Tag Archives: bikram training

A Yogi’s Groceries

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After one week at Bikram training, I was able to refine my grocery shopping.  Week one I bought:

At Trader Joes

  • Instant Oatmeal – Haven’t Used Once
  • Low Fat String Cheese (12) -Ate All- bought 2 this week!
  • Whole Wheat Tortillas (12) – Half went bad don’t keep in a drawer!
  • Hummus x2 – Went through 1 1/2
  • 2 Red Peppers
  • 1 Cucumber
  • 1 Bag Frozen Strawberries
  • Bag of Spinach
  • Mini Ravioli
  • Spaghetti Sauce
  • Whey Protein
  • Peanut Butter
  • Salt – Really good because I was cramping my second day!
  • 1/2 and 1/2 – Gotta have it for my coffee!  My french press was a must buy at Target!
  • Carrots
  • Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans
  • 5 Coconut H20s -One for each day between classes!

At Ralphs

  • 1lb Turkey
  • Soy Sauce
  • Sriacha
  • Coffee
  • Ramon

I did pretty good the first week, but from my meal tracking (Remember we can learn a lot when we track our food!) I saw I wasn’t getting near enough protein.  Part of the problem was my lunches.  I have been eating Ramon for lunch everyday since I cramped in my Tuesday evening class.  Ramon has a lot of Carbs to replenish my glycogen stores between classes, but it also has a TON of sodium.  Normally, I wouldn’t consider this a staple lunch because of high Carb Count and level of sodium.   2 Yoga classes a day though calls for  an above average consumption of sodium!  To add a little more protein to this otherwise carb dominant lunch, this week I bought some liquid eggs!  Here is my modified grocery list for week two:

Trader Joes:

  • Protein Powder (2lbs) – I doubled my protein powder.  I have been having a shake in the morning before class and a shake in the evening to bring to evening lecture with Peanut butter and Coffee.  It is a great way to get my caffeine and some fuel before class and a tasty treat in the evening to help keep me awake in case we have a Bollywood movie night!
  • Organic Red Quinoa – A good source of protein I can mix with greens as a salad for lunch!  Cooks well with my Electric Kettle!
  • TJ’s Green Curry Simmer Sauce- Seasons the Quinoa really well!
  • Indian Madras Lentils- Again to mix with the Quinoa for some variety in my lunches
  • ****I later learned Juniper Vegetables or Palak Paneer are better options for more protein!
  • Liquid Eggs- To add to my Ramon at lunch
  • Baking Cocoa (the 2lb Protein Powder only came in Vanilla)
  • Very Green Powder Drink- To mix with my Coconut Water and Lemon as an Electrolyte Replacement also a good source of Iron for borderline anemics like me!
  • 1 lb of Coffee
  • 72% Dark Chocolate Bar for a treat in the evening
  • 1 Can Garbanzo beans- to add to Quinoa Salads
  • Mini Ravioli- Cooks well in the Kettle for a Meal switch up
  • 2 bags String Cheese- My Favorite snack at the moment.  Also has more Protein than most quick grab items!
  • Hummus Quartet- 20oz to keep me through the week with my veggies!
  • 2 bags of Carrots – I ate over half the bag the first night before I had made my dinner!
  • 1 bad of Spinach- Another great source of Iron!
  • Bag of Fuji Apples- I missed having fruit last week!
  • Bag of Lemons- To mix with my greens!
  • Cucumber- Great for wraps
  • 2 Peppers- great for wraps, salads, and snacking!

Ralphs

  • Ramon- Loved it last week for lunch!  Super easy to make with my electric kettle!
  • 1lb Turkey- Great on it’s on as a protein fix or in a tortilla for a wrap
  • Canned Salmon- For when I get sick of Turkey!

Excited to have a little more variety and protein this week!  I’m stalked and ready to go for the week! 🙂

What to Pack For Bikram Yoga Teacher Training

what to pack for bikram yoga teacher training

Hi Healthy Friends!

