The Herculean task I’m speaking of is going to Bikram teacher training. First, you need about 20K to attend. That, right there is a Herculean task all it’s own for most of us. Then you have to leave your home and family and practically relocate to a hotel in LA for 9 weeks. Money and time aside, while there you spend six days a week doing two 90 minute classes a day, with posture clinics, videos, and lectures in between, running into the wee hours of the morning. You get Sunday off to do your laundry, gather more food, and memorize your dialogue. And that’s just all I know about it. There’s more to be said, I’m sure, from those that have done this most Herculean task.
The reason I speak of this task today is my yoga buddy, Shirley. I’m 58 and Shirley is a few years younger than me, and she leaves tomorrow for teacher training. I stand in awe of Shirley. She is really going to go train to be a Bikram instructor. She signed up for nine weeks that is going to push her beyond any limits she’s ever known and teach her things that probably can’t be found anywhere else other than in a hot room filled with 500 strangers, next to each other, mat to mat, being asked to do things with their bodies that I can’t fathom having the stamina to do. But there is no doubt in my mind that if there is anyone that can tackle this huge undertaking, and come back a wonderful teacher with much to offer, it is Shirley and I’ll tell you why.
In the 18 months I have come to know Shirley, she has become near and dear to me. When I first noticed Shirley in yoga class, a few weeks into my practice back in 2010, her quiet diligence spoke to me. I arrived at Bikram a mess, both inside and out. I was never still or quiet or consistent about anything in that hot room. I thrashed, choked, and complained amidst the sweat and made it my mission everyday to try to defeat the room and figure out ways to make myself more comfortable so I wouldn’t be scared to come there everyday. It was then I began to notice Shirley. Really notice her. She’d come in everyday, set up her spot in the hottest corner of the room, not flop all over, but just go about her practice neat, clean, quiet, and with intention. That, in itself, made an impression me, but as the days began to pass I began to notice Shirley’s diligence. She did the same thing, the same way, EVERYDAY. She never missed class. I began to depend on her being in that corner every morning. Just her presence gave me inspiration and security that I, too, belonged there everyday. Slowly I began to get the message from Shirley, who didn’t even know I was so aware of her from the back opposite corner of the room. I made a vow to come everyday. I began to stop fighting the heat and the other things I couldn’t control in the room. I stopped the flopping around and started to perform every movement with focus and intention, just like Shirley does. I stopped wiping sweat and drinking water during class. Shirley’s quiet, focused, positive energy kept me coming back, telling me there there is something important for me in this room that transcends the physical, and provided the security that I needed to do that, just by her presence each day.
Over the course of the last year I began to talk to and get to know Shirley. She has become a dear friend. I thank God for placing her in my path. She is one of biggest supporters of this blog, and I’m so glad that now I have the chance to be one of her biggest cheerleaders as she embarks on this Herculean adventure. Everyday I will dedicate my eagle pose to her. While in the stillness of the pose I will send positive energy and prayers for Shirley doing such a hard thing in LA.
And so, as another day goes by, to you, Shirley, my dear friend, I wish peace, joy, strength, stamina, and wisdom follow you to to LA on this most amazing journey, and …I have written.
Shirley is documenting her journey in her blog at: http://yogakiko.blogspot.com and I will follow her every step of the way.
You go, girl!!!
I’m honored. You too are one of my dearest friends and we make quite a nice still 🙂 pair of pillars in our respective corners of the room. So looking forward to seeing your practice from the front of the room.
I’ll feel your energy so thank you.
Carpe diem Carpe Noctem Carpe Vitam