Shopping List for the 60-Day Challenge

As the day The Challenge begins nears (February 1), I realize there are a few items I need to acquire to help me see the whole thing through.

1.  Extra yogini suits.   Anyone who has ever tried Bikram Yoga knows that doing laundry is an integral part of the practice.  After you’ve sweated for 90 minutes in your outfit, you really  don’t want to put it on again without washing it.  Same goes for your towel.  I figure four towels and four sets of shorts and tank tops ought to be enough to keep me summer-breeze fresh for two months — at least when I walk into the studio.

2.  Coconut water.  I love this stuff, partly because I remember drinking it out of green coconuts when I lived in Costa Rica as a child.  The reason I’m stoking up on it for The Challenge is that it really does do a better job of hydrating a body than plain water.  When you’re sweating out a couple of jerrycans every day, hydration is an important issue.  I like the Zico brand best — it tastes the most like fresh.

3. Biofreeze and epsom salts.  Yes, I expect my muscles to complain.  Nafisa, one of the teachers at Bikram Yoga Pasadena, recommended Biofreeze Pain Relieving Roll-on, so I’ve got some on order through Amazon.  I also bought a big bag of epsom salts at the drugstore so I can soak away my aches in the tub.  I’m also planning to find a good massage therapist.  Massage seems like a perfect reward for hanging in there when hanging in there gets tough.

4. A bigger water bottle.  I try not to drink too much water during class, but afterwards, I feel as though I could dry out the California Aqueduct and look around for more.

5.  Non-slip hair clips.  I recently got my hair cut just a few inches too short to tie it all back with a rubber band.  Headbands were a sweaty failure.  I’m hoping a couple of metal clips will stay put and keep the mop out of my eyes.

There may be a few other things I’ll think of in the next two days (and if I’ve forgotten something important, please comment below!) but these should at least get me started on the right foot.  They won’t guarantee I can do the triangle pose correctly, but at least I won’t smell bad or faint trying.

— Megan Edwards