As of July 19th, closing date of the 60-Day Challenge, 65 BYSJ members had signed up to practice yoga for 60 consecutive days. Already-here, in the peak of summer – many of you are well into your 20th class! Regardless of the heat, here you are at 7:15 am in class with 50 other students, resolving to stay the course and accomplish your goal. It helps to practice next to other students during the challenge. And, we hope that the star placed on the tracking board next to your name after each class is a comforting dose of motivation to continue.

I am right in there with you. This might be my sixth or seventh challenge (I can’t remember anymore) but each has its own agenda. As it begins, I wonder with excitement what I will learn this time. I think we all hope to become more physically fit, flexible, and healthy as we sweat out waste in its myriad forms: emotional, physical, mental. But there is more to gain. Bikram makes it clear that we are here in this lifetime to self-realize. “Our ultimate destination is mental peace,” Bikram repeatedly states. Through yoga, we learn to calm the fluctuations of the mind and eventually the mind becomes like a “still lake,” and we can see more clearly a reflection of who we are.

The intensity of the 60-Day Challenge and its steady, inward focus cannot but heighten insights about our lives. This space and time aids in our climb to self-realization as a boost in self-discovery. In the past, these challenges have helped me feel greater tolerance and discipline and have cleaned house in body and mind. But, this one is tapping me emotionally. I am “observing” my own vulnerability and if you feel ready, I invite you to investigate this emotion. Vulnerability is not surrender. It allows you to look in a new direction and may feel incredibly uncomfortable. It’s a feeling of exposure and openness. And, I like it! How cool that these 60-Day Challenges come wrapped up like gift packages; untie the ribbon and get a dense course in life’s lessons. How to feel vulnerable –while also feeling stable – is just one of them.

“Being vulnerable means being open to letting something else take the lead and put your trust in something bigger than yourself. Being vulnerable meant allowing myself the chance to become something different even in moments of insecurity,” states Nicole, BYSJ teacher.

“It’s about taking the risk to go past a memorized limitation and having the wisdom to back off when needed. Being vulnerable is about letting go of the ego,” states Chris, BYSJ teacher.

“Vulnerability means opening myself up emotionally, spiritually, physically and letting myself be seen as I am exposed in a way that may not be comfortable to me. Doing the 60-Day Challenge allows this to happen on a daily basis and the reward is that I am able to learn from this each day,” states Carrie, BYSJ Member.

“Vulnerability means exposing my weak areas and the more I open up to these areas in my life, the less I have to hide from them and the more relaxed I feel. Once I embrace them, they become a part of me and the more I can give to myself and others,” states Lalena, BYSJ teacher.

“Pain pushes until vision pulls.” I have no idea where this saying came from but I love it. Whether this is your first challenge or your fifth or your seventh, there is a point where we all “cross over.” The suffering stops and we are instead immersed in possibility. It’s like the baton has been passed and we are running into new potential rather than from past experiences and the limitations of worthless old behaviors. I believe that vulnerability is what allows us to make this subtle important transition.

Emotion means “to disturb.” Feelings of sadness, anger, depression, or even excitement, laughter and happiness are temporary states that disturb peace. They have an energetic charge and tend to control our state of being. As I see it now, my emotions are like a beautiful collection of colors and by being present and aware, I get to choose the most appropriate. This is a more detached approach that doesn’t compromise the underlying peace that is always there, (even in times of anger). I feel grateful to realize that I have a chance to review any emotion that comes up without reacting.

Yoga is so powerful. We work with ourselves, not against ourselves, to fulfill our own personal quest. Congratulations to all the new students, all 65 challengers, and all the regular practitioners that come so often in your efforts to reach your potential. Even something as small as “rolling forward like a wheel” more than your used to in Half Moon Pose demonstrates vulnerability to notice and embrace. These moments inspire real change, real growth, real awakenings.

I watched the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant in a press conference after Game 3 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers had just beaten the Celtics and the series was now 2-1 with the Celtics up. In May, Kobe, won the league’s award as the Most Valuable Player and is arguably one of the best players to have ever played basketball. To lose two games in a row to the Celtics was both out of character and unacceptable to such a competitor. “I told my guys after the two losses in Boston that there was no reason to give in, we played really well all year. Tonight, I played my game. I was aggressive and really took it to them.”

When asked about how the media’s negativity affected him and his team, Kobe said “I don’t listen to the radio, it’s always negative. It has to be as it is more interesting that way. I just look at it as pure entertainment.” Many might collapse under the pressure. Kobe mentioned that he loves the buzz and the hype, but when the game starts “I concentrate only on how we are going to win this game.”

