What is this about yoga competition and how does it affect normal yogis like us? I have been asking this question as director of Bikram Yoga Queenstown and as a 20 year plus practicing yogi. How can competitions  help me, the studio, students?

Donna Wikio in Dunedin is training students to compete this year and encouraging me as well. We have  students ready for that next step in depth. There is a method for training and a lot for me to learn on how to train someone! This will be big for me too! I think it will be great for all of us!

Bikram Choudry and his wife Rajashree are pushing to get yoga in to the next Olympics! Yoga competitions have been around for years in India and ultimately bring us face to face with….ourselves, our minds and our perceived limitations.

There are 5 postures that are practiced and judged in competition, Standing Head to Knee, Standing Bow Pulling, Camel, Rabbit and Forward Bend ( you can bet Lynn Whitlow coming this weekend starting Fri night 6pm, will be focusing on these postures this weekend at her workshops) A competitor performs those 5 postures then 2 of their own choice. The judges score more points for difficult postures chosen by the practitioner for their body types. For example, someone very flexible who chooses a strength pose get more points than if they choose a super flexible posture. In other words, it can’t be the easiest for the practitioner.

Nicci in Auckland hosted the first Yoga Competition in 2009. Donna is on board for 2010. So are we. I think people need to have goals. Goals drive success. That which we don’t try, we will never know.

I want to push this studio to a higher level. Why not? In teaching, in practice, in ability and continuing to develop a good yoga school. Bikram is from the Bishnu Gnosh Yoga College in Calcutta. A university that has been there for 60 years. Bikram’s wife Raj has her degree from there as well,  in women’s health issues. The yoga we practice has years of study behind it,  literally hundreds of thousands of hours, in proving the medical benefits of yoga postures, the mental changes, and the potential and power to heal, to make people confident and happy. Yoga is a very useful tool to help humans deal with all the challenges of being alive.

Back to Lynn Whitlow. She is coming this weekend July 30th-Aug 1st. Lynn was one of the founders of the Yoga Competitions with Bikram. She was on the panel of  judges for years. She knows the scoring and rating and details of the postures.  She is going to help us get in to the next level with our practices. She’s tough. She is a Bikram legend. She has been doing the whole yoga thing for all her adult life. She trains teachers now and travels for workshops.

Friday 6-8 pm Master Class, strong, focuses on 3 postures, a must for practicing students wanting to get that teacher training depth with some struggle in this class. Yes, it will be a difficult one. Come hydrated, get excited to struggle hard as Bikram says! $49

Saturday 2-6pm Posture Clinic  This is in a warm room, casual, workshop style, can ask questions, going through every posture from standing to floor series. Bring cameras if you like to get you in postures!  $99

Sunday Community Class – Regular class taught by Lynn, good price if you are a bit skint and can come to only one class. This will be the 26 postures series done in a heated room, just like normal $29

Lynn Whitlow can help us start training ourselves just for fun. I am really excited on all the new developments. I love having Donna in Dunedin charging the way.  She did come from this studio after all! She thinks we can train Nicci in to being top and placing really well! Wouldn’t that be awesome! Why not get in to it! To continue our training, we will have a new class…..

Competition Training  will start Aug 4th and be weekly on Wednesdays 8-9 pm, (donation class, $5 suggested) . You must take the 6pm class in order to come, but everyone is welcome. We will practice the 5 competition postures.  Everyone welcome! Come give it a try.

Advanced practice, which I am starting 2 times a week, is different. You must be invited. It is mandatory that a student be able to sit in Lotus without strain before starting the advanced. Bikram says 10 years of practicing the beginning before the advanced if you are normal stiff person. It took me 10 years almost exactly and now I do feel I am ready.  I am practicing it now and loving it. It is the 84 posture series, on the poster, in the hallway above the fountain. Check it out.

That is the studio scoop and also the big push to get you guys in to Lynn Whitlow. This is our last yoga workshop this year (until Lance in Jan 2011)! I think we can really take Lynn’s  teachings a long way. She has so much experience.

Get in here for the whole weekend $169 or take an individual workshop.

