics discussed will include the Pregnancy Series and HOW to teach it. Also, how to best help students (the right way!) that have physical limitations.

What a great opportunity for teachers, new and experienced,
to get together, share ideas and make sure our students get
the best, most up to date information available.

Teachers are invited to take the 10am class (Diane is teaching) and the clinic will begin at noon.

THERE IS NO CHARGE!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???

We ask that you bring a food or drink instead for a pot luck after the clinic.

Please RSVP to: Linda Hewins at upsidedownL@comcast.net

as soon as possible. We need a head count and and inventory of the munchies.

Thanks so much and hope to see you all soon.!!

Deep in the Heart of Texas!

2009-06-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

June 19, 2009

I woke up this morning with a wicked headache. Felt like a hangover, but I had one beer with dinner two nights ago. I know yoga makes you pure, but believe me, there’s no way I’m that pure. Thought I had a head cold, but Liana nailed it – I am dehydrated. Had a big glass of orange juice and eggs for breakfast, but I need to up the fluids even more. To put it bluntly – it’s fuckin’ hot and humid here in Houston.

Arrived at Joani and Mike’s South Blvd. studio a week ago.

This place is amazing. They offer 44 classes a week at this studio and 34 at their Fountain View studio

– it’s like a yoga factory here! And every class – even the 8:15 classes - are packed – the 4:30 classes have with more than 70 people! They do not offer an introductory offer and they don’t need it. They are compassionate and encouraging, strong and supportive, and they have fun here. It’s a really nice studio.

Before and after each class, the instructor takes time to greet each student and answer any questions, provide feedback if needed and just encourage. They have a staff to work the desk, which is really smart, and the instructor’s first priority is the student, then they help out at the desk.

They’ve allowed me to teach a few classes at the Fountain View studio, and I’ve really enjoyed it. Haven’t taught much at all lately (only once in the last month) so it’s been an interesting experience. They are very dialogue driven here, and in prep for going to visit Diane Ducharme, I’m re-learning the entire dialogue again anyway, so that’s not too much of a problem – it’s coming out fairly well. Except for last night’s “come to the top of your towel for camel toes.” I laughed and then everyone else laughed and then we all laughed so hard we barely made it through the first set and then we just kept going. It was a fun class and I was happy that everyone said they enjoyed it at the end.

Joani has a series of articles in which she talks about how the hatha (physical) yoga offers the opportunity to also practice Raja yoga. Raja yoga is “best understood as the science of mental discipline and it is another aspect of Bikram yoga.” She goes on in the article about how moving together, holding still between postures, avoiding the wiping, etc helps to build mental discipline and allows us to control our “screw loose brains” as Bikram says instead of letting it control us. Last night I was given the opportunity to pick up another class, and it went well also (avoided the camel slip up), but I noticed that I was starting to get a little sloppy with the dialogue. I started to interject some of my own words and got a few things out of order. And it occurred to me that knowing the dialogue and having the DISCIPLINE to use it just as it is, is a form of Raja yoga. It us having control over the mind and the ego to use the formula just as it’s prescribed. That little insight is going to help me to be better at dialogue as I go forward.

I like Houston. It’s a really big city and I haven’t seen much of it, but this particular neighborhood, located near Rice University, is beautiful. The homes are so diverse! There are little cape cods, adobe houses, big modern glass and metal boxes and very proper brick homes. And that’s just in the first few blocks. A little farther down the road and there are beautiful estates! Stunning!!! I’ll get photos of those later – it’s too friggin hot and muggy to walk that far except for early in the morning.

Liana, who's from Minneapolis but is now based here, but living in one of the studio's guest bedrooms until she can afford a car and then an apartment, and I went to Galveston a few days ago. Strange place that by no means has recovered from Ike last year. We drove by a house on stilts near the ocean with the back wall that was gone. Inside you could see the bed, TV and all the other accessories that you’d find in a bedroom (well, not all) but there was no wall. It was so strange. We walked along the water for a while and while Higbee played in the water, chased birds, and generally had a great time, we picked up pieces of glass. We avoided the biohazards though. There were a few of those. The town felt sort of dead, but even in the places that seemed fairly unscathed, we couldn’t figure out why. Then we realized – all the beautiful oak trees were leafless! We found out later that the tidal surge brought in so much salt water, it killed off most of the live oak trees in the city. Dead live oaks. The entire city had a vibe of deadness and it was because of the trees. It was such a eerie feeling. Didn’t like it. But we did go on a tour of a beautiful mansion and that was interesting and fun, and then headed back home.

When I got here, I was planning to stay, as usual, in an RV park, but Joani and Mike offered to let me set up camp in the back of their studio on South. When Mike met Higbee, though, he told me to come inside and take one of the two guest bedrooms they have here. He would not let his own dogs outside, Higbee should come in - and me too. So we are living indoors in air conditioning, and I am very grateful. We would both be suffering quite a bit out there.

San Antonio Doesn't Disappoint

2009-06-10T19:55:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I really like it here. The KOA campground is just the start of this very nice place. Higbee and I strolled along the entire Riverwalk, saw the Alamo (that’s an interesting story - I have a companion dog and apparently I look like I NEED a companion dog) and we visited the San Antonio Museum of Art (which is inside the old defunct Lone Star Brewery – how cool is that) and the Witte museum park. The architecture here is much different than I expected – I thought it would be all adobe structures, and there is some of that, but there’s also a lot of craftsman homes, brick and other architectural styles. And the price per square foot is quite a bit less than $200 for homes in the most tony part of town. Compared to California, that's really a bargain. I gotta say it again, I really like it here!

Lisa and Steve, who own the two San Antonio Bikram Studios, are absolutely fabulous. They have terrific, positive energy, two really beautiful studios, a fabulous staff (including 3 people from our training – shout out to Casey, Carlos and Jill), and a very loyal following. I’ve practiced with people suffering from fibromyalgia, amputees, and spasms and they are all really great yogis. Lisa gave me some guidance on my practice yesterday, and this afternoon in Jill’s class (which was great BTW) I implemented her recommendations, and got good results!
I met this morning with Lisa and Steve, and they answered a ton of questions about how they operate the studio, about the dynamics of having two studios, about partnerships, and so many other questions. They spent more than 90 minutes with me, and I consider it a GREAT gift. I will be a better teacher and a better studio owner as a result of this stop.

Oh, my thesis (and yes, I’ve made more progress while here) is on the relationship between communication and Bass and Avolio’s full range leadership theory. I argue that although the theory describes the behaviors that lead to one of three leadership styles, it is incomplete because it doesn’t describe the communication skills that are necessary in order to demonstrate those behaviors. I will include a survey, and I’ll ask anyone who reads this (and has or has had a boss) to help out and compete the survey.

Tomorrow, it’s on to Houston.

San Ahhhhntonio

2009-06-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

If San Antonio is anything like this KOA campground, then this is certainly a place I could live. It's green here, lush, lots of beautiful trees, lively fauna including small diapered children who have no fear of Higbee!

So I left Bisbee two days ago and drove up state highway 80. At one point, I noticed I had no signal on the phone, but I also noticed the clocks were wonky. Then I looked around and noticed there was not one living thing (besides Higbee) in the area. Nothing, no one. I pulled the car over, went to the bathroom on the side of the road (which historically ALWAYS draws a person or two no matter where I am - even in the middle of the woods) and then walked around and nothing, nada soul. Here are the photos I took looking north and south from the middle of the highway.

The plan was to spend the night in Las Cruces NM, but I wasn't tired, so I decided to keep driving to take some miles off of the next day's drive. Could see the lights of Mexico as I drove along Hwy 10, it was a bit strange knowing an arbitrary line kept people in one place. Went all the way to Van Horne, TX - drove through 3 time zones that day. Found a reliable Motel 6 - Tom Bodett might sound hokey, but you can depend on a clean, inexpensive and dog-friendly place with Motel 6. As a sola traveler, I do appreciate the reliability of the chain.

Got into the room and for the first time in a week or so I was able to get a close look in a well-lit mirror -- OH MY GOD - what I thought was tan was actually a finely embedded layer of dirt, and my face was so dry, I had flakes of dry dead skin on my cheeks!! A good scrub took care of the problem, and continued driving the next day helped to ensure no more super dryness.

Found Boracho station - I'm sure that place was named by someone's angry wife! (Borracho = drunk in Spanish)

While tooling along hwy 10 (which has a speed limit of 80 btw - never saw that before!), A trucker had pulled off the side of the road. He came out of the cab, grabbed the handles and then missed the first step and lost his balance. It was like a slow-motion movie. He let go of the handles and peeled off the cab and fell right on his back in the middle of the highway. Meanwhile I was barreling up on him (at 75 mph - I respect the law), and had to swerve to miss driving over his head. I did crush his glasses - hope they weren't his only pair of seeing eye glasses - but in any event, I'm pretty sure he wasn't going to be driving very far - that fall looked like it HURT bad!!! It took me a while to straighten out the swerving camper in the back. I'm damn lucky I didn't crush that guy's skull, and not roll the friggin camper.

From that point forward, a rather uneventful trip to San Antonio - and this beautiful place. I paid for a week - figure that Lisa Ingle won't be available until after the weekend, and I can use the time in between to work on the thesis. It's shady and not dusty here - very conducive to intellectual work......or maybe a walk with the dog.

Adios Arizona!!

2009-06-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

Today’s it for Arizona. Yesterday, I went to Tombstone, and man I had been warned, but I was a little overwhelmed by the fact that you have to pay for EVERYTHING you do there! Well, that’s not entirely true – you can walk into the multiple shops and bars (which do have beautiful barfronts) for free. Paid to go to the bathroom, paid to see the OK corral, paid for a goofy diorama/movie voiced over by Vincent Price. The best part was that almost all the storekeepers put water out for the dogs. Very nice. All in all, it was just fine and I’m glad I went. But it doesn’t hold a candle to Old Sac.

Have spent the last two evenings talking with the very kind, interesting and humorous ladies at the dog park section of the RV park. They laugh so heartedly, it’s a real pleasure to spend time with them. Also learned a lot about the bountiful fauna in the area – the hummingbirds, havalenas, bunnies, nighthawks, cranes, bats and a bunch of other birds whose name I can’t remember. This area is a stop over in the great north/south migration route and at certain times of the year, there are a gazillion birds around! There’s a lot right now, but I think these are the year-rounders.
Not so psyched about the work to break down the camper, but it shouldn’t take long. Looking forward to getting out of this dust. Both Higbee and I are going to get cleaned up before we hit the road. Then it’s on to Las Cruces.

Bisbee, Arizona

2009-06-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

Left Phoenix and went south past Tucson (shout out to Mary Bird and awesome memories of Tucson) and on to Bisbee. It's a pretty dry road - saw some intense dust funnels and a mountain that looked like Mordor.

Arrived at the Double Adobe around 6:30, and it was after dark by the time I was set up. Was starving though, so went into town and enjoyed a steak at the Copper Queen hotel. Not so keen on eating alone in a nice restaurant, but I was willing to do it to get some protein. And I got a nice glass of wine to go with it, so that wasn't so bad.

Yesterday, I woke up and looked out the window of the popup only to find a few animals looking back! At first I thought they were deer, but once my sleepy eyes cleared, I realized that on the other side of the fence there were goats!! They've been pretty friendly and aren't afraid of Higbee at all. I've been feeding them carrots and salad, and they eagerly take it, but they also butt their buddies pretty hard, so I won't be visiting them on the other side of the fence.

Cleaned up and drove about an hour away to visit the Kartchner Caverns. The caverns were discovered in the mid '70s, but were kept a secret until the state agreed to make it a park and preserve it as a living cave. It opened up to the public about 20 years later. Wow - breathtaking place - I've been to the Colossal cave (another shout out to Mary Bird) and to the caves in Gibraltar (shout out to Nick), and both were amazing, but these caves were still growing and as a result, were truly spectacular. I'm really impressed with the way the place has been designed to stay alive and also to allow visitors to see this underground wonder. I was told that the shape of the hills and the ocotillo plants are hints that there are caves below, and since this area was mined quite extensively, there are many other caverns in the area that have unfortunately been mined and filled in with the leftover diggings from other mines. Shame.

On the drive, I saw at least 20 law enforcement vehicles or roadblocks-- between border patrol, highway patrol, sheriffs and other lawmen, I don't think you could illegally fart around here - but I guess that's not entirely true - when I was walking Higbee off leash outside the campsite yesterday, I realized that she might come across a rattler or other nasty bitey thing, so I leashed her up and brought her back. But there are mammals out there too - a few weeks ago, someone's dog treed an immigrant! I guess he got to go back. Can't imagine how anyone gets past all these guys -- the Mexicans (and central and south Americans) must be pretty smart and pretty sneaky -- and probably pretty desperate. Don't want to think too hard about that one.

