Monthly Archives: April 2009

Bikram Hot Yoga in Greeley Colorado

The chicks weren’t the only things hot this weekend. Shana invited me to go to a Bikram Yoga class in Greeley. Bikram Yoga is also known as “hot yoga” because they crank up the temperature to over 100 degrees F. I think it was somewhere around 107 F when we were there.  It was the first time I had ever taken a yoga class, let alone a hot yoga class. I have done yoga videos and know a few moves that I use in my aerobics class that I teach, but I’ve never done it with a group of 15 or 20 people in steaming heat before.

Shana told told me to bring a large towel and a small towel, a water bottle filled with ice and water, and a yoga mat. My yoga mat had been used as a floor mat in the laundry room, so I had to clean it. Even so, I think my yoga mat was the only one in the room with paint droplets on it from when we finished the basment.  She also encouraged me to wear shorts and a t-shirt or tank top because we’d be sweating.

When we got to the bikram yoga studio, I had to sign up as a first time member and paid $20 for a week pass. The woman at the front desk turned out to be our instructor for the class. I went into the change room as Shana found us a spot in the room. I was a bit chilled from the cold Colorado weather we had this weekend (blizzard-like weather on Saturday, thanks for the head’s up Annie!) so I was excited to get into the room and warm up.

When I entered, I was hit with the dry heat. My hands and bare feet were still a little cold from the 30 degree weather outside, so I just laid on the towel we placed over the mat for a bit until the instructor came in. She sat at the front of the mirrored room and gave us rapid instructions for yoga poses that I hadn’t heard of.

bikram-yoga
To see all the moves I did, check out this poster

Standing, balancing and flexing, I began to sweat. A few swift movements up and down and I became dizzy because of the heat and had to pause. I didn’t do very well on the balance moves either where I had to hold my leg in the air because my hands and legs were so slippery from the sweat running off of them. And I certainly shouldn’t have put lotion on as that made them even more slick.  Since I was near the window in the room at one point I nearly fell into it as I was doing the “standing head to knee” and rattled the window blinds trying to find my balance. Everyone in the quiet room laughed including me.

About half-way through the class we went to the ground. It was amazing how much cooler it was about 5 feet lower.  I was able to extend backward and arch my stomach up pretty far and the instructor said that most beginners couldn’t do that (the Fixed Firm down and the Camel). In fact, many experienced people in the room including Shana couldn’t.

By the end of the class I was certainly sweaty, but was beginning to become accustomed to the heat. I felt limber and light as I closed my eyes and laid there for a while. Since I have the week pass, I think Shana and I are going again tonight. I think I’ve found another warm spot to get out of the cold of winter that’s a little closer than Puerto Rico for now.

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Spring Chicks Have Arrived!

The baby spring chicks have arrived safe and sound at our house. We just went to the feed store and picked up the baby chicks. They are so cute and fuzzy. They were kind of cold and chirping really loudly when we got them. Once they were home in the box with the heat lamp they quieted down. We introduced them to the water and food and they seem to be content. The New Hampshire one is yellow, the Rhode Island Red is…red, and the Americana is striped. Here are a few fun pictures.

Sleepy chick and Britton
Sleepy baby chicken and Britton

Baby chicks eating
The babies chowing down

Sleepy chick in hand
Warm and sleepy

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Hot Chicks in Greeley

Did that post title catch your attention? I was updating my facebook page the other day about the baby chicks that we will be getting this week. I said that I had to test the heat lamp in the box to make sure it got hot enough (around 95 degrees F) but not too hot. Britton responded, “Hear that? Hot chicks in Greeley at our house!” Well the hot chicks -er- baby chickens haven’t arrived in Greeley… yet. I just called the feed store where we pre-paid for them ($6 for 3 chicks), they are now expecting them tomorrow. We ordered a Rhode Island Red, a New Hampshire, and an Americana. They are brown egg layers except the Americana which lays green and blue eggs.

We have started preparing for the chicks. It is kind of like getting a nursery ready for a baby. This is a list of the materials we had to get just for three little squeakers so far.

baby chick set up materials and gear
Materials for raising chicks

A heat lamp with clamp
A red heating light bulb
Pine shavings or other litter
Baby chick food
Waterer
Feeder
Box

Britton has also almost finished building the chicken coop AKA the chickens’ summer house. Since we had that big blizzard the other day, we haven’t moved it out to the backyard yet though. I think it’s looking good!

Building a Chicken Coop hutch
Britton working on the chicken coop in our garage

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