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| The impossible move. I can't even wrap my leg behind my other leg. These people aren't even squatting that low. |
So my latest adventure has been hot yoga. I have wanted to
do it for a LONG time now and I finally found a friend that didn’t think I had
lost my mind when I told her. Hot yoga is pretty much exactly what it
sounds like. Yoga in a very hot (35 degrees Celsius) room. As you know I like
to sweat and I am not flexible so I figured it would be a great opportunity to
become more flexible and sweat. There was an offer for 10 Euros for 10 days
unlimited.
We decided to attend the 8am class and knew we needed to be
there a little early. As you know, doing something new in Germany is always a bit
of an adventure. You have to watch and learn most all the time because
otherwise you will have to ask, which would mean needing to know the German
words and that isn’t always the case in new situations. Soccer words = check,
Food words= check, Yoga words= NEIN! So we stroll in about 30 minutes before
the class and sign up. We make our way up to the yoga room and the instructor
had told us to pick the spots in the second row so we can watch. Minor Detail:
Class is in German. This isn’t too much of a problem for me because I
understand most, but Karissa is still learning German and let’s be real even if
I did understand the words, the woman spoke so fast! I think that is part of
the technique. Regardless, there was a man lying on a mat already so we
followed his example and picked the spots in the corner, hoping we were in the
second row. Lots of people came in that totally looked like naturals. At least
we were dressed appropriately, thanks to Google. We knew to wear spandex
material clothing. How embarrassing it would have been to show up in t-shirts
and basketball shorts or something. OUTCASTS!! Regardless, we were just lying
there like beached whales as the class filled with more people. Karissa and I
were trying to figure out if we were in the front or the back of the room
because everyone was laying different directions and we just wanted to go
unnoticed. That did last long though, because in storms the teacher and tells
us that we need to be in the second row and switch spots with the two people
behind us. Problem solved! We were in the front row. EEK! Yes, we made a scene
and had to make two people move spots and not only that, now EVERYONE knew we
were beginners and Americans.
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| We did this for a minute, I just try to improve on not tipping over as many times. |
So the class begins with breathing exercises, which honestly
I have never been great at. I tend to
just breathe naturally and not think about it, but we just followed the
motions. I was informed that we were supposed to keep our mouths closed the
entire class, as in breathing through our nose. Easy right? NOOO! The last
thing I am thinking about is if my mouth is closed when I am tipping over and
trying to fold my body into a pretzel. First of all, I was BY FAR the tallest
person in the room and most likely definitely the least flexible. Not to
mention, after three ankle surgeries my balance is not the greatest.
Regardless, the class went on and once in a while the teacher would shout
English orders at us. Seriously now I know why you have to get a Yoga license.
They probably teach you how to talk that fast at the license course. It was
unbelievable how people could balance on one foot on the ball of their foot,
while squatting with the other leg crossed over…. Follow me? I think it just
takes practice. A lot of it. You are supposed to look at yourself in the mirror
the whole time, and I kept getting scolded for looking around the room. It is
weird to stare at myself especially when I am trying to do it correctly and
watching myself do it wrong in the mirror doesn’t help. Another minor
difficulty was being wet with sweat. Your body slips off itself and you can’t
always hold the poses. Or so I convinced myself. The hardest part was the last
phase where it means you have to sit with your legs bent behind you and your
butt in between. I have NEVER EVER understood how girls can sit like that. Then
they wanted us to lean back and lay on the ground. Over my dead body. No way
could I! I thought every ligament was about to rip in my knees. I improvised
though and the teacher said I could sit on my legs. There has got to be a trick
about being able to do that. Maybe my legs are too big. I am not sure. But mine
just do NOT bend that way. All in all, hot yoga was sweet and it was hard. A
different kind of hard. Definitely broke the rule of having a closed mouth,
because often my jaw dropped just looking at these people doing the exercises.
Probably didn’t catch everything said, but after a little more practice, maybe one
day I can cross legs, squat, stand on one foot, while standing on my tip toe,
with my mouth closed, breathing through my nose. Or maybe never.
