Archive for June, 2009

 

Mounting Pilatus

June 28, 2009 at 11:15 pm in On The Street | Please subscribe!

Gondola ride to Mt Pilatus

With movements restricted on and off the past few days due to inclement weather, I’ll reminisce on a perfect day atop Mt Pilatus, high above Luzern, Switzerland.

Rope ParkSonja’s good friend, Ruth Ott, Leiterin Personal (HR Manager) for Pilatus-Bahnen offered to take Sonja, Julie and I on a complimentary tour! After a breakfast of coffee and croissants we climbed aboard our little red bubble for the gentle gondola ride upwards through a luscious nature corridor; a serenade of Alp horns announcing our arrival at Frakmuntegg (1460m). We quickly rigging up with a safety harnesses to make our way through central Switzerland’s largest suspension rope challenge. We climbed and swung our way through the more moderate obstacles before tackling the hardest course: an exhilarating exercise of balance, strength and fear suppression, leaving muscles quivering at the thought of our looming 4pm Bikram class.

View to Swiss AlpsFeeling a little rubbery, we continued via arial cable-way to the summit. Drawn to the edge, you could almost imagine sitting with your legs dangling off the side of a cloud. A magnificent patchwork of blooming green, sliding grey and frozen white as far as squinting eyes could see. Opposite and competing for the jaw gaping view, Lake Luzern painted far below, with Luzern city and the many villages hugging its shores. As another ensemble of Alp horns and old time yodelers evoked images of long mountain treks and breathing in pure 2132m Swiss air, it wasn’t long before the gnawing emptiness in our stomachs awoke the need to fuel up with a hearty buffet.

Cogwheel Railway - steepest railway in the worldNot to be outdone, we descended the mountain in alarming style, gripped by the white fingered title, “steepest railway in the world”. The Cogwheel railway consists of single carriages inching slowly down a 48% gradient. Our wide eyes, reflecting alarming images of lines breaking, brakes failing and wheels flying off as we screech and plummet to our impending deaths; an enthralling pantomime for children looking skywards as parents shield their own faces in horror.

Alas it was not to be, instead balancing in a front row seat as we looked up, down and sideways, breathtaking beauty winding past our open windows, the cool air dancing on our skin, teasingly reminding us of the heat waiting for us in the mirrored torture chamber, far below.

Thanks Ruth for a wonderful day.

 

Hot numbers at Bikram Yoga Luzern!

June 22, 2009 at 9:49 am in Yoga Practice | Please subscribe!

Home of my Global Bender Month, SwitzerlandWe had a record today with 22 hot yogis in class! It may not sound like many, but it’s a new studio in this small, but oh so lovely city of Luzern in Switzerland, so Liliane & Julie (owner/teachers) are still building numbers and awareness.

It was such a surprise, when I quietly opened the door to so many yogis limbering up for the Sunday 4pm class. I was so moved I turned straight around and walked back to the desk, asking Liliane & Julie how many yogis had shown up. It was great to see the excitement and pride in their eyes as the new record was set.

Lovely LuzernThe energy in the room was clearly buzzing before class and as I locked eyes with a few of the regulars, I could see they were equally impressed. Then we started and the heat wiped the smile off my dial real quick! I managed to resurrect it at least once each posture though, to refocus and relax as Liliane led us through yet another powerful class.

Congrat’s to Liliane and Julie, I hope this is just the beginning for seeing big classes all Summer at Bikram Yoga Luzern!

 

Growing younger!

June 19, 2009 at 3:46 am in On The Street | Please subscribe!

In other news… it’s my birthday today!

I was really hoping to turn a year older today but since I started Bikram, I just keep staying the same age!

caring

Never to be outdone in birthday card stakes, my little bro’ Ian dressed down for the occasion and sent through his birthday cheers via his website: organicdevolution.com. Check out the full post here and have a frolic through his very cool “surf art and threads”.

Just in case anyone is wondering.. Yes, I did do a class today!

 

Inspiring message from Alisa Loigman

June 17, 2009 at 7:34 am in Yoga Practice | Please subscribe!

Global Benders at Bikram Yoga Kearny Mesa

Following is a Facebook message from Alisa Loigman a yogi from Bikram Yoga Kearny Mesa, San Diego, California. I hope you don’t mind me posting your message here Alisa, but I thought it truly inspiring, not just for yogis at Kearny Mesa, but everyone around the world doing the Global Bender Challenge. Thanks Alisa!

“Today is June 15th and we are officially half way through the June Bender, 30-day challenge. Congratulations to all of you who are participating. Everyone has stayed so effortlessly enthusiastic! There is a small group of you yogis doing doubles some days- to all of you, keep up the momentum! And to those of you challenging yourself to do 30 classes in 30-days or just step up your regular practice, you are all a joy to watch- I personally have loved experiencing the vibrant group energy in classes that I take with you. I also have noticed that through this challenge many students are making new friends and having pre yoga social time in the lobby- I encourage you to get to know one another, through each other you can find and share great encouragement- everything is easier with support! You can easily spot the other challenge participants as they mark their accomplishments on the challenge board.

Alisa Loigman & Charles Shannon back bending at Bikram Yoga Kearny MesaHere is an extra thought for all of you to ponder- This is a 30 day challenge, and come June 30th you will have officially reached your personal June goals. Just because the 30 days is over does not mean you should stop there. Come back for day 31, 32 and eventually it will become day 45 or even day 60! Imagine the possibilities then! You are all on such a roll, challenge yourself to take that extra step or two, come to class on July 1st.
I will be there, hopefully, so will you too!

You are all awesome!”

From, Alisa Loigman

Just so you know, Alisa has just informed me that BY Kearny Mesa has 50 yogis signed up for the Global Bender.. Wow great to have you all aboard!

 

New Progress Pics for May

June 16, 2009 at 12:37 am in Yoga Practice | Please subscribe!

Dandayamana janushirasanaI’ve just updated my Progress Page to display the latest photos (for May). The pictures were actually taken by Liliane after I arrived in Luzern as things got a little crazy during the last few days in Budapest. This happened in the last 3 locations so at least I’m consistent!

So the photo may not be a spectacular rendition of Dandayamana Janushirasana: my left leg is a little low, I’m leaning to far back, am sporting a little fat roll and I forgot to pull my pants up properly over my butt! But it marks a special point in my practice - May was the first month I’ve ever locked “both” knees!

So how am I doing now? Well, last week I was struggling a fair bit. When it all comes together it’s magic, when it doesn’t, I try to imagine lying on a beach getting a tan on a very hot day.. hey it works for the first 5 or 10 seconds! But I’m back to practicing some strong classes again. Speaking with other yogis here, they felt the same, so it’s good to know I wasn’t suffering alone!

Timo, a teacher from Zurich dropped in for a Saturday afternoon class and showed me how to do the back bending properly (hands walking backwards down the wall), so I can start to open up a bit more and hopefully go a little deeper during class. It’s a pretty intense thing doing 10 of these after class but will be a new challenge for the next month and we’ll see how I go.

Thanks for all the comments and emails coming through, it’s very inspiring for me especially knowing how many other yogis are practicing the Global Bender challenge with me right now!