Day 8: Karma

You know how yesterday I was boasting about class being awesome? Well today bit me in the ass. First I missed Vals 9am class but went to Miranda's 11am instead. I really liked her...which was the only thing I liked about class today. My body was so tight I couldnt push myself in any of the positions. I felt like a steel rod. I only managed to sit for 2 minutes but I didnt roll once! I know Friday will be better.

Onward and upward!

Day 7 - Tenacity

I had another scheduling conflict yesterday, so I couldn't go to Brooke's Monday class. So off to Byrons Tuesday class I went. I rolled into class with such determination to do well. And I did! I went deeper in every posture and made sure I was breathing. I also sat for 8:10 minutes!

Day 6: Finding My Groove

Im 1/3 of the way done with my challenge! Today for some reason, all the postures felt easier. It's like I finally figured out the rhythm of the class. I, yet again, got my right arm out during the second set of awkward pose. I think it stayed out for 30 seconds.

When I sat, I managed to stay up for 6 minutes. Next week Megan, my aide, is not going to count out-loud for me because when she does, I find myself just waiting to hit a certain mark and then when I do, I allow myself to collapse.

These two weeks have certainly been challenging but I feel awesome and Im super proud of the progress Ive made. Im super excited to see what I can do in the next 4 weeks!

Day 5: Two in a row

Today was the first time I ever did two classes in a row (1 each day, not back to back). I was definitely more tired today, but I did well. My right arm was not behaving so I had to work through that.

When I was practicing my sitting, I was about 3 minutes in and my teacher Val looked over at me and asked my aide how long I had been sitting. She said about three minutes and Val's eyes got super wide and she started cheering for me. Then the whole class started cheering. I was worried that I would lose my balance but I kept it and sat up for 5 minutes again today!

Day 4: 5 minutes!

So I couldnt go to Mondays class due to a scheduling conflict so I went to Byron's Tuesday class instead. I liked him and I felt great in class. I managed to straighten both of my arms in awkward pose for one minute but then my right arm went back to its favorite curled pose. But progress!!

The more exciting news is I already reached one of my goals: to sit unassisted for 5 minutes!!!! I felt awesome to reach a goal so soon! Tomorrow is Vals class and I cant wait to WOW her.

Day 3: Obstacles

I woke up and the muscle I had pulled a week ago was flaring up. It kept spasming causing me pain. But I knew yoga would help and I was right. I tried a new teacher today and did pretty well considering my leg. I sat unassisted for 3 minutes! I took it kinda easy with stretching my legs out but all in all a good class.

Day 2- Damn Leg!!!

I knew yoga was going to be harder today when I woke up at 6:30am with a leg cramp...and I was right! My movements were more jerky and I had to take it easy on some positions. However, when I sat on the floor, I managed to stay upright unassisted for 2:12!!! I am encouraged because in just one day I doubled my time. Also, when on the floor, my teacher Val walked over to me and asked me to straighten my leg out and I did. When I was in awkward pose I was able to stretch my arms out and not feel exhausted afterwards. When I started yoga,  my arms would shake from the effort. Heres a sweaty picture of me post-class (Im not mad, Im just looking into the sun!)

Day 1- Early Bird Does the Yoga

So as I was signing up for my classes this week, I realized that one of my teachers switched her usual 11am Monday class to 9am. I asked my aide if she could come in early so I could go to Brooks class at 9.
I did not want to wake up this morning but I was excited to start my challenge. Brooks class was especially hard today because I strained my right leg on Friday. However, I did straighten my right arm out a few times. That felt awesome! After class, Brook even complimented me on my arm straightening!
When I was on the floor, I sat unassisted for 1 minute and 11 seconds (roughly). This is a good start!
After class I was glad I went and my right leg felt better and I completed Day 1!!!!

Intro (Why I'm Torturing Myself)

Hey everyone,

Thanks for starting this journey with me. I'm Eva, I'm 32, and tomorrow, I begin my 6 week Bikram Yoga challenge! To those who don't know, Bikram yoga is done for 90 minutes and is 26 poses. The additional challenge is that the room is hot (like 104 degrees hot).

To be fair, I kinda cheated before deciding to do the yoga challenge. Normally, brand new people start out doing a challenge as they begin Bikram. But, I have been casually doing Bikram for 7 weeks. I have a good reason for testing it out before embarking on a challenge.

I have Cerebral Palsy which means for me, I use a power wheelchair to get around and spell out what I want to say on a letter board. This also means my muscles are always tight. I was not sure if I could even do Bikram or how my body would react. Finding a studio was an interesting experience. I called at least 8 studios and explained my situation. They were not exactly rude, but not exactly excited either.

Until I called Bikram Yoga Pasadena and spoke to Val, the owner. She was excited and encouraged me to come to her class and try. Because of my disability, I need to adapt some of the positions. For example, I do the standing series in my chair. My first class, I obviously had no clue what to do, but Val seamlessly adopted positions to fit.

For the 6 week challenge, my goals are to:

-Go to class 3 times a week
-Sit upright, on the mat, unassisted for 5 minutes 
-Get both my right arm and right leg straight out
-No rolling while on the floor (To lie straight on my back)
-To fully command breathing during all breathing exercises
-To straighten my leg in head to knee pose

These 6 weeks will be difficult, but I'm excited to see what I can do! I start tomorrow and I plan to blog after each class.