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 Greetings! Ponder on this... It is an extraordinary quote shared this month by our Student of the Month, Paula. It is so amazing, we had to post it right up front. "Inhale, and God approaches you. Hold the inhalation, and God remains with you. Exhale, and you approach God.
Hold the exhalation, and surrender to God." ~Krishnamacharya
See you in the hot room!
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UPDATE:
NEW MAT SERVICE
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PBY has been offering unlimited towel service.
We are now offering the same unlimited service for PBY sticky mats.
Now you may have the unlimited use of a PBY sticky mat OR PBY towels for the prices listed below!
$150 for a year or
$50 for 3 months
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ZEN CORNER
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 Spiritual Truth is Experiential, Not a Belief System
Spiritual Truth is something to know, to experience, not something to believe in. The joy and love and peace of God can be actually experienced once you know how to access it. Do you need a belief system to know how many heads are sticking up out of your neck? If I told you you had 18 heads sticking out of your neck, would a debate even be necessary? No. You know you have only one physical head. You experience it. You know it. No belief system or opinion is necessary. It's when you lack the complete knowingness and experience that the weaker substitute of belief or opinion (which only exist in the mind, not in reality) is necessary. ~www.youaretrulyloved.com |
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CAN YOU?
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Try this for the whole month of June. If you struggle, just start over. In Savasana, try not to move at all. No hand towels, no itching or adjusting. Don't even blink your eyes. |
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NOTE FROM TAZ
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A few days ago I had a daydream. It was the type of daydream that seems as if it were real. In the daydream it was the time of acceptance where the lamb lays down with the lion. I could see people accepting each other, the Palestinians and Israelis were at peace and laying down their arms, people of different races, body types, religious, economic and political affiliations, people with different opinions about sexual orientation - everyone was at peace all over the world, in full acceptance of one another. When I came to, after having that daydream, the feeling of it stuck with me, and has come back over me in waves several times. I thought to myself, "This is the way I want it to be." I share this with you so that you too can get in touch with this feeling and the daydream will one day become real.
Many Blessings,
Taz
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PBY
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2810 Business Center Dr.
Suite 102
Pearland, TX 77584
713.340.2520
www.PearlandBikramYoga.com
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 | | Paula "After" |
STUDENT OF THE MONTH
PAULA
 | | Paula "Before" |
Bikram Yoga has been an integral part in changing my life. I have spent the majority of my life morbidly obese. In 2000, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Although I have always been heavy, I have still been active. At a weight of 290 plus pounds I completed a half marathon and a 200 mile bike tour.
In 2008, the diabetes was finally taking a visible toll on my body. Even though I was taking 3 oral medications, my blood sugars were running in the 300-400 range. Because my blood was like syrup, my liver and kidneys were starting to wear down. I was looking at life on insulin. Not wanting to do this, I researched possible alternatives. In January of 2010 I had gastric bypass surgery which instantly regulated my blood sugar. Before I left the hospital I threw away all 3 diabetic medications, and I have never looked back. The beauty of this surgery is that it has only been a tool. It was not an instant fix. I needed to make life-long changes to remain diabetes-free and healthy. Knowing this, I quickly resumed an exercise regimen and followed the dietary recommendations per doctor's orders.
I went back to what I knew. I had rocking music in my ears; I attended spin classes, Zumba, salsa lessons, and a variety of other things. All of these things gave me a physical outlet for my energy and stress release, but none of them were allowing me to calm my spirit, breathe, and pray. I was finding that between my life being changed due to the weight loss and stressors from my job as a pediatric oncology nurse, it was not more noise or speed that I needed in my life but, some sort of time set aside to combine exercise and prayer. I had tried Bikram Yoga once before, and it was not the right time for me. But, the quiet and calm of the room had left a life-long impression on me. In June of 2010 I was getting ready to leave for a medical mission to India, and wanted to do some stretching before I jumped on that long flight. I had seen the Pearland Bikram Yoga studio, but had never gone in. Remembering back to the one class I had taken before, I decided to try it. I was hooked. The first class was difficult, but I have come so far since that class. You have to imagine that for 30 years of my life, my body has been used to carrying more than it should. My hips were and are stiff, my ankles refuse to flex to a flat position, my abdominal muscles were weak, and my back takes a beating at work. I spent from July until January taking 10 or fewer classes per month. I was getting better but not progressing the way I wanted to. In January I ran the Houston Half Marathon, and began intensive training for the MS150. I had it in my mind that as soon as the MS150 was over I would treat myself to a Bikram Yoga Challenge to repair the damage that had been done. Instead, I decided to do the first 30 days of the Challenge as a pre-ride conditioning. What a miracle this was! In that first 30 days I got sick with a seasonal cold and had a car accident in which I injured my left hamstring, right knee, and right lower back. I am still healing and working through some of these injuries.
