ignore my poor bow form 🙂
My 10 classes for $10 special ran out this week and so I took the leap of faith and switched to the yoga studio 7 minutes from my house. Initially I had been skeptical about hot yoga and bikram yoga (mostly because people who do it seem to be in a sort of cult…much like my crossfitting friends 🙂 ). But I loved hot yoga, and really had to convince myself that the switch would be worth it…closer studio…same price…longer workouts that would actually work with my schedule, hope for having a community, etc.
But making the switch was nerve wracking. Because…if it didn’t work out, it didn’t leave me many other options (unless I was willing to drive, which is good in theory but bad in actual practice). So this week I took my first class and….whoa…I can see why people feel cultish about it!
I had loved the other studio until I joined this closer one. Whereas I had gotten used to giant space heaters hanging down from the ceiling making me feel like I was standing in front of a hair dryer, this studio has the heaters all recessed into the ceiling, so the room just feels warm. I’m not a huge fan of the flourescent lighting, but quickly got over that because of the COMMUNITY feel of the class. Holy moley. The instructor chatted me up before class, introduced me to the class as we started, gave verbal instructions to everyone BY NAME and was super encouraging. Wow. I walked away feeling validated, positive about my own practice, and like I had been noticed and welcomed. Something that didn’t happen at the other studio, it always felt like it was just about getting me to sign up and be a regular paying customer.
The workout was somewhat strange at first, starting with their pranayama breathing, but fortunately the Hot Yoga class I had been going to followed a loose version of Bikram’s 26 postures. While I’m still not sure how I feel about Bikram, the man behind the series, much preferring the ideology of Ashtanga or Anusara yoga, I am really digging the workout and the community vibe that I’m getting over here…and looking forward to my next class! I am hoping to make this a part of my regular weekly schedule!
boof & monk-monk 
I have tried to like yoga, but have never gotten into it or enjoyed it as much as cardio and strength training. Lately I’ve been thinking that I should give it another try. I’m sure a lot of it has to do with the instructor and the studio where you take the class. The gym I go to offers yoga classes, but I typically do the strength training or cardio group classes. They just started offering Barre classes, which I absolutely love, but wish they’d hire different instructors to teach this particular class. I’m not sure how I’d like Bikram yoga because I hate heat! I hope you end up liking it more and more!
There’s yoga cardio. I’ve youtubed a few routines from Jillian michaels, Denise Austin, and ExerciseTV.
Yeah, I think when you find something exercise wise that you love then go for it! I’ve been doing yoga for about 15 years, but mostly at home…so doing it at a studio is really new and fun for me! I love the heat because I sweat and it makes me feel like I’m working really hard! But I used to go to the YMCA in town and the yoga instructor was super chatty (um, lady, I don’t need to know about your parent’s retirement home in Mexico or what you ate for dinner). If a yoga teacher is going to talk I want it to be instruction or giving encouragement!
I’m not very educated with the different types of yoga but I’m into my yoga cardio mix. I practice right at home following a few videos online. My favorite of course is Jillian michaels yoga meltdown. I talk about it a lot because i just feel so much stronger from practicing for only two months. I can’t wait to see results by the end of the year.
Oh gosh, yoga is difficult enough for me I can’t imagine doing yoga in a sauna. 😉
On a random note, did you hear about the founder of Bikram yoga is in some hot water for sexism, racism, and sexual harassment? Eeeks
Yeah, the Bikram controversies are part of my long-time hesitation to even go there. He seems like such a pompous douche-canoe. But then all of that stands in such contrast to the beautiful loveliness of the instructors and space and how I feel in (and after) the class, that it’s really strange. Maybe like how people hate ‘the church’ but know some really nice and kind Christian people?