How Much Could My Life Change?

How Much Could My Life Change if I devoted thirty consecutive days to learning something new?  When I was a kid, my best friend Susan and I taught ourselves how to balance - arms outstretched on a guard rail across the street from my house in Miami Springs.  The guard rail was erected in this area to keep drunk people from accidentally driving into the canal.  Susan and I got so good at walking the guard rail that we were eventually able to run, perfectly balanced, laughing.  Life happened to us and unfortunately we grew up.  We had kids and ended up working for a living.  I've been thinking a lot lately - maybe because I keep getting these insistent form letters from the well meaning folks over at the AARP - about my childhood dreams.  One of my dreams has always been anything to do with climbing and balancing.  A fact that my mom was not too happy about when at age seven I climbed the fourth floor ledge at the Quito Hotel in Ecuador.  So, Surfer Boy and I huddled in together at my computer one balmy night and ordered a portable tightrope from a gentleman who constructs trapeze rigging equipment.  I don't know about you, but I've always had fantasies of running away with the circus.  Let's start with my front yard.

Day Thirty

If you squint, you can tell it's me

Today is officially day 30.  Yay!  I feel great.  In 30 days, I was able to rack up 32 classes.  Last week seemed to be tough going, but once I broke through, I felt a new surge of energy.

This morning, we had Nicole's 9AM class.  She's always full of fun stories about her hometown in New Orleans.  "Maybe we can have a yoga retreat in N'Awlins.  We'll do yoga in the morning, then eat fried foods and drink at night." she said.  "I'll come to it." piped in Doreen.  Trish took my photograph (above) one minute before class started.  We were in a hurry, so it came out blurry.  I promise you, I'm not in the witness protection program - it really is me.  

Surfer Boy and I have a special treat planned for tonight.  We do things in a big way around here.  We love to savor our accomplishments. 

Day Twenty Nine

This morning we had nine o'clock class with Dear Sweet Emily.  She is what you think of when you imagine a loving, kind, lavender scented yoga teacher.  I love her.

Today is my thirty first class - so technically I'm done - but I just can't stay away.  In fact, the workout felt amazingly great, probably because I didn't have to be there.

One of the students, Shayna, who is a retired schoolteacher that recently relocated to California from Hawaii has a five year Bikram Yoga streak going.  She hasn't missed one day in five years.  Just this morning Surfer Boy was commenting "Shanya's practice sure is good."  Now we know why.  That's inspiration!

Day Twenty Eight

Day Twenty Eight seems like a really good day to go to the dentist.

It feels odd not to be in the studio today.  Now that I know I don't have to be there every day - I completed 30 classes last night - yay! - I miss it.

A trip to the dentist is a big affair around here.  It entails me securing a driver (Surfer Boy) a pre medication with Valium, an anxious looking dental staff upon my arrival at the dental office, a blanket, headphones piped into the television suspended over the dental chair.  All this for a teeth cleaning!

I know, I know, I can run a hundred miles, surf, do 30 days of yoga, jump out of airplanes (not really but why not) but I don't do real well with the dentist.

What does all this have to do with yoga?  Absolutely nothing.  Other than the fact that irreparable damage has been done to my self esteem resulting in curling up on the sofa with a good movie tonight.

I will be back in the studio tomorrow for day twenty nine.

Day Twenty Seven

Today was a double workout.  I woke up early this morning feeling great.  A silver moon hung over the ocean before the sun rose and I just knew it was going to be a good day.

This morning I went to Nicole's class and breezed through it.

Tonight, Surfer Boy wanted to go to Chris's 4:30 yoga class.  I was feeling good so I said "Let's go."

The showers in the girls locker room were broken.  I guess the 30 day challenge has been taxing more than our bodies.  The owner of the studio, Marna and her husband were there with their baby son, Ryder and a Roto Rooter man who was feverishly working to get the ailing showers back up and running.

We had one new person in class.  Chris made sure to encourage her.  I think she'll be back.  We witnessed a gorgeous sunset during Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee Pose.  It was one of those sunsets that ends with a deep red sky on fire.

At the end of class, Chris called for a big round of applause for the new student - and for me.  You see, tonight was officially my 30th class.  I did it in twenty seven days.  I was the third student to complete the challenge, behind Dave and Trish.  I'm happy that my 30th was a class that I felt great in.

But I'm not done yet.  I plan on hanging out, filling you in on my 30th calendar day along with a full report on my celebration.

Day Twenty Six

As it gets closer to the end of the 30 day challenge, a frenzy is erupting in our cozy little yoga studio - a desperation to finish.

A few students like Dave and Trish have completed the challenge.  A few like Shayna are right on track and few who, well, life got the best of them in January.  But we've still got time.  The studio offers six classes a day Monday through Friday and three a day on Saturdays and Sundays.  So, just call in sick to the boss and spend your day at the studio!

This morning was Christian at eight o'clock.  Always a good challenging class.  A few braves souls - of which there were quite a few - were faced with double workouts today.  That meant they got to take first Christian's class, then Marna's ten o'clock right after.  Christian and Marna are two of the toughest teachers, God love 'em.

Who will finish?  Who will get to attend the party and be presented with a t-shirt?  The world waits with bated breath.

Day Twenty Five

When I walked into Nicole's eight o'clock class this morning, I was feeling not yet awake, dehydrated and generally ready for this challenge to be done.

Then I let the yoga do its magic and started feeling looser, more flexible and happier.

While we were concentrating and meditating - or should I say while we were supposed to be concentrating and meditating - I was entertaining myself with fantasies of what I'll be doing on the last day of my challenge as a reward.  Suddenly, my mood lifted even more to the point of being downright excited.

Now I have a wonderful day planned for day thirty.  I'm quite looking forward to it.