I can tell you that if I had not been doing the Challenge that I would have had to have taken a break from my MS 150 training, and I never would have been ready for the ride. Post MS150, I have moved into the 30-60 day portion of the Challenge. I have seen and felt myself repairing injuries that I sustained in the car accident and healing pains due to the rigors of the MS 150. I have since decided to push on, and I am slated to complete the 101 day Bikram Yoga Challenge. I am due to have a surgery at the end of June, and I want to do what I can to be healthy and as physically ready for the surgery as possible. Currently, I am in the 60-90 day portion of the Challenge, and I am not going to lie; I am a little wiped out. Daily I have to think about what I am eating and how much water I am drinking. I have to be conscious of the stress-load that I am taking into the room, and check it at the door. I do however, crave being in the hot room. I go in there to sweat out all of the toxins that have accumulated in my body, to release the muscles that have tightened during the day, to pray, to improve the strength of mind, and to gain discipline. I found this quote one day, and it pretty much describes where I go when I am in class.
"Inhale, and God approaches you. Hold the inhalation, and God remains with you. Exhale, and you approach God. Hold the exhalation, and surrender to God." ~Krishnamacharya Bikram Yoga has become about more than just exercise, it is now a way for me to invite God into 90 minutes of private time to release and let go. Thanks to everyone for sharing their energy with me during this Challenge and through this life change I have been through. |
 OHM
MEDITATION AT PBY In May, we offered the first of our new meditation classes - Saturday at 2. We were not sure what to expect or what we would experience. So we we just followed the lead our Instructor, Prince, with some distraction - mostly from our minds' ceaseless banter. However, while listening to several of the people talk afterwards, it was clear that there were some really incredible results. The people sharing these results included folks who had never really been able to understand or maintain a meditation practice of their own, to people who had been meditating for years. The individual experiences, of course, varied along that experiential curve as well. The shared testimonial that was remarkable was that of all of the people who stayed to talk, which was more than 50%, each person had a meaningful experience whereby they were able to quiet their minds which allowed them to see past the egoic and often myopic vantage point of the "mind" or brain chatter while really tapping into something grander, where freedom resides. We hope that if meditation has ever been of any interest to you, that you consider joining us on Saturdays at 2. Please be mindful that we will have just completed class at 1:30 so the room is still a bit warm.
Prince does a wonderful job of leading in a way that works for every level of meditator. It also does wonders to be in a room full of people with the same intention. Prince is available afterwards to discuss, share and answer questions. Meditation will continue on to occur on Saturdays at 2 unless the Studio has a holiday closure. You do not need to reserve a space at this time, just show up. Please also note that Studio doors are locked after 2. There is a suggested minimum love offering of $10. |
 POSTURE OF THE MONTH
FULL LOCUST - POORNA SALABHASANA This, 18th posture, in the series of 26, is the hardest to improve. So do your best. Here are the key elements.
Begin looking like a cross laid out on it's face, on the floor. Arms straight out - rigid. Legs tightly together, toes pointed. Abdomen at the ready to flex and hold the weight of your entire body for an honest 10 seconds per set.
First, make sure to drop your head back onto your back so that the back of your head is as close to your actual back as possible. Make sure your eyes are lifted as far back on the ceiling as possible without having them hurt in their sockets. Then, when the instructor says, "Everything lift up" think first before raising your body. Often you will see people who lift so quickly that their arms and legs bounce from being thrust up so quickly. There is no need for that thrusting in the beginning set up. You will get greater lift if you can visualize your legs slowly raising from the hip flexors up, up, up. Your butt should be as tight as possible. You should then feel a pinch in the mid to lower back. That is a good place to stop. Your arms should be pulling out, away from the sternum as if you might rip down the center. These two body raises done slowly and simultaneously are easier to maintain and raise just that slight bit higher. You can feel all of your weight teetering on your hip bones.
You are breathing 80/20 breaths. It is the only way to breathe in this posture. The teacher will say that your fingertips should be level with the top of your head. This can be confusing. It means that your fingertips should be at the same height as your head, not that if you put a yard stick on your head that your fingertips would be straight out from your ears. On the contrary, your fingertips should be as tall as your head, but behind your head, like jet wings. Your arms should be angled back, not too far back or that will compromise their height. They should be as far back as comfortable while keeping your arms as far off the ground as possible.
It helps to consider alternately raising your arms and then your cobra tail. By that, remember to ALWAYS keep your legs together. That is one of the most elementary parts of this posture. In the last second and a half of each set it is ok to then thrust your body up another inch or higher , if possible. This way your body gets used to the new height and over time muscle memory will get you there from the beginning of the posture. Finally know that it is easier to raise the torso than the cobra tail, so work for height there first.
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Save Over 25% |
New Membership Options
To Keep You in Shape all Summer Long!
3 MONTHS OF UNLIMITED YOGA FOR $390.00!
YOGIS - GET THIN - STAY THIN THIS SUMMER | |
Offer Expires: 6/30/11
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