My First Hot Yoga Experience

I’ve always been open to trying new fitness things, especially since I teach pole fit at SASS. I think it’s important that I always try new fitness workouts to further educate myself. Having already done regular yoga before, I would say yoga isn’t entirely my most favourite exercise in the world. I’m not one of those women who go, ‘OMG I love yoga’. In fact, I used to spend more time making up excuses why I don’t want to do a yoga session. Yoga really forces me to step outside my comfort zone. Why?

The thing with yoga is you do a lot of stillness, holding awkward positions, breathing exercises and clearing of the mind. Well these are things that are not my most strong points. Being still, holding flexible positions, breathing deeply and clearing of the mind isn’t something I’m good at. My brain just doesn’t work that way. You see.. I have this anxiety disorder I’ve had my entire life.

I’ve tried everything but I cannot cure it. I can cope for the most part. I have my ways of coping but it’s something I’m probably just going have to live with. I’ve had this problem for the first 30 years of my life– I’m pretty sure it’s going to be around for the next 30 years of my life. It’s extremely difficult for me to breath properly. Doctors, chiropractors, natual paths all tell me that I breathe like a person chronically in a fight or flight state of mind. My breaths are shallow and quick. I’m always so tense. I cannot relax. My mind is always racing. Nothing shuts it up. So being in a yoga class is really irritating  for me because my brain is so damn NOISY!

Back to hot yoga– Miss Pole Dance Canada and her costume designer, Shanyn and Melody, invited me to join them on their regular weekly hot yoga trip to Burlington followed by lunch at The Naked Sprout! Yesterday they took me to Moksha Yoga. My first initial thought was, wow what a pretty clean friendly place! When we walked into the yoga room, I realized this was not what I was expecting. My initial thought of hot yoga was yoga in a warmer room. When I walked into the room I thought I was in a steam room! The room was hot like a sauna and very humid. I instantly started sweating and took my top off. LOL. I did yoga in my sports bra and long lululemon pants. I wish I brought shorts!

My first hot yoga experience was amazing! The level of difficulty was perfect for me. It wasn’t too hard but it wasn’t easy. The heat wasn’t too unbearable either. Normally I HATE heavy, thick, hot, humid, air like that. I often get the feeling like I can’t breathe in an environment like that but it really wasn’t too bad. There were a few moments where I felt my heart rate jump sky high and I would get that feeling like I couldn’t breathe. And there were a few moments where I thought, omg do I need to leave the room? But then I would look around me and see every one and how relaxed and happy the room was. This was enough to keep telling myself that there was enough air the room and I was fine so shut the hell up mind! lol.

You sweat like CRAZY! It felt like sweat was raining off of me. And in different positions I would feel sweat drip in my mouth and eyes… EWWWWW!!!! You just gotta keep your mouth closed and not think about the sweat. :p

I would definitely go back to Moksha Yoga in Burlington. In fact, I want to take my husband with me next time! But next time I would wear shorts with a sports bra and bring a complete change of clothes next time. Trust me you don’t really want to wear pants or capri! You want shorts! And you will need lots of water and a towel.