New yoga studio thanks to a groupon-like website called Tippr. Red Hot Yoga. Started with their "classic" class today to get a feel for it. Basically it was a 90 minute Bikram class, so very classic. It was hard. I haven't done real hot yoga in a long time, and it was HOT. The sweat was literally pouring out of me.
Having had a particularly rough day, I think this class was a good choice. I have a love/hate relationship with hot yoga: the first 20 minutes are almost unbearable, but once I can just accept the heat and the sweat, it's very calming and cleansing. I'm fairly certain I experience all 7 stages of grief in a single class, from denial (there is no way I'm doing this) to acceptance/hope (ok, I'm sweaty and hot, but that's a good thing... I'm getting more flexible and stronger and I'm sweating out all the toxins [specifically wine and cheese from Switzerland] and if I can just get through this class, I will feel calmer and more at peace and I have a relaxing night ahead of me). I guess dealing with it through yoga helps deal with what's going on in real life. It's almost like you sweat yourself clean. By the end, you're not the salty, sticky, I-need-a-shower-now kind of sweaty; everything is gone, and once you dry off you feel... clean, inside and outside. That's the only way I can describe it. (I of course still showered, because if I'm going to be clean, I might as well go all the way, right?) And after spending 90 minutes only able to focus on dealing with how uncomfortable you feel through concentrating on moving with your breath, your brain is clearer. I just feel better. The experience of a hot yoga class creates a perfect metaphor for struggling through a crappy day, and getting through class helps you get through the day. I guess that's the real point... a true mind-body connection, right?
Enough philosophy. Off to ice the ankle and ibuprofen up before bed so I can run bright and early tomorrow.
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