I Tried It: Bikram Yoga

Armed with some bravado and two friends, I attempted Bikram yoga last night.

(Psst: That's also known as hot yoga, usually a 90-minute practice in a room heated to 105 degrees.)

I think our class was a beginner class, so it was heated to 90 degrees and it was an hour-long practice of Vinyasa yoga. (Psst: Vinyasa yoga is more about flowing between poses rather than practicing them separately. Think: sun salutes and such.)

There is a yoga studio offering a free week of classes in a yuppie neighborhood in St. Paul (lovely, but definitively yuppie). I was a little reluctant to leave my "You can do it!" atmosphere at the Y for something I knew would be a little more serious and competitive. And laced with teeny-tiny girls with amazing flexibility and balance. But, I thought, life is short, say yes to adventures (especially with friends), do one thing every day that scares you, and I've been doing yoga for a year now, so it's time to put it to the test.

I was right about the atmosphere. One friend noted that she felt like she was in the middle of a clique and didn't fit in. That's why you do these things with friends, if you can. ;) The class was packed, and there wasn't enough room to fully feel like you had enough space. Like, I could reach out and touch my neighbor, who didn't know me, and most definitely would not appreciate my sweaty limb on hers.

My other deal was the instructor. She was nice, and maybe even helpful, but she was way too cheerleadery for my taste. Not that it has to be super hippy-dippy chakra examination talk, but it was hard to stay in the zone when she was saying, "Noooow, iiiiiinhale! EEEEeeeeexhale!" as though she was at a pep rally. And she sounded a little scripted. But I did like that she kept the focus on moving forward, letting go, and realizing you aren't always going to do everything perfectly. I need that reminder, often.

The gym was nicely appointed, and there were many drool-worthy items from Lululemon and other swank gym accessories/clothing companies in the shop area. The locker room was like a spa.

The hot yoga room itself wasn't as suffocating/saunalike as I expected it would be. Although my heart was racing like two sun salutes in, I assume in response to the heated room. The lighting was nice and dim, there was ample mirror space, and I liked the music they played (if it was a little loud).

About halfway in, I was really, really sweating. As in, dripping on my mat. I didn't mind the sweat (that's part of the point) as much as it was physically problematic for my mat and my hands and feet staying in place. I had a hot yoga towel, but it didn't have the little skid bumps underneath, like the fancy ones the sell in the lobby. I would not suggest the Gaiam quick-dry towels they sell for this purpose at Target, if you're worried about your footing at all. It just slides around too much on the mat. But it DOES have great sweat-vacuum properties and though it's yoga-mat shaped, could be good for gymming overall.

There were a couple of poses I just couldn't quite get through—probably because I haven't been hitting the gym as much lately. BUT, I felt a noticeable difference in my flexibility. Like, I TOUCHED THE FLOOR last night in a forward fold, people. I've only done that one other time in all my yoga history and I swear it was a fluke, or that I dreamed it. I TOUCHED THE FLOOR! (Cue Rocky theme here.)

I also—and this doesn't quite make sense to me logically—felt more balanced during the tree pose and other balance poses. Maybe just because my muscles thought they were hanging out on the beaches of Hawaii instead of a cold gym in the middle of winter. As a total freezebaby, I loved the heat.

Overall though? A nice free hour of yoga. An escape from the icy clutches of winter. An hour of sweat and exercise. Time with two friends who I don't get to see nearly often enough. And the realization that I CAN keep up (mostly) with fancier places. I CAN do this.

Namaste, bitches!

It'll Be OK...Just Dance

OK, OK, I know that this is KIND OF a no-shitter, pardon my French, but wow. Exercising regularly really DOES make me feel better.

Here's how I know.

So, when I had that cold, I really didn't think I had the lung power to make it through an hour-long cardio class (not to mention the visions of snot flying out of my nose. Sorry. I've been talking about snot a lot lately.)

Then, I was on vacation, but between snuggling babies and my dog, and my birthday, I just didn't seem to find time to go to the gym. Then I was getting back into work mode ... Basically, I allowed daily life to get in the way of taking care of me.

So for the last four or so days, I've had wicked stomachaches around the 2-3 p.m. hour. I think this is a function of two things:
1. Sitting at a desk all damn day. After lunch I maybe need to move around more.
2. I hadn't exercised in like...ashamedly....10 days. 12 days even.

Yesterday, I felt terribly around my witching hour at work. I got permission to leave a little early. Walking out to my car helped (but that doesn't always do the trick). Still, I was all like, DUDE, I'm still going to the gym. By the time my power yoga/pilates/tai chi class was over, I felt amazing.

Today, I'm sore (and I definitely slid backwards in my two weeks off, so class felt really hard), but I still went to zumba class to stretch out and warm up rather than continue to let my muscles seize. No stomachache today. I feel really, really good. Yay for endorphins!

Back on track.

Growing Pains

Seriously, I do not recall a time when I've known such muscle pain.

My thighs are screaming. If I sit, which makes the pain go away, when I stand up, my muscles lock up. A few times they've just sort of buckled under me. And some cruel twist of fate is making me drop everything I pick up, and bending over is ... horrible.

Yet, I went back to the gym this morning to stretch out in a yoga/pilates class. I can't imagine how much stiffer I'd be if I hadn't. Maybe negligible, but it seems like it helped a bit to warm me up.

Then, an afternoon with my family to celebrate Wm's birthday. Lasagne, pear/gorgonzola salad, squash soup with bacon and roasted squash seeds, and flourless chocolate cake with Haagen-Daz ice cream. Mmmmm.

My body is simultaneously ravenously hungry—we're talking hunger PANGS here, people—and exhausted.