At 5300 feet altitude, the weather up here has been pretty nice - breezy and temps around the '80s, but man - is it dry!! I can literally feel (and unfortunately see) my skin shriveling up and even though I'm drinking plenty of water and coconut water (shout out Sunny) and even eating fish oil tablets, I'm absolutely dried out. Couldn't live here. Nope.

Today, after a bit of a rough morning, Higbee and I went into Bisbee and explored town. It's a cute place, reminds me a lot of the gold country towns along hwy 49 in California - Same era construction in the side of hills, same type of saloons, same kind of shops, only the gold country towns are, in my opinion, a lot prettier - I just prefer oaks to cacti. Bisbee has an interesting community to it. There are old long haired guys who look like they just stepped into this century from the 1850's, and there are Grateful Dead followers, wealthy retirees, new age crystal users, and really poor people. It's also down season, so this may not be representative of the winter population. Seems to me though, that the town is drying up too - lots of the shops are closing.

I have found, though, that the people here in both the RV camp and in town, are very very kind. I've talked to a lot of folks and here in the campsite, nearly all of the residents have come by to say hi and comment on how beautiful Higbee is. She needs a bath. I need a bath - in warm oil. I feel very welcome here, but I'll be glad to move on in a day or so.

Tomorrow is Tombstone and then it's onward to New Mexico.

Arizona: Come on Vacation, Leave on Probation

2009-05-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

"All the problems in your life don't come from the outside in - they come from the inside out. If you achieve self-realization, there are no problems. And it starts with lock the fucking knee."

Bikram

Finally left Palm Desert yesterday. I am so very glad I stayed - it was a real gift. Let me back up a little: when I was in training, when doing the last posture, spinal twist, I was told that I would be, "Fine - but you know what that means - Fucked up, Insecure, Neurotic and Ego oriented." Obviously, the comment bothered me, as I can remember it as clear as day. So the person who said it taught a class, and it was the greatest gift I could get -- it was okay in that the students enjoyed the antics, but in no way was it a Bikram class - there were a lot of wrong things said along with a lot of inaccurate and out of order instructions. The easy analysis would be to say it was a "fine" class, but what it was to me was a completion of the circle. I was shown that I am better than fine in so very many ways - I am, and continue to strive to be, a very good and soon an even better, Bikram yoga instructor.

Then the Jon Burris, the fascia guy spoke. I definitely enjoyed his presentation mid-day, but in the evening discussion, there were some statements that I disagreed with. but that's ok - he's entitled to his opinion and I'm entitled to mine. It was a worthwhile use of my time.

On Friday morning, Diane taught - she has a GREAT class! And before I left campus, she had a short, sweet (just like her) lecture in which she talked about the power of the dialogue. She had her friend Terry (who was assaulted and tore her neck muscles and tendons) come up and tell her story and relay how Diane's compassion and the use of the entire dialogue ("your back is going to hurt like hell, don't be scared") gave her the courage to do the yoga and improve her health. It was a very impactful presentation.

After Diane's lecture, I called it a day and went to get the pop up at the tire store. I told the guy the day before to hold on to the tire with the hole in the sidewall so I could take it back to Schwab and get a refund. Got there and guess what? They threw the damaged tire away and the truck had just hauled it away. So I got the repair completely and totally for free!!! Woo Hoo! Divine providence!

Started the drive eastward. Passed the exit for Needles California (shout out to Robin and Marshall) and crossed into Arizona. It was amazing - the minute I got over the border, the Saguaro cacti showed up. I love those amazing plants. They look like animated creatures in a variety of positions. Even saw two growing side by side looking like they were hugging! A prickly relationship for sure, but one that obviously works.

Rolled into Phoenix after 8:30 and spent the night in a Motel 6 instead of a trailer park. They have a pretty good deal: A clean and cool room that welcomes dogs for only $44 a night. It's nice to relax and watch TV now and then.

Since I spent time in Phoenix last summer, I'm going to continue south and east, and spend a few days in Bisbee, Arizona. It's up at about 2500 feet, so it will be a little cooler. I'm going to process what I've learned so far and also do some work on the thesis.

Plus there's a lot of cool things to see in that area - Tombstone, some awesome caves and other Southwest sights. Will post pictures next time.

Sending love to all.

Lots of pressure - no air pressure

2009-05-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, May 27

Yesterday was a crazy yoga day! The morning class was led by Emmy, who has a disconcerting method of getting off the big podium and walking around amongst the people. It’s so weird because her voice is coming out of the speakers and then WHAM, there’s reverb and she’s standing behind you poking you in the spine telling you to stand up taller. She walked around when I was in training, and when she walked by me in pranayama breathing, she said into the mike, “I don’t understand why there’s swaying”. I didn’t understand either at the time, but have learned that you have to focus on the inner thighs and tighten up the legs to stop the swaying (plus the chiropractor recently told me I have a misalignment of the cerebral vertebrae and that affects my balance). So yesterday morning, out of nowhere Emmy showed up RIGHT behind me and man, I tightened up and held it for every posture! She ended up sitting in the chair almost directly behind me and I didn’t get any pokes, but I did get a VERY helpful correction on spine twisting posture. She’s absolutely right – the yoga must be done the right way to get the full benefit. It was amazing to me how a small shift in the hand makes it a whole new posture!

The pressure to perform for Emmy was nothing compared to the afternoon class! I don’t even know why or how, but I ended up with Diane Ducharme in front of me, Lisa from Texas on my right, Lynn Whitlow on my left and Michael Harris immediately behind me. It was a vortex of yoga power and I was in the center of it all! I did fall out of standing head to knee before anyone else did (which I almost always do), but I have to say I held my own in the rest of the postures – I had a respectable practice. Whew!! Did I mention that Bikram taught? And you KNOW how he holds people in postures forever!

Since I arrived on May 14, I have taken 20 classes and taught once. That’s probably more than I’ve done in a two week period since training and although I’m tired, I feel really strong and am actually performing fairly well! Surprise, surprise!!! It feels good!

The guy in the campsite next to me hates Higbee and she’s not so hot on him either. Straining at the end of the tether, she was barking at him (but wagging her tail) on one of the first days we were here – obviously establishing her territory. But the guy didn’t like it and voiced his disapproval. So instead of leaving her on the tether while I go to the bathroom, I’ve been taking her with me. She sits quietly in the corner of the public bathroom and it’s been perfectly fine as I’ve seen only one person in there two times. Yesterday, though, the guy who cleans the bathroom tried to come in and Higbee barked, and the guy freaked out – some people just don’t understand dogs! I told him that I had no other place to leave her, but he would not be satisfied. When we went to take a shower after this morning’s practice, there was a note on the bathroom in big letters, “NO DOGS ALLOWED IN BATHROOM” I laughed and brought Higbee in and took my shower. Strange place this RV park. I appreciate that they have rules and follow them, but the intensity of adherence is a bit much. The place is nearly empty, I can’t figure out why they don’t have better customer service! Not to worry, the road calls and we head eastward.

6:53 pm. Frack!! The pop up camper has a flat tire. Don’t understand why – I bought new tires not a week before I left Sacramento. Spent an hour in Walmart trying to figure out whether to buy a can of air or a compressor to get it inflated so I could tow the camper to the tire place in the morning and get it checked out. I learned that the cans of air (and sealant) ruin tires, so I opted for the mini compressor that runs off of the cigarette lighter. Naturally, the flat is on the side of the camper that’s inaccessible to the car, so I can’t reach the tire with the compressor. So in the morning, I’ll have to try to hitch up the camper, then unhitch the car to get it close enough to use the compressor, then rehitch the camper and hope that the air will hold so I can get to the tire place. Cannot depend on any help from folks here --- some are full of advice, but few provide actual assistance. The good news is that Albert the guy at the tire store, seems like he knows what he’s talking about.

Itchy feet upon me

2009-05-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

May 25, 2009 11:52

Just had the leftovers from last night’s dinner at the City Wok – my mouth is still burning! Practiced this morning in the tent – Diane taught yet another kickass class using 99.9% dialogue. The woman knows her stuff. Afterward, as usual, I shadowed her as students came up to get help on different postures. I absolutely love the way she uses dialogue to get them set up, correctly into and deeper into poses! I am learning so much.

Yesterday was a great day. I spent the morning in my little campsite using the computer to tape and then replay my delivery of the poses. I’m trying to get the dialogue down perfectly (or pretty close) and it is a method that works for me. Good thing, as I went over to the Palm Desert studio to give Kim a message from Diane and Kim offered to let me teach the 3pm class! I was a little hesitant, but decided to do it and I had a BLAST!! Was surprised at how much I enjoyed being up on the block at the front of the room – being just a little bit higher allows me to see better and I also don’t feel like I’m blocking their perspective in the balancing poses. That’s the first time I’ve been off the floor level and I like it. Kim (who went with me to training and is an awesome yogi) took the class and was really complimentary! I asked her to give me something to work on and she said she didn’t have anything. I’m guessing she’s being kind, but her positive feedback did feel good, especially because I’m certain she has a very different style of teaching.

Got to join Diane and more folks from Mass and NH for dinner and definitely enjoyed being a part of the conversation. I had very little to contribute, but just enjoyed listening.

Strange – was playing with Higbee in the grassy area by the pool, and I noticed her nipples had gotten bigger. One little squeeze and Uh Oh -- milk came out!!! The vet assured me she wasn’t pregnant (but a false pregnancy is possible), so if she pops out some little bastards somewhere on the road, I have no idea what I’m going to do!! I guess I’ll figure that out if I have to.

It’s Monday and I’m paid up here until Thursday. I think by then I’ll be ready to hit the road. As nice as it is here (ok, yeah it’s hot too), I’m getting itchy feet, and I’m ready to start moving eastward.

Talked to Lisa today as I usually spend memorial day weekend with her family up in the mountains, and she said that perhaps she’ll join me on a leg of this journey! Wouldn’t that be fun!!! Selina might come out at some point too – But a warning to all who are interested in getting on the yoga train – some hot yoga will be part of the agenda!!

Sending love to all.

Some hot desert images!

2009-05-23T16:56:00.001-07:00

It's a little bit of a challenge to get reliable internet here, so I apologize for not posting pictures with the last few entries. Here's a few that will hopefully make up for the recent dry spell:

Here's the car and camper, and of course Higbee, just before we left. Notice all my stickers on the pop-up -- have a sticker, will travel!!!

The view on the drive south on Hwy 5. I'm pretty certain the smog in the distance is smoke from the Santa Barbara fires.

This is our little campsite at the RV park. It was the shadiest spot we could find, but it still bakes in the afternoon.

The studio tent. Look familiar???

Collective Camel. Lynn Whitlow teaching.

Fixed firm and yes, the mirrors do look a bit like a fun house. I was up close today for the makeup class and I looked nice and slim in the mirror!

My friend Cory from Granite Bay. He stayed with me at the campsite for a few days. Good camel - hips pushed forward. Not bad for a guy with a busted coccyx.

Diane, Linda and Sunny on our afternoon jaunt to visit the Palm Desert studio. According to Sunny, the cockroaches at the hotel are about this big!!! ;-)

We stopped at a really wonderful sculpture and art gallery. Loved this rabbit doing fixed firm.

Can't remember the name of the artist who does these amazing glass sculptures, but they had several there in the gallery. Extraordinary.

The Boston Clan plus an Aussie.

2009-05-22T15:52:00.000-07:00

Friday May 22, 2:00

I’m sitting in the Denny’s on Rte 111, which runs along the base of the mountains that surround the desert. I’m cooler in here than I’ve been for days and days – I can’t remember what it feels like to be cold, but I suppose I’ll remember soon enough. I decided to stay for quite a bit longer than I had originally planned, but I’m learning so very much here – mostly from Diane Ducharme, but also from other senior teachers and other teachers in general.

Sunny and Linda left yesterday and I have to say that I’m really impressed with their collective passion for the practice. I had so much fun talking yoga with them – and hanging out with them. They have extended a welcome to me when I get to Massachusetts – I’m looking forward to that. Cory from my studio in Sac also visited for a few days - it was great to have a friend at my humble RV abode.

Because Diane is friends with Linda and Sunny, I also got to hang out a few times with her. I’ve been shadowing her as much as I possibly can – after each class, she stays behind and helps people to improve their practice. Before helping them with the posture of their choice, she makes them do cobra pose. Most people do it wrong, she reasons because teachers don’t use the dialogue to explain how to use it. She is a huge proponent of dialogue and I’ve come to realize how much more work I need to do to get each and every word in the dialogue in my head and out of my mouth. It’s not just Diane, it’s seeing both the power of the dialogue by those who use it and the effect of those who don’t use it. I’ve enjoyed taking the classes from the teachers who have sung, who have told stories, and who are “airy fairy (as other have referred to it) and the yoga is good, but it’s not Bikram yoga. There’s something very powerful about the descriptions, the pacing, the way one does the postures when the dialogue is used. I’m a huge fan, and I have a lot of work to do to embrace it wholly. I also believe it would be so helpful to require all the senior teachers who get up on the podium to stick immediately to dialogue – it would accomplish two things: first, it would help the students to get one more example of how to use it; second, it would eliminate the excuse that students (justifiably in my opinion) have that they don’t have to learn the dialogue fully because senior teacher X doesn’t use it. They need to close that loop.

