3 Month Yogaversary

Today marks three months since I've started practicing! To be honest my first 30 days weren't all that consistent. Once October rolled around I made a commitment to myself to do at least 5 days per week and have been pretty successful with that. Yeah, me! These are the changes I see in myself thus far:

1. Increased endurance. When I first started I seriously thought I was going to die. I know, I know, EVERYONE says that (well practically everyone!). I'm still amazed that I love this and that I find it challenging day after day, discover new aspects and seriously can't imagine my life without Bikram.
2. Count them peeps...9lbs down! Admittedly, I still have a long ways to go, but, I'm confident that I will get there!
3. A more peaceful, confident, and open thinking me.
4. I can feel my toes! To make a really long story short I had some severely frostbitten toes that I almost lost. The end results was that I got to keep the toes (yippee!), but I lost feeling in them. Which made it a tad bit, um, awkward do the the 2nd part of Awkward! I now have full feeling back in my toes. From a medical stand point this is unheard of this long after the initial injury (2 years in Jan 2010). As I've talked to doctors they think it is because of the increased vasodilation.
5. My body is achangin', fats melting off, muscle is developing, posture is changing...all changes in the right direction!
6. Eating Habits: Wow, I never thought I would willingly give up so many different types of food. Soft drinks are no longer appealing. Chicken and any "hunk" of meat absolutely disgusts me. I'm not craving carbs with nearly the intensity that I used to.
7. I feel strong. Emotionally, mentally, physically (well that's a work in process!). In a word I feel Fireproof! Bring it on!

So where am I going from here? Well, I've decided to to join in on a 101 day challenge starting January 1, 2010! I'm super jazzed, aren't you too? In the upper left hand corner there is a lovely icon that will lead you to lots more info on the challenge.

Tonight the lovely, and oh, so, graceful, Sarah taught. I was a little off my game after traveling, visiting several new studios (Red Rock, well, it just rocked!) while on vacay and in general just getting back into the swing of things. On the positive front, I didn't drink much during class, kept my fidgeting to a bare minimum and didn't sit out anything. I had a bit of spill today and landed directly on my right knee with my full weight plus the 27lb toddler's weight that I was carrying. So, camel and rabbit were challenging, but, not impossible.

Sarah always handles 1st timers with such graciousness and humor. I was pondering as I drove home from the studio, what makes a 1st timer return? I know for me, Sarah, who was my 1st teacher, handled me well despite a very full class that fateful day back in September. It was a combination of enough attention, without overwhelming me, letting me know that yes it is normal to feel this way, and encouraging me to do what felt right (um, except dashing out into the temptingly cool air outside!). I think it would be interesting to have the teachers in my studio hold a contest amongst themselves to see who could have the best percentage of 1st timers returning. Thoughts?