Post hot yoga......

It has been a few days since my first hot yoga class.  I did melt.  I also did not learn a thing....of that I was very disappointed.

When I walked in the door, I was very specific to say I had NEVER done yoga....and I needed guidance.  I was assured that (insert Yogi's name) was a great instructor and easy to follow.  Before I go much further, let me describe the room.

IT WAS DARK.  Yep, the floor was lined with battery operated candles and 1 maybe 3ft lamp that had a paper shade.  The room was long and mirrors on 2 walls.  Did I mention it was dark??  Just making sure.....

The center did let me borrow a yoga mat.  Why invest in one if I was not sure of a commitment?!  I did bring a towel and a bottle of water.  For those who don't remember, I am blind in my left eye.  My girlfriend was sitting on my right side and we were trying not to giggle.  There was one gal stretching.....this girl would pick up one butt muscle and realign herself and then do the other side.  She even did a pose where she did almost a handstand with her knees on her elbows (or at least that is what it looked like.....(repeat with me) IN THE DARK!)

I saw this gal walk in and put her iPod in the station and she wandered down towards the front of the room.  She stood in a corner. She was our Yogi.  I wanted to raise my hand to let her know I NEED HELP, but I did not.  Class started and she told us to sit on the brick....OK,  that part was easy!  I was excited that I got the first move down!!  woot woot!  That was the last of my excitement....

This yogi had a very thick accent.  I could barely understand her.  I did know the child's pose and the downward dog before I walked in so I was sure I could do something positive in class.  Yeah, blew my knowledge in the next 3 minutes.  I kept trying to see what the others were doing but checking out the person on my right was hard not to be overly obvious.  I tried checking in the mirror what others were doing to no avail.  I could not see in the dark.  I started to wait to see what people were doing and then try to get into the move.  Oh, and one instruction was if you don't or can't do the move, transition back to the child's pose.  My knees still hurt!!  I spent a great deal of time on my knees!

The class went on for an hour.......oh, and did I mention that it was 85*?  My ice water cooled off quickly!  Totally drenched, no idea what I was doing, and on my knees.

There was a favorite part........yes, before walking out too!  There was a point where we all lie on the mat and the yogi comes around and puts a cool washcloth on your forehead and it is scented with lavender and eucalyptus.  I could have stayed there forever for that wash cloth!!

I am not totally turned off to yoga.  I am going to find a center that has lights and can guide me from one pose to another....and maybe I will try it again hot someday.