Bikram has taught two classes while I’ve been here. He is in prime Bikram mode. When he yelled at a woman, “Miss Pink, what the hell you doing?” I fell out of the pose and almost peed my pants I laughed so hard – it was the exact same scene I experienced in my own training when “miss glasses” was not trying the right way. “I HATE lazy people!” Many would consider him crass, even rude, but there’s no one like Bikram, and you really have to hand it to a guy who has been hanging out in his underwear for 40+ years teaching the same thing over and over. He told some of the same stories in lecture a few nights ago, but this time because I wasn’t completely exhausted and brain dead, I actually got the meaning of what he said. Then I started to nod off. I’m no good after 11pm. Bikram would say I’m wasting my time with so much sleep, but this gal needs a solid 8 hours.

Posture clinic has been really great. First of all, the students in this training really, and I mean REALLY know their dialogue. But of course there are a few who are struggling. I’ve noticed that women of a particular age seem to have more trouble than others, and I can totally identify with them. There was a women yesterday who was questioning her ability to do this, and I told her that she absolutely, positively could – and to have faith in herself – she called me an angel – hey, if I can help, that’s wonderful.

I would recommend that everyone come back to TT for as long as they can. It really is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect to the source – to learn much of what you missed in the original TT because of exhaustion, to see how other’s teach after you have taught yourself, to lend support and love to the new trainees, and to practice doubles as much as you want and then leave when the movies fire up!! THAT’S AWESOME!!!

Ok, time to go to the post office, run a few other errands and prepare for afternoon yoga. I love this path. Can’t imagine doing anything else.

A very hot weekend!!!

2009-05-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday, 7pm.

Higbee and I have become quite at home at the RV park. We have our pattern down for walking to the grassy area for "rest stops," for finding our way to the bathroom in the night, and for rising early and making sure to catch the wind whenever possible in the pop up. It's getting hot here, in oh so many ways!!

Friday was great. I got introduced to the group before Dr. T's lecture and was applauded heartedly when I said that I was the worst person in posture clinic and have taught more than 120 classes, and some people say I'm their favorite teacher. It felt great. Then after two AWESOME yoga classes (PM by Ren, I just love him), I joined Martha and Joseph for posture clinic. I have to say I was kind of freaked out and felt the pressure of the last training, but I also got to share a few things and felt good about that. I loved what Martha had to say to those delivering the postures - yes, she is amazing.

Saturday I slept in, went to the movies to get a little cool, and then picked up Sunny and Danielle and we drove into Palm Springs for some dinner and walking around the shops. They bought some really cute clothes, I figured I don't need to haul anything else around. It was so much fun to talk yoga at dinner....but that was nothing! Today after finishing my book about the Good Friends animal sanctuary, I picked up the Massachusetts girls and took them to Target and Trader Joe's. Then we returned to a hotel room to eat sushi and talk more yoga. Linda is a veritable gold mine of information about how to deliver, and how to use the dialogue to really improve people. These people from the east are purists and they are kind, supportive and interesting. I have a lot to learn and I am SO interested to learn it!! Am definitely looking forward to this trip.

Diane Ducharme is coming in tonight. I hope to have some time to talk with her tomorrow and set a date for my time with her. The rest of the trip will fall around that time with her.

Ok, it's time for a beer and a little time studying the dialogue. I thought I knew it well, but I realize that I could be better! I'm so excited!!!!

Day one -- Bikram Yoga Teacher Training Palm Desert

2009-05-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

May 14 Cathedral Palms RV resort – 8:15am

I’ve been on this journey for less than 24 hours and I’ve already broken the rules. I suppose you could say that rules were meant to be broken, and I’ve got a hunkering for some hot tent yoga.

I drove from Roseville to Palm Desert in one go. That’s more than 500 miles, about 8 hours of driving without stops (nearly 10 with). But on that note I did follow the rules. We did make several stops, not to fruit stands (which I regret) but to several rest stops and Jack in the Box - ate a sirloin burger – ick says it all. It seems like there are a lot of desperate people around. While at Jack’s, I noticed a hobo kind of guy spying my totally cool popup, and at the rest stops a lot of men just hanging around – but that could have been for a different kind of desperation. Either way, for a while this ride down took on a different feel than other adventures.

I have to say that Hwy 5 is a smooth ride for the most part. I was impressed with my little pop up rolling behind me. I was comfortable at 70 mph, the speed limit for cars on that road (okay, yeah, the limit with trailers was 55) but it was an easy ride. The only thing that bugged me was the bugs --- for hours I kept getting big wet smacks on the windshield and figured it was a result of the time of day and the recent moisture in this otherwise arid land that created such a buggy environment. Then about 200 miles later, I caught up with a big semi hauling bee hives. The hives had been covered with a netting, but it wasn’t working as well as it probably should have. The bees (and there were tens of thousands of them!) were all blown into the back of the net and obviously were escaping – thus the miles and miles of bee carnage. Kinda makes me feel bad!

Along the drive south, I noticed a high haze in the air. Figured it was the smoke blowing inland from the Santa Barbara fires. I could have been looking at the only thing left of a multi-million house, or a tree, or the smoky whisps of a love note. The general impression of the trip down (with the help of talk radio) is that California is drying up and blowing away. Maybe, but maybe not, it’s time to leave.

Waiting for the office to open up so I can get my designated site (hopefully in the shade – it’s going to be HOT here) and set up.

9:06pm --- Wow what a day. I’m beat. While I was walking around this morning before they opened up, I picked a shady spot in the back and corner, and then registered and paid for several days here at the Cathedral Palms RV park. It has 3 stars in the Woodall’s guide book, but nowhere do they mention all the employees (and some guests) have missing teeth. That’s not the nicest thing to say, I realize, but it seems to be a recurring theme today. I hope I keep my pearly whites intact while here.

So while setting up this morning, I noticed that the wheel jack was gone!!! Apparently, it came apart while driving last night – can’t imagine why – I mean it wasn’t like I was going too fast or anything!!! I need that thing not only to help wheel the pop up over to the trailer ball, but also to get the camper up high enough to work the stablizer jacks down. That’s really important – otherwise when you get in bed, the whole camper will tilt over to one side. Took a trip to Indio this afternoon to get a replacement, but it turns out to be too big. A nice guy (yes, with missing teeth) helped me out by lifting the camper up by hand so I could get underneath and lower the jacks. Tomorrow is another adventure to get the wrong jack returned and a new smaller jack purchased.

So that’s only part of the day!! Went this afternoon over to the JW Marriott and found the infamous Bikram tent which is actually two parts – one is a giant studio with mirrors and everything, and the other is the lecture hall. Walked in while Dr. T was not talking anatomy. Today’s story was about cow milk and breast milk. Lucky me – as an instructor, I got to sit in the back and type away on the iPhone!!! I was surprised, however, how lax the staff seem in comparison to our experience – there were people sitting on the floor, obviously not paying attention, even sleeping!! Not for long though, faithful and wonderful Dom walked over and got them up pronto.

Then lots of familiar faces - Sunny from our training, Amber from Granite Bay, Molly, Manali, Esther, Dom, of course and others. Had afternoon yoga led by Martha from Minneapolis. My good buddy Mark Norby has raved about her for months – he works with and for her – and now I know why – she is passionate not just about the yoga (about life!), she is full of energy, gives great feedback and even sang to us!! She was marvelous. And I have to say, the tent-studio is like a breezy piece of heaven compared to the rainy basement in Acapulco. The back wall is glass that looks over the mountains (so you get natural light – I’m realizing that’s a must for a good-feeling studio), it’s bigger, and it has a great HV (no AC) system. And maybe it’s just the week, but everyone seems so relaxed and nonplussed. They had posture clinic this evening, but I didn’t go – I had to finish the jack project, and I’d rather do a double tomorrow than spent the evening watching everyone bingle the dialogue. Plus I may be a little too close to the experience – I might go into convulsions!! I’ll go next week when Diane Ducharme is here – I’d LOVE to be in PC and watch how she guides people.

Ok, gotta get some rest. Only had about 5 hours of sleep last night and I’m ready for bed. Sending love to all.

Prospectus Approved, T minus 2 days

2009-05-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

Whew!! I met with the committee on Friday and after a not-totally-grueling two hours, they all agreed to sign off on the prospectus. Well, there's caveats, I have eleven items to address. Some are easy fixes - making sure the reference in the text to a particular appendix is in that particular appendix. Others are a little more daunting, but certainly doable. After the meeting, I returned to Robyn and Cindi's house and we enjoyed our typical friday night - good food, good movie, relaxing. Well, not totally typical, we usually all imbibe in the wine, but since the gals are working to reduce, they're off the booze. So I sipped wine on my own.

Had a really nice weekend. Spent Saturday doing more improvements on the Trailer - by the time I take off, it will definitely be tricked out -- or at least a little more comfortable.

Yesterday, spent Mother's day with the Helmholz family. Edith is one of my alternate moms, but she's more of a friend than a mother, even though I love her guidance and support. We went to the beach out by Point Reyes Station and built a fire, enjoyed a lovely luncheon and watched the waves roll in. Afterward, we drove out to the oyster farm and bought fresh and bottled oysters and enjoyed both barbecued and raw for dinner. It was a fabulous day!! The only downside was that I dropped my camera in the sand

(after a few choice pics) and it got bingled beyond repair. Note to self - no more cameras at a windy beach!!

So now I'm back in Roseville, found a new camera, same model, on sale and I'm one day closer to departure. The current plan is to leave on Wednesday, but I learned today that Bikram won't be at training for more than a week, so I may stay a little longer than I had planned. We'll see.

While driving today, I decided I need more objectives for this trip than just learning about Bikram studio-related stuff. Here are some other goals:

- Take as many side roads as possible and not just the interstate.

- Stop at road side markets

- try to find the best tomato in the US

- taste midwest corn

- Maximum 8 hours of driving a day, but try to keep it under five.

- stop at historic points of interest.

In other words, I'd like this trip to be comfortable, easy, flexible. See how much I learn from the Bikram dialogue???

Sending love to all.

Part 2 of the adventure

2009-05-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's been a while. Over the last several months, I've been teaching as much as I can, learning the dialogue, getting comfortable in my role as a Bikram Yoga instructor, and of course, working on my thesis. It's been a busy and worthwhile time.

So on Friday, May 8 I have a meeting with the committee and will present my prospectus with the hopes of getting it signed off. Once I get the go ahead to do the actual research, I'm hitting the road. Research will be done online and will take a few months to gather the information I need, so I'll be doing the initial work and monitoring the results from the road. Can't wait.

I bought an old pop up camper and have been getting it ready for a big road trip. I'm heading south first to Palm Desert to participate in the new Bikram Yoga Teacher Training. I haven't heard much yet about how this training is going, but I do understand that the yoga is taking place in a big tent and it's not meeting the standards that Bikram has set -- guess it's not hot enough. I'm sure that will be fixed soon enough.

From TT, it's off to Texas and a visit to Mike and Joani's studio in Houston. I love those guys and am excited to learn from then. A few other studios while I'm down there and then perhaps up to Kansas to visit Elizabeth's studio. Across to SC to see David Kaiser's awesome environmental friendly studio and then over to DC and eventually up to Boston to see Diane Ducharme. Can't wait!!! More later

10 days back...something's not right

2008-12-01T14:29:00.000-08:00

So it's Monday and I spent the morning working on my thesis and jumping through the academic hoops that are necessary to prove that one is worthy of a master's degree. HEY -- DON'T YOU GUYS KNOW -- I'M A CERTIFIED BIKRAM YOGA INSTRUCTOR -- THAT'S WORTH A LOT MORE THAN A FR*&%$#NG MASTER'S DEGREE!!! At least that's what I want to yell. But of course that would not be effective, and I promised myself that I would have this monkey off my back by my birthday in March. So the clock is ticking. In oh so many ways.....