In the end, this year’s NBA Finals belonged to the Celtics. Kevin Garnett, a power forward for over 10 years in the league, and a big reason for the Celtics winning this year’s championship, was finally getting his ring. It was an emotional series for him since the naysayers doubted his ability to win a championship despite being one of the best in the game. “No excuses, was our motto. The three of us - Paul, Ray and I - said at the beginning of the year that we had what it took to do something big. We needed to put aside our own egos and come together as a team. We sacrificed the pursuit of our own individual records to something greater. And, we did it with the little things. Game after game, we would talk and make incremental changes.”

Tiger Woods put together one of the most memorable US Opens in history. He walked over 21 miles in four days powering through 18 holes of golf with an injured left knee. Tiger’s performance each day was the “come from behind” variety making it even tougher mentally. In the end, Tiger beats all odds and won on a shoot-out round. How? “I’m patient,” said Tiger. “I look for opportunities in certain shots to constantly give myself a chance.”

Oprah Winfrey was the keynote speaker for “The Stanford University Commencement” ceremony just last week. Undoubtedly, she is one of the most influential people in the world reaching audiences of every demographic. She told this group of elite students to “be open to the lessons… walk through life eager and open to self-improvement and that which is going to best help you evolve, because that is really why we are here- to evolve as human beings… I know that inner wisdom is more precious than wealth. The more you spend it, the more you gain.”

These individuals are “high achievers.” We are lucky to observe their experiences in our lifetime. It has been a lifelong hobby of mine to listen a little deeper to not only these types of individuals but to others as well to hear the messages they have for me. And, this list includes you members! As a teacher and studio owner, I get to see first hand the work it takes to become a high achiever in the hot yoga room. It is not a path for everyone. Yoga is relentless, grinding, and it can take every last bit of pride right out of you. While the class itself ebbs and flows, balancing effort with surrender, the high achiever (you) knows that the task is simple: show up, stay present, be patient and eventually brilliance will emerge. Staying mediocre is not an option. As an old proverb says, “A diamond is a chunk of coal that made good under pressure.”

John Noe, author of Peak Performance Principles for High Achievers and an accomplished mountain climber, describes the essential attitudes necessary to be a high achiever:
- High achievers make no small plans
- High achievers are willing to do what they fear
- High achievers are willing to prepare
- High achievers are willing to risk failure
- High achievers are teachable
- High achievers have heart

Furthermore, he brings up an interesting concept called “out-of-self motivation.” The idea is that we are three dimensional human beings with a mind, body and spirit. “Our spirit needs to be fed and exercised or it gets weak and ineffective.” Confidence, a powerful term, meaning “in faith” or believing in something greater than what you are today is a required component to becoming a high achiever.
“When spiritual doubt takes hold of our lives, we become immobilized and cannot realize our potential,” states John.

I love the term high achiever. It allows for making “God-sized goals” with the idea that you are becoming, as opposed to accomplishing. There is no end to your potential. It is not about competing with or comparing to anything or anyone and is accessible to everyone!

There is a unique idea, “everyone is special and no one is special.” As I read about these well known individuals, I take in their stories as if they were mine. I take them in as if these stories were yours too. Isn’t it true that when we start a practice, we feel like the odds are stacked up against us with the heat, the pain, our broken bodies and we feel that we will never touch our head to the floor in Separate Leg Stretching pose? Adversity visits everyday. It doesn’t cripple us, however. One day it seems to have subsided and the next day it’s all we can do to just stay in the room. And, one day it happens! Your forehead is on the floor.

It comes from perseverance, preparation, attitude, patience, confidence - attributes of high achievers like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfrey . . .and you! All these remarkable attributes are yours for the taking.

In his book, To be Victorious in Life, Paramahansa Yogananda explains, “so long as you are trying, so long as you pick yourself up when you fall, you will succeed. It is not the victory itself that brings pleasure, but the power and satisfaction that come when you conquer a weakness.” Make it a point to study those whom you admire and see them within yourself. Why shouldn’t you have that kind of determination? “Don’t deny your own supreme power within yourself,” says Yogananda.

A member recently gave me these colorful bracelets made of special beads. It turns out that there is more to them than just looking cool. They help support awareness and money to families suffering in Darfur. Each bracelet is handmade in Africa so, each one is unique. Bracelets seem to be a great way to show support for a worthy cause that means something to you personally. It also is a great reminder of how blessed we are as each time we look at our bracelets, we are humbled knowing others are not so fortunate. Check this site out and buy some bracelets and give them away as fashionable and meaningful gifts. visit reliefbeads.org for more info.