Today happens to be “Easter Sunday” so I “liked” and “shared” a couple great pix of Rabbit Poses on my FB page in honor of the Easter Bunny. That’s about as “eastery” as I get. I’m so glad my studio, Bikram Yoga Oak Park, didn’t reduce its class schedule for the holiday. I noticed a number of other studios I follow did. Today was the 10th consecutive week (and 11th of the last 12) that I did a back to back Sunday double, taking the 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. classes. I started doing it in January as a way to keep pace with my 30 then 60 day challenge, but now that my challenge is over (60 on 3/13/13) I just kept doing my Sunday doubles because…hmm…because…I guess I like them and have gotten accustomed to doing them. I still do other doubles too from time to time, with or without being in a “challenge”, as a way to come as close as I can to averaging a class a day. I like taking 6:00 a.m. class before work then coming back for 7:30 p.m. class after work some days. With classes so far apart it almost doesn’t seem like a double but I notice the enhanced flexibility in the evening class regardless. Almost without fail the 2nd class of a double is the better class, even if the first one was good too.
I practiced for 16 months before doing my first double and my initial concern was “making it through” or having enough stamina for both classes. That has proven not to be as much an issue as I expected. Now there are some classes that are hot and hard and take every ounce of determination to get through, and I think “no way in hell could I do a double after this class”. But those classes have never coincided with my plans to actually do a double. (My suspicion is that it was just my mind running wild and trying to psyche me out.) I have had 1st classes on a Sunday in this string where I questioned whether or not I should stay for the next class but I stayed and was always glad I did.
Two weeks ago, for example, the first class was pretty hard and I was a little mad at myself for falling out so often during the balancing series (I know…let it go…) so I came out of class kinda pissed and discouraged even though I kept working as hard as I could during the floor series and finished relatively strong. I considered bagging the double and going home to rest. After a shower and costume change I felt good enough to stay for the next class and OMG am I glad I did! The next class was a great strong energetic class, the best class of that week even. If I left after the first class I would have been somewhat discouraged and looking forward to my next class to get back on track. But since I stayed for the 2nd class and had a great class, I left totally energized and exhilarated. What a difference a class makes. With the 2nd class in a back to back double, its not about pushing as hard as you can, its more about finding your peace, breath and stillness and moving into the postures calmly. I find my flexibility is much better in almost every posture, my hands get much further under my feet, my grip is much stronger in Standing Head to Knee, as so on. I also find the energy is there too, a peaceful but strong surge, just the opposite of being too fatigued. Sort of like being in a “zone”.
Today was one of those great 2nd classes too. Definitely my best of the past week in terms of energy, flexibility and balance. My first class was fine, not a problem in any way, so I felt good going into the 2nd. I did have some lingering thoughts about my Friday night class though. Friday night 7:30 p.m. class started hot and humid, dripping sweat from the get go, which I am totally fine with and even love. I am working on Standing Head to Knee and have gotten fairly good at keeping my standing knee locked and more often than not locking my extended knee right before time to change. I have not yet been able to lower my head to my knee but I feel I’m getting close to giving it a shot. The problem I sometimes have with extra humid classes is that my grip is sweaty and I can’t always maintain it as strongly as I need to (opportunity to build my strength). In this particular class the teacher seemed to extend the time a little….kick….kick…kick…. I started doubting myself and fell out before she said “change”. It was immediately crystal clear to me that it was an occasion of mental weakness not physical weakness. Stay in the posture, listen to the words, don’t anticipate…but alas I did. So I came into today’s classes with a firm determination to focus on the words, let the teacher control the time and just focus on my breath. And it worked! If you practice this yoga I don’t have to tell you, you know it works. This was the perfect set up to an awesome 2nd class. Got that second wind, calm energy flow and felt very in sync with the flow from one posture one series to the next. Didn’t even fall out of anything in the balancing series. That’s what I call a Happy Easter.
Always Great Never Easy 