Mission Accomplished

Yesterday at 6:30 p.m, I raised a glass with a smiling and sweaty group of revelers at Bikram Yoga Pasadena as we celebrated the end of our 60th class in 60 days.  We did it!  I think you can see the sweet (or slightly salty) glow of success on the faces in the photo.

Photo by Gordon Nip

It does feel like an accomplishment.  My muscles are reminding me as I write this that they haven’t had a break in a while.  The soreness is inconsequential, though.  The benefits I’ve reaped are far more important.  Following are the ones I’m aware of, in no particular order.

1.  Muscles.  I have a beefy muscle in my right leg where before all I had was a limp noodle.  That is my most startling change, but all my muscles are more defined than they used to be.  I even have the beginnings of a two-pack instead of an all-flab belly.

2.  Measuring devices going down.  I shaved four inches off my waist.  I lost about eight pounds.  My blood pressure is lower.

3.  Balance.  This is one of my biggest challenges, and I still have a long way to go.   But I improved to a point beyond what I thought was possible.  I now know I can do more.

4. A happy outlook. A few weeks into the 60-Day Challenge, I realized that several days had passed without my thinking about death. In retrospect, I think I was slightly depressed. It’s wonderful that the mental energy I was expending on thoughts of mortality now seems to provide me with greater optimism and creativity.

5.  Body love.  I’ve always appreciated my body, but I realize now that I loved it like it was a little waif.  I cut it slack.  I thought about it in a, “Oh, you poor little thing,” sort of way.  It’s not a horrible thing to think, but it’s not empowering.  Now I know that my body would really prefer being thought of as capable.  I know it can do things I heretofore thought it should be protected from.  I now expect it to step up, and I know it’s happier because I do.

6.  Mental clarity.  I feel sharper and quicker.  When I begin a task, my focus is better.  I feel more astute and confident when I write.

7. A partner. During the Challenge, my husband decided to give Bikram Yoga a try. He’s now practicing regularly. I don’t know what inspired him, but whatever it was, yay!

8.  Confidence.  I have never before attempted a serious athletic challenge.  Completing this one successfully makes me proud.  It makes me want to set my sights higher.

9.  Camaraderie.   I appreciated this aspect of yoga from the beginning.  Now, having shared the past 60 days with several dozen fellow practitioners and the wonderful teaching staff at Bikram Yoga Pasadena, I realize even more how nurturing and supportive it is to be part of a community.  We practice alone, but we share our ups, downs, insights, accomplishments… and sometimes, champagne!