Written January 31, 2009
So I go to Bikram Yoga for the first time. I know it is going to be hot so I hydrate and wear as little clothing as my modesty and self image will allow.. This translates in to some mid thigh length shorts and racer back tank..
I walked in and every one is nice and smiling. The instructor signed me in and shows me where to change and put my stuff. As we are walking to the changing rooms I see people walking into the studio looking like they are going to the beach. Guys with short shorts and no shirts, women with sports bras and these teeny tiny little boy short bikini bottom looking things. In my head I'm thinking there is no way in hell I will be wearing that stuff.
I get changed. I hung up my coat and stroll into the studio. As I opened the door I get a blast of heat. HOLY CRAP IT IS HOT IN THERE! That is what I am thinking anyway. I immediately started to panic and wanted to run the hell out of there. Naima does not like the heat. Naima doesn't do well in the heat. Naima's mood gets foul in the heat. This was my mindset the entire first half of the class. The instructor guided us into a pose and as I go in I was thinking "it is really freaking hot in here!"
About halfway through the class I realized I made a mahusive mistake. Lotion. Why was lotion a mistake you may ask. Well, let me tell you. First, nothing will help you sweat more than lotion. In this particular setting, you are in no need of assistance to sweat. The other reason lotion was a bad idea is that it creates a skin surface that is not grip conducive. For the Gumby flexible types this isn't an issue. For people like me who are less flexible and need to grab body parts to hold a pose this was the pits. I could not keep a hold of anything. Arms kept slipping, hands would just glide off. It was awful. While I was getting ready to go I wisely decided against my usual eye cream, waterproof mascara routine. I had never been more happy that I didn't have on make up. To say that sweat dripped into my eye would be an understatement. It felt like I had just dunked my head in a pool and just gotten out. I continued to flow in and out of the poses as directed still thinking of how hot it is.
Then it happened. I was breathing hard. I was sweating like nobody's business and I wobbled. I didn't fall because I just don't fall. My body doesn't fall. I will throw my back out keeping myself upright but I don't fall. I blinked hard. Took a deep breath and blinked again this time slower and wobbled. At that point I had to leave the room. I thought I was going to pass out. I thought I was going to toss my cookies. I wanted to get my stuff and run out of there like a bat out of hell. But I didn't.
I caught my breath and composed myself. Then I hear "Are you OK out here?" I said yes and got my self together and draged my butt back into that furnace of a room. Oh..did I mention how many people where there? I didn't? OK, let me tell you.Everybody and their mamma. Let me back track a little. I dropped Tiya of at BHS to meet the bus to her track meet at 7:00am. The class started at 8:00am so I am REALLY early. I figure I would go to the supermarket and pick up a few things. Anyone that knows me knows there is no quick shopping for anything for me so I knew I could blow off 30 mins picking up 4 things. And I did. I got to the studio at about 7:45 and it was packed. There were more people in that room that seemed humanly possible. Then, even more people kept coming in. I thought to myself "how is anyone going to be able to move?". So on top of it being a gazillion degrees in the room there were people packed in there like sardines. Packed like sardines and sweating and creating more heat.
No puking, no faiting, no quitting. I got back in and talked myself into continuing this class. I have to finish because quitters never win and winners never quit. Besides, my husband and daughter took the class and they finished and I will be damned if I will let them "beat me". Competitiveness in this household is off the charts. I got back in and tried to keep my mind off the heat. I'm in tree which they then talk you down and you bend forward and have your hands on the floor. I looked back and I notice that this guy's shorts are...not dripping but pouring sweat. It looks like someone is standing over him and just pouring water down his back and it is flowing off his shorts. THAT much water.
I waffled and wavered through the rest of the class and wanted to sprint out of there to the 12 degree weather outside. Nothing about my body wanted to move fast. I tried..I really did try to move fast but I couldn't I was spent. It was about an hour and half and I felt like had just run 50 miles or so. Somewhere along the way I tweaked my back. Nothing too serious, just helping me move slower than I already am. I don't do public showers so I towel off, change clothes and leave.
It is now about 1:30pm and I am still exhausted. My Bikram Yoga experience was marred by my own internal voice. While I didn't love it, I didn't hate it either. I feel like I have to give it another chance. I am going to do another class and avoid the mistakes I made in the first one. I will also remember not to dwell on how frickin' hot it is in there.
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