I'm staying in the Roseville area with my dear friends Robyn and Cindi. Along with my awesome brother Bob and his lovely girlfriend, we enjoyed a tremendously relaxing and bountiful Thanksgiving dinner. I am grateful for all of my friends and so glad that Robyn and Cin have offered their spare bedroom for the meantime, but I still feel so out of sorts since returning. I'm teaching as much as I can and again, am grateful to Patty for offering me what she can in regards to classes and helping to run a thing or two at the studio. But still...I don't feel like I belong here any more. I suppose in a way that's a good thing, and I'm holding on to that discomfort because if I do get comfortable sleeping on a futon bed in the spare bedroom of friends, then that says something very bad about who I have become.

I'm absolutely jonesing for my own home and space. I want so much to just jet over to the place I feel I belong and get a home, start a studio, begin a LIFE again. But I know that I have to get some teaching under my belt, I have to get this thesis completed and I have to stick it out here for the meantime, and get comfortable with this uncomfortableness. Embrace it, in a way, and keep my eyes, ears and heart open to the next phase. This is temporary...

...I am still feeling awkward about having an open schedule. I feel like I'm wasting so much time because I'm not locked into 8:30 yoga, lunch, lecture, yoga, lecture, bed. Also, the yoga I'm doing here feels so much different than yoga with 300 people. In some ways it's easier, I'm not dying from the humidity and heat, I'm not bumping into others in full locust, but it's also harder, I feel so removed from the other people in the studio, it's almost a lonely experience, and I seem to have lost any of the balance I gained in Acapulco. I'm having trouble standing on one foot again. Perhaps that's because I'm wearing shoes again and my feet are changing shape. I am definitely stronger and certainly more flexible, I just feel....weird.

Can anyone shed light on this peculiarity?

LA Woman...walking down the street with her dog

2008-11-27T14:08:00.000-08:00

So I arrived in Los Angeles, found the Bikram Headquarters (more on that later) and then made my way into Hollywood to find the hypnotist. I know that going a small distance in LA can take hours due to traffic, so I did the recon, found it and then got a comfy and safe hotel nearby. Showered up, gave Higbee a quick walk and then walked onto the studio lot where Mary's office is. Our appointment was at 5pm, and most of the business of the day was over, so I didn't get to see any famous people. Mary's office was in one of the original buildings, a beautiful art deco design looking over a courtyard. We spent nearly 4 hours together, and talked quite a bit about my experience in training, why I felt I was having trouble learning the dialogue and how I did in posture clinic. Then we did two meditation imagery exercises. Finally, Mary talked with me for about 45 minutes about hypnotism and how it works. Then I put on some headphones, wore a lavender scented bean bag for the eyes and settled comfortably into the couch and listened while Mary mixed her voice and ocean sounds into her computer and of course into the headphones I had on my head. She did the countdown and I was out before she got to five, and then I woke to the count back up. I have no idea what she said, and even after listening to the CD she gave me later, I still went to "sleep". But I do seem to have more ease memorizing the dialogue and it seems to be sticking better. So hey! I'm happy with the results so far!

The next day, I took Higbee for a walk around Hollywood and Vine and we looked for a place for her to do her business. There's a lot of concrete around, and lots of bars on the windows in that part of town, but finally spotted a beautiful lawn in front of an apartment building. Feeling a little guilty about the inevitable pee on that nice green lawn, we made a beeline for it and found....it was a plastic yard!!! Yup, that green was astroturf. So we walked around a bit longer and finally found an appropriate place for Higbee to do her business.

We then headed back to Bikram headquarters. I was surprised that it wasn't as luxurious as I expected it to be. In fact, it seemed a little run down! The studio itself was really large and I virtually stood alone while I practiced. Had a hell of a time doing the balancing postures as the floor and the walls were all the same tan color and had trouble finding a point of reference. But it felt so good to practice and I even saw two people there from training!! Honestly I do miss being in the room with 300 other people. The women's room had really old lockers and the color on the wall was kind of stale, but I did like that the studio had doors on either side -- it was obvious that opening up both would create a great cross breeze.

Manali was not there, but I did get to talk with several other people there and it looks like my thesis can progress.

Made the long drive home after that, and dealt successfully with the holiday traffic. Am enjoying a terrific day today with friends and family. Looking forward to getting back to the studio tomorrow.

Love to all and happy thanksgiving!!!

The adventure continues

2008-11-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

A few more notes on teaching my first class:

Those poor students. They really put up with a lot from me. I was able to complete the class in 90 minutes because I forgot more than half of the dialogue!! Here's the internal dialogue that I was having:

"Oh my GOD --- they are doing what I'm asking them to do! Look at that! Oooo, I'm standing in the way of that woman and she can't see the mirror. I need to move to the right. Oh, now I'm standing in front of him, I'll move over here, oh fuck it, there's too many people in here, I can't avoid being in the way of somebody, oh no, what's the next posture? Well, I couldn't remember much of that pose but people got through it, ok, on to the next one, oh yeah, I could have said this and that and this...oops better focus on the posture I'm in....darn, what's the sanscrit name again? HEY -- I'm doing ok in the timing of this! Ok that's a bonus! Uh oh, which leg is it? Right? Left? Oh, there's Patty touching her right leg, ok, it's right leg over the left leg!"

It felt pretty hot in there, but as someone talking through the class and not actually doing it, I couldn't tell if it was hot or not, and of course coming from the boiling hell of Acapulco, what's hot? At the end of the class, when everyone was in final savasana, as I was walking out to turn off the lights, a fellow kind of moaned, "turn on the fan", and I realized that people were truly suffering. Of course, I completely forgot to say thank you or "Namaste", so after I stood in the lobby laughing my head off, Patty told me that the group said it to themselves.

Obviously, I need help, so I'm writing from Harris Ranch along hwy 5. I'm on my way to LA to meet with Mary Holmes the Bikram yoga hypnotist. She has helped dozens of people not only get the dialogue in their head, but access it in the order at the right time. Let's see how this works. Several friends have asked for her phone number so they can tell her to put a few items in my brain, and maybe take a few out!!! No way!!!

I'm also planning to meet with Manali at headquarters and talk to her and someone else about using Bikram people to complete a survey for my thesis. Met with one of my committee members last night about 8:30 to confirm the process and then drove down about half way down with trusty Higbee in the back of the car. At around 1am (time sound familiar?) I decided to call it quits, and made the decision to sleep in the car --- figured that I'd save some money and would spend it on a hotel tonight in LA. So I found a cozy parking spot in the Harris Ranch parking lot, rolled out the sleeping bag and grabbed my pillow. Higbee and I tool a short stroll so she could stretch her legs, and we took in the lovely smell of thousands of cattles' poop. Those of you who take that trip down or up Hwy 5 know that tell tale smell --- ick. So we climbed back in the SUV and, without permission, I commandeered Higbee's bed as a comfy cushion for my head and hips. This awesome dog that's not SUPPOSED to shed has disproven the breed - this dog sheds like a building in the back yard (get it....shed?). So there I was covered in dog hair, realizing that I was completely buzzed from the diet coke I drank about an hour before to stay awake. Bummer. And Higbee was sitting on my feet. 65 pounds of dog tends to cut off the circulation. I kept telling her to get off my sleeping bag, but I'm certain her response was, "well, get off my bed"!

So finally fell asleep, avoided any highway killers on the road and woke to the amazing smell of cooking beef!! Much preferable to cattle poop! I let Higbee do her business, did a little of my own, and now, fully stocked on a lovely Earl Grey tea and a banana walnut muffin, I'm heading south to Los Angeles.

Wish me luck. Love to all.

Lucille

Yup!! I did it!!!

2008-11-23T22:03:00.000-08:00

So on friday, I went to the 4:30 class at the Granite Bay studio. I was so warmly welcomed by Patty, the studio owner, and Cory, her assistant manager. They were so happy that I had survived training and immediately asked if I had taught a class yet. I told them that I hadn't and that I was planning to go to LA first. They said, "no, no, no, you must teach as soon as possible" and Patty tried to talk me into teaching the next morning at 8am. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I had already planned a road trip with my buddies Selina and Karin, so Saturday was not possible. So she set me up for this afternoon (Sunday) at 4:30. I didn't have much time to prepare in my mind, as I spend the weekend with the gals, and I got to the studio, sort of ready at 4pm.

I was really nervous and when more and more and more people came into the studio, I didn't know whether to shit my pants, drop dead in fear, or just be glad that I could embarrass myself in front of even more people!!! I decided to just go to the bathroom and then walk into the studio. Patty gave me a beautiful introduction and then I started......started to completely butcher the dialogue!!!! I could not remember much of anything, forget the Sanscrit names for the postures and I was into the next pose when I remembered, "Oh shit ---- I forgot that paragraph, or that phrase" and in the remembering of what I forgot, I was forgetting more!!! But I got through it, got everyone safely in and out of the postures, even a very first time student, and I had people laughing now and again, AND...I finished in 89 minutes!!! When people were in final savasana, I completely forgot to say thanks for being on the show and Namaste, I just walked out of the studio, but I did it, and for a few moments in each posture, it was really fun. They were actually doing what I asked them to do!!!

So now I have to learn the dialogue more and more and more, and I'll be better at it. Patty said afterward that I have nowhere to go but up (and I'll take that as a compliment), and she also said I have a nice voice, and I'm very grateful for that statement (and even for the nice voice), so now I just have to get better.

Whew!!! It was fun, it was scary, but it was so good!!!! I'm going to like this!!!

More later. Headed to LA and Bikram headquarters tomorrow. Will write more after that adventure.

Love to all. Lucille

Adios Acapulco!

2008-11-20T07:10:00.000-08:00

November 19, 2008
10:43 am I’m waiting around in the Mexico City airport for my connection to Cabo and then on to Sacramento. Spent two days not very far away distance-wise from the Fairmont, but about as far as you could get socially. I ended up with group of yogis in Playa Bonfil, a beautiful and simple little beach and surfing community unfortunately getting edged out by high rises and luxury brand specialty stores. I spent most of Monday sitting in a hammock reading a novel that was quite gripping, I’d read for several hours, nod off for a while and then wake to grab the book again (it’s title is “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Sieg Larsson – don’t know if it’s available in soft back in the US yet). Had an ice cold Corona to celebrate a stunning sunset and then went with my buddies Mark and Chris Bayokis (refer to previous entry on Chris) to dinner at 100% Natural. Our other eating option (since almost everything else was closed by sunset) was a place right on the side of a very busy road, with small chickens running about, a non-operating toilet and a drunken old man trying to grope me. Normally I would consider that type of thing do-able (not the groping, but he could be handled), but after Mark reported on the condition of the bathroom and suggested an alternative, I agreed. I’ve been fairly lucky in regards to stomach illness; no reason to tempt the gastrogods at the end of the trip.
We retired to our simple and much less expensive hotel on the beach and called it a great day.

Yesterday, I woke earlier than most of the group and enjoyed a lovely breakfast on the beach. Continued to read my book and then was joined by a few yogis. Mark, whom I went into town with a few weeks ago, wanted to teach a yoga class (his first) so we moved a few tables and set up our mats under the palapa roof of the restaurant and did a class in the sand! I didn’t really push it – my knees are only just starting to repair and my hamstrings are still aching, and I didn’t want to tweak something in the sand. Plus I was in my bathing suit and the top wasn’t as reliable as regular yoga togs. Mark finished in 100 minutes (a little over) and he did a good job – he wasn’t exactly on dialogue, but he kept going and I think he will be a good instructor once he hits his stride. It was good to do a little stretching! Then an excellent swim in the ocean -- the riptide wasn’t as strong at the Fairmont, but the waves were bigger. Apparently this weekend they will have a surfing competition at Bonfil. I’m sorry I’ll miss it.
The photos in this entry were taken by Chris. He did a good job capturing Bonfil’s relaxed atmosphere.Again had a beer at sunset, then a mosquito filled meal after sunset (that’s another strange thing – there are NO bugs at the Fairmont and of course a million elsewhere, don’t even want to think about the level of pesticides at the five star residence). Once again retired early in order to prepare for a 7am flight out of Acapulco. It’s pretty darn cold here in Mexico City. When I arrived 10 weeks ago, it was boiling hot, but everyone here is wearing warm coats and scarves. I think I’m in for a shock of cold when I get to Sacramento.

But I’m ready to go home.I’ll have to hit the ground running when I land – have an opportunity to work with Bikram studios on my thesis and have to meet with Manali next week in LA to discuss the particulars. Which means that I’ll have to talk with some of my committee members to get a few things sorted out before I go. While I’m down there, I’ll visit Patrice’s studio in Orange County – it’s supposed to be the most beautiful studio built and I’d like to benchmark it. Will also talk to the hypnotist who has helped many a Bikram yogi get the dialogue in their head. It might be a shortcut, but if it helps, hey, why not??? I’ve looked at the dialogue document over the last few days, and although it’s certainly familiar, and I know I could do just as well as Mark did yesterday, I don’t feel like I own the words yet.
Still have some thinking to do about all of this. But I suppose that feeling will be with me for a while. I have completed a pretty impressive thing and I feel very good about it, but I really feel like I’m just starting. Have a lot to do in the short and long term. This is just the beginning.

