Day Eight

I thought I was doing great on day two of the Six Day Fruit Fast until I pulled into the parking lot of the yoga studio tonight and saw a sweet little old man walking towards his car from the supermarket. He had purchased an extra large bag of Kettle brand potato chips.  I almost tackled him to the ground and fought like it was his life or mine for those chips.

This morning I woke up full of energy and couldn’t resist going on a (short) trail hike because it was such a gorgeous day.  It’s January in Laguna Beach and the temperatures were in the 80’s, the sky was cerulean blue and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.  I hiked up a hill called “I think I can” in El Moro state park and was rewarded with a majestic ocean view with a clear outline of Catalina Island in the distance.  Hiking by myself has always been my favorite meditation.

I felt light and free all day, not weighed down with heavy food since the fast only includes six days of fruit.  “I think this is the way to get rid of food cravings,” I told my husband, “because I’m not starving anymore like I was yesterday.”

Then I saw that nice little old man in the parking lot.  But I didn’t tackle him.  Instead, I unrolled my purple yoga mat and did 90 minutes of hot yoga with Melissa, yoga teacher extraordinaire who entertained us with a story about a woman who has a social network hash tag called #yogaeverydamnday.  I’ll have to check it out.

One more gold star and another good nights sleep is in order.

See you tomorrow!

Day Seven

Today was not only day seven of the Bikram Yoga 30 day challenge, it was day one of the 6-day Cleanse that my lovely sister, Monica in Florida talked me into doing.  Starting the new year, I knew I wanted to do something to make those jeans of mine fit better.  Who am I kidding?  I don’t even own a pair of jeans anymore because last years new years resolution was to clean out my overflowing closet, which I finally did in December.  After all, why do in January what I could put off for eleven months?

“We’ll do it together,” said my fit, attractive, glowing skin, yoga teacher sister who lives all the way on the East Coast where she can’t really check up on me.  “I did this fast a few years back and felt fantastic!”

I agreed and was up this morning, skipping coffee and making my distilled water, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and Aloe Vera juice cocktail.  Starbucks ain’t got nothing on this cocktail.  The first thing I learned is that I’m addicted to caffeine. As my husband sat on the sofa with me as the sun was rising drinking his coffee while I drank my health cocktail, I wanted to tell him, “Stop talking so much!”  Such is the power of caffeine on most of us.

Morning yoga class was delightful, not too crowded and I feel like I’m getting a rhythm going.  I felt energized after class, drank my next health cocktail in the parking lot of the yoga studio, went home and spent the whole day eating vast quantities of fruit, since this is part of the cleanse.  Dinner was two avocados which I savored.  I never knew how great avocados, lemon juice and sea salt could taste.

It’s good to give the body a rest from time to time.  But not from yoga!  I’ll be back in class tomorrow for my next gold star.

Day Six

It was hot!

Saturday class in January is bound to be overcrowded.  Everyone has got their new year resolutions of diet and exercise.  I got to Marna’s 8am class with only five minutes to spare which meant that instead of my usual secret spot next to the back door with the ocean view, the coolest spot in the room, I ended up in the warmest part of the room.  All those hot bodies made it extra warm, but then again, that’s why we go to hot yoga.  The workout was great and I left happy.  Happy to get home and hop in the shower.

One more gold star on the board.

Day Five

There are a couple of students in our 30 day challenge who are in a frenzy to see who can be the first to finish the 30 classes, that is, before 30 days are up.  As we were in triangle pose, I found myself wondering what I would have to do to catch up.  Maybe I can wait until they’re close to 30 classes, then do four classes in one day and beat them.  It’s been awhile since I’ve been involved in competition for monetary purposes as I used to be when I was in sales.  Then, I was a fierce competitor and enjoyed the financial rewards and friendly competition amongst the sales reps.  But in the yoga studio?  Yes, I suppose I’m still having these kinds of competitive thoughts.  I’m trying to decide if these thoughts are good, bad or indifferent.

As I thought about what I wanted to report for day number five, I logged into Facebook and one of my friends had posted this.  I think I’ll go to bed now and ponder these words:

Day Four

I pulled into the parking lot for nine-o’clock class just as Dave was getting out of his car.

“Man, is it really only day four?” he asked.  “I don’t remember it being this hard last year.  Did you think it was extra hot in class yesterday?”

Dave completed the 30 day challenge in about 20-some days last year by doubling up on classes to get the thing done early.  Trish was right behind him and the two were treating this challenge like a competition.  In fact, when Trish found out that I’d done three classes on the first day of the challenge, she was extra interested in how many classes I would be doing on day two.  “Only one,” I said.

Pacing is important.  Unless you have absolutely no life (which I’ve been accused of) and are able to spend the entire day in the yoga studio, it’s probably a good idea to stop and smell the roses and make the most out of 30 days of yoga, which is a pretty awesome accomplishment.  I personally felt like I’d overdone it yesterday with my eight mile hike and then the 90 minute hot yoga class.  And I’ve never overdone it before.  Yeah, right.

So, I decided that I’m going to enjoy this challenge and with that thought in mind, as I left the studio today, the owner said, “Hey Jen, for those interested, we’re extending the challenge to 60 days.”

No rest for the weary.

See you all tomorrow!

Day Three

When am I going to learn to not trust Rico?  Rico is my favorite training partner and we like to meet every Wednesday morning for a trail hike.  What I thought would be a nice easy hour and a half hike turned into a grueling three hours of steep uphill climbing followed by some pretty spectacular ocean views and steep downhill.  Would I ever complain to Rico?  No, I wait until I get home and then blog about it to the world.

After the hike, I rubbed my sore feet, then headed off to my fifth 90 minute hot yoga class in three days.  The room felt delightfully warm and soothing on more sore back and muscles even though had it not been for the challenge I probably would’ve been home relaxing.

When I came home, Surfer Boy had prepared a mouth watering salad made from local organic vegetables and grass-fed ground sirloin which he says we need to improve our hemoglobin or some such technicality.  I don't care what it does, I devoured every tasty morsel.

I think I’ll head off to bed now and dream of luscious hot fudge sundaes, something that is not on my 30 day yoga challenge diet.

See you tomorrow!

Authors Note:  The hike was pretty damn awesome.

Day Two

I woke up full of energy after my three Bikram yoga classes yesterday.  There’s nothing like wearing yourself out to the point of exhaustion to get a good nights sleep.  I walked my Min Pin Rusty before the sun came up, paused to drink in the ocean air, then downed a strong cup of coffee before heading off to morning yoga class.  I think I may have to go back to work as a top salesperson because I’ve talked several people into signing up for the 30 day challenge.  I wasn’t really trying to accomplish this feat but several students advised me this morning that they were there because I had told them to “just put your name on the 30 day challenge list.”

I would’ve loved (maybe too strong a word) to stay at the studio doing yoga all day like I did yesterday, but alas, I’m a famous author and my audience is waiting for my next book.  Then when I’m done writing the book, I’m going to see what swamp property I can sell all those rubes at the yoga studio.

Anyone out there interested?  Your purchase will include a free yoga mat.  And while you’re at it, “just put your name on the 30 day challenge list.”

See you tomorrow!