Change Your Thinking. Change Your World.

I DIDNT MAKE IT TO CLASS TODAY!!!!

Go ahead....gasp, shake your head, sit in stunned silence...I'll wait. Ok, done yet??

Yes, I didnt make it to class. I absolutly couldn't.

In addition to working a full time job, I am also a student. After getting my Bachelors Degree from Washington State University in 2001, I moved to Nashville for music. I have had a great run in the music business but Im ready for a new challenge. So, back to school I have gone....to be a dental hygienist.

My whole plan when I began this challenge was that when school started, I would attend the 6am yoga classes. That way I could do yoga, then work, then school. I was really taken aback (stunned actually) yesterday to learn the Tuesday/Thursday 6am class is no longer offered during the summer!!!! I found this out right before I walked into class last night and I was very bummed throughout class as I racked my brain thinking of ways to make it work. Unfortunately, there was just no way around it. None of the class times would work. Not one.

So thats it. Done. Didn't Make It. Failed. OR did I???

I talked to Cassie (owner/teacher) and she really put a whole new light on this situation. She could tell I was extremely dissapointed, but she told me (and I quote) "this isnt about rules, or the number of classes, making this more painful and stressful for yourself....this is about doing the very best you can with what you have. That is Yoga." After her pep talk I really thought about all the awesome things she said and decided that she was right. Yes, maybe I didnt make all 30 classes, but I finished 23 and that is dang good! I completed the longest consecutive run of exercise I had ever done in my life....not to mention 23 days straight of washing my hair! :) I could decide to look at this as a failure, or I could use this as an opportunity. Can you guess what I did???

The reality of life is that things happen. Circumstances change. Rocks drop from the sky and mess up the perfectly paved path you were walking on. So...then what???

Well then, CHANGE YOUR THINKING, CHANGE YOUR WORLD!

(A great non-profit company called Think Happy Stuff makes all sorts of fun stuff with that saying on it. I love it!)

My new thinking is this. I will do the best I can to make it to yoga as much as I can. On the days I cannot make it, I will find another "yoga moment" for myself. Maybe that is a jog, or a walk with my sweetheart, poses on my mat in my living room, or even taking a savasana in my car on my lunch break while listening to relaxing music!! :) Maybe its even going to work with dirty hair! (ok, that is stretching it)

So, a huge hug and thank you to all of those who have read this, supported me & smiled at me through the mirrors in class! You have kept me going, you are all strong, inspiring, amazing people...and I want to read your blogs!!!! So start them, and send them to me!!!!!

See you soon yogi's!!!!!

Day 18, 19 & 20!!!

Whoo hoo....10 days to go!!! Dont get me wrong, I have loved this experience...but I think I can safely say that I am ready for a day off! Not to stop hot yoga completely, but maybe just a few days of rest to catch my breath and give my body a break.

That said, this journey has been amazing. I have pushed myself mentally & physically and also really made a change in my life. I have learned that no matter how busy life is....there is always time for a good workout!! Im the master of excuses...but the truth is, there is no excuse! If you want to be healthy and fit...all it takes is determination to find the time to make that happen. I hope that after these 10 days are over, I will continue finding time for me and for a good sweat....cause I feel great right now!

My feet and knees feel strong, solid and soo good. No aches or pain at all in them. I can see my waist wittiling away and that is awesome. My arms are toning up and my left rotator cuff is slowly healing. I still have to take special care during half moon pose, as that tends to pull a little too much. Today, memorial day, there was only 1 class session open. It was a 930am class and it was PACKED. I counted 14 mats in in row, and 4 rows deep! I was so impressed and inspired that so many other people made being there a priority. Being in a room with people like that is intoxicating. I also thank PJ for letting me borrow a mat and a towel....as I walked out the door today without any of that!!!

Day 16 & 17!

Day 16 I had Cassie as my teacher! She was the one who started this whole thing, so it was fun to have her an an instructor. Typically when the instructor walks through the door, we all hop up and the workout begins. We did this with Cassie and she asked us to lay back down. She walked us through some breathing and told us to pick out a "warrior phrase." Something you can repeat to yourself throughout class to keep you going. My warrior phrase was "PERSEVERE!" And have to tell you, it worked!!! When I felt tired, worn out, totally done...I just thought of my warrior phrase and it helped me stay with my effort. I really loved it! Cassie...you were an awesome instructor, I cannot wait to be in your class again!

Day 17 was a highlight in this series. In my past life, before hot yoga took over, I took a sculpting class each Monday and Wednesday at the YMCA. I LOVED that class and as I started to become a regular, I made some really cool friendships with other women in the class. One of those friendships was with my amazing instructor Heather.

Not only is she my health & fitness inspiration but she is an all around wonderful person. So....when I got my hands on a guest pass, I invited Heather to join me! She accepted, today was the day & SHE WAS AMAZING!!! She was a first timer and I was so impressed with how awesome she did. Her awkward pose was even better than this one! Her legs were parallel to the floor!!!! (I guess all those squats pay off!)