5:44 pm. Absolutely exhausted. How many times have I written that over the last 9 weeks? It’s been a long day, but unlike none in the past. I’m shivering in the air over California (I think we’ve crossed over the border), dressed in a ridiculous group of layers, none of which match, all of which make me look like a dork. Even so, I’ve introduced myself for the first time as a yoga instructor!! Kind of a strange feeling, but one I’m very proud of. As opposed to “marketing director”, “graduate student” or “Silicon Valley resident” I really like referring to myself as a yoga instructor, or rather, a BIKRAM yoga instructor! Surprisingly, the woman I talked with, who is from Mexico City, knows about Bikram yoga, but she hasn’t been. She said she’ll think about it. She’s a psychotherapist.

Cindi is going to pick me up at the airport and she’ll have Higbee with her. Can’t wait.

At graduation, Dr. Tom, one of my fellow graduates and a retired oncologist, spoke about the benefits of Bikram yoga and how it can be used to promote good health. He was very articulate and convincingly talked to us about how the current medical system is seriously broken and a new model is required, one in which the pharmaceutical companies are rewarded for developing life saving drugs, but where also we have alternatives that allow us to do activities that help us to prevent the need for those drugs (and perhaps even recover without them). I talked in an earlier post about the awesome stories people told at the last lecture. There were people who had been addicted to alcohol and drugs, women who were anorexic and had done self-mutilation, people who had recovered from pretty serious diseases including RA, major knee ruptures, and even depression, and they all triumphed because, they said, the yoga healed their bodies, their minds and their spirits. I believe it. This is a picture of Emmy (she’s facing the mirror so you see both front and back views) from the advanced class demonstration – she’s near the same age that my mother would have been. She had a brain tumor a few years ago and look at what she’s doing – the woman is amazingly flexible and she’s also sharp as a
tack. I plan to be somewhere in the vicinity of that level of flexibility in my ‘80’s! So Dr. Tom said in his speech that not only should every student of medicine take Bikram Yoga (and the teacher training program), but they should prescribe it to their patients. Wouldn’t that be cool? Tom is going to work with Rajashree to set up and conduct several medical studies that will help to identify in more measurable ways, the benefits of Bikram Yoga.
I asked Rajashree, Emmy and Craig how they see Bikram yoga as a business evolving in the next 10 years. Raj kind of avoided the question, but admitted that as a member of the family, she was biased in her vision. So she talked a lot about how it has evolved in the past. Craig and Emmy said that they can only see it growing for many reasons, several of which I’ve described in this post. The whisperings are that Bikram will have a franchise agreement in place by January, which means that when I open my studio, I’ll be obliged to be part of the franchise. This worries some people, who think that they will not be able to pay Bikram and make a living. I’m not concerned, I have seen the benefits at Kinko’s of standardization in operations and in branding, and if the franchise fee is fair (and I have no reason to believe it won’t be), then it will be a good thing for studio owners and for Bikram yoga in general! I’ve also learned that there’s no reason to worry about something I can’t control and is a nebulous thing in the future. I’ll figure it out when I need to.

Ok, battery is getting low and that’s a bummer, the laptop is keeping me warm. But that’s enough for now.

Love to all.

Leaving....sort of

2008-11-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

Well, here's one photo of me, Sunny and Jacqueline on graduation day. I took a bunch of images of the demonstration as I had a perfect vantage to see our wonderful Susan from New York and of course Erin from Chicago. So when it was time for me to get on stage to receive my diploma from Bikram, my camera died. Serious bummer. But my awesome friend Upkar took a photo with her camera, I'll have it soon.

Really wanting to get away from this place, but it's a national holiday in Mexico-they seem to have a lot of those-and there's nothing available anywhere but here. So...I'm going to spend the night sharing a room with a bunch of people and then I'll find a peaceful place to relax tomorrow.

Had a half glass of wine with dinner last night and I immediately felt its effects - and even woke this morning with that tell tale dryness in my head. Couldn't believe it. So that cold beer on the beach will have to be handled with care. Guess my body is more pure than I thought!!!

Ok, have to check out of my home, and get on with life. More later.

Love to all.

Graduation Day

2008-11-15T12:17:00.001-08:00

The alarm woke me at 7am, but I snoozed for an extra half hour. Gathered a bunch of extra food and supplies and carried them to the yoga room to donate to a homeless children's organization. Hope they like sweaty yoga togs!! I was pleased to see a lot of things there, hopefully we will help a few unfortunate kids.

Awesome Diane taught the last class ever to be held in the studio -- Bikram has moved the location next time to Palm Springs, CA. Unlike last week's makeup class, where I was still suffering from the effects of dehydration, this one was nice and loose, comfortable, easy, flexible. There were two women right in front of me who were beginners. One in particular kept walking around her mat and checking herself out in the side mirror, all during the balancing postures. I was entertained rather than flustered by it (even though I kept falling out), as we have been told over and over that we will be shocked to get back into a regular yoga studio and see what "regular" people do.

About half way through the floor poses, I started to realize that I was coming close to the finish line. Last night was great, but I held back my excitement as I felt it would have been premature to celebrate. So while on the floor, I finally felt a tremendous sense of completion, and I also felt both of my parents love and support. That room has been a hell, a haven and almost always hot, in many ways I'm going to miss it, but will always treasure the transformation that occurred there. 63 days, 101 yoga classes, 750 hours of training, and about 82 hours of sleep in total.

I'm not the same person who arrived here 9 weeks ago. Although this is certainly not the hardest thing I've ever had to do, it's pretty close in many ways, and the quiet satisfaction of this accomplishment (especially at this age) will be with me for a long time. Last night at the talent show (which was amazing -- I had no idea we had so many amazing people amongst us), Diane gave me a big hug and said she could feel my wings. I'm not sure if she meant that the muscles in by back had become more defined, or whether I had metaphorically sprouted wings to fly. Either way, I like it, and believe they are both true.

It's been a rough year in so many ways. But I'm stronger, better, faster and I can lock the knee!

Tonight is graduation. There were women in the salon across the street getting updos. I felt pretty fancy just getting a trim off of this ratty hair and a pedicure. We will have quite an event I understand, and it will include an audio of Bishnu Gosh, Bikram's guru, multiple speeches, and of course, each of us gets to walk across the stage and receive a diploma and a photo with Bikram and Rajashree.

Here's the photo I got last night. It's a pretty big smile, but I think tonight will be even bigger. Or maybe with more tears. Wait, don't anticipate, just do.

Love to all.

I'll write more as the days progress. I'd like to continue to capture my thoughts, and if you're interested, you are welcome to continue to read!! I'll also be sure to write about my first teaching experience. THAT will be a hoot!!!!

I have to thank you all, not just for following my progress, but also for giving me support, on this blog, via email or just in your thoughts. Believe me, I could feel it and it is so greatly appreciated.

Ok, time to get gussied up for graduation!!!

Bikram's Final Class

2008-11-14T17:42:00.000-08:00

Just completed our last official class of the training (and yes, I have a makeup tomorrow, but that will be just fine, in fact it might even be relaxing after this afternoon's class!). The energy in the room was amazing. I'll write more later, but here are my before picture, with my awesome buddies from group 1 (yes I'm the whitest one there) and after picture with my wonderful friend Melissa. I'm almost there. What a great feeling!!!!

Now I remember.....

2008-11-14T14:31:00.001-08:00

So at this afternoon's lecture we were able to stand up and talk about why we came to training and what we got out of it. It was EXACTLY what I needed. I've been cranky and achy, and in more of a foul mood than not over the last few days. Today, I was reminded what this was all about. People stood up with absolutely amazing stories about how the yoga healed them, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Yes, we have been through hell and back and then back again over the last 9 weeks, but it has done more than we can know right now. Some people know, but I think that when we go home and get the perspective I talked about before, we will really come to understand what we have done and what we have become.

OK, I have to get going for class in a moment. More later.

Love to all.

Grenades and Insight

2008-11-13T17:02:00.000-08:00

All week, I've been thinking of these last few days like a soldier whose been given leave. You know the story...he or she is really excited about going home to partner and family and then steps on the grenade. BAM! That's that.

Well, apparently without my knowledge (but isn't that always how it goes?) I've stepped on the grenade. I checked the makeup class list and guess what? My name is on there. I can't friggin believe it. The LAST thing in the world I want to do is one more class. So I checked with the person who is in charge of the lists, and she said that I forgot to sign in earlier this week. Frankly I find that hard to believe, as I have a system -- I NEVER cross the path of the sign in table without adding my name. There's definitely a part of me that thinks that perhaps my name is mistakenly still on there from last week. I've been stewing about it for a good part of the afternoon, simply pissed. But then when I was still irked in afternoon class, I realized that I've been bothered by it for much longer than the 90 minutes it will take to do the makeup class.

So, I'm going to put down the anger and frustration and just do the class. In the grand scheme of things, 90 minutes (plus the prep time, but hey -- who's counting?) is a small amount of time and effort, so I'll do it. Not exactly happily, not grudgingly, I'm simply going to do it.

The aches and pains in my knees, hips, hamstrings and even my fingers are back with a vengeance, but hey -- that too will pass.

So time for a quick shower, some food and then the final lecture from Bikram. This has been a very long week.

Love to all. Lucille

A few random thoughts...

2008-11-13T09:25:00.001-08:00

Just 3 more classes to go before graduation. I'm wrapped in a towel, and need to hustle to get to breakfast/meal, but I have some thoughts I'd like to share:

One of the things I've noticed about many people who are certified Bikram yoga instructors is that they have a certain type of quiet confidence. They are not cocky, but they are self-assured, and today, just a few moments ago, I started to get that feeling. Yes, it does feel good, but it's also like it's always been there and is now just coming up to the surface. Interesting. I'll give that more thought soon.

Juliana, I told Diane you send your regards, and she asked me to say hi back.

They told me a while ago to trust the process, and I have, especially in regards to the dialogue. I've been simultaneously worried I've forgotten the whole thing and then madly studying and then not worried about it. But yesterday while waiting in lecture, I just started to think about eagle pose, and was mildly surprised and pleased that I remembered most of the pose....and I haven't even given that much thought in over a month! So maybe there's hope for me yet. Or maybe that's where part of the quiet confidence comes from.

Here's an image of me in that afternoon posture clinic, studying and doing the dialogue while it's being recited by another student/teacher. Thought you'd enjoy this one. I need to flatten out the foot and sit down more. That's good to see!!!

OK, gotta get dressed and get some food!!! Love to all.

Boot Camp, Concentration Camp & Craig

2008-11-12T17:05:00.001-08:00

It's been a rough couple of days. They told us weeks ago that week 9 would be easy, but it's been anything but. A few weeks ago it felt like book camp here; over the last few days, it's felt like a concentration camp. Yoga classes have been a challenge (and the extra 2.5 hours in the hot room didn't help), Bikram has kept us up very late watching movies, and people have been generally disgruntled for a variety of reasons. By lecture time this afternoon, people were either giddy with exhaustion, cranky beyond reason or pissed and ready to go home. Then Craig, who is normally the teacher training coordinator for the entire training, was introduced by Bikram and came on stage for the first time. Through his enthusiasm, his passion for the yoga, his humor and his insight, he turned things around. I honestly didn't think it would be possible, but he got nearly everyone's attention and held it for several hours. Ironically one of his topics was perspective, vision and focus -- I must be psychic!!!

Then he taught class this evening, and although it was a rough class, it wasn't too exhausting because he kept the flow going. I actually enjoyed it!

I finally feel pretty good, although again, my knees are ready to explode, my hamstrings throb, and my back is ready to go out any second. I think that's from being in the hot room for nearly 6 hours yesterday and then in a very uncomfortable chair in a really cold room for nearly 5 hours. Not a good combination.

Anyway, I have hope for an upbeat conclusion and that makes me happy.

Love to all. Lucille

November 11 -- RIP VMA

2008-11-11T16:58:00.001-08:00

Well, today is the one year anniversary of the death of my mother. She died in the early hours of the morning, around 4:00. So I awoke this morning at about 4:15 to a fairly good sized earthquake -- I laughed about it and thought it was my mom letting me know she can still shake me out of bed. Apparently she was pretty adamant about me getting the message -- we had two more good sized rockers in that hour.

This morning was like most, another class at 8:30, but we were told we'd have an extra half hour off before lecture began this afternoon. So I took the opportunity to swim in the ocean, which had a strange and fierce tidal pull. Didn't stay in long, I could tell it was making me tired and not rejuvenating like usual. Went for a swim in the pool and then came back to the room to talk with Bob via skype.

