Results Archive

Winner: Dot Waitoa
Results: lost 11kg, 28.5 cms and 6.4% body fat down

At age 65 years I never thought I would find a sport I would absolutely Love, let alone two. Reasonable fit, I was confident Waka Ama would be a breeze for me. However, I was soon to find out that my body stiffened around the 6 km mark, and my breathing was pretty eratic to say the least! My goal was a 10km paddle. I found I was fairly exhausted at the 6 km mark. I was told I had potential to be a really good paddler however I needed to learn mental alertness, how to breath and be more flexible. “Hmmm really”, I thought “so how do I do that?” I ask. “Yoga”, was his reply. “Oh and it would be a good idea if you could shed a few kgs as well”. He smiled….

Yoga! Hmmm ok. A few weeks later a fellow paddler was sharing about how she had recently tried Hot Yoga and it was wow!!! “Just wow” she said. Curious now I asked her for the name, checked it out on-line and purchased myself an 8 day beginners concession. I was told that I could start anytime. So it’s a Friday, I had nothing to do so I decided it’s time to check out Bikram Hot Yoga. I was told to just do what I could, if it gets too much stop, sit down and just breath but do not leave the room.

Wow .. wow … wow. It felt hot. Two minutes in and I am literally dripping with sweat. Me!!! I never sweat!!! This yoga wasn’t strenuous, in-fact my body felt like it was letting out a sigh of relief after each stretch. I was happy to be sweating because my heart felt so soft, tears ran down my cheeks. I completed that short session and decided to join Modern Yoga. I was there a week before the Bikram Biggest Loser would start.

I had an internal battle with my ego as to whether I joined the 13 week Challenge. I would hear sentences in my head like “Forget it … your too old .. you can’t do it … don’t waste your money .. you’re ridiculous …” The ego goes to opposite extreme huh. I also heard “Do it … you got this … age doesn’t matter .. it is just what you need.. go on!!!” I chose to do it!!! I focused on my journey and being true to me . I attended an average of 6 classes a week just because I loved it. I only needed to do 4.

I absolutely Love Yoga! Hot, Yin, it doesn’t matter. In taking care of my body mentally and physically, nurturing it with healthy foods was a natural progression. I feel too good to dump on me. As the 2018 BBL challenge ends and I am really proud of what I did, I have decided to make a commitment to me.

Losing weight is one thing; keeping it off is another. I will be kind to my body/tinana, my mind/ hinengaro, my spirit/wairua and relationships/whanau, for in doing so I am balanced in all things which will keep me where I need to be to be the best person I can be. This whole journey has felt like my path was being paved before me.

I feel very blessed to have been led to Modern Yoga, to have been guided by our lovely instructors Kristina, Olivia, Bianca, Sarah and Helen and to have been placed with beautiful BBL Challengers. I am so grateful for our time together.

Namaste!

With Respect
DOT