I tried Hot Yoga for a few days about 6 years ago. At the time I was working long hours and traveling nationally for work. My schedule made it impossible to make yoga a priority but the in the few short days, about 5 or 6 total, the “hook” was in – whenever I thought about changing my work out or improving my health my fleeting hot yoga experience always crossed my mind.
How long have you been practicing yoga?
As of today, 71 consecutive days
What inspired you to take on a 60-day challenge in which you had to complete sixty classes in sixty days?
I had no intention of completing 60 days! I went to Hot Yoga with a personal commitment to go on the first day and keep going until I completed 30 days. Near the end of my 30 days I was putting my shoes on after class and someone asked me how many days I had completed – I replied and then someone else said “if you can do 30 you can do the Bikram 60!” I walked out of the studio and thought “yep, if I can make it to 30 I can make it to 60” Of course the other voice in my head kept asking me if I was nuts…..but I always like a challenge lol!
Prior to that, how many times per week do you practice yoga?
Never, other than my fleeting experience was over 6 years ago. I always had the intention of going back to Hot Yoga but the studio where I had first attended had closed so I never got around to it.
Tell us a little about your 60-day challenge, how did you feel?
I feel stronger and mentally clearer. I still have days where muscles are sore but when I think back to how I felt the first week to how I feel now it is night and day. It has been an interesting journey. Every day I discover either something about myself or about my relationship with yoga that gives me food for thought.
What is your favorite pose? Why?
That changes every day depending on what day it is, but Savasna is always at the top of the list! I actually don’t have a constant favorite. There is something about every pose that I like – especially since I’ve learned to listen to the instructor better. With each little tweak I find something about the pose that I’m attempting to be better and more likeable.
What is your toughest pose? Why?
Anything I have to balance in. My core strength isn’t at its optimum so I have what I call “egg days”. Think of balancing an egg on one end. That’s me! It is frustrating but I just keep working at it.
In what ways has Hot Yoga enhanced your life?
Years of working long hours and being stressed out the majority of the time has given me the gift of an autoimmune disease. Since beginning yoga I’ve seen positive changes in my health. I sleep better and have more stamina. My “down” days don’t feel so down and deep. I find myself having a whole different relationship with a part of myself that I either had lost track of or had never discovered before. In order to do yoga I have to take care of myself – drink water and recognize those baby steps every day. It’s like running. No one can just get up and run a marathon – you have to do a little more every day.
What would you like your fellow classmates to know about you that may not already know?
That I have so appreciated their support! Their “high fives” and comments about how much better my poses are or the weight that I’ve lost makes me feel so good. Their support is what propels me to come back to class the next day.
HYO’s fun section entitled…”Get to know your neighbor”….
Favorite hobby(s)?
My passion has always been construction and design. Since I’m unemployed I suppose its now a hobby! I work on my house in my off yoga hours! I’ve also taken up baking. I’m celiac so I bake gluten free goodies. I’ve just finished a cake decorating class and now have added specialty/wedding cakes to my reptoire.
Favorite movie(s)?
I love old movies and foreign films the best. The Kings Speech, Raise the Red Lantern, The Incredibles and The Apartment. I love anything that is creative or makes me think
Favorite musician(s) / singer(s) / band(s)?
Adele, Ambiessence, Black Eyed Peas, Moby, Morcheeba, Mary J. Blige, Lady GaGa, Andrea Bocelli, Costa Martinez, Music Project, Beatles, Joe Cocker, Ashanti, Eminem, Ministry of Sound
Favorite Book(s)?
The Namesake, The Madness of a Seduced Woman (not as sexy as it sounds…lol), Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Enemy of War, A History of Private Life
Favorite Author(s)?
Enid Blyton, Jhumpa Lahiri, Winston Churchill, my grandmother
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Hot Yoga Ocean Ave's Student of the Month!!
STUDENT OF THE MONTH - RAINE MORTIMER
What inspired you to give the Hot Yoga a try?
