Okay, I will admit it’s been a LONG time since I last posted. This past year has had me traveling to Miami to teach on two separate trips, making an album and focusing on refining my style as a Bikram Teacher.

I have officially taught more than 700 classes since teacher training and can’t believe how much I love my new life. Music, yoga and health are the cornerstone of everything I do.

Today is the eve of a new journey. I am starting another 30 day challenge! I have been slacking and only taking 4 classes a week since I have been back from Miami, so I need to supercharge my body and mind on a new quest.

Wish me luck as I embark on the next chapter of my practice. I am kicking off this chapter by teaching at Bikram Yoga East Harlem at 9:00 AM and doing the late night “Night Sweats” at Bikram Yoga Lower East Side.

Let’s bring on some serious sweating!

2011 is finally rolling and I am loving my new job as a Bikram Yoga Instructor.  Since returning from training, I have been working hard and getting my dialogue down and trying really hard to practice as much as possible.  Unfortunately, I haven’t been practicing as much as I would like, but now that my body is back to normal, I decided it’s time to go into hyper-drive!

I am starting my own personal Bikram 30 Day Challenge today. I felt this would be the only way I could stay on track and continue to improve.  Regular practice will also improve my teaching which I think is something to work toward.  Every class taught so far has been such a rewarding experience and I can see how hard everyone works to the best of their ability.  Now, it’s my turn to get off my butt and practice MORE!

In conjunction with my new training schedule, I have also decided to take the leap into not drinking water during practice.  WHAT?  That’s right, no water. It’s the old school way, and to some, the ONLY way. My first class sans water was the hardest one I ever took!  It wasn’t that I was dying of thirst, it was the mental crutch that water provides in class and the overwhelming feeling that I needed it during class. Now I have had several classes without water and I have to say my practice has improved, not to mention I have one less distraction to worry about in class!

Now that my mind is focused on this new venture, I have also decided to focus on cleansing my system by taking a 4-5 day juice fast/cleanse.  It is time to clean the Holidays out of my system and give my body a break.  The refrigerator is stocked with tons of greens, fruits, vegetables and herbs and ready to go. Today is all about eating as much whole fruits/vegetables as possible to help flush out the system and tomorrow will start the actual juicing part.

I am very thankful to have someone to go along on this journey and to provide support (or a kick in the ass as needed)!

2011 Juice Cleanse - Day 1 shopping.

Me and Boss!  It took 9 weeks of hell, but I did it!!!!

The mat drying process.

Inside the hot room on the last day.

Boss’ Chair

Week 9 has come and gone. Who knew that the last week would go by so fast.  The energy of everyone completely changed and the grunts and frowns of previous weeks were replaced by smiling happy faces.

Boss taught most of the afternoon classes the last week and took it easy on us. I think he was very proud of our hard work and impressed how well we did. We also had the privilege to have Emmy Cleaves back for another morning class.  She worked her way around the room, once again scaring everyone in the process as she seemed to appear out of nowhere.  In case you didn’t read the earlier entry about her, she likes to walk around and teach from the back of the room. She is wearing a mic and walking around so the audio from the speakers made it very deceiving to where she was at in the room. You would be standing in a posture and suddenly she would appear in front of you and scare the hell out of you as she pointed at the body part that was wrong in the posture.  She is a tough teacher but at the same time so dedicated and full of love.

We were supposed to have our final posture clinics with Boss the last week and I am still scratching my head as to what we were watching.  Most of the information was already told to us and we honestly thought we were supposed to be getting a breakdown of each posture with all of it’s medical benefits and corrections.  Instead, we witnessed the “Bikram Show” once again with inappropriate jokes, ADD and nonsensical stories.  I guess we should have known better!

Not having posture clinics everyday along with lectures and practice really made a difference in the last days.  Everyday was amazing and it was great to finally be able to meet new people and bond with others.  Each weekday made us a little closer and sad that we would be leaving the Circus soon (although not really).

Friday was the last day of practice and the evening class was out of this world.  Everyone had a great class, full of energy and really worked hard.  The energy in the room was crazy and everyone could not stop smiling even though we were being tortured. Bikram was in such a great mood and had us laughing and smiling throughout the whole class.  The big surprise was that instead of torturing us with another ballad of his like usual, he played a dance remix of one of his songs during savasana that had everyone on their feet. The love fest continued as everyone was hugging and jumping for joy that we finally finished “the process” and that we all survived.

Graduation was grand and faster than I thought it would go.  After watching a couple of speeches, we had the treat of watching the demonstration team put on a show of all of the postures choreographed into 20 minutes.  It was really beautiful to watch.  Then we all went onstage one by one and received our diploma and took our photo with Boss.  It was a whirlwind!!!  Dinner was buffet style, and as usual, everyone piled in line and took too much food.  By the last third of the line, there was no food.  The staff was great in ordering more as quickly as possible, but I decided to head out with friends for a much needed and earned cocktail.  

My flight was at 6:15AM and I had SuperShuttle picking me up at 4AM.  I took a power nap and prayed that I wouldn’t fall asleep and miss my flight.  After the long day of travel, I was finally home and reunited with my family.

This was a once in a lifetime experience and I cannot believe that I can finally say:

“HELLO. MY NAME IS BRIAN. I AM YOUR YOGA TEACHER!”

Hillcrest Sunset

Beautiful La Jolla taken from the Birch Aquarium.