Week 2 - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Week 2 and we're picking up the pace a bit.  Our days are very long and yet do not feel long to me.  We sign in for yoga at 8:00am and the days usually go until 12:30 am or later.  This week we had another fun movie night with Bikram that went until 3:30am (a great Hindi movie called Jodhaa Akbar).  I am sleeping about half as much as normal.  The long days and demanding schedules are meant to help us discover that we have much more power and energy inside us than we ever imagined possible.  Several times this week, Bikram quoted his guru (Bishnu Ghosh) stating that yoga reveals the "latent forces, hidden power" in each of us.  So, whenever we are struggling with lack of sleep or fatigue, we are to remember this and try to discover that energy hidden within us.  I did experience a hint of that on Wednesday.  With only 3 hours of sleep, I was able to have two fabulous yoga classes and sit for hours and hours listening to people recite Half Moon dialogue and then Bikram's evening lecture until 12:30am...without feeling tired.  I felt so light and peaceful.  It was really an amazing experience.  This of course, did not last, but it is inspiring to know that there is the possibility of something more powerful inside you.


The Good
Monday evening it was my turn to say the "Half Moon Pose" dialogue to Bikram.  I was nervous and excited at the same time.  Moments before going up on stage I started to really sweat....all over.  I got up on stage, introduced myself and then said the dialogue...word for word.  It felt like a flash...and then it was over.  At the end, Bikram just looked at me, smiled and gave me the two thumbs up (literally).  That was it.  He didn't say anything to me.  Just a smile and approval.  Although it would have been nice to have a few words from Bikram, I took his response as a positive thing.  


The Bad 
Before going to training, teachers told me to expect that my body would "go through things" during the 9 weeks.  Doing 2 hot yoga classes a day has a profound impact on the body. (In just two weeks, I have already completed 21 classes!)  So, my first physical reaction to all the yoga was a day of feeling really sick (flu-like symptoms).  Then came the random sweats.  They would hit me at the strangest times... at all times of day or night for about 3-4 days.  Just sweat, sweat, sweat.   Then as fast as they came...they were gone.  


The other difficult thing this week has been getting used to being with 430+ people all of the time.  Just moving that many people up and down elevators in the hotel is a feat in itself.  You can't image what the elevators are like after a hot yoga class!!!  Just try to picture a crowd of hot, sweaty people pushing into an elevator like sardines.  (All trying to get to their rooms as fast as possible to grab a shower and a bite to eat before our next lecture.)  We manage to cram at least 15 sweaty people in at once.  Even at that rate, it takes a long time, so people get crazy about the elevators.  


The Ugly
I woke up Tuesday morning and had a strange rash/welt/giant red blotch on my face...origin unknown.  Most likely due to sweaty yoga mats and towels.  Ugh!!  Everyone says to just "trust the process."  Well, easy to say when it is not on your face!  Luckily, just like the random sweating...it went away as quickly as it came.  Whew!


Bikram is now gone away on business for two weeks.  We will miss him.  He brings so much energy and vitality to our yoga classes and lectures.  His lectures are fun and light-hearted...filled with crazy stories of famous athletes, world leaders and movie stars.  They are also packed full of ancient yoga knowledge and profound insights.  As I look over my notes from the week I am amazed at the depth of the teaching he has shared with us.  I feel so honoured.  


Next week, we break into small groups and start the posture clinics.  Evening lectures will be taught by visiting experts and Bikram's senior teachers.  Looking forward to see what these next few weeks will bring....