Finally, the Photos..

Having promised photos of the improved me for the last three months, we finally had a breakthrough today..

a. We just came back from class at 10
b. It was hot outside and we were still flexible after the class
c. MIL decided to help me with the photographing considering San has been against this post and idea from the get go..

Again, you have to realize that there are two ordinary people in the photos, but we looked a lot worse before starting yoga! MIL has lost 30+ lbs, I have lost 15 lbs in the last 100 days. We have both reduced a lot of weight in the tummy, thigh area and our shoulders, arms and calves have become a lot stronger!

There was a big big tummy that spread out like North America on the world map.. it has now gone. There is now a dimple(?!) in its place on either side of the stomach... Just wish it would stay here and not expand again..

This is why it was so difficult to get the pictures with a self timer. . you want good focus, with a zoom lens and sometimes.. you just miss your suject and get a nice picture of the fence!

But you get the idea!

It was not a good idea to put the mat on the grass and take pictures because we were not on firm ground, but there had to be come optimization between posing and good photos..

If my waistline improves any further or my muscle tone gets better over time, will post photos in another three months..

The real achiever here is the MIL. She has been tenacious and in her third week she still could not sit down with her knees bent and her butt on the floor between her knees... Now she just eases into it!

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A note to those budding yogis and yoginis out there..

So far at least 13 people have shown up at Bikram Yoga San Jose after either seeing my changes or having read the blog. This is 13 we know of who have come and introduced themselves and said "came here through your blog", and that always makes my day when it happens!

Having someone do something this wonderful for themselves is the best gift anyone can give to themselves.

A few tips/ Observations on top of the ones mentioned here and here..

a. In your first few classes get ice cold water or a water bottle with crushed ice and water. In a room set to 105 F, regular water will become warm before the end of the 90 minute practice.

b. Read Bikram's book if possible. It gives you hints (keys) that help you do the poses better (if you can remember the keys). So memorize one hint at a time and do it in the next days class.

c. Your strongest part might become your weakest. Apparently this is normal. The poses I used to love and wait for are now an ordeal. Simply cannot do forward bends with my knee locked. My hamstrings just won't move. Feels like my legs are so weak at times that I worry about collapsing. One of the instructors told me that this is normal. As the body is using different muscles to do different things, some get over worked and some do not get used at all. Now that we are using muscles never used before this often, the body is adapting.

d. If you do have a sprain or feel sore but do not feel pain, try going back into the hot room the next day and chances are you will be fine. Has happened to me three times in the last 98 days. (it is still your call, but try standing in a hot shower and if that gives you relief, chances are going back into the hot room definitely will improve things).

e. Get an extra towel if your car/van has cloth seats instead of leather and put it on the seat before driving after Yoga. If you don't shower at the Yoga place before driving home, your van will start smelling and your kids will simply refuse to share a ride with you. They might not tell you to your face and you might have to figure out why they suddenly prefer to go with Mommy everywhere.

f. get some gatorade or "emergen-c" and drink a packet every day at least the first few days when you start because your body loses salts and electrolytes. You need to replenish those or you will get more dizzy or nauseous and might even get headaches. The Emergen-C is available in most local grocery stores and Target

g. There is this one pose you will do called "Triangle pose". Learn to do it on a wet or slippery surface! Do not rely on a towel to grip your feet to the ground. If you do it on the carpet one fine day, chances are your foot will slip and your hamstrings will take a beating and you will miss a day or two of yoga and the most important one..

h. When in doubt, talk to the instructors, who wait outside the class and answer questions!

So far we have 90% attendance and are still going regularly.

Someday, someday, will be able to stand on one leg and touch my head to the other knee..

still working on that one!

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The world will turn...

Bedtime conversation with the kids:

Jr. : Which house was I born in?

Me : We used to live in Santa Clara when you were born but we moved within 6 months after that to Sunnyvale!

LO : Which house was I born in?

Me : Sunnyvale house. But when you were six months old we moved to Cupertino!

LO : I want to go back to Sunnyvale because I don't remember that house. We only see it when you show "baby photos" before going to bed. Akka (sis) remembers that Sunnyvale house because she lived there for long time..

Jr.: Come on, it is the same thing for me, but I don't ask to go back to the Santa Clara house!

Me : Don't worry. You will both go live in many houses as you grow older. You will go to college and live in a hostel or dorm. Then when you get a job you might live in an apartment and when you get married and have a family you will have your own house..

Little One : AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, MOMMY WILL BE THE GRANDMA AND SHE WILL DO ALL THE WORK FOR ME!!!

Had no idea where that came from, but sent me literally rolling on the floor laughing!

San has it coming. . .

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