Saturday Spotlight: Want to become a Bikram yoga teacher?

Dear Britomart yogis,

Have you ever listened to your teachers in class (you know, those generally annoying people who talk at you telling you to ‘lock your knee’, ‘be still’, ‘breathe through your nose’? ;-)) and thought to yourself I could do that!? 

Has Bikram yoga had a significant impact on your life? Do you find yourself wanting to practise more and more often? Has your health improved since you started? Have your old injuries miraculously disappeared? Do you find yourself craving different foods and making better nutrition choices? Do you have greater clarity of mind?

Do you feel ready for the challenge of 9 weeks intense training? Two classes a day? Late nights? Posture clinics listening to endless dialogue reciting? 300+ sweaty bodies raising the humidity to an unbearable level? The temperature getting so high that the fire alarm goes off (yes, this happened.) and then the water sprinklers come on (yes, this also happened on my training. Twice!)? :-)

If you're still keen after reading the above then allow me to deliver the good (the GREAT!) news... The next teacher training will take place in Thailand, in Phuket, on the beach, at the Sentido Graceland Khao Lak Resort and Spa which just happens to look like this:

Sentido Graceland 1

 and this:

Sentido Graceland 2

 and this (sigh!):

Sentido Graceland 3

Sold yet?! ;-)

The Spring TT begins on April 19th and runs until June 20th. Some of our Britomart yogis have already signed up and are getting geared up for what will definitely be a truly unforgettable experience, and hopefully an amazingly positive one too.

Going to Bikram TT was the best decision I have ever made. It's not all plain sailing, but you learn to love the struggles you encounter because they allow you to grow so much. You meet some pretty amazing people and share the rollercoaster ride together. Some of them will become friends for life.

When you step up to the podium for your first classes you will quickly realise just how much of a privilege teaching is. To witness transformations, to help students realise their own strength and power, to encourage their self-acceptance, to see their struggles overcome, to watch students fall in love with themselves in the mirror.

That is the true beauty of this job, and I hope I will do it forever! :-)

For more information on TT click here to access the official Bikram yoga website: http://www.bikramyoga.com/TeacherTraining/AboutTeacherTraining.php. En better, just come and talk to any of your teachers before or after class. We would love to share our own experiences of TT with you!

See you on your mats!
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Monday Motivations: It's almost challenge time!

Dear Britomart Bikram yogis,

On Sunday Feb 1st, many Britomart students along with lots of your teachers will together begin our first 30-day challenge of 2015. This is no mean feat, even for those experienced practitioners who may already have numerous challenges under their belts.

Committing to a 30-day challenge entails completing 30 classes in 30 days. It’s an excellent way to explore and go somewhere new with your practice. You can do a couple of doubles (two classes in one day) if necessary but we don’t really recommend many more than one double a week.

What we do recommend is that you think only of your challenge one day at a time. Every night simply decide what class you are going to practise the next day. Digest your challenge in bite-sized chunks so you won’t feel overwhelmed at the prospect of no ‘rest’ days because in reality, you will manage perfectly well without them. Your Bikram practice is a fuel-station: the only ‘exercise’ in the world where you are actually gaining energy! The very healing and therapeutic nature of the Bikram practice means that you can absolutely practise every single day!

Here are a couple of tips which you may find helpful:
  • Take your challenge one day at a time. Think only of tomorrow’s class each night before you go to sleep.
  • Drink plenty of water. Add some lemon for quicker absorption and some Himalayan pink salt to replace sodium lost through sweat.
  • Eat a banana after class for some potassium and prepare some snacks to have mid-afternoon if you are doing an evening class after work. This could be a handful of raw nuts and a piece of fruit for example?
  • Engage with your fellow yogis before and after class: Find out who is doing the challenge and share your experiences and insights.
  • Engage in a compassionate practice. If at any point you are struggling please kneel down, take a break, and join us again when you are ready. There will be classes which you will find harder than others. Have no expectations, and simply commit to working as hard as you can in that moment, every moment, every posture, every class.

If your compassion

And one final note… Please don’t overthink your class once you leave the room. Sure, a little reflection on your practice is helpful sometimes… but more often than not what starts out as some well-meaning advice to yourself: “You need to work on on getting your hips down lower in trikonasana”, can turn rapidly into “Your triangle pose looks so rubbish in the mirror, and it’s nowhere NEAR as good as Sandra’s!” :-)

Be kind to yourselves! Your bodies hear and absorb everything your mind says. Furthermore, these thoughts are compounded because you are often looking at yourself in the mirror when they surface. View your challenge first and foremost as an exploration. You are embarking on a beautiful adventure where the only goal is to emerge knowing, accepting, and loving yourself a little bit more.

See you on your mats!

PS: God help us all! ;-)
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Monday Motivations



 When it comes to thinking about gifts and presents this year, think outside the box of spending money in exchange for something which you will wrap and pass on to someone else who will either like it or need it, or won’t like it or need it at all.

Think back to the last present you bought for someone that you really wanted to have yourself. In most cases the thought is as far as it goes and you only get the one, but the action usually leaves someone without the gift they want – you!

This week, we have a very simple solution to all your gift giving and receiving worries this summer. Firstly, it is about You. Give, give, give the self - everything it wants, needs and desires! Everything you would love for someone you care about to have or be doing this summer – do it for yourself first.

Putting yourself first is the most important and biggest step towards giving the best gifts to your loved ones. In fact to the people who love you, looking after yourself is the best gift you could give them – and they you.

If a friend is unhealthy, unfit and unhappy, filling my Christmas stocking with the most lavish gifts would not fulfil me or make me feel like a happy friend at all. A friend making the right decisions for themselves because they care about themselves – that is a present worthy of giving and receiving, any time of year.

When it comes to being a fabulous gift giver, the first step is learning how to give to yourself and receive the gifts of the self wholeheartedly, without guilt or feeling selfish. Know that every step you make towards a healthier, more vibrant you is only going to help lift the spirits of those around you and maybe even motivate or inspire someone else to follow in your path of self-love and development.

Gifts come in many shapes, sizes and forms, but think about what You want for yourself this Summer and work towards getting there, starting from Today. Because a happy, healthy You, is surely the greatest, most unique gift to the world.

Call us today and start your journey :) 0800 hotyoga

Happy Hot Yoga!

Namaste
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