See you soon,

Namaste, Peggy

July 30th Fri 6-8 pm- Master Class will cover 3 postures only, and be a tough class. Everyone welcome and especially continuing students wanting to deepen their practices and improve their technique. $49

July 31st Sat 2-6 pm - Posture Clinic will take 4 hours and go over every posture in the standing series in 2 hours, then the floor series for 2 hours. Room will be just warm, and questions welcome. Great for every level and everyone welcome. $99

August 1st Sun 9:30-11:00 am-  Community Class Lynn teaches a Bikram class. Everyone welcome (please note this is a paid for class for everyone). $29

$169 for whole weekend

Early bird til July 20th $149!

The Spiritual Nature of Yoga, a talk by Swami Govindananda

Swami Ji’s talk “The Spiritual Nature of Yoga” picks up where the practice of physical yoga naturally leads you to – inquiry in to the self, the desire to meditate, and to gain a deeper understanding of the origins of yoga from a spiritual perspective.

Swami Ji is an accomplished and charismatic speaker. An author and producer of 100’s of recorded talks, he brings us the fruit of his many years of experience of living in India studying philosophy and meditation at the deepest levels.

Please attend this talk and support his effort to come to Queenstown as well as continue your understanding of what yoga really is. He is a regular lecturer at Lance Schuler’s teacher trainings and comes highly recommended.

Everyone is welcome.

$20 members, $30 non-members proceeds support schools and hospitals in India

Hello from Las Vegas!  I went to my first class at 4am your time Saturday morning, stiff and barely awake. I got to have a class with Raj, Bikram’s beautiful and inspiring wife. Like she said, it was a “light” class. I felt I could just move my spine again, it took me until rabbit to feel mobile after the plane flight.  I spent the rest of the day at the pool. The US is funny, it seems people are really in shape or obese, not so much in between. I think all the really in shape one’s were all the Bikram Yogis there for their teacher training! Bikram has a lot of saving to do if he is going to save this country from fast food and huge portions!

I went back at 5pm for the last class of the teachers trainers. They just finished 98 classes in 9 weeks. There was a lot of anticipation in that room. Yes, it was hot. Picture a huge white tent with over 400 students and studio owners. I didn’t have to be there for that class, but I’ll never miss a chance to practice with my teacher, Bikram. I had a great class. My body finally opened and went to it’s depth of strength and flexibility. I killed myself. It wasn’t the hardest class I have ever had with Bikram, maybe he is softening a bit, but it was the real Bikram, compassionate and funny. I laughed and almost cried, I felt everything, so alive, so hot, so tired, so clean, so good and happy. But it was the end that really got me.

After the class, after all the hooting and clapping, the lights went down. Bikram was up front on his podium, with his thumbs going up, more up, more sound. On the speakers was one of his best songs, an Indian techno song that he sings. The music goes louder, louder…everyone jumps up and starts to dance! My legs could hardly hold me up! 400 sweaty bodies moving and jyrating and Bikram himself up on stage with some fantastic moves. He loves to dance, and sing, and laugh. All the great yoga teachers I have met love to laugh!

This is my teacher, our founder of Bikram Yoga, laughing, dancing, working the crowd like a superstar, talking about love, and the Laker’s game, about opening your heart and helping people, about never giving up, ever, on someone. Here is a man a lot of people talk about, not all good, he doesn’t care, good or bad. He just keeps teaching. He doesn’t turn down the heat, make it easy, give in to out weaknesses. He makes us get stronger.  He has a huge heart and never gives up on us. He makes our practice so hard to prove that we can build confidence, we can change the world, we can be successful and compassionate, we can help other people. We can change ourselves and be the person we aspire to be. Never give up.

“Never too sick, never to poor, never too old, to start yoga and begin again.”

I start the advanced training tomorrow. I am a bit scarred and really excited. I have trained for this, given up coffee, sugar and alcohol for a few months now to get my body more supple. I never knew, 12 years ago when I went to my first class that my journey would take me to Queenstown, to a studio, to where I am today.

I give thanks first to myself for staying on this path, I give thanks to my teachers giving me their knowledge, and I give thanks to having a home studio to return to and share what I have learned. I am deeply grateful for being able to help other people find their strength and health. More daily updates coming on facebook. Become a friend and stay tuned…..and practice!