This message is somewhat of a goodbye.  I plan to post an exercise of the day and at least 1 workout a week, but otherwise I have been warned that life will be crazy for the next two months.  Tomorrow I head out for Bikram yoga training.  I am excited for this experience to further educate myself in this arena of health and fitness.  I definitely think this will be one of the experiences of my lifetime!

What can I expect out of Bikram yoga teacher training?  I know I will be taking 2 90min Bikram Yoga classes a day, 6 days a week for 9 weeks intermixed with refresher courses on anatomy and posture clinics.  I can count on learning how to properly instruct yoga so I can spread yoga to others.  I am sure there will also be a ton I don’t expect.  I have heard rumors of torturous 120 degree temperatures in some classes, late night Bollywood movies (volume and air conditioning on max to keep you awake til 3am), and of course an instructor who always keep you on your toes, the Boss himself Bikram Choudhury.  How do you prepare for this?  Below are what I’m arming myself with as I prepare to enter the torture chamber.

School Supplies:

What to pack for Bikram Yoga Teacher Training

FIRST OFF NO GREEN BIKRAM DOESN’T ALLOW IT!  If you’re caught wearing green you are kicked out of lecture, posture clinic, and/or class and have to do a makeup class on Saturday.

  • 2 Yoga Mats
  • a laundry rack: You only have time to do laundry on Sundays with coin operated washer and dryers.
  • Magic Bullet: Supposedly there is 1 kitchen with 2 microwaves for 400+ students.  You do the math, I think I will be having a lot of smoothies!
  • Plug in Kettle:  Great for tea for hydration and creative solutions in making oatmeal, rice, and maybe some tortellini 😉
  • Brita:  Rumor has it there are black floaties in the water.  I like my water clean.
  • 64oz Hydroflask:  On the days Bikram decides to haze us with 120 degree temps, a 64oz hydroflask might help me be one who stays in the room!  I love a challenge!
  • Tea Tree Oil and a Spray Bottle:  To keep my mat smelling pretty.  There is nothing worse than laying face down in 40 classes worth of your own sweaty smell during savasana.
  • Can opener:  For canned Salmon, soups, really a lot of food I will probably be eating with only 1 microwave available.
  • Strainer:  To help my creativity with the kettle.
  • Cutting Board:  For cutting veggies and such to make salads and dip in hummus!
  • Knife:  See above
  • 2 water bottles:  To have during the day at lecture and posture clinic to keep hydrated for the next class
  • Ear Plugs:  For those late night movies.  I’m not trying to avoid them, I just want my ear drums working so I can hear Bikrams cues during class the next day.
  • Rubbermaid Containers:  Once I buy groceries on Sundays I plan to prepack my food for the week!
  • 13 Yoga Tops:  2 per day for 6 days, plus an extra just in case
  • 13 Yoga Bottoms: See above
  • Sweatshirt: Supposedly the movie nights are freezing, if you layer up you won’t be cold and I might even have an extra layer to make a cozier spot for myself!
  • Scarf
  • Sweater
  • Lulu Pants
  • Pajama Pants
  • Uggs
  • Journal:  To take notes, and document my realizations, ideas, fears, and memories.
  • Nail Polish (all my colors except green of course):  I plan to use my polish collection to give myself some stimuli in class as well as make friends!
  • Graduation Outfit: No Green of course, which is a bummer because the dress I would have worn was green.
  • Swimsuit:  I will be in LA!  I plan to head to a beach on Sundays to study my dialogue, read, and write!
  • Summer Dresses for Coverups:  Class is at the hotel we stay at, but they have strict rules about the yogis running around in their yoga wear.

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I will miss you all!  If you are so inclined, I would love to get letters of encouragement, funny pictures or cards, gift cards to whole foods or trader joes to keep me fueled for class, and/or anything you think I would enjoy.  No one likes to be the kid at camp who doesn’t get mail.

Radisson Hotel C/O Courtney Doughty
6225 W. Century Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045

If you haven’t heard from me by Thanksgiving, you can assume I melted.  Until then stay active, stay happy, eat healthy, and keep mastering your health and fitness!