Getting Ready

So, I've been trying to practice a bit more lately. Four is really all I can do with work and Sadie, so I'm hoping I'll at least be in shape by the time Training rolls around. A lot of people are already doing doubles and taking class every day, but I'm a big believer in not burning my body out in advance of this major amount of work I'm about to ask it to do. I'm still trying to just get back to a level of practice that I was before I got pregnant in 2005.

I was lucky to practice through most of my pregnancy (I made it to 37 weeks before I just couldn't get in the hot room anymore) but after Sadie was born it became very difficult to get to class. I guess I had no idea that my maternity leave would largely be spent indoors just feeding my child, doing her laundry and trying to catch a nap every now and then. Then when I started back at work there was literally no time. I felt SO guilty about being away from Sadie during the day, that the idea of not getting every second I could with her was just unacceptable.

Slowly, I was able to carve out some time to get back to class. Slowly, my practice started to resemble my old practice and little by little, I started to make going to training a priority in my mind. As a matter of fact, I was ready to sign up for Spring 2008, when I got some devastating news- I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. In April of 2008, I had my Thyroid gland removed and in May of 2008, I had an ablation treatment with Radio Active Iodine. Although, it was a very scary time, I was in great hands and was determined more than ever to get moving on my dream of teaching and owning a Bikram Yoga studio. In January, I had some follow-up tests and everything came back looking good!

So, I'm trying to practice more, I'm working on dialogue and it's going really well. I'm up to Awkward now, so I will deliver that at the Boston studio on Sunday (and maybe Eagle if I can get them both memorized). I've had some amazing support from my job (they are letting me take a leave of absence), my family (they will bring Sadie out for the last half and watch her) and all the studios I practice at (Boston, Manchester, Portsmouth, North Shore, etc.). I am so amazed at how every thing seems to be working out like some sort of magical spell. I'm blown away and I'm ready to show up and stand front and center and say "Shannon Engelhardt, Manchester, NH & Boston, MA- Half Moon Pose with Hands to Feet Pose, Arta Chandrasana with Pada Hastasana. Everybody together..."