Still in the game....if I want to play...

It's a beautiful day so far.

Sitting in the living room - you can see so many beautiful colors outside. Red trees - yellow trees - green....whatever its pretty.

I went to class yesterday morning - not sure if I was even going to continue in "the challenge" - and had an amazing class.
My legs were flat on the floor - and my forehead was almost touching my toes in the final foward bending pose. An undescribable feeling for sure.

I know it sounds really trivial and silly to people who don't practice bikram yoga, but when I first started practicing (it was the end of January this year) - I could barely hook my fingers around my toes - let alone get my legs flat on the floor to attempt bending down!

I have been told - as long as I can pull off a "double" one day next week - I am still in the challenge.
That will be interesting......but I am up for it.

In other news - since I do have a life outside of the 90 minutes I spend in class......

Alexis has become this new little person. I am so greatful for this child that is completely coming back to us! It is so amazing, and it is everything we have been praying for and working for.

The same prayer every single morning...."Dear Lord - please help Alexis get better so that we can help others in our situation".....God is listening....and if she keeps going the way she is....I am going to be busy helping others. :)

To someone with a normal child - I know it would be easy to take for granted all of the things that your kid just learns to do on his or her own.

I know this, because in the first year of Alexis' life, everything came naturally.
She rolled over, smiled, laughed, walked, talked - and it wasn't anything I had to force out of her. These were things she just did, because she wanted to.

Now - I am constantly working with Alexis and teaching her how to talk. For everything she does - there is work involved. It is so frustrating for her (and us)- but she has really started rising to the challenge.

Yesterday - we went to the park, and we taught her how to swing in the swing the right way (not on her stomach - but sitting up). Just to see the happiness and pride in her little face was so amazing.
What a gift.

OK - enough rambling from me this morning.....it is time to get to work.

Day 7 - the challenge is making the time

Ah....

So - I am not even 1 full week into this 30 day bikram challenge - but I am physically and mentally feeling amazing.
I am sleeping great - only craving vegetables and healthy foods (which is weird) - and enjoying the benefits.

In class - I feel like a rubberband - and each stretch and breath feels deeper and more amazing.
The sweat is so cleansing - and it is really just like lying in a sauna for an hour and a half. It is amazing.

Now - the actual challenge - is making this work with my life.
My 2 most important people are Alexis and Matt.

The 6am classes didn't happen this week.....(except on Monday) - On Wednesday, because Matt had to leave really early for work - I ended up going to the 6:30pm.
Today is Friday - and I didn't make it up this morning, because Alexis was up sick at 3am - and I needed the extra sleep.

So - trying to make a 4:30 class on Friday work seems like a challenge to me.

It means sacrificing my family time with Alexis and Matt.
I am just starting to worry that maybe this "challenge" is showing me that I should be a little less self centered?

Sure it is great to challenge your body - and my name is on the top of the sign up list (at the studio)......oooh...there goes my pride......but at what cost am I challenging my family life?

Something to think about - or pray about for a bit.
Matt says he is fine with today...and he will be home in time for me to go.

Am I doing something well deserved for myself by doing this challenge? Or am I being self centered?
I guess only I can answer that question - and time will tell.

Day 5

Well -

Just wanted to write a quick note about day 5 so far (well - it is only 7:22am).

I literally bounced out of bed at 6:30am (Matt had to leave the house by 7:00 to be at a client breakfast - so he was up)
(That's why the picture I posted is a GEEKED out version of me)

I made a super healthy dinner with lots of veggies last night - and went to sleep around 8:00 - after some nice reading and prayer.

Woke up this morning like a ball of energy - and my whole body feels amazing.

I am at my ideal weight (the one I was trying to get to the ENTIRE time I was preparing for the wedding - but couldn't lose 5 lbs) - and feeling great.

Alexis is still sleeping - so I am going to get all her supplements and breakfast ready - and maybe even put on makeup (WOAH!!!) - before we start the day of therapies.....
Speech at 9:30 - Occupational Therapy at 10:15.....Mommy therapy/play until ABA comes at 4:30 - 6:30.

Then I am going to a yoga class at 6:30. (Let's see how energetic I am feeling tonight)

OK.....let's have a Wednesday!

Paying attention for 30 days...

So....

After a year of practicing Bikram yoga - I have decided to do a 30 day challenge.....which means going every day for 30 days.

It doesn't really sound that hard - but I have attemmpted it many times over the past year - and then let life get in the way after a couple days of back to back practice.

As if there is a chance that life won't get in the way this time.....(sarcastic wink)
For me this is about truly meeting my responsibilities to Alexis (all 6 of her therapies, my home therapies for her, organic cooking & supplementation, Matt - being a good wife, My mom, and being present for the rest of my network) - and carving out 90 minutes a day to practice my yoga and meditate. Sounds like a tall order - but I am ready for it.

Saturday was the beginning of the challenge......and I forced myself to go to the 6am class on Monday.
This is something I will have to do on Monday, Wednesday and Friday - in order to be home and present for my family the rest of the day.
It was rough - but by the end of class - it was great.

So - as I begin my 30 day journey - what have I learned so far???

1 - Keep up with the laundry. When you come out of a class like you have jumped into a pool with all your clothes on - every day - let's just say - you don't want that laundry to pile up.

2 - EAT (healthy vitamin packed foods!). I learned that the body needs fuel and proper nutrition yesterday as the room went black about 3 times and I had to sit down.

3 - DRINK (water that is.) Slow down - if not eliminate dehydrating liquids - ex - coffee. I am glad I don't drink alcohol anymore, because that one is a HUGE no no.


Ok - So I have learned that I need to do laundry - eat food - and drink water.
Hmmm.....hopefully more will be revealed as this 30 day challenge passes.....these things seem like no brainers.