Now I had heard of hot yoga before and truthfully it didn't appeal to me. The thought of being confined into a smelly, steamy, humid room with other people breathing around me did not do much at all for me. I decided to try it once, just so I could say I did it! When I first pushed the door open to the room and walked in, the heat nearly knocked me to the ground! It was just so different to be in that environment.
What struck me next was how quiet it was. Mind you, I was coming from a full day of working with elementary school kids as a paraprofessional in the Autism room. My day does not have "down time." I work with several kids and am constantly on the go. I even eat lunch with the students, so I literally am with them the whole day. I love my job, by the way, and am not complaining! Just trying to help you understand that I was entering into a completely opposite atmosphere...
I arrived early to class to allow myself time to get used to the heat, as recommended by the person I spoke with on the phone when I registered for class. I laid out my yoga mat and placed my water beside me. I wasn't really sure what to do, so I just lay on the mat and closed my eyes. I began to breathe and try to relax. I heard a whooshing sound in my ears, probably due to the extreme lack of noise in the room! As I waited for class to start, I felt a little nervous. I'm sure it was because I was new and didn't feel like I knew what to expect.
The heat began to really relax me. I just embraced the feeling and tried to go with the flow. When my instructor arrived, she was very welcoming and she greeted us and turned on some wonderful music. Once I heard that and the class got started, I really began to enjoy it. I learned a lot in that hour! I realized that yoga is a very challenging, invigorating, strength building exercise. It was no joke! I found myself in positions I never knew I could get in to. I loved the deep breathing and feeling my muscles loosen. This was such an escape for me. My mind was so focused on what my body was doing.
One of the things I loved the most was the cold face towel my instructor brought to us at the end of class. It was infused with lavender and the combination of the scent and coolness was a perfect compliment. For the last five minutes of class we lay completely still, relaxing and taking note of how we were feeling. I took this time to pray and just praise God for who He is. It was so nice to have a quiet, warm environment with no distractions to do so.
I have taken four classes so far. One was traditional yoga, and the other three have been hot yoga. I love it! I truly look forward to all that intimidated me in the beginning. I use the time to draw closer to God and really focus on His attributes and power. I feel stronger physically, and spiritually. I encourage you to try a class if you ever have the opportunity to do it. You won't regret it!
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