The demo team

My final week of teacher training has been hijacked.  But I'm not complaining.


Let's take a step back.


One of the traditions of Bikram's teacher training graduation ceremony is a choreographed performance of the 26 postures demonstrated by 25-30 hand selected teacher trainees (aka the "demo team").  Lasting about 15 minutes, the sequence of postures is performed on stage in perfect unison, set to music, and narrated by Rajashree (Bikram's wife).


Last week those of us who felt we have a strong yoga practice were called upon to volunteer to audition. Lots of people showed up. After several fierce rounds of auditions in front of Bikram and other in-charge people, there were many eliminations, and I'm happy to say that I made the final cut.  


I am so, so excited, and very honored to be on the demo team, to represent my fellow teacher trainees on stage and to perform in front of Bikram, Rajashree, Emmy, my friends, and everybody else at graduation this Saturday. Saturday also happens to be my birthday. What a gift, right?!


All week long, after each yoga class the demo team stays late to practice and rehearse the choreography, timing, and transitions for the presentation. This means that now instead of doing 3 hours of yoga a day, the demo team is doing 5 hours of yoga a day. We've kissed any semblance of our free time goodbye in this final week. Our muscles are stiff and tight. We're operating on overdrive. But our spirits are high, and the vibe has been mostly positive and happy. Personally, even though I'm exhausted, and my hamstrings are about to snap like over stretched rubber bands, I am loving the physical challenge of working through the fatigue. And this unexpected extra experience of bonding with new friends has been really nice.


I think the performance is going to be very beautiful.  I hope I can get a good quality video to post to my blog afterward.

In rehearsal this morning.

My only worry right right now is that I have ZERO time to work on my dialogue. Zero. I teach my first real yoga class in 4 days. I'm concerned about how in the world I'm going to recite 90 minutes of a dialogue I've barely looked at in 2 weeks. 

Things always have a way of coming together at the end.  I'll study hard on the 5 hour flight home on Sunday.  I know it will be okay.

Week 9 - already.

I have had SO much to share with you, 

but time is so precious these days that blogging

keeps falling by the wayside.

Week 9 is here. 

I can't believe this is our last week. 

I've never had such a dichotomy in my feelings before.

Looking forward for something to end, 

and yet desperately wanting it to never end at the same time.

This final week my energy will be focused on

enjoying every. single. second that remains of my time here in the bubble.

I told myself I would not shed a tear until Friday.

It's too late, I've already had a good cry and it's not even 8:20am.

Some of the things I will miss the most:

The energy of doing yoga with 400 people

These girls :)

Beautiful, gorgeous California.

Practicing advanced postures with Shaun and Rachel after class.

The support and love of new but lifelong friends.

The lights of LAX.

There's so much more of course.

I'll try my best to keep posting regularly this week, 

even if just quick posts with pictures.

From Headstand to Tiger

When you give 110% every time you try something,

you get incremental but unmistakable progress 

with every single effort.

6 months ago I couldn't even do a headstand against the wall.

4 months ago I could get in and out of a headstand without the wall,

but I would have to slowly kick into it, bent knees.

3.5 weeks ago I learned how to pike (straight legs) in and out of a headstand

with control, and then I demonstrated a full and proper headstand in competition on Sunday.

Up until last week I couldn't imagine lifting my head off the ground in headstand.

Yesterday, with the wall to support me (baby steps), 

I was able to do what you see in the picture below, several times, 

no problem.

The beginning of Tiger pose...

...which is actually the beginning of Scorpion in Tiger pose, 

what I think is one of the most challenging strength and balancing postures 

in the series of the 84 classic asanas.

Flexibility is not my strong suit.  

Strength comes naturally, but flexibility takes daily effort. 

To eventually someday get into Scorpion 

and get my toes to my forehead 

I need to seriously work on my back flexibility.

This is Afton Carraway, Florida Champion and 2011 US Champion

demonstrating Scorpion in Tiger. She is awe inspiring.

In order to get there 

I have a tremendous amount of work to do 

 on the flexibility of my spine.

I'm on it!

"Believe you can and you're halfway there"

~ Theadore Roosevelt

What yoga asana competition means to me

This is a big topic. A long discussion.  One that we could sit and talk about for hours. Hard to summarize in one short blog post, but I'll try.


When people hear about yoga competition for the first time, there's usually an eyebrow that goes up in reaction.  I had a skeptical response when I first heard about it myself a year and a half ago: "How do you judge yoga? Is it about who achieves the most meditative state on stage?" Ha :) The fact is that yoga asana competitions are new to us here in the West, but they've been happening in India for ages. 


The idea of yoga asana competition can be controversial.  My personal opinion is that a lot of the controversy comes from a misperception of what it actually is. I'll try to break it down the way I see it.  These are just my opinions from my own understanding of what the words Yoga Asana Competition mean.


Yoga - Let's start with the first word, yoga.  According to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras - the ancient texts that make up the whole foundation of yoga, yoga is an 8-fold path. Without getting too complicated,  Asana is one of those 8 branches. You can google and find tons of information and books on the other 7.  Good stuff to read up on if you want a deeper understanding of yogic philosophy.