Caught a very late lunch, in fact I missed the gratis lunch in the Chula Vista restaurant and instead got a sandwich in the hotel deli. Just managed to take the last bite before I went into the lecture room, and so when they told us to change into yoga clothes and meet in the studio, I got a little nervous. Turns out we spent afternoon lecture time in a new kind of posture clinic, and those who wanted to practice, got to go up on the big dais and deliver three postures. We all had to do the postures, and on a full stomach, I thought I was going to hurl. Didn't, but others did, and then we got a short break and returned for our evening class. So I'm going to say that I'll have done 100 classes during this trip (the effort put into that hot room for 2.5 hours this afternoon certainly counts as a class), and now I'm at 94 and have a balance of 6. I really hope we won't do that again, but I'm not going to cross my fingers. Started to get that electrolyte headache in the third class of the day, but got through it with minimal damage.

A lot of people here are in a foul mood, for a number of reasons, but mostly I think they want to go home. People are tired, they are starting to look gaunt and unhealthy, and I think by the end of this, some might be on the verge of homicide -- roommates look out! I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to get my own room, the women especially seem to be completely fed up with those whom they share a bathroom.

So, a bowl of soup and another Bikram lecture. Again, no fingers crossed, but I'm hoping that we'll get out fairly early.

3 more days and counting.

Love Lucille

Focus, Vision, and Perspective

2008-11-10T17:04:00.000-08:00

My vision these days is a bit askew. I can see close up just fine, but my distance vision is definitely wanting. So I find myself doing the opposite of many people my age -- I'm putting my glasses on to see far away and pulling them off to read or write. Or maybe it's the same as other people. Whatever, you get the point, I can't see very well consistently.

But I don't wear my contacts or my glasses into the yoga studio. Forget the glasses, they will not stay on my head and the contacts will clog my eyes. So although my vision is wanting, my focus has become dead on. Instead of looking in the mirror as I had done at my home studios, here I focus on one stationary object (usually it's an orange water jug) in front of me. Of course, I can't see myself in the mirror most of the time anyway, but even when I can, I prefer to look not at myself, but at the reflection of a jug. With this focus, I'm able to balance much better than I had before, and I'm improving in the balancing series fairly well. I think -- I can't tell because I don't look at myself in the mirror. And in that regard, I had come to believe at one point that my yoga had become better, and I was fairly good at it! But then when I was close to the mirror one day I was shocked, SHOCKED, to see that my practice wasn't what I believed it to be. I guess you call that perspective.

But I have to admit, after eight weeks of a fairly consistent groundhog day experience, I've lost most of my perspective. I no longer remember what it's like to not do yoga twice a day, I can't figure out any more if I've lost weight or gained it, I don't know how I compare to what I was before, and I certainly don't know anymore how to consider this experience. I've lost the perspective with which to compare it. Some people here are getting so wrapped up in the politics of the group, I'm smart enough to avoid that, and others are judging people and events in ways that I think will embarrass them when they return home, so I guess I'm not the only one left wanting in the perspective department.

I am, however, looking forward to the day when I'm far enough away from this to give it some perspective. I know I'll miss parts of it, but I also know that I'll gain more meaning from it when it's a little farther away.

====================

I got up on stage with Bikram on Friday. Even though I was washed out entirely from Thursday night's classes and the subsequent IV treatment, I felt ok enough to go up and get direction on the separate leg head to knee posture. He was pretty funny with me. He said that because I was trying hard and not doing it very well, I was getting 110% benefit -- those who do the pose easily don't get as much benefit. I take that to mean that I'm really getting a LOT of benefit from my entire practice!!!

Also today, I stood up when we were talking about bow pose, and told him that I came with excruciating back pain and now that's all gone, but my knees are killing me in standing bow and in the floor bow. He asked me why my backed ached so much and I told him I had been sitting at a computer for 20 years. He complimented me and said that I must have started sitting at the computer since I was 5 years old! Perhaps his vision needs some help too!!! Anyway he told me to take the knee pain, it will go away eventually, so I will.

All in all, I will have done 99 yoga classes while here. This evening, I completed the 91st class. That's pretty cool, I have to admit.

The Last Week

2008-11-10T05:21:00.000-08:00

Spent most of the weekend sleeping. Talked to my dear friend Eileen, and she said that when you're dehydrated enough to require IV fluids, it takes a few days to come back up to speed. So I don't feel so bad about the volume of sleep I've had. Did go into town with my buddy Mark on Saturday night. Bought a new pair of jeans, which are already too big (not because I've shrunk, but because the jeans have stretched), and we had a great dinner in the old part of town. A giant meat, fish and vegetable kabob, rice, and some kind of slaw for 100 pesos (about $7.50). A very different price than what we've been paying here at the Fairmont. While we were enjoying our meal on the patio upstairs, there was a birthday party going on at the building next door --- they played musical chairs and had a pinata. It was so heartwarming and beautiful.

Then we walked a way and took a cab home. Yesterday, Sunday, the last Sunday I'll spend here, I again slept for most of the day but made sure to go to the beach for sunset. I love it here at the end of the day. It's still warm out, easily warm enough to swim in the waters and the sunsets are spectacular. Ended up talking with Ivan from Croatia, and he's from an Island close to Split, where I've been and knows Plitvice, one of the most beautiful places in all of Europe. It was an interesting and eye opening conversation. Ivan is a very thought provoking fellow. We enjoyed the sunset together, talked until way past dark and then I returned for a shower, a little food, some study of dialogue and then another long sleep. This one was filled with strange dreams, I guess that's what happens when you get enough sleep. I finally feel rested.

Good news!!! Diane, the instructor from Boston whom EVERYONE loves is back!!! I hear that this week will again be a rough one, but at least with Diane on campus, we'll have some interesting and fun conversations. I would love to work with her, who knows.

Ok, time to get ready for another day.

Eight Weeks Down, One to Go

2008-11-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

We had another long lecture last night -- I think we went until after 1am. By the time I left the lecture hall, I was a zombie. Still tired from the dehydration. and I didn't help it earlier in the day -- after morning class yesterday, one of the studio owners from NYC offered to buy us all a coconut. They are really healthy for you; the juice inside can revitalize. The only problem is that we had to walk a way down the beach for them, and then stand in line for about a half hour. Then after I drank my coconut juice, I again stood in line to get it chopped up so I could eat the meat. Great coconut juice, bad sunburn. I can't believe I did that. I've been so careful and then at the worst possible time, I get a burn.

Just came back from my second yoga class of the day, my 13th class of the week. Am absolutely wiped out, plan to spend a good deal of time this afternoon sleeping. I have very mixed feelings right now. Am definitely exhausted, and frankly feeling not so excited about yoga in general. It might be a function of the exhaustion, or perhaps a little too much of a good thing. Even so, I'm hoping that next week, we'll feel a little more psyched up about Bikram, about teaching, and about life. I don't want to leave here feeling overly tired or down.

Ok, time for a nap. Might go into town this afternoon, so I want to get some rest beforehand.

Love to all.

$150 US a litre

2008-11-06T22:02:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: In addition to the $150 IV charge, I get to do a makeup class for missing lecture last night (which went until 2:30am). Robyn, your questions are good ones, I'm asking the same thing. Don't want to ponder it too much, I need to stay positive through the next 8 days.

=================================

Well, I'm not nearly as tough as I thought I was. After what we thought was final savasana this evening, we were told to stay in the room and then Bikram came in a taught a third class of the day. I was in the front and had just finished a class that I had worked fairly hard. And I only had a little water left in my jug. But ok, I gave it a shot.

It didn't take long for me to totally lose control of my breathing, and I continually kept gulping air into my mouth. I could only do a few postures, didn't have much energy at all, but kept getting up and giving it a try. At one point, I was nearly sobbing, just simply because I couldn't seem to get my breath.

When class was over, I took what I thought was the longest walk out of the studio, hauling two very wet towels and when I got to the lobby, I nearly collapsed. They gave me some gatoraide, but it didn't help a splitting headache that I had. I could barely open my eyes. Then when I got back to my room, I still couldn't breathe and then after a quick shower, I started to shake all over and got really, really cold. Had the sense to call Jacqueline and Erin's room, and J came up immediately. Wrapped in a towel, I got the door open and then just lost it, couldn't breathe at all and collapsed on the floor by the door, by then a few other people were there to help, good thing because I couldn't keep the towel on and they had to help me to not flash the entire hallway!!!

They called the doctor and I got wheeled to the clinic, in front of a HUGE line of beautifully dressed people here for some convention. I wasn't exactly a pretty picture and probably scared them to death. And when I got to the clinic, they gave me two 1/2 litres of an IV drip, the first had potassium, the second one was full of Vitamin B.

I feel much better now, and do NOT recommend this as an alternative to lecture. It will cost me $150 US for that little treatment. But the headache is gone!!!

Had a banana to prevent cramps tonight. Going to sleep now, 13 more classes (unless there's more surprise classes) and 9 days to go.

I'm ready.

Before and After

2008-11-05T17:54:00.001-08:00

Melissa, my buddy from Canada, took some pictures in the studio over the last few weeks and I copied them from her blog, just to give you an idea how much we sweat over 90 minutes.

Here we are before class started, Smiley and dry.

And here we are after class, still smiley, but definitely a lot more wet. Honestly, if we jumped in the pool, it's unlikely we would be dripping any more than we do after yoga class. If you had any doubts about how tough this is, hopefully now you can see, this is NOT for wimps!!

The story of Chris Bayiokos

2008-11-04T17:32:00.000-08:00

Because there are so many people in this training program (more than 300), we have been split into 14 groups organized alphabetically. I'm in group 1, Abidi to Bickle-Box. We have a really awesome group including our friend Chris Bayiokos. At the start of training, Chris had a lot of trouble, though, for whatever reason, he would often skip posture clinic and then when he did show up, he did not prepare to deliver the pose. He was, in his own words, "miserable" and fought hard against the process. In time though, and with quite a few talks by coaches, group members and others, Chris came around. And then he REALLY came around and stood out as a very strong team member. He learned his dialogue thoroughly and delivered beautifully. I have been honored to practice with him on several occasions, and worked well together, we helped each other learn well and quickly.

So this week we had to choose one person from our group to deliver the spinal twist in front of the entire group. It was unanimous -- we chose Chris. Here's a picture of him just as we announced it to him:

And here he is with our group practicing this afternoon. We look like bowling pins don't we?

And finally, here is our group on the stage with Chris at the lead, delivering the spinal twist dialogue. I have say, I'm so happy for him and for us -- he did a GREAT job and we are all so proud of him and of our commitment to each other. It was a terrific moment.

Ok, we're off for the night, I'm heading to the bar to watch the results on the big screen with the group. No beer though -- that celebration will have to wait.

Love to all.

Get out the VOTE!

2008-11-04T05:30:00.001-08:00

Today's an historic day.....Bikram is letting us out of evening lecture to watch the election results!!!

It's 7:30 am Tuesday, and I'm still sore from last night's class. Bikram freely admitted afterward to testing us in the yoga room. It was his first class in two weeks --- he did a grand world tour via Los Angeles, Munich, Frankfurt, Dubai, Calcutta, Miami and then a return to Acapulco. And maybe a few other cities in between. So to see how we fared in his absence, he pushed us very hard for nearly two hours. No one threw up or cramped up, but after class, many people were on the floor by the fans (haven't seen that in a while), and it took me more than 2 hours to feel human again. I did pretty well -- completed all postures and held most for the entire time. He is truly unlike anyone else in that he carries with him a presence that can inspire others to do WAY more than they thought capable.

He also admitted to being impressed with our collective performance. That's a good thing.

Ok, have to get ready for morning class. Don't think I'll be full of energy for this one, but I'll give it my best.

Yesterday I delivered the last formal posture and did a pretty good job. Hurray!! I'm not done though, now it's time to start all over again from the beginning and re-learn all the postures. This is an ongoing process. Better get to it.

Everyone VOTE!!!

Love to all. Lucille

On Being 46 - part deux

2008-11-02T11:53:00.000-08:00

I mentioned a while ago that Bikram was very explicit in his instructions, "no alcohol, no smoking, no drugs, no touchy, no feely, no kissy and no fucky". Quite to my own surprise, except for the occasional twinge that passes fairly quickly, I really don't miss a glass of wine or a cold Corona. In fact, I'm planning to cut back when the training is over. There's no need to pollute this new--ish healthy body. Regarding the passion and affection, there really isn't any one here who interests me (or whom I interest), so that's not much of a problem. In any event, there's absolutely no way that I would even come close to risking my certification. I've worked too hard and at this stage nothing will get in my way.

