What The Hell

I tried Bikram Yoga for the very first time yesterday.  I'm going to be completely raw and honest, so here it goes....

I rushed to the Yoga Studio after work.  As I drove there, I couldn't quite place my emotions.  I was nervous, scared and excited.   I was nervous because I had mentally prepared myself to be one of the only chubby bunnies in the class.   Well, I was kinda right.  I walked in about 3 minutes late, which is a big no-no in Yoga.  The instructor was a friendly and flamboyant guy in his mid 30s.  He had a sort of energy that exuded from within.   He was clothed in yoga micro-mini shorts, which initially made me a bit uncomfortable, only to realize that it was me who was overdressed.  I wore shorts to class, nobody told me that there was an unwritten dress code that marked bathing suits as acceptable.  Now I know.

So let's get to the good part.  The Class.  It was 90 minutes of sheer torture...yes, torture.  The heat was excruciating.  If hell is a place, then I know how it feels.  The first 20 minutes of the class were bearable.  At times I caught myself proudly half-assing the yoga poses, "I can do this", I thought to myself.  Somewhere around the 40-60 minute mark, I decided I was dying.  I really thought I was going to start hyperventilating. Just imagine, 48 people in a 105 degree room.  My oxygen supply was on low, I was surely convinced.   Just when I thought I couldn't go on, the instructor tells us to lay down: dead body pose.  The name seemed all too appropriate, a sort of premonition.  My body was slowly dying, giving out.....  He then stated, "the hard part is over, relax".   I couldn't believe I had survived 60 minutes in this cave of human humidity....I was dripping wet, or dripping sweat I should say.  It was ridiculous.  I actually formed a circle of sweat around me which my towel had absorbed into a damp mess.  The class ended around the 93 minute mark, not that I was counting but hey, didn't they say it was a 90 minute class!!  On my drive home I tried to convince myself that the class was not at all that great.  It was kind of like a sauna with yoga.  I was too busy trying to overcome heat exhaustion to notice any strain in my limbs.

I got home, fixed myself a turkey, tomato, onion, spinach, avocado sandwich (340 calories).   I was beat.  I also felt strange, almost emotional.

I lay in bed peacefully and something came over me, a wave of sadness, joy, anger... I couldn't tell.  I shed a few tears and dozed off into sleep.  Why?  I still don't know.

I awoke refreshed and triumphant.  I did it!! I conquered a 90 minute hot yoga class!  I will be back to that hell hole, that doubles as studio tomorrow.  I think I liked it.  I'm still trying to figure it out.  :)


FOOD
I always overestimate the calories I consume, just to stay on the safe side
I'm pretty sure I did not consume 195 calories worth of dressing but better safe than sorry.

If you've ever tried hot yoga I would LOVE to hear about your experience.