The chicks weren’t the only things hot this weekend. Shana invited me to go to a Bikram Yoga class in Greeley. Bikram Yoga is also known as “hot yoga” because they crank up the temperature to over 100 degrees F. I think it was somewhere around 107 F when we were there.  It was the first time I had ever taken a yoga class, let alone a hot yoga class. I have done yoga videos and know a few moves that I use in my aerobics class that I teach, but I’ve never done it with a group of 15 or 20 people in steaming heat before.

Shana told told me to bring a large towel and a small towel, a water bottle filled with ice and water, and a yoga mat. My yoga mat had been used as a floor mat in the laundry room, so I had to clean it. Even so, I think my yoga mat was the only one in the room with paint droplets on it from when we finished the basment.  She also encouraged me to wear shorts and a t-shirt or tank top because we’d be sweating.

When we got to the bikram yoga studio, I had to sign up as a first time member and paid $20 for a week pass. The woman at the front desk turned out to be our instructor for the class. I went into the change room as Shana found us a spot in the room. I was a bit chilled from the cold Colorado weather we had this weekend (blizzard-like weather on Saturday, thanks for the head’s up Annie!) so I was excited to get into the room and warm up.

When I entered, I was hit with the dry heat. My hands and bare feet were still a little cold from the 30 degree weather outside, so I just laid on the towel we placed over the mat for a bit until the instructor came in. She sat at the front of the mirrored room and gave us rapid instructions for yoga poses that I hadn’t heard of.

To see all the moves I did, check out this poster

Standing, balancing and flexing, I began to sweat. A few swift movements up and down and I became dizzy because of the heat and had to pause. I didn’t do very well on the balance moves either where I had to hold my leg in the air because my hands and legs were so slippery from the sweat running off of them. And I certainly shouldn’t have put lotion on as that made them even more slick.  Since I was near the window in the room at one point I nearly fell into it as I was doing the “standing head to knee” and rattled the window blinds trying to find my balance. Everyone in the quiet room laughed including me.

About half-way through the class we went to the ground. It was amazing how much cooler it was about 5 feet lower.  I was able to extend backward and arch my stomach up pretty far and the instructor said that most beginners couldn’t do that (the Fixed Firm down and the Camel). In fact, many experienced people in the room including Shana couldn’t.

By the end of the class I was certainly sweaty, but was beginning to become accustomed to the heat. I felt limber and light as I closed my eyes and laid there for a while. Since I have the week pass, I think Shana and I are going again tonight. I think I’ve found another warm spot to get out of the cold of winter that’s a little closer than Puerto Rico for now.