After a really productive, busy weekend, I'm finally going to eat some Triscuits (black pepper ones) and sharp cheddar pub cheese, and read Vanity Fair and watch TV. Ahhhh.

Weighty Issues

Today, I took my first weightlifting class. Yep.

I think tomorrow is going to hurt really, really, really, really badly. And I have a yoga/pilates class in the morning. Greeeeat.

But seriously though, despite the pain, I'm feeling good. As in, Really Good. I haven't had a stomachache in DAYS. DAYS! And I think that maybe I'm feeling my energy level picking up a little, which Jesus God Hallelujah! Because I don't have a lot of energy typically.

I also have found myself feeling absolutely STARVING the last couple days. That has got to mean that I'm burning up the calories, but nothing has changed outwardly. I feel like I'm off to a really good start.

Otherwise, today has been a typical Saturday. Dog to the groomer, errands, cleaning, laundry. But it feels good to be productive and done.

On tap tonight: takeout and friend time at home.

Happy day.

90 Days

Nearly little muscle in my body hurts from my flow class yesterday. Some are sort of screamy-hurt. It takes masterful effort not to walk like I've been riding horses all week long.

This gets better, right? Please promise me it does.

I thought I'd share a couple of goals with y'all since I'll probably be blogging about my gymming it up [note: I promise this won't become an all-fitness, all the time blog], and it will help me keep on track.

I want to lose around 10 pounds. HOWEVER, I think that weight is just another way to measure health. I don't live and die by what the scale says. And I'm not going to diet to do it (although: healthy recipes and snack ideas always welcome here). I've already cut out pop, I don't eat fast food, I like veggies and fruits and I don't eat much pasta, etc. I figure my diet is pretty dang balanced right now. If I diet, I will hate my life and not go to the gym either. I will take my measure more from the way my jeans fit, but I know they fit me when I weighed about 10 less pounds.

I want to gain muscle. I want to have a nice, toned, strong body. I like the way Jennifer Aniston's body looks (obviously I will never be that skinny because I don't, and won't, live on whatever bottled water she promotes). Toned and strong, but not wiry or hard. If that means I have to weigh more, so be it.

I want to gain even more flexibility. I'm about as flexible as a two-by-four, but I'd like to continue striving to be more flexible.

I want to feel happier.

I want to feel more energized.

I want to feel capable of performing even moderately difficult athletic tasks.

I want to conquer my stomachaches.

I want to conquer stress and anxiety.

I want to work up to going to the gym five times a week. Yep, you heard it here, friends.

I know I am not really old. But as I age, I want to always feel like "dang, I am in the best shape of my life." I want to live well, be well, and be active in making that happen.

I want to make it past the three-month mark my trainer warned me about. People often quit at month three. I have to make it past that.

Here we go.

Rock My Body

Dudes. I joined a gym, 'member? So I went to my first class this morning, which is a combo of tai chi, power yoga, and pilates. I thought a class with the name "Flow" in the title might really be kind of nice and soothing. Nooooot really. It felt great, though, and I really liked the class, as did Sister Soup. Plus it was set to music, and I loved that. I'm feeling more confident about hitting up classes now, too.

But um, I kind of want to die. I had to bow out of a couple of moves early, because my thighs were a-burnin'. Bad. I am pretty sure stairs are going to feel hellacious tomorrow. I'm a little scared. And I felt super tired the rest of the day (the class ran from 10-11). I guess I'm just not at the point where I feel energized by exercising. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, shall we?

Besides that, I went to see This Is It (FINALLY) with my mom this afternoon.

It. Was. AWESOME.

It only made me love MJ more. Seriously. There are some darling moments. And let me tell you, he was too skinny, but any reports that he was frail or sickly--nuh uh. That man was moving and grooving and clearly loving plotting his return to the limelight.

You have to wonder, if he hadn't died. Would it have been spectacular enough to win over all the haters? Would it have re-cemented him as a star, or would it have seemed desperate to most? My money is that it would have been a total hit. He was really planning something amazing, and it's all this imploded potential. All this footage, when Michael is singing like an angel and doing his particular brand of hover-dancing...it's tragic to think it never became something.

They pulled some of the best dancers and singers from around the world for this show, and as they backed him up onstage during rehearsal, I couldn't help but think they couldn't even touch his talent.

Sooo, that's pretty much all the news fit to print today.

Stop the Bench Presses

People.

This is not a test.

I joined the gym yesterday.

No, for real.

No, it's not April Fool's Day.

Like, oh my God!

It's time. Here's why:

Community ed wasn't really delivering anymore on what I wanted. I loved most of the classes I took and I'd still consider going back to my belly dancing class but otherwise, I needed something more. And the last class I took was a joke, and a waste of a month's worth of gym money for five measly classes.

I know, right? Me, something more? Here are some more reasons:

• I get a little discount with my health insurance. And I have to go or I don't get the discount.
  
• I figure the barrier is a little higher when it comes to fitness at a gym vs. comm ed. This ain't no Richard Simmons' oldies class.
• I have lost a little weight, but I need to lose a little more before I'm satisfied.
• My doctor has recommended that with my two irritating illnesses, IBS and thyroid disease, to exercise five times a week. Say WHA? I'm not there yet. But I hear him.
• The Y was offering no joiners fee, and a free consult with a trainer.
• My sister belongs to the Y and we both are taking an interest in fitness, so we will push each other to go to class.
• Extra endorphins can't hurt. Especially as we enter the season called Depression around here.
• I've been inspired by some bloggers lately. And my husband.
  
• And the biggest one: I can eat more cheese if I work out. instead of a carrot dangling in front of me, imagine a chunk of Old Amsterdam Gouda and a Mounds bar.
• Expect updates.
• I would love some encouragement.

Dudes. I JOINED a GYM.