Day 30: A Hot Yoga Miracle
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:00PM Wow, I do not really have words right now... My hot yoga challenge came to an end tonight. Its very bittersweet and I think I am still digesting the fact that its technically over. Im pretty sure I am sad its over as it has been such a part of my life for the last month.
Before I write about how I feel now that my challenge is complete, I have a little hot yoga miracle story to tell. Clearly its been awhile since my last blog post... I did complete my challenge and attend all my classes ( I had some days of doubles to make up but I did it!) and I continued to drink a green smoothie or a Shakeology smoothie every single day. I held up my end of the bargain but around Day 24 my body decided not to hold up its end of the bargain. I really started to crash and feel tired around Day 24. I didn't want to go to class at all. I stalk texted Zach telling him how much I didn't want to do this challenge anymore... He said... You have to go to class.
Day 25 came and went - I took class but I didn't feel very good. I was supposed to teach the evening class and I asked Rhonda to cover. Something just wasn't right. I am normally filled with endless energy but this day there was no energy to be found.
Day 26 came... it was a hot yoga miracle. My body said I was sick. I was majorly congested to the point that I could hardly breath from my nose. My head was pounding. My stomach hurt. My body was cold. I had a fever. Pretty much imagine feeling really sick with a flu and then times it by 10. That's how I felt. Rhonda and Zach convinced me to come to class and said even if I lay on the floor the whole time, its okay. My thoughts, "They must be crazy. They have no idea how bad I feel." I drove to the yoga studio literally on the verge of throwing up the whole time because my migraine was so bad I could hardly look at the headlights as they passed me by. I got to the studio and just crashed on the floor. I looked up at the light and started to cry because my head was hurting so bad. Pounding, pounding, and more pounding. Its all I felt. Dr. Rhonda, Medicine Woman put a nice mask on my eyes so I couldn't see the light. She put thieves oil on my arms, and doctored up my legs with some pulling and stretching. As horrible as I felt at that given moment, I knew I was in the right place. I was freezing cold laying on the floor in a room that was heated to over 100 degrees, but I knew that being there was exactly where I needed to be.
I never got up from my mat once. When class was finally over, I stood up and still felt just as horrible as when I walked in the front door. My husband was in class and ended up driving me home. I left my car at the studio because I was in no shape to drive. I couldn't even keep my eyes open because the light was hurting me so much. I got home, drank a ton of water, and wrapped myself into a little cocoon in my bed (thankfully I had two warm puppies in my cocoon). I went right to sleep and must of sweated out what I think was a fever.
I woke up around 7am the next morning. I was still a little congested but otherwise my body felt very normal. I went on with my day and just kept telling myself that when I start to feel tired or cold, I will go home and lay down. None of this ever happened. I thought I would spend another yoga class lying on the floor but quite the opposite happened. I took an entire class not even 24 hours after my feverish meltdown. I did every single pose and honestly feel that Day 27 was quite possibly my best class.
How could this be? I almost died the night before... It's my little hot yoga miracle. I realize now that what happened to me on Day 26 was not a cold or a fever or even me being sick. It is something that is really much bigger than that. Something my body worked through. My head was pounding because I live in my mind. I am constantly thinking, doubting myself, and thinking some more... am I a good enough daughter, am I a good sister, do I work hard enough, what can I do more of, what can I learn more of, what book should I read next, did I teach a good class tonight, did I have a good class tonight, am I a good student, what else can I contribute to my company, who can I help, when am I going to clean my house, what do people think of me... The list goes on... in my head.
I am still trying to make sense of it all but I do realize whatever happened to me that night, happened for a reason. I loved this challenge and savasana even more through Day 28 and 29. I value this practice even more and understand its benefits on a much deeper level. I think this is why I am feeling a little bittersweet right now... more good things are to come - Im sure.
Namaste and thank you all for supporting me through this amazing challenge.
Stay tuned for 30 things I learned in 30 days of hot yoga....
Reader Comments (4)
Congratulations! I am very happy for you! You did an incredible thing for yourself and inspired everyone around you with your energy and wonderful spirit.
This is so inspiring! People experience a whole range of miracles on a 30 Day Challenge - its individual and wonderful to read yours. If this doesnt inspire everyone to do a 30 Day Challenge, they're dead!
Thanks Alfia and Rhonda! Having the studio supporting me while I did this challenge was an amazing thing! You are almost there Alfia! We are all cheering you on :)
There is a little known secret about The 30 Day Challenge: once you announce to yourself that you are taking on a challenge, your mind agrees - and it will show you exactly what is your life challenges are.
While I never recommend hot yoga when you have a fever and especially if you cant drive to class, when you are on a 30 Day Challenge, it is best to find a way to maintain the challenge and face your demons (having your husband drive you to class, lying down and closing your eyes while you release through tears...these are good options.)
Faced with a challenge in regular life, many of us turn away; too hard, too painful. Run and hide, your mind advises you. But your heart wont let you off the hook and your the body doesnt ignore your issues. Unfaced insecurities and worries get pushed down into your body show up as some unpleasant symptoms.
Jaime, your symptoms - .your head pounding, your inability to see the light - your body uses poetry show you the challenges you are ready to stare down. And so you did. You showed up; you didnt hide; you did the best of your ability and pushed beyond your mind chatter. You emerged as someone who no longer needs to pound your head against a wall to prove your worthiness. No more pounding migraines for you! Your fever cleared, your congestion cleared, YOU are clear about who you are: someone who CAN DO IT - exactly what you want - and no need for approval or validation from others.
The best thing others can do for us is not to advise, not to approve or tell us we're right, it is what Zach did when you called him for "permission" to give up: to see you as the person he knew you were, someone who could stay the course. This is the most valuable thing we do for each other: to believe in us when we falter.
Congratulations - on to the next challenge. You're a warrior now.