So despite not really blogging about it I am still doing hot yoga on a regular basis (just not as regular as I did at one point!) and still working at the yoga studio 3 hours per week in exchange for free yoga.

I try to get to one class a week at the very least and prefer to go 2-3 times per week if I can squeeze it in. Now that I’m done training for a bit I’m hoping to up my yoga before marathon training starts.

Anyways, I was in my new favourite class on Saturday afternoon – an hour of Baron Baptiste inspired power yoga that leaves me dripping sweat and with shaky arms – when I looked around the room.

Yes, yes. I know you’re not supposed to compare yourself in yoga. And for the most part I don’t. But I couldn’t help but notice that in a class of around 40 people I was one of only a few that could not get my arms into a bind during extended side angle pose. {image source}

We actually discussed this when we were in Victoria and all three of the girls could easily get into a extended side angle bind even with jeans on! I am not even close.

I also can’t even get close to doing this pose {image source}:

Like I said, I know that every body is different, and just because you’re not in the full extension of the pose doesn’t mean you’re not doing yoga – I totally get that and accept it! It’s just I feel like I’m in a small minority not being able to do these bind poses and after doing yoga regularly for over a year I haven’t had any improvement in this area.

I’m not sure what parts of my body are too tight. Shoulders? Chest? Hips (first one)?

It’s at least a little bit of consolation that Eric can’t do the bind poses either – yes I immediately went home and asked him after class on Saturday! Eric is extremely flexible for someone who never really stretches. He can put his his feet (one at a time) behind his head! That takes some major hip flexibility (which I do not have at all).

I know I have some yoga instructors and hardcore yogi’s reading my blog. Any advice on how I can work on my binds? What part of my body is keeping me from doing these?

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Question of the day: Can you do either of the binds pictured above?

41 hot, sweaty hours.

All my stars from the month! I did a class every day (except 2 days) and I did double-days to make up for those 2 missed days

That’s how much time I spent in the hot room in the last 30 days. That’s a full work week!

As of last night, I successfully completed my 30 classes in 30 days yoga challenge. I missed two days of classes (both for snowboarding) but I did doubles on two other days to make up those days.

So, how was it?

Things I Expected To Happen:

I got better at some poses

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I kind of expected this. After spending that much time in the hot room one would think they would get more flexible, bendy and strong and I definitely did. I can now do a full chatarunga push-up through multiple sets of flow and I can sit lower than ever in chair pose, I’ve learned how to do wheel pose (pictured above) and I can hold my warrior lunges longer than ever.

I am stronger and more flexible. All to be expected after spending 41 hours over the course of 30 days doing yoga.

I got sick of it

I kind of expected this because it happened with running and marathon training too. I am not the type of person who can do too much of one activity. While I have really enjoyed expanding and deepening my practice, doing yoga (especially classes that are 60 – 90 minutes long) every day is not for me. I am looking forward to dropping my practice back down to a 2 – 4 x/week kind of thing and exploring other activities!

Things I Didn’t Expect To Happen:

I still can’t do the full expression of some poses

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I don’t think I’ll ever get my toes around my calf in eagle (pictured above). I’ve never been even close to doing it and after 30 days of yoga I am no closer. One of my yoga teachers said that some bodies just can’t do some poses so I’ve accepted the fact that I’ll probably never get my toe behind my calf in eagle or my head to the floor in wide-legged forward bend. And that’s OK.

My body image has improved. A lot.

I’ve always had pretty good body image (I thank running for that) but after spending 30 days (41 hours) staring at myself in a mirror wearing skimpy, skin tight clothing and moving my body in some very weird, awkward ways I feel more confident than ever. I don’t compare my body to other bodies in the room anymore, I just focus on the strong parts of my own body and how I move and it’s really carried through into my every day life.

I ate better

One thing I love about running is that it allows me to eat a lot more than normal (I love food!) but it doesn’t always make me want to eat good food. In fact, when I’m running high mileage the more I want to eat bad food (think CARBS!)

Doing so much hot yoga really made me clean up my eating – trust me, you don’t want to go to a hot yoga class after eating a huge burger and fries! I ate more veggies and fruits and drank more water than ever!

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Overall, I am really happy I did this challenge. It was a fun, new, non-running-related challenge for me that pushed my limits physically and mentally. I grew my yoga practice a lot and can’t wait to continue to deepen and expand my practice. I am starting to see the benefits of yoga cross over into my day-to-day life more and more and that’s definitely not something I want to give up anytime soon.

Has anybody else done a yoga challenge or fitness challenge? What kind of things did you learn from it that you expected AND didn’t expect?

Today is day 22 of my 30 day yoga challenge. As of this morning I have done 23 classes in the last 22 days (I am one ahead since I am not doing a class this coming Saturday).

I think the idea of trying hot yoga is really intimidating to a lot of people. I’ve heard people say time and time again that they don’t think they could handle the heat. And maybe you can’t, but it doesn’t hurt to try!

I hated hot yoga the first time I went (this entry is really funny to read considering how “into” hot yoga I am now! Ha!) and didn’t go back again for another year.

Here are a few of my tips for first-timers.

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1. What should I wear?

I wear shorts and a tank top to almost every class. Sometimes I will wear capri’s and sometimes I will wear just a sports bra top with shorts or capri’s, but my outfit is generally shorts and a tank top.

Maybe you don’t like working out in such skimpy clothing and you’re tempted to wear pants and a baggy shirt.

Don’t do it.

Trust me when I say that I notice the people who are overdressed more than the people who are underdressed when I’m in the hot room. Honestly, once the class has started I am mostly focused on watching myself in the mirror (and I’m sure this is the same for lots of other students!) so don’t worry about anybody looking at what you’re wearing – just make sure YOUR comfortable!

2. What studio should I go to?

Find one you like and feel comfortable at – that is the most important thing of all in my opinion!

This was so important for me and completely changed my entire outlook on hot yoga. The studio I go to now is warm, opening, fun and has great energy. The one I tried going to before was the opposite of all those things. Not only did I not feel welcomed there I felt very out-of-place. I think that energy is part of what ruined the experience for me.

Find a studio that makes you feel good and makes you feel welcome. It will make a huge difference.

3. What if I don’t like it?

This is a case of do as I say not as I do because the first time I tried it I didn’t go back for over a year! Ha! But it’s really true when they say you should come back as much as possible in the first week or two that you’re doing it.

Honestly, you’re probably not going to LOVE it the first time you try it. You probably will feel too hot and maybe even a little sick. Try it a few more times and if you still haven’t adjusted to the heat than maybe it’s not for you? Personally I love hot yoga more than regular yoga now because it feels like a harder workout with all the sweating I do and I always feel SO GOOD after sweating that much! BUT it did take me awhile to adjust to the heat.

4. What type of yoga should I try?

I used to think the only kind of hot yoga offered was Bikram so I figured I was destined to not like it. Turns out there are lots of different kinds of yoga offered in the hot room!

I personally prefer the Moksha series because it is a nice balance between Bikram and regular yoga and I enjoy the poses in the Moksha series. I also like the power flow or Ashtanga/Vinyasa series because it flows with the breath and is a really fun/challenging series to do.

My advice would be to try some different kinds of hot yoga and see what suits you best!

5. Anything else?

Bring a towel, bring a big bottle of water, have an open mind and have fun with it!

Namaste

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Have you ever tried hot yoga? Do you want to? Other hot yoga goers, what tips do you have for first-timers?