(Hot yoga is definitely considered yoga. For me, it’s torture.)
Normally, I’d like to rave about the latest fitness craze or gush about this amazing new vegetable that is only available for 2 weeks a year and is indigenous to Latvian wetlands. But this week, I’m going to share with you healthy things I don’t like. Today’s topic: Hot Yoga.
I’ve done Vinyasa/Hatha/Restorative yoga for years. Everyone has been raving about Bikramor ‘hot yoga’ so I decided I’d give it a try. The key difference between the two, is hot yoga is performed in a room 95 degrees or hotter. I do love sweating, but I had NO idea what I was getting into. My first time was very early in the morning, it was on a busy street so I could not get centered from all the rush hour motorists outside the window. I was also not a fan of the instructor. I personally don’t mind being guided into poses but Handsy McGee was a little too much. I did not come with any special towel, headband, mat, or any other type of gear. I figured, “I can’t sweat THAT much, right?”
Wrong. I sweat like a (insert inappropriate analogy here). Sweat in my eyes, all over my mat… I couldn’t hold a single pose. I was slipping and sliding like it was my first day using my new legs. It was not enjoyable in the least bit. I noticed everyone else in the room had the head bands, the special towels with grips, special mats, etc. So I was willing to admit I wasn’t prepared for the class, because I didn’t have the gear! I wasn’t relaxed when I left. I was more frustrated and soaking wet. I decided to give it another chance, and THIS time I’ll be armed with the right tools.
So I hit up the websites, the sporting good stores, the specialty store for the mat/towel/headband. I had sticker shock to say the least. $60 for a TOWEL? A towel. People, a TOWEL? And $15-$20 for a headband. The special no slip mats were over $90. I was not ready to fully commit to a exercise regiment that I didn’t love. But, I did decide to go back. But this time, at a later time with a new instructor. It was music based, and I do love me some new age hippy music. Hello David Arkenstone! And this class was packed and they were mostly half naked. Not that I mind, but remember when you’re crammed in a room with 40 other sweaty individuals, sweat was flying all over the place and I could just feel the germiness. In addition, this class was full of super fit gorgeous people with their matching Lululemon outfits and their perfect vertical splits. And here I was the sweat hog in the middle of the room with my $2 tank top from Old Navy who can’t even stand up on her mat.
It was a 75 minute class, and I left after 40 minutes. I thought I was dying. I was incredibly light headed, I couldn’t concentrate. It was no longer fun. With regular temperature yoga, I get a feeling of relief and relaxation. I gave hot yoga a fair chance, and it is safe to say ‘I don’t like Hot Yoga’. There are some people who are just crazy about it, and I get it, I do, I am just not one of them. Although, I do urge people to try new things, because how else will you know if you like it? Boston does have some amazing state of the art and new-agey studios around the area. Most hot yoga studios offer normal temperature classes. I’m sure if I had all the new fangled fancy-pants gear, it might have made my experience a little more enjoyable.
I’ll try anything twice, but yoga for me, is all about me, my mat, and my breathe. OM Shanti Shanti OM Shanti!