Now having said that, I'm lucky that I'm mature enough physically and emotionally to get that. Unfortunately, there are a few people here who are making choices for immediate gratification in one way or another, and frankly, I think it's a bad choice. Part of the purpose of this training is to remove us from the things that we cling to, to the things we take comfort in, in order to forge a stronger, purer and better sense of self. I recognize that (but probably wouldn't have at 25) and think it's a terrific opportunity. In many ways, I'm glad that I'm older than most so that I can take full advantage of that opportunity. Yup, age does have its benefits.

Like many of the people here, though, I'm definitely displaying a "younger" side of myself. I don't even think in the prime of my adolescence, I broke out as much as I am breaking out here. I'm hoping, though, that the rash on my chest, arms and back is the emergence of pre-cancerous cells that are being pushed out by healthier replacements (I am avoiding sun exposure for those who wonder). Either that or the fact that we're wet all the time, sweating profusely before, during and after yoga twice a day, and regularly exposed to chlorinated water might create a negative environment for my skin. In any event, I started to do Dr. T's facial scrub and I have to say, my face and skin feel pretty good overall! As I mentioned several weeks ago, Dr. T spoke to us about anatomy, but his speciality and passion is holistic food and products. He recommended a facial scrub made of the following ingredients: Avocado oil, spread lightly over the face and neck, then honey mixed with salt as an exfoliant. Lightly scrub all over and then rinse off and be on with your day! It's kind of fun, and it actually tastes good!

I don't know what avocado oil costs back home, but I can get a bottle at Walmart for about $2 here -- avocados as many of you know, are in full supply around here, so if anyone wants me to get them a bottle, put in your order now!!

Love to all, your aged (and young at heart) friend.

BOOOO Jangasana!

2008-10-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!!!

Have had a very interesting and quite fun few days. We're nearing the end of the dialogue - in fact, I have only one more pose to go, whew!!! and have done fairly well on the recent postures. Joni, our coach from today (who lives in Houston with her husband, awesome couple), said that she had a hell of a time with dialogue when she went to training and used a hypnotherapist to help her solidify the words. Might try that.

We also had a really terrific speaker on Wednesday and Thursday. Jon the fascia guy they call him. He's from SoCal and is NOT a certified Bikram instructor, but he does practice and teach yoga and is also a body worker specializing in the fascia, which is the connective tissue all over the body. Consider the white stuff in an orange. it separates the different chambers and also serves as the sac for the juice. In our bodies, fascia does the same thing. He is a proponent that the fascia is one of the 12 rivers in the body and it holds the "memory" of physical or emotional trauma. Stretching and flexing out the fascia through yoga or body work helps to keep the body healthy. And because it is one contiguous organ, it can affect a number of things in different places. When I was a kid, my mom got acupuncture in her ear to help her stop smoking, and she did. The needle in the ear penetrated the fascia river that affects the physical desire to smoke! He said a lot of things that many people found controversial, but I found it mostly sensible and all interesting! He also said that getting a hard inner core (like 6-pack abs) is not a good thing --- hard muscles in effect dam up the fascia river and block the energy flow in the body. Maybe that's why so many people here have little budda bellies. I have to say I'm one of those people now. That hard little body I owned 25 years ago is gone. But I'm healthier now in many ways.

Today being Halloween, included a lovely pan dulce in our rooms to celebrate el Dia de los

Muertos, we also all wore orange and black in the yoga studio and that was fun to see, AND this evening we were taught by Wren, a senior instructor from headquarters. Wren is quite flamboyant and put on a very hilarious show for us! And that made the 90 minutes fly by.

So a lecture tonight, and one more class tomorrow and that wraps up week 7 of this adventure. In some ways this has been like groundhog day and in others it's different every day. Earlier in the week, I was ready to go home, but today, I am already getting a little wistful. Yup, I'm treasuring my remaining days.

But if you try sometime, you just might find....

2008-10-28T15:06:00.001-07:00

...you get what you need!!!

It's amazing what can happen when you put the request out there. So this afternoon, we got Wendy from Vancouver as a dialogue coach and she was EXACTLY what our group needed. Her feedback is always positive, constructive and NOT critical. She created a positive environment, she helped us lose our shell-shock, and she even asked other people what advice we had for making people better. It was so terrific.

So, tonight another posture, one I haven't even come close to memorizing, so I better get to it.

Love to all.

Thanks for the support!!

2008-10-27T22:26:00.001-07:00

I can't thank you all enough for providing positive feedback and comments. It helps so very much -- this evening was rough, at least in my mind. It can be frustrating when you do your "homework" as instructed, and it compromises your delivery of the dialogue. Then the new coach criticizes you exclusively for doing what you were told to do. Grrrrrrrrrrr.

But here's the thing: When I get back and start my apprenticeship, it might be a little rough at the beginning, but as I find my own way, I KNOW I will be a great yoga instructor. As I mentioned in the last post, I may have a different style than others, but I know that there will be people who appreciate my style. In addition, I am not the best yoga practitioner in the world, not even close, but the fact that I struggle in so many poses will help me have compassion for those who also struggle, and with that compassion, encouragement and use of the dialogue, I will help people.

Last week we saw a recent news clip of Rajashree talking about the benefits of Bikram yoga and while she talked, they were showing some rubber band of a human doing a bunch of poses in the 26/2, but this bendy person was ALSO doing very advanced poses. In my opinion, anyone who watched that, even though Rajashree said that it's for everyone, probably thought, "Well, I can't bend like that, I can't do that yoga, they're crazy if they think I can do that"! One of the things I will insist upon if I ever get the opportunity to participate in any kind of news coverage, is saying that I struggled for two years to get my hips on the floor in fixed firm, I am still working toward getting my head on the floor in many poses, and stretching my hamstrings still is a challenge, but I'm better than I was and I will continue to improve, and so can YOU!!!! In a visual, I will insist that there be both super-bendy and a regular-bendy human so people can see the natural variation in the yoga practice.

Sorry for the preaching, I'm a little worked up tonight. Should be learning camel, but I won't be able to until I get all this off my chest.

I also think that at this stage in the training, we know our group members more than some of the coaches. Although coaches have information that can provide benefit, I think the system would be better if we had one or two members of our own team up there as coaches to discuss and encourage, to identify steady improvement, and to consult with the senior teacher/coach because what he/she wants to say, may NOT be what that person needs to hear to improve!

Perfect example: One person from our team stood up tonight and delivered a very strong dialogue and showed fabulous improvement. From where she had started weeks ago, it was a great delivery! The coach, however, said to her in a squeaky voice, "you have a squeaky voice". You should have seen her face drop. Not only was it not what she needed to hear, it negated all of the positive feedback that came before. This young woman will not remember any of that, she'll just remember that "she has a squeaky voice". If we had a person from our team on the committee of coaches, we would be able to communicate her progress, her strengths and also coach HOW to deliver criticisms in a way that the person can receive it in a positive manner. Oh well, wishful thinking, but thanks for letting me get it off my chest.

And thanks again for the positive comments, support and questions. It does help so very much. Now I need to learn Camel.

Love to all, Lucille

On Being 46

2008-10-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

Some days I really don't feel my age. I'll catch myself in the mirror and am truly surprised to see an older version of myself looking back at me.

Other days, it's fairly apparent. Today, for example, I was looking at all the spry 20 and 30 somethings, and I remember what it felt like to have a body that was lithe, strong and good looking! Now I have a few wrinkles, a thicker mid-section (that is getting smaller, but still) and bones and tendons that don't like to cooperate as much as they used to. Now don't get me wrong, I'm still in fine shape, I just don't look the way I used to. That's fine and I'm not trying to regain the past, but at times, I wonder.....

Here's something interesting about being a woman of a particular age...today I stood at the mirror for the very first time since training began. Which meant I was closer to the podium than I had ever been. I was fully expecting to get a lot of corrections, but nothing. I wonder sometimes, if I am ignored as I'm not as promising as others in the room. I'm not sure, but it's a thought in my mind.

This morning, I worked really hard to not only do, but do well all of the postures. I'm hoping that the cost won't be additional pain in the knees. They were fairly ok this weekend....but I felt Fred Flintstone throbbing in the studio and after. So we'll see. Jacqueline is letting me use her homeopathic pain gel from Holland and that stuff is magic!! Don't know what's in it, but it has gone beyond ibuprofen as the magic I need.

Ok, better shower up and eat. We'll have 6 hours of posture clinic today, which means that I'll have to do at least 2 postures. Better get to it!!

UPDATE 8PM: Well, it figures, for the very first time, I got called out in class and told I needed to separate my legs more in standing separate leg head to knee. I have very small feet for my height and have a hell of a time balancing on the way down, while down, and on the way up, so I tend to keep my legs together closer than I should on the way down and up just to prevent falling down, then separate them while I'm in the posture. Not the greatest form, but better than falling out. Today I finally got nailed for it, and I smiled like crazy. I WAS NOTICED!!!!

ALSO....talked today to a friend around the same age as me, and she too feels the difference in doing this as a more mature person. She feels frustrated and criticized often in posture clinic, and isn't able to let down a mane of hair like the younger women are asked to do (or at least was asked today). She also feels that she will be a disappointment to her studio owners. I told her that although we are all encouraged in similar ways to be very vivacious here, we will develop over time our own style, and if I've learned anything, I know that as a studio owner, I will hire a staff of people with varied styles of delivery, some with lots of "rah rah" energy, some a little more low key. Because some of the teachers I love here are not appreciated by others and vice versa. People have different tastes, and I think it's important to give them different options.

Love to all.

Stressful Friday and Picture Time!

2008-10-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

If last friday was a riot, this friday was the polar opposite. We had posture clinic with an instructor who creates an environment that can be fairly stressful. Although I'm guessing that part of the reason is to recreate, to the best of his ability, the yoga studio, the results at times can be overwhelming. I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that some people had a really rough time and received a type of treatment that, in my opinion, verged on the inappropriate. It was the very first time that I actually questioned the logic and the wisdom of this process. I'm shaking it off now, with effort.

Ok, so I took a bunch of photos over the last few weeks and have time to post a few and describe this life here.

This is Eleanor doing the bow pose with Rajashree on the podium. Eleanor is a human Gumby and is a beautiful yogini. But look around, most people are not like her -- they are very "normal" in their ability to bend.

Here are my posture clinic buddies doing standing bow. Andy is a writer from London, Annie is a marketing person from Canada, I don't know about the other guy, and Summer is a lawyer from somewhere. Great people all.

Here's Jodi!!! She's so totally cool, and is always in a good mood. I often find myself practicing next to her, and she coaches me to keep going when I want to take a knee.

Last Sunday's sunset on the beach. In Mexico, there are no private beaches,

so there are always vendors selling all kinds of things in front of the hotel. This guy was selling horseback rides.

Toe pose in posture clinic. The guy in the center is a senior teacher from Bend Oregon. Very positive guy. BTW, I can't do this pose yet. I hurt my knee in this posture before I came to Acapulco, and between fear and aching knees (a description, not a complaint), this one eludes me.

Sunrise from my balcony. Great full moon, eh?

Robert and Vincent. I love these two. They couldn't be more different, and yet they are the best of buddies and roommates.

Vincent is a retired school teacher from New York City and Robert is a yogi master and a physical therapist from Amsterdam. Great people.

Here's Robert and our group a few sundays ago practicing triangle. Robert doesn't project much, so we went to the hotel's porte-cochere and Robert stood in the driveway yelling his dialogue.

That's it for now. Tonight is a barbecue on the beach and I have to run errands before then!!! Love to all.

Medical / Spiritual Lecture

2008-10-24T05:38:00.000-07:00

Rajashree has been leading up the lectures all this week, and they have not only been interesting, they have been many, and so we've only done two postures this week! How lucky are we???

Raj discussed the medical benefits of Bikram Yoga. She has been involved in several studies designed to show that this type of yoga does not treat the symptom, but rather it improves the system, thus the symptom eventually is alleviated.

The definitive tests are just beginning, but through initial tests and through people's own experiences, it can be said that Bikram yoga helps improve depression, diabetes, a multiple of auto immune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, crones, lupus, and it seems to alleviate the treatment of cancer.

It makes sense if you think of it. The 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises first of all help to slow and yet increase capacity of breathing. This is exactly in opposition to the fight and flight syndrome in which your breath is quicker, your immune system shuts down, your blood pressure rises and more. In western society, the proverbial tiger chases us daily, and some argue, the subsequent stress is the cause of many diseases. Bikram yoga helps the body to counteract that stress.

In addition, because accurate execution of most poses choke off a section of the body (and an organ or gland), the release of the pose flushes fresh oxygenated blood to that previously deprived body part and helps to keep it clean and healthy. This is one of the best things I can be doing for my body.

Last night our lecture was from a woman who is a general physician as well as a yoga instructor and studio owner. She talked about how our mental state and how our status in the fear vs. love continuum also affects our health. She talked about how our emotions actually crystallize in the body (issue in the tissue) and can cause illness. Staying in the love state helps to alleviate that stress and all the bad stuff that comes with fear based living.