Heather has two fun blogs that I look at every day! She makes really yummy gluten-free dishes on glutenfreecat.blogspot.com, and she recently started a blog about fitness too (because she is training for her first triathlon) glutenfreecatfitness.blogspot.com! Check her out...she'll inspire you too!

HALF WAY BABY!!!!!

I didnt write about Day 14, cause it was just Day 14.....but Day 15....thats another story! Im half way to the finish line!!!!

I made a major effort today to eat plenty of calories, plenty of protein and plenty of potassium. What a difference it made! When I left class today, I actually felt good and energized, instead of utterly wiped out (which I've been feeling like lately). I think Wade was pretty surprised that I even did the dishes tonight after dinner instead of saying...."I'll do it in the morning!" :)

I got a comment on my last entry that totally inspired me. (Thank You Janet) She said success is walking in the room and getting on the mat! That is what I will be living by for the next 15 days. My goal at the beginning is the same goal I have now....to finish (and look hot in my hot pants of course! )

Day 13

Wasnt my best yoga day...the last few have been tough. I did the sunrise class today which is pretty hard on my left torn rotator cuff. Just when I think its completely healed, a downward facing dog tells me otherwise. I spent the majority of the time on the floor today...just couldnt muster it up. I had a headache this morning too and I ended up having to skip out of class a little early because I needed excedrin soooo bad. Sorry Kelly for having to leave!!!

But dont worry...Im not going to be Negative Nelly the entire blog....so here comes Positive Planting Polly!

Today (while my yoga mats dried), roma tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapenos & bell peppers were planted in beautiful pots gifted to us by my future mother in law. This is the first time Ive ever planted anything and thank goodness I have Wade to help take care of them....cause they might die a slow death without him. Pretty ironic that I NEVER forget to feed myself....but always forget to feed my plants!

We also planted herbs which smell amazing already and really spruce up the deck. We have Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Thyme & Oregano. I tried to find chives and mint but lowes didnt have them, so now Im on the hunt.

As I get deeper into this fitness challenge, it is becoming more and more essential to eat clean and healthy. Not only for its nutritional benefits, but for the energy it gives me. Its amazing how unhealthy foods really zap your energy and make your whole body feel heavy and lethargic. I will take Cassie's advice and eat more potassium this week and also get some trace mineral vitamins too....anything to help me through week 3 of this challenge is welcomed!

Day 12

Today I convinced (guilted) my sweetheart Wade to join me for the Saturday noon class! I was excited for him and also a little scared he might get up, give me a "how could you?" glare and leave in the middle of class. If you were a fly on the wall of our car on the way to the studio, this is what you would have heard:

M: I'd drink as much of that water bottle as possible before you get there

W: nah, Im fine

M: If you feel dizzy or nauseous at any time, dont be embarrassed to sit or lie down

W: ok (with a concerned tone)

M: Feeling dizzy or nauseous is totally normal, but if you feel like something is wrong, dont just run out...make sure you motion to the teacher that you need to leave

W: um, usually feeling dizzy or nauseous does mean something is wrong.

M: oh, well you know what I mean

W: not really, I just know I should never have agreed to this!

BUT....he rocked (as I knew he would!) I mean, he couldn't get the arms figured out on Eagle, looked more like a broken umbrella than a capital letter T, and did tree on the floor....but I was beaming at him in the mirror with pride. He tried really hard, got an awesome workout, surprised himself with his strength, and felt really good when he left. As we sat out in the lobby and cooled off, this was our conversation

W: look at all the people who come here and torture themselves!

M: Yeah, but look how fit they are! Do you wanna come back?

W: I think I could do more yoga.....without the hot!

W: My arms looked buff in that mirror!

M: yes they did baby! :)

I think I just fell a little more in love with him today!

Day 11

Ok, isnt this suppose to be getting easier??? Today was hands down the hardest class I have EVER been in. And I guess Im not alone in this thinking because the people I talked to after class said the same thing!!! Our instructor mentioned that in the summer, the room gets much hotter, so maybe that was why....maybe it was that I hadn't eaten much protein that day....maybe it was that I wasnt wearing hot pants? :)

The highlight of the class was meeting a new friend, Susan! (now that I am typing this Im panicking that Im getting her name wrong...but we will go with Susan for now!) She told me that she started back to hot yoga on the same day that I started my challenge. She bought a 30 day unlimited pass and she has only missed one day since!!!! I was so impressed and proud of her...as I know how hard this is. We both agreed that the tough part of coming to class every day is the scheduling. Figuring out what time to go, accounting for the time in takes to get here, knowing you cant really do anything directly after class because you are a sweaty mess, etc.

But we also agreed that we feel AWESOME!!!!

Hot Yoga is tough, there is no way around it....but the benefits of feeling amazing, watching your body change, and meeting great people makes it all worth it!

p.s. while we were outside chatting, another student recognized me!!! Im a celebrity!!!!