Friday, January 16, 2009

Why I'm NOT doing the 60-Day Competition....I mean, 60-Day Challenge


Twice a year my Bikram yoga studio has a 60-Day Challenge, once in January and then again in July. The first time I participated was in January 2006, back then it was a challenge, and I did successfully complete it! It had barely been one month since I started the practice and less than 1 year earlier I weighed almost 250lbs! But now, at this point in my training, and at this point in my life, it's no longer a challenge, so why participate?


What is the 60-Day Challenge about? Well, I think the first and most important point of this challenge is to establish, and create the habit of consistent practice.....did that. There's the challenge from a physical standpoint, building up the physical strength to endure 60 straight days of Bikram yoga......did that. There's the challenge of a schedule, which I think is the biggest challenge really, because how many people can fit 2 hours of yoga, everyday, into an already busy life? Well, since I have the luxury of living like "the rich and retired"(that's what Mark says, lol!), scheduling daily workouts is not challenge for me. And I guess the last point of this challenge is the comradery created by the energy of 100 people all committing to making their lives better, which is probably the best reason, and why I almost signed up......but......


I know myself! I'm highly competitive and I, like many, would try and do 120 yoga classes in 60 days, turning it into a competition instead of a challenge lol! In fact, I have to stop myself from training yoga more than 7 days a week, and I've been currently attending 8-11 classes weekly. I didn't want this challenge, and the fact that my name was up on some board amassing "gold stars" as a way of proving "I'm better than you"! Many of the participants, like me, have an established practice and routinely attend double classes already (some of them Bikram Yoga teachers, how is that a challenge?). Am I being a bitch? Should I have joined in anyway, as a show of support?


For some students this really is a challenge, physically, mentally and even emotionally as yoga, and most physical activities reconnect us with our bodies and minds, and I respect that. So, I will attend class, daily, with the admiration and respect for those whom I know this is truly a challenge for.....and for those who just want to show off? Well, what can I say? What-ever! (OK, I am being a bitch, lol)

6 comments:

Kori Bliffert, NASM-CPT said...

Tracy,
Speaking of Yoga, did you see that article on "Anti-Gravity Yoga"? Looked...weird, but I thought you might know more about it since I think it started in CA.

Christine said...

Your last sentence had me almost spitting my coffee out! I love yoga, but there is a certain sub-sect of yoga practitioners who I often refer to as 'annoyingly smug' - just plain show offs! I've been going to yoga at Turning Point - it's a non-profit organization for people battling cancer, as well as their caregivers. It's a great class, because there is such a mix of people, survivors, care givers like me, and folks still in the thick of the fight. Everyone's there to focus on something positive, even if it's just for that 90 minutes!

Tracy Reifkind said...

Kori,

No I haven't heard about it...I've got enough stuff going on, lol!

PS are you saying I'm weird? (just kidding)

Tracy Reifkind said...

Christine,

As the saying goes...."takes one to know one" (show off)....I'm talking about myself, of course, lol!

I have to admit I do not like that part of myself as it relates to yoga, because it seems so contradictory to the philosophy of yoga. The biggest challenge for me in this practice is leaving my ego at the door!

I love the name "Turning Point", that can apply to so many things in our lives....good things!

Anonymous said...

Hey Tracy just saw your post about how I changed my diet..

To be honest, I had some tests done and it turns out I had cushing syndrome, overactive adrenal gland, this syndrome also caused a thyroid goiter and I was iodine deficient and some mild depression. I started getting 8 hours of sleep, 1/4 teaspoon of salt in my water twice a day, (I am allergic to shellfish) and got medication to correct the overactive adrenals.

stopped all eating by 7:30 pm
got 8 to 9 hours of sleep per night
and cut all caffeine from my diet.
I eat 4x a day, breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner.
cut the cheat meal.. I only have carbs that come from fruits and veggies, and have brown rice maybe once a week. I cut the cheat meal out also.

my thyroid meds were increased to 150 mg, with the salt, the goiter is now gone... I feel so much better and energy levels are good.

Tracy Reifkind said...

Regina,

What a releif for you to find a medical reason to change your diet in a successful way....it's great news. Not eating too much, and then, not eating the wrong foods for your body and health, and then, ultimately, not eating too much of the wrong foods! We all eventually need to find our way to what works for us.

PS The cheat meal rarely works for most people because no one does it right!