Namaste, Peggy

PS. Huge clothing sale on now! Get in there for the best selection! 1 piece is 10% off, 2 is 20% off, 3 is 30% off, 4 is 40% off and 5 or more is 50% off! Everything on sale, soft hoodies, long and short capris, all hot yoga gear, all clothes!

Winter is finally on us! The cold weather has brought a lot of you in, and we love to see you! We have had some fantastic classes with the Challenge going on and everyone in the hot room. My best advice, just get a regular practice that is manageable and consistent year around. Keep the benefits happening.

It has been a great autumn. We have a solid, happy Bikram team and all love our teaching, practicing, learning and sharing. Nicci and Kelly are great to have here teaching and I am grateful every day for them, and you students too. Thank you.

This Challenge  has been the best ever. Really. They all did a 12 day detox and mineral boost and they were stronger than ever. What a difference it has been watching them practice with no sugar, caffine or alcohol in their bodies. It has really impressed upon me the need for more emphasis and education on food and liquids.

The Challenge finishes Wed night, June 2nd. We will celebrate the finish with Pizza and pool at the Rattlesnake 8pm. Everyone welcome and encouraged to come practice then go for pizza! Come celebrate, have a social and meet some of your fellow yogis. We will have the ultimate pool game and prizes for the Challengers.

Yes! We are starting another 30 Day Challenge June 9th. I had a group request another start date so here we go!  Everyone welcome to join and start a detox beforehand. If you want to take your health by the horns, jump in. You won’t regret it.

If anyone is interested in more information on nutrition or the Challenge, call Emma Pearce at Queenstown Naturopathy 027 277 0197.

We will have a visiting teacher June 9-19th! Yeah! We love visiting teachers for their enthusiasm and ability to say the same thing a whole new way. Louise will be on the schedule so check out his classes.

Monday June 7th, Queen’s Birthday 9:30am Bikram class only (no 6pm). We will have the Restorative Class at 6pm in the big room.

Peggy is headed off in a few weeks to go study the advanced series with “The Man” in Las Vegas. Yes, I said Bikram and Vegas! Huge pools, lots of lights and hot! I am super excited as it is my chance to study the 84 posture series and take my practice to another level. Keep practicing guys, you’re next!

Thanks for reading, whew! have a great weekend and get in here now!

“Never too late, never too sick, never too old, to start yoga and begin again”

Namaste, Peggy

Louise in Crane

Simply mention this email from Queenstown’s Hottest Yoga Studio when making a purchase. (excludes sale items)

Detour Clothing, O’Connells Shopping Centre, Queenstown (03) 442 7918

Happy Shopping and congratulations students!

Thanks Yogis and I hope this did not mess up any of your plans,

please put the weekend July 31st on your calendar.

Namaste, Peggy

WE are sorry for any inconvience to all students but it means Lynn can be in the hospital with her husband. Please reschedule for July if possible. Thank you Yogis!

“It’s just like training”

Lynn Whitlow is the owner/director of The Funky Door in San Fransisco, the most successful  and oldest Bikram Yoga Studio in the Bay area. Students and studio owners come from all over the world to study with Lynn. She is a main teacher for the Bikram Yoga teacher trainings as well as a judge for the International Yoga Competitions. She will had detail and depth to all our practices.  You can ask questions and will get answers.

Early bird special until April 20th $135 for the entire weekend! Sign up now! After that, $165 for the weekend.

Friday May 7th Master Class 6-8 pm  $50 individual session

Certain postures are discussed in great length with a
minimum of three posture overviews – 2 standing postures
and 1 floor posture.
Students who come to the Master Class, will experience a
mini seminar like effect.
This class is more intense; postures are held a little longer,
class is a little more challenging and a little more
definitive.

Saturday May 8th, Posture Seminar 1-5 pm $100 this workshop

Class is room temperature, we talk about all the postures starting with standing and moving to the floor series. Students welcome to ask questions.

Sunday, May 9th, Community Class 9:30 am $20  (please note everyone must pay for this class including annuals)

Friday, April 2nd 9:30 class only

Saturday 8 am and 11 am classes

Sunday 9:30 and 4 pm

Monday 9:30 am class only

If you are in town, please come practice!

There is a 5$ off coupon in the LWB for your friends and family to use over Easter!

Namaste