Photo illustration by yours truly. Photos via Ron Sombilon on Flickr. Artistic versions my own. This guy's got yoga-photog talent!

May 2014 update: It's amazing looking back on this post, and thinking about when I wanted to become a Bikram teacher. My perspective on yoga (both practicing it and teaching it) has shifted completely, and in many ways now I avoid the rigidity of the Bikram practice, and I no longer engage in an intense, heated yang practice multiple times a week. Yoga is such a journey. Your experience of asana and teaching shifts over time, and that is such a blessing!

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I'm in love with the yoga. I'm at a natural moment in my life to pursue something that I'm passionate about. It's been a summer where I have the flexibility, creativity and time to really stop and consider what I want to be my next move, what dream I want to pursue.

And yogis, readers, lovely peeps out there who have stumbled upon Alive in the Fire...

I think I'm going to push for Bikram Teacher Training in the spring of 2011!

I met with my studio director last night for a lovely chat at the charming local Bat 17 pub and deli. I sipped a refreshingly cold Blue Moon while he told me ridiculously awesome stories from Teacher Training about The Boss himself; the madness that is learning the dialog (hello, studying while in "savasana?" Crazy town!); and getting to know some of the coolest, kookiest people out there, who are now some of his best friends.

I oohed and aahed and laughed and was oh-so-happy. So refreshed. So empowered!

Stu, who is also a musician and has had creative genes in his blood since birth, talked a lot about really being aware of your choices in life especially as they relate to careers. How do you see the yoga fitting into your life? was one of the questions he asked, eyes wide and, as I could easily tell, his words coming from a heartfelt place.

I paused, thinking for a moment. "You know," I said, "the more I think about it, the less possible it seems that I could keep moving forward and not have this yoga be a big part of my life."

Saying that sentiment aloud really resonated with me. Struck something deeper than the typical "Here's my two-year plan" schpeel that I rattle off to friends and family who are wondering what my goals for the future are.

And of course I couldn't have been happier thinking about what a rockin' time it would -- er, WILL! -- be to teach at my home studio. My little refuge. The one and only Bikram Yoga Evanston. It basically rules the North Shore and really maintains a strong reputation in the Chicagoland area for a welcoming atmosphere, kick-ass teachers (who are not afraid to kick your ass in the heat, thank God!), and very high-quality standards for the yoga.

It is, in short, the perfect place to train. And Stu, I can tell (and could from the first few times I even talked to him, way back when) will be an incredible mentor! He already is, in many ways. All of our instructors are!

I'm so grateful to have been introduced to Bikram at a spot where the quality comes first and there is a real emphasis on following the rules in order to achieve the benefits. In order to hit every posture. In order to get the overall experience the right way. And, most of all, in order to transform yourself, prove that your own ego needs to get left at the door in order for you to reach your true potential.

We have a big bold sign outside the studio that says,

"We don't sell cheesecake. Leave your ego at the door!"

and it's so, so true. Not just on the literal level of not providing sweets after class (although another teacher and I laughed about this the other day -- I mean, who wouldn't enjoy a little slice of cheesecake post-Bikram? You've earned it, eh?)

But back to the yoga: Bikram wasn't made to be like pie. Never easy. Sure, your body adjusts and you begin to train your mind so that it knows how to more easily survive the 90 minutes... but it's still a challenge. Every class you face a different struggle -- one posture today, an injury tomorrow, and sometimes a crazy person or two surrounding your mat and towel.

Sometimes all of those, all at once. And always: the mirror right in front of your face. The mirror that Boss intended to put up, close and threatening, a constant reminder of who you are right here, right now. Who you are choosing to be. What you are choosing to practice.

As Stu and I discussed last night, what a thing to practice!

What a thing to practice: not just the postures, but the attitude. The life of the yogi. To practice compassion, empowerment, love. To appreciate beauty. To embrace and participate in community.

To take what you learn in the heat outside of that room and let it rule your life for the better, quieting your mind and enriching your spirit as you move through every day, not just every asana.

You begin to thrive in ways you never realized possible. Instead of just passing the time, wasting the days, hating your career, you are alive -- not only in the fire, but also on the streets, in your home, at your work, and during all the in-between moments that would otherwise slip away, unnoticeable.

The more I consider the commitment that Training requires, the more I want to dedicate myself not only to the practice of the 90-minute Bikram class which has in many ways saved my life and helped me detox my body and mind from pessimism...but I also want to focus my energy, time and efforts toward a transformational life experience through the yoga.

Plus, it's National Yoga Month -- what better time to get serious about your practice?

I certainly want to get the most out of the nine weeks as I can. I want to open myself to the opportunities that will follow, the path the practice takes me on. I want to learn, to grow, to strengthen myself inside and out.

I want to practice until it's like breathing to speak the dialog. I want my classes to be a dynamic, inspiring experience for other yogis -- nothing boring or mediocre, because we've all been there and we know it doesn't improve our practice at all. It doesn't change us. It should.

If you haven't been changed by the yoga and you've been practicing awhile, something's up. It should change you!

Perhaps most of all, I want to continue to improve my practice while at the same time practicing letting go of the ego. I want to focus on doing the yoga the right way and not getting caught up on the mistakes along the way. And then I want to give that gift -- of strength, of stillness, of purity -- to others who are as passionate about the yoga as I am. And to those who are new, scared, tired, lonely, too! Those who don't realize they could have it in them to become yogis, not just on the outside but on the inside too.

Cheesy, overdramatic and lofty goals aside, I'm ready for the yoga. For the next steps. Let's do this, Spring TT '11! Let's do this.

Stick around for upcoming updates on The Plan of Attack, featuring my personal goals and timeline for the next eight months. Don't worry: you'll be hearing about it around here!

Would also love to get as much advice, support, ideas, and general excitement from any of you out there who are teachers, have dreams about being teachers, or are simply in awe of the madness that is Bikram and the work that goes into training. Let the comment-posting begin!

How could I resist posting this iconic image of The Boss? It's the first thing that comes to mind when I think of those nine weeks. I can't wait for the antics, the Bollywood movies, the hilarity of Bikram-isms, the sweat, the tears, the yoga.