Reflections on my second-ever yoga class
Today I went to my second-ever yoga class. The first one was back in May at a well-respected hot yoga studio down the street from my apartment. Suffice it to say, I was so exhausted and dehydrated afterwards that I couldn't even find the energy to write about it, and I swore I'd never do hot yoga again.
However! This week Marc and I signed up for the YMCA, and even though Marc is on a work shift this morning, I decided to head over and try out one of their (room temperature) yoga classes.
Guys... I think yoga may not be for me. I know a lot of people really love yoga, and that's great. You do what works for you. But for me, it just doesn't seem to be a good fit.
That's not to say I didn't get a workout. I certainly felt it more than I did the hot yoga class, where I was mostly focusing on not passing out from the heat. In today's class, I really felt my muscles working through the poses, and I'll probably be sore tomorrow. So that's a plus. On the minus side, however, are the various trappings that surround yoga as a "practice" as opposed to simply exercise.
The class was about 75 minutes, and the last 20 or so were spent in breathing meditation. And, look, I have no problem with lying down or meditating or what-have-you. I'm usually pretty tired after working out and would love to take a nap. But I don't go to the gym to focus on my breathing. I can do that at home if I want to. I go to the gym to work out.
While reminders about breathing through the movements was helpful, I didn't really need to be reminded to repeat my "affirmation" at the same time. "I'm balanced," "I'm peaceful," or other such phrases are, I'm sure, very helpful to some people. But they're not what I'm going to the gym for.
It's good that I went. I'm glad I got the chance to see what a non-hot yoga class is like. And I did appreciate some of the poses -- they're challenging and I definitely have room to improve. (So much room to improve...) But I suspect I won't be going back for yoga. Though I never thought I'd say this, I might just go for the more "normal" classes like toning, spinning, or aerobics. Uncharacteristic of me, I know, but there you have it.
Anyway, that's what I have to say about that. I'm glad I tried it, but I doubt I'm going back. Onwards!
However! This week Marc and I signed up for the YMCA, and even though Marc is on a work shift this morning, I decided to head over and try out one of their (room temperature) yoga classes.
Guys... I think yoga may not be for me. I know a lot of people really love yoga, and that's great. You do what works for you. But for me, it just doesn't seem to be a good fit.
That's not to say I didn't get a workout. I certainly felt it more than I did the hot yoga class, where I was mostly focusing on not passing out from the heat. In today's class, I really felt my muscles working through the poses, and I'll probably be sore tomorrow. So that's a plus. On the minus side, however, are the various trappings that surround yoga as a "practice" as opposed to simply exercise.
The class was about 75 minutes, and the last 20 or so were spent in breathing meditation. And, look, I have no problem with lying down or meditating or what-have-you. I'm usually pretty tired after working out and would love to take a nap. But I don't go to the gym to focus on my breathing. I can do that at home if I want to. I go to the gym to work out.
While reminders about breathing through the movements was helpful, I didn't really need to be reminded to repeat my "affirmation" at the same time. "I'm balanced," "I'm peaceful," or other such phrases are, I'm sure, very helpful to some people. But they're not what I'm going to the gym for.
It's good that I went. I'm glad I got the chance to see what a non-hot yoga class is like. And I did appreciate some of the poses -- they're challenging and I definitely have room to improve. (So much room to improve...) But I suspect I won't be going back for yoga. Though I never thought I'd say this, I might just go for the more "normal" classes like toning, spinning, or aerobics. Uncharacteristic of me, I know, but there you have it.
Anyway, that's what I have to say about that. I'm glad I tried it, but I doubt I'm going back. Onwards!