Sweaty Competition

I went to Bikram yoga for the first time in a long time. I usually come out of it telling people "I nearly died". To my surprise I didn't on Tuesday especially given I got myself out of bed at 5.30 on a wet wet morning. I've had many instructors during my time and one thing that's consistent with them all is that they share the same enthusiasm and they're all very good at what they do. There is one thing I've noticed great instructors do (or maybe this is why I think they are great)...after 13 standing poses, we progress to do 13 on the floor. During our 30 seconds of rest lying front down, instructors sometimes step on the soles of our feet. 

I always wondered what would draw them to our feet. The first instructor I had worked her way around the room in order and she'd usually get to everyone by the time the 13 floor poses were over. Then I had one who did it randomly. It's not that I particularly want someone stepping on my sweaty feet, but it does feel very comfortable. So when an instructor does it randomly, I wonder if the reward is based on effort. But on Tuesday I was trying to work my bottom off (quite literally) and she just wouldn't come to my feet. I actually had a burst of competitiveness run through me to try bend further than the girl next to me to catch the attention of the instructor (wrong I know - Yoga is about finding your inner peace and developing self-discipline not competition).

I think I really should do more yoga to manage my anger...I was in the middle of a heated argument at futsal on Sunday accused of "digging my nails" into a chick's arm. But to my defense, she was flapping her elbow around like a chicken. I just didn't want to be elbowed in the face! A million and one things (no matter how small) seem to annoy me. So Bikram, here I come!

P.S: It appears that I did work hard enough Tuesday morning because I got my feet stepped on eventually :)

The 26 postures done over 90 minutes

This poster is a reminder of how far I am from achieving the ultimate position. Just look at how vertical or horizontal the body is in some of the poses. Done under 38 degrees, you wont be surprised why I come out feeling like "I nearly died"