I tried Hot Yoga for a few days about 6 years ago. At the time I was working long hours and traveling nationally for work. My schedule made it impossible to make yoga a priority but the in the few short days, about 5 or 6 total, the “hook” was in – whenever I thought about changing my work out or improving my health my fleeting hot yoga experience always crossed my mind.
How long have you been practicing yoga?
As of today, 71 consecutive days
What inspired you to take on a 60-day challenge in which you had to complete sixty classes in sixty days?
I had no intention of completing 60 days! I went to Hot Yoga with a personal commitment to go on the first day and keep going until I completed 30 days. Near the end of my 30 days I was putting my shoes on after class and someone asked me how many days I had completed – I replied and then someone else said “if you can do 30 you can do the Bikram 60!” I walked out of the studio and thought “yep, if I can make it to 30 I can make it to 60” Of course the other voice in my head kept asking me if I was nuts…..but I always like a challenge lol!
Prior to that, how many times per week do you practice yoga?
Never, other than my fleeting experience was over 6 years ago. I always had the intention of going back to Hot Yoga but the studio where I had first attended had closed so I never got around to it.
Tell us a little about your 60-day challenge, how did you feel?
I feel stronger and mentally clearer. I still have days where muscles are sore but when I think back to how I felt the first week to how I feel now it is night and day. It has been an interesting journey. Every day I discover either something about myself or about my relationship with yoga that gives me food for thought.
What is your favorite pose? Why?
That changes every day depending on what day it is, but Savasna is always at the top of the list! I actually don’t have a constant favorite. There is something about every pose that I like – especially since I’ve learned to listen to the instructor better. With each little tweak I find something about the pose that I’m attempting to be better and more likeable.
What is your toughest pose? Why?
Anything I have to balance in. My core strength isn’t at its optimum so I have what I call “egg days”. Think of balancing an egg on one end. That’s me! It is frustrating but I just keep working at it.
In what ways has Hot Yoga enhanced your life?
Years of working long hours and being stressed out the majority of the time has given me the gift of an autoimmune disease. Since beginning yoga I’ve seen positive changes in my health. I sleep better and have more stamina. My “down” days don’t feel so down and deep. I find myself having a whole different relationship with a part of myself that I either had lost track of or had never discovered before. In order to do yoga I have to take care of myself – drink water and recognize those baby steps every day. It’s like running. No one can just get up and run a marathon – you have to do a little more every day.
What would you like your fellow classmates to know about you that may not already know?
That I have so appreciated their support! Their “high fives” and comments about how much better my poses are or the weight that I’ve lost makes me feel so good. Their support is what propels me to come back to class the next day.
HYO’s fun section entitled…”Get to know your neighbor”….
Favorite hobby(s)?
My passion has always been construction and design. Since I’m unemployed I suppose its now a hobby! I work on my house in my off yoga hours! I’ve also taken up baking. I’m celiac so I bake gluten free goodies. I’ve just finished a cake decorating class and now have added specialty/wedding cakes to my reptoire.
Favorite movie(s)?
I love old movies and foreign films the best. The Kings Speech, Raise the Red Lantern, The Incredibles and The Apartment. I love anything that is creative or makes me think
Favorite musician(s) / singer(s) / band(s)?
Adele, Ambiessence, Black Eyed Peas, Moby, Morcheeba, Mary J. Blige, Lady GaGa, Andrea Bocelli, Costa Martinez, Music Project, Beatles, Joe Cocker, Ashanti, Eminem, Ministry of Sound
Favorite Book(s)?
The Namesake, The Madness of a Seduced Woman (not as sexy as it sounds…lol), Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Enemy of War, A History of Private Life
Favorite Author(s)?
Enid Blyton, Jhumpa Lahiri, Winston Churchill, my grandmother
Favorite restaurant(s)?
Greens, Naan and Curry, Chapeau
Favorite City(s)?
San Francisco, London, Paris, Verona and Florence