My Yoga Challenge

I have always been intrigued by the concept of "hot yoga." I sweat enough as it is during a normal workout, why would I want to voluntarily do one in a hot and humid room?

There's a yoga studio close to the gym I work at so I thought i'd check them out...$30 for an unlimited 2 weeks? I'll go for that! So far I have completed 2 hot yoga classes and 1 75min Hatha class at this studio. WOW! I am completely hooked!

I have been practicing yoga on and off for 5 years, never anything formal, and mostly on my own. I have been to a few classes but nothing has ever stuck...and price is always a factor. I already feel like I am sleeping better and craving these classes when I have a day or two without yoga.

My goal after my 2 week pass is up is to try and go to hot yoga once a week. Once a week I will take time out of my crazy schedule and devote myself to my practice. I used to use yoga primarily to stretch and prevent injuries but this time I am appreciating the mediation part more and more.

Before class begins everyone lays out their mats, towels, water bottles, and face cloths, takes a Savasana pose and meditates. The first time I attempted this I found my mind wandering to my appointment book, my emails, anything but yoga. So I forced myself through a mediation. I used all my years of team sports experience to visualize an "ideal triathlon." I started from waking up in the morning and went through every detail until the finishline. I told myself I would feel stronger with every swim stroke, the hills on the bike would be gentle and rolling and I would fly over them, I made my transitions smooth and flawless, I was well hydrated and got into my running groove with ease. When the class began 15 min later I was in the moment, feeling the poses, holding my muscles and joints stronger than any other yoga class i've ever taken. When we finished the real savasana my mind was clear and I was ready to face the rest of my day.

As a person who generally stresses and worries about things that usually end up working themselves out I feel like this is what has been missing. Why did I never think to meditate myself into a positive mindset in the first place? Whatever the excuse is, it doesn't matter now, because I know how to overcome...I wish I had figured this out 2 years ago! Live and learn....and Namaste.