So, I’ve decided to quit complaining about how sore and achy I am. It will go away, and the longer I spend complaining, the longer I’ll be in a fear based state. You will hear no longer about that topic.

We have a few doctors and psychologists in our group. One is an oncologist and he was right on board with last night’s discussion. He will be participating fully in the future studies. The good news is that in the U.S. and the world, the trend is going toward yoga and other preventative processes because they recognize the benefits, and because the health care system is not working.

Ok, got to get on with it!!!

Love to all.

Lucille

Tension in the body; tension all around

2008-10-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

I don't take comfort in other's pain but at last I'm not the only one with a body on the verge of falling apart. Everyone is getting sore knees, riotous hamstrings, achy backs and more. The majority of the group has some kind of funky skin condition as well --- heat rash, allergies to the chlorine in the towels, water and sheets (yes, they chlorinate the tap water, not enough to kill you, but to kill everything else) and we are blotchy all over. One of the guys today brought ice to yoga class and put it all over his towel in an effort to avoid heat rash on his back once we hit the floor poses. Don't know if it worked or not, but I can guess that it felt pretty good!

For me personally, my yoga has gone completely to shit. Completely. Anything I was good at before I can barely do, and the stuff I struggled with I continue to struggle. Here's my positive perspective: I try to do the setup in a completely accurate way. If, with the grace of whatever higher power is up there, I'm able to get my practice back, I'll have a good foundation. And if I continue to suck forever, at least I'll have a good foundation.

The nurse told me that her knees hurt for two weeks after training concluded. That's comforting!

In addition, many people are getting very edgy. They are either perturbed with their roommate, tired of the same food every day, or just plain tired. Others, however, are savoring every moment. They realize we are on the back end of this adventure and feel sorry that it will be over.

Me? When Higbee had her puppies, I fell in love with every one of them. I could not imagine letting them go, but when the 10th week arrived, I was ready to have my time and my dog back and so was Higbee. I feel that way about this, and really, if I've learned anything, it's to not lament change. It is what it is and it will be what it will be.

In the meantime, I need to stay a little more positive as I can see myself getting sucked into the social tension.

Here's the good news though --- FINALLY, I'm starting to perform well in posture clinic!!! Yesterday, I actually had a person tell me that I sounded like a real yoga teacher!!! That is really comforting. I knew that once I was able to get the dialogue down, I could deliver with gusto, and it's great that that moment is finally here.

Ok, gotta get a shower and prepare for this evening's posture clinic.

Love to all.

The thought for the day sums it all up!

2008-10-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

I just read yesterday's thought for the day. I said before that it seems to be paralleling my experience here. Well, this one nails it. THIS is why we're here: to learn to fly!!!!

He that loveth, flieth, runneth, and rejoiceth. He is free, and cannot be held in. He giveth all for all, and hath all in all, because he resteth in one highest above all things, from whom all that is good flows and proceeds.
– Thomas a Kempis

This spring I watched six baby swallows learn how to fly. They were huddled on the telephone wires observing their mother, who came flying slowly by in front of them, doing the easier turns and showing them the basics of flying. There was no need for these baby swallows to read books or attend lectures on how to fly. They have an inborn instinct for it. Learning to fly may not be easy, but this is what birds are born to do.

The Lord sees us sitting on a perch made of pleasure, profit, power, or prestige, quaking with every variation in our bank account and every critical comment that comes our way; and he asks us if we would not rather forget our failings and learn to fly.

This is what we are born to do: to leave our perch of selfish interests and soar aloft. To soar to union with God means that all the faculties and resources which have been hidden in us can come into our lives, to the great benefit of those around us.

Week 5 Recap

2008-10-18T12:52:00.000-07:00

Greetings sent during a relaxing saturday afternoon. A lovely respite after a crazy couple of days. After the “Go Lu Go” event, I kind of blew it in posture clinic. The posture of the day was wind removing pose and when I got up to deliver, the coach asked me if I was ready. I said yes, I was ready and she said she didn’t think I was and suggested that I sit down. I said no, I was ready and began the posture. About 5 lines in, I stopped and said I had fucked up and asked to start over. She suggested again that I sit down and I told her no--that would be admitting defeat, so I started over and did fairly ok. Not my best posture, but certainly not my worst. Now, one way to describe the situation is to say that she psyched me out by suggesting that I wasn’t ready and I needed to sit down. The alternative is that I psyched myself out, but by staying up there, I pushed through it. I think I did have a breakthrough; I studied until 1:30 on Thursday night for Friday’s pose (about 90 minutes, nothing compared to others) and delivered it beautifully. It felt great! I even got to tell the group my Go Lu Go story, and brought quite a few people to tears. That was cool to have touched people that way.

I haven’t been worried since then. Others, mostly the perfectionists, were absolutely freaked out by Friday evening because we were moving into postures that they hadn’t practiced to perfection. So when we got into posture clinic on Friday, the room was filled with nervous energy combined with mania. We had a coach from Boston, and she was very kind. Her feedback was mostly appropriate and very encouraging. One guy wasn’t loud enough and she told him she would make him “deliver it to her in the bathroom”. The intended meaning, of course, was that she would go in the room next door and he’d have to yell it loud enough for her to hear it, but we all just busted up at the double entendre.

When we finished with Cobra, people started to look around nervously as we had to start on Locust and we weren’t ready. I was pretty calm; it’s not a terribly difficult pose to describe; mostly, you have to do is be sure to get the head, hands and feet in the right position, and then it’s all encouragement, “go up, way up, more up, lift up, come up MORE….aaaaaand relax” That’s not exactly right, but it’s not that hard to get close. So, Malavika, aka Miss Calcutta, is from India and is amazingly prepared and usually delivers in a crisp and direct manner. She got up and just freaking let loose! “put your hands under your body, yeah, yeah, do that” and then “lift your body” (when it’s supposed to be leg), but she just kept going strong and when it came time to encourage people to continue to hold their both legs up, she was swinging her arm around like a cowboy on a wild buck: “Go Up Way Up Come Up, More Up” and the normally disciplined and proper Indian woman was swinging around like a maniac just blew our minds. She finished and ran around the room getting high fives from everyone. We just laughed and laughed and laughed, both from her energetic performance, and from the break in tension. It was a great night.

Here’s an image of proper Malavika teaching triangle to Jason from Hawaii.

We have finished five weeks of training. My body is getting stronger (and firmer) and soon my joints will stop aching and my knees will stop throbbing. In afternoon class, I’m fully participating; in morning class, I’m getting through most of it. When I think of what I’ve accomplished so far, I’m pretty impressed. Not in an egotistic way, but more with a quiet pride. I’m doing this, and after Friday’s dialogue, I finally got to believe that I CAN be a Bikram yoga instructor. And THAT is why they put so much pressure on you. You have to come to that conclusion on your own, you have to know it in your soul. I love this journey. It’s not easy by any stretch, but it’s amazing and extraordinary. And I have help. That’s what’s really great.

A few more random thoughts:

On Thursday evening, Manali, Bikram’s personal assistant, led us in a beautiful meditation. She sang in sanscrit a prayer (she called it something else) that she had learned as a child. Her father taught it to her and she admitted that she just liked the tune when young, and the meaning continues to unfold. It was so beautiful, if I hadn’t already had my cry for the day, I would have wept at the beauty of it. Instead, I just felt an energetic humming throughout my body. Sunny, who’s very much into these things, said that was Kundalini energy. She felt it too. This week and next, we’ll learn more about that topic as Rajashree and another woman will be here to talk about chakras and other healing benefits of yoga.

In regards to the healing benefits of yoga, some of the senior instructors stood up on Thursday night and talked about their experiences. One fellow said that he was nearly dead at 27 from clots in his leg. The doctors wanted to amputate and he refused, and instead found some relief through other types of yoga. After a regular practice of Bikram, the pain in his legs disappeared completely, AND while in teacher training, he got a massage and while they were working on his legs, he had a huge realization that the pain in his legs was related to the death of his father and the subsequent sorrow. He referred to it as an “issue in the tissue”. Makes a tremendous amount of sense to me.

Another instructor had had ovarian cancer, normally a death sentence. She not only beat the cancer, after several years of Bikram yoga, the doctors said that that the ovary that they had removed mostly was regenerating and healthy. Go figure.

Third, an instructor with scoliosis said that her spine has straightened more than 4% since doing Bikram. That’s significant; as an adult, it’s virtually impossible to get the spine to correct. She also has had her bone density measured; at nearly 50, she has the bones of a 24 year old. This stuff isn’t magic, but it does heal the body, mind and soul.

Ok, have to get some postures memorized. Then another visit with Gorky!!!!

Go Lu, Go!

2008-10-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

My first job after graduation was at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, and my dad worked directly across the street at One Market Plaza. We'd often have lunch together and we'd also ride home from work together. I participated once in the "Financial District Strut" which was a relay race for women. We had to pass a newspaper baton and speed walk through a designated route in our business suits, wearing sneakers and carrying our briefcases. I was the last leg of our team, and after winding up staircases and around the Embarcadero Center, I entered the chute into Justin Herman Plaza. There had to have been a thousand people there, but about 3/4 of the way in the chute I noticed my dad at the rope yelling, "Go Lu, Go!"

So today I woke sore and achy from head to toe. I was so tired of the continual pain and the inability to fully perform the poses. We had Lisa from Texas as an instructor, and she is truly inspirational, but even so, by the time we got to triangle pose, I honestly wasn't sure how I was going to get through it. I searched deep down for something to help, something, and then bright as day, as clear as it happened more than 20 years ago, the image of my dad yelling, "Go Lu Go!" blazed into my head. It was so visceral; he was there with me.

So I started to cry again, but this time, I had a great big smile on my face and I continued to do the poses, I continued to do them well and strongly. I kept weeping but nobody noticed, and my body felt lighter, the poses got easier. My dad was with me and he was cheering me on.

I was a daddy's girl; I AM a daddy's girl. And someday soon, I will find a man who will cheer me on just like my dad does. Thanks dad!

Group One --Jazz Hands!

2008-10-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

This is an image we took today of my Posture Clinic Group. We have really gelled and are so supportive, happy and just plain good people. Ok, more later, just finished class and my knees feel like they are going to explode. Plus we have another posture clinic tonight and NO ONE is prepared for this pose. Better do some work.

Hey --- they played "We're Half Way There" at the end of class today!! Cool!!!

Oh, We're Half Way There....

2008-10-15T08:51:00.001-07:00

Oh Oh, Living on a prayer. Take my hand we'll make it I swear.

Today marks the half way point of the training. Feeling strong enough, sore, but getting by. More later...have to deliver tree and toe stand this afternoon and need to solidify the poses.

Love to all.

Emotional Pain, Physical Pain and the Yoga Triangle

2008-10-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I talked about my back pain and the feeling I got in savasana that said, "let go of the pain". I did let go of not just the physical pain, but also the emotional pain of the loss I have experienced. But I didn't deal with it fully-it wasn't all out. This week I was in a standing posture, and a thought blazed into my head in bright neon lights, all caps, "YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD". I lost it and started sobbing. Got into a child's pose on my mat, and just let loose. I had put my hands around my face, like a child, to be alone, but what I didn't realize is that I created an echo chamber and instead of being more quiet, I was booming my sobs about 4 rows around me. No big deal, everyone here breaks down eventually.

I have talked about how we are changing on the cellular level, and I really think this is true. Old injuries, physical or emotional, are coming up to the surface and we have the opportunity in this place and time to heal them, to fix them, to resolve them. Some injuries can't be fixed, but they can be faced and acknowledged, and I think that those who fight the flow will have a harder time than others. And the resolution is not just in regards to things that have happened to you, it's about the pain you have caused as well. It all comes to the surface in one way or another, and stuffing it back is contrary to the flow. "Let it out, let it go" is one of my mantras. "Lock the knee" is another, of course.

I just got back from Mega, the awesome grocery store next to Walmart. It's like a Mexican Raley's. While waiting for the bus to pick us up, I had the opportunity to sit and chat with my buddy Jodi. She never ceases to amaze me. She has such a positive attitude, not naive by any stretch, but solid, intelligent and funny!!! She said she sits in posture clinic and thinks about making t-shirts with Bikramisms. She let a few fly and I just laughed and laughed. I won't share because they belong to her (well, and Bikram), but they were brilliant.

Ok, off to the pool for the afternoon to study 2 more postures.

This is a shot of Robert, Erin, Vincent and me practicing our dialogue in my hotel room. Robert is a yoga champ from Amsterdam, Erin is my buddy from Chicago, and Vincent is a retired school teacher from New York City. Excellent people all.

Make it a great day!!!

Love Lucille