Asana means posture. It's a crucial word in this equation and discussion. According to Jim Kallet, one of Bikram yoga's senior teachers, "posture" is actually just one sixth of the the definition of the word, the complete definition being "posture holding still breathing always normal". When the athlete is performing the asanas on stage they are demonstrating the technique of the posture with calmness/joy, achieving stillness at the maximum point, while maintaining ease of breath.


Competition. Yes you are on a stage competing with other athletes for first or second place, but truly it is a competition with yourself. And actually, the way I see it, more than a competition it's a demonstration.  There's really nothing competitive or cut-throat about it. There may be one or two in the bunch who approach it with the wrong attitude, but those who lead with their egos never get very far. In my experience training with competitors, in the true spirit of yoga competing athletes help each other:  I want you to achieve your best, to bring your maximum potential to reality, because when you are at your best, you inspire others.  I want that for you. And I know you want that for me.  And that's what's so beautiful about the whole experience.


The yoga athlete has 3 minutes to demonstrate 7 postures.  The first 5 are compulsory, and everyone performs them in the same order:  Standing Head to Knee, Standing Bow, Bow, Rabbit, and Stretching.   The first 2 postures are balancing postures that demonstrate your mental strength and ability to stay focused. The next 3 demonstrate your spinal flexibility in a backbend, forward bend, and horizontal stretch.  The final 2 are optionals chosen from the classic 84 posture series and show what the athlete is capable of doing and what they've accomplished in their time practicing yoga.  You are also judged on grace, which I define as composure, confidence, calmness, and overall stage presence.


With all that said, here's a video clip of my 3 minute demonstration at the Regional Championships on Sunday.  People ask me how it felt.  I can only describe it as amazing.  I felt calm, happy, and at peace.  I went up there knowing I'd be showing the best of my abilities and I had no expectations for any kind of outcome.  I felt present in the moment.  I truly felt like I was doing yoga on stage - union of mind, body, spirit.  

With so much gratitude

This weekend I left teacher training in Los Angeles and flew to Florida to participate in my very first yoga competition, representing Georgia in the Southeast Regional Yoga Asana Championships.  

Training for my first competition in the middle of the most physically/emotionally/mentally intense 9 weeks of my life and then getting on a plane and flying to the exact opposite side of the country = a little bit crazy.

Peoples' reaction leading up to the event was generally one of disbelief and wow. I got a lot of incredible support, love, encouragement, and help along the way.

Would you believe me if I told you that the craziness of this whole idea didn't even occur to me until I was physically on the plane and in the air on Friday? 

That was the first time I said to myself, "I can't believe I'm actually about to do this".

Total travel time: 16 hours.  Total hours spent in Florida: less than 29.  Total number hours of actual sleep between Friday night to Monday morning: about 9. Duration of yoga routine on stage: 3 minutes. 

Right now I'm flying somewhere over New Mexico.  

When I land in LA in a couple hours, I will hit the ground running and jump right back into the schedule. Physical exhaustion notwithstanding. Today is the start of Week Eight!

Oh, a very important thing to mention.

I placed First in the Georgia Women's division!!

Gold medal.

Beyyyyyond my wildest dreams.

Tomorrow or Wednesday I will post a video of my routine on stage along with what yoga asana competition means to me.

But for this blog post, I really would like to dedicate it to thanking the people who helped make it possible.

Being at teacher training, I've had the huge fortune of having access to visiting teachers who are former/current champions, coaches to champions, and people who are generally very supportive of yoga competition.

 Although I didn't have an official coach, what I did have were dozens of mini coaching sessions with some of the most experienced people in this circle. To everyone who took the time to watch my routine and give me valuable feedback and posture tips: Ida Ripley, Erik Persson, Suzanne Elliott, Paulina Bianchi, Stefania Garcia, Nicole Duke, Rob Manosca, Rebecca Rumpf. Thank you!

My husband Jonathan is the greatest supporter and believer in my dreams.  He surprised me by being there at the last minute, saying he could never miss my first competition. Thank you!  Love you!


To Esak Garcia, and Jedi Fight Club, the whole foundation of my training. Thank you!

My teacher and friend Kirsten Johnson who came all the way from the other side of the country just to be there and support me. Thank you!

My friend and fellow competitor Brittany who pushed me to do the competition in spite of my doubts of being able to do it during teacher training.  Thank you :)

My fellow teacher trainees in Los Angeles, so many among the 400 of them, who were never short on excitement, encouragement, and kind words of support these past couple of weeks. Especially my closest friends and dialogue study buddies Nicola, Tiffany, and Kat, always willing to get me caught up on the studying I'd missed because of staying in the hot room after class to train. Thank you! And Rachel, thank you!

Shaun Kerr - Rhode Island champion, fellow teacher trainee, and awesome friend, who stayed so many times with me after class to work with me on my routine. Thank you!

Did I forget anyone?  I'm so sure I did. If I accidentally omitted your  name, know that I thank you, too. 

When I return to Atlanta in less than 2 weeks to start my new and exciting career as a Bikram Yoga teacher, I also look so forward to training with my amazing fellow Georgia competitor and winner, Rebecca Causey.  I can't wait for us to train together for the Nationals in March!

Namaste, everyone, with so much gratitude.

Love, love, love.