I'd long and oft heard the benefits of yoga, specifically Bikram yoga, a yoga that is practiced in a room that is heated to a mild 105 degrees Fahrenheit. I knew that this was an exercise that would likely relieve most of my physical symptoms, and very likely, would help me learn to manage the mental stress as well. Knowing this, however, and actually getting myself to a class, as anyone who knows me will tell you, are two things that are completely worlds apart. After much contemplation, and telling myself I was going to at least try a class and check out what it was all about, I finally tucked my lovely new squishy yoga mat and towel under my arm and dragged myself to class. All the way there, I thought to myself, "Are you nuts?? It's gonna be so HOT! You're not going to be able to breathe, much less move! And you're gonna be so sweaty and gross!! Turn around. Go home! You don't really want to do this!!" This inner monologue lasted right up until I walked to the front door of the yoga studio.
Upon entering the studio, I was greeted by two incredibly friendly women who gave me some basic info and instructions for surviving my first practice. I nodded and grinned stupidly at their messages, as I could already feel the dry heat emanating from the hot yoga room. I slowly made my way back to the dressing rooms, put my stuff away, took a long pull on my water bottle, and walked curiously into the yoga room.
First thoughts? Man, it was HOT! Luckily, I'd just come in from outside where it was somewhat chilly, so for the first few minutes, the dry heat actually felt quite nice. I found a not too crowded spot on the floor to lay out my mat and proceeded to quietly lie in the dim room and collect my thoughts. I tried to focus on breathing deeply and acclimating to the heat. After about 5 minutes, I could feel the heat really start to penetrate my muscles, my breathing became deeper and I actually started to relax a little. Once the practice started, I surprised myself by being able to do many of the poses and actually hold them for the necessary length of time. I definitely had to remind myself to breathe several times, but overall, the beginning of the class was not near as bad as I'd expected.
Half way through the class, we switched from standing poses, or asanas, to floor poses. It was at about that time that the heat hit me, and not in a good way. The combination of heat, deep breathing, and somewhat aerobic first half of the practice had me feeling short of breath and light headed. I know most of that was just a testament to how out of shape I am, but I also knew enough to take the second half of the class a little easier. I tried many of the poses, but the heater air was getting harder to breathe, feeling heavier and thicker which each breath. I started wondering how much longer the class would last, and at one point, the desire to walk out of the class to get some fresh air was overwhelming. Thankfully, I successfully talked myself back from the ledge and finished the class. I still tried each of the poses toward the end of class, however the attempts were much less concentrated than those in the first half of the class, as at this point it was taking all I head just to keep breathing and not pass out.
Finally, the instructor said the magic word that released me from what felt like hell. "Namaste!"
I slowly stood up and collected my now soaked towel and mat. I carefully walked to the door, feeling light headed and a bit dizzy. Then the door opened and what felt like an icy blast hit my whole, sweaty body. I suddenly felt wide awake and ridiculously elated! I'd done it. I'd managed to stay in the hot room for the whole class!
As I headed home, a sense of bliss enveloped me. I felt good. My body felt good. My head was clear. I could breathe! When I arrived home, my husband asked if I'd managed to stay in the hot room the full time. When I replied, triumphantly, that I had, he got up to give me a hug, and as his arms wrapped around me, I felt myself overwhelmed with a crazy assortment of emotions. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry, so a weird blend of both came tumbling out of me. I thought surely I'd fried my brain in that crazy heat, but then I remembered having read something about high emotions being released during or after a practice. I chalked up the emotional overload to my first yoga class.
In the twenty four hours since my first class, here are the observations I've made:
- I slept long and hard, and it was a very deep, dreamless, very restful sleep
- I feel more energized - I am able to focus my mind more easily
- I am breathing deeper in a resting state
- My appetite is wildly under control; I've not been binge snacking and portions are very small
- I can't seem to drink enough water
- I am not as worried about things outside of my control
- I am insanely excited about my next yoga class!
I must go get ready for my next class! But I will keep you posted on my progress and observations, so please come back soon!
Here's to relaxing!
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