Let me just tell you a story:
So, for Christmas, my gift to my step-mom was a pass for 10 hot yoga classes that we could go to together. I did hot yoga in Arizona, and absolutely loved it. This time around, I was a little more hesitant, since a workout in 100+ degrees is no longer something that I'm used to.
The hot yoga center I'm now going to has a steady 105 degree studio, with 60% humidity. This also made me a little nervous-- Bikram Yoga in Tempe was 103 degrees with 40% humidity. I know it really doesn't seem like too big of a difference, but humidity really gets me. It's like someone shoved a warm, wet washcloth over my mouth (not to mention the sudden change in my hair from straight and manageable to curly and...ugh...). Needless to say, when mom and I arrived for our first class we chose a spot near the windows, where we hoped it would be cooler. We both managed to make it through a good chunk of the 90 minute class; we were overall pretty proud of ourselves. The great thing about hot yoga is that every class, no matter where you are or who's leading it, goes through the same routine, the same 26 poses; it makes it easier to do the workout and feels more comfortable this way. We made a plan to go again the next day so that our bodies would acclimate better to the heat.
When 9:30 am rolled around, my step-mom was not ready for the class we'd planned. Okay... no big deal. "There's another one at 4:30," she says. "Let's go to that one."
We arrived about 4:25, feeling rushed (not very yoga-like) but thankful we made it in time. Unfortunately, if you're not early, then you're stuck in the middle of the room, right under the heaters mounted on the ceiling. Bummer. The lady comes in and starts us out in Child's Pose. "Eh?" I think, as I look around for guidance. She continues naming off different moves and positions, while I start second-guessing my knowledge of hot yoga and their policy of familiarity. Then, as we are holding the downward dog pose, I hear her say something along the lines of: "So in Power Yoga..." and yada yada...
?! I'm sorry, what?? My step-mom and I turn and look at each other at the exact same time, and our faces have the same horrified expression: POWER yoga?? Oh dear Lord... We also begin laughing hysterically at our stupid mistake, and at our identical reaction (we muffled it though, because there were some serious yogies in there that I fear would've kicked our butts after class if we'd interrupted their zen, or whatever).
I wish I could tell you that we excelled, that power yoga really wasn't as bad as it sounds. But that would be a lie. Power yoga IS as bad as it sounds, and doing it in what I later found out to be 108 degrees, was no picnic. Let's just say I did about 20 minutes of hot power yoga, and then about 40 minutes of a hot willpower workout-- merely staying in that room took an enormous amount of strength! I kept wondering if you could pass out while just laying down, which made me begin worrying that if that happened and I started to melt into my yoga mat everyone would just assume I was meditating and let me be! What a terrible visual.
We did make it out alive, however. Yay! It took about 30 minutes of sitting in the waiting area afterwards trying to cool down in order not to faint, but it felt so good. And the sweet woman who led everyone told us we did quite well for being 2nd-timers and in the wrong class (a big lie, of course, but an appreciated one).
So please people, look closely at your schedules. May 2010 be a healthy and humorous year for everyone! :)
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