Namaste

Saturday evening I stuck to my word and went to Bikram Yoga. This is Yoga done in a room that is about 105 degrees. Yes it is insane, but I’ve heard that it’s good for stretching, and I’m down for trying new things in the name of fitness (hopefully it’ll get me back to running). So I get to BYD about 30 minutes early and register and until about 10 minutes before there was just me and another person. Apparently the appropriate thing to do at this Studio is to change, go in the hot box and lay down, and not speak a word. Felt very cult-ish. With about 10 minutes to go til the class started the place became packed out, and every one of these people would come in perfectly quiet and lay. This is about the time I start asking myself what the hell am I doing, while laying perfectly still being quiet trying not to look like a newb. I even managed to finish one of my water bottles before the class started (they had a water fountain to refill them though). If Hell is hot, Bikram Yoga is either preparation, or an awakening to live right, just sayin.

Finally the instructor comes in to the room and everyone hops to their feet, it was like the President walked in the room. Of course I was slow to get up, not knowing the cult-ish routine. He says a few words, announces I’m a newb and off we went. By this time I’m soaked. It’s funny, about 30 minutes into the class my body went into panic mode and began to shut down. I’m 99% sure the instructor could see this as he issued the “if you need to sit down, that’s fine” call, he didn’t say my name by I know it was directed directly at me. Sat down only one set and jumped right back into it. I feel like the difficulty level of the class was shaped like a parabola, not too bad in the beginning and end and tough in the middle with a bunch of standing postures that I never stood a chance at. Overall it was definitely a good experience. Wish there was talking to get insight from other people, but I guess it’s about one’s own journey and all that good stuff.

This studio sold a first time user 10 day unlimited pass for about the cost of two classes, so I jumped on that deal. I plan on going back Monday night after swimming, hopefully preparing me for my return to running on Tuesday. I wish there was a there scale to see just how much I sweated. I’d guess I left about 5 lbs in my soaking wet towels. Anyway, now I need to find the motivation to go out for a ride and the Gym on this Beautiful Sunday.