Yoga! Yoga! Yoga!

I went to yoga for the first time this past Saturday. I was skeptical at first. My friend Jessica G-J asked me if I wanted to go. I was making jokes with her on game night that I might not be able to find my "inner self" if I was falling over and trying to protect my "outer self".

My initial reaction: When we arrived Saturday morning it was dark and quiet in the room. The instructor was speaking quietly with several people already on the floor. Jessica brought her own mat, so immediately I felt at a disadvantage. I had to use one of the cruddy ones the Y has. It wasn't long enough. I took off my shoes, but I refused to take my socks off due to the fact that I have claw feet right now.

The actual class: The entire process was a bit weird for me at first. There is no "beginners" class at the Y. Pretty much, you show up, you watch the instructor and the other people around you, and you are doing yoga. Jessica says she's trying not to make it competetive. I laughed at first when she used that word. But if I'm being totally honest, competetive women like Jessica and myself can't stop even during a time of inner searching. I found myself on several occassions comparing myself to the people around me. Were they more flexible? Was I doing the move wrong?

By the end of the hour we had stretched just about every part of our body and to be frank, I felt fabulous! I really felt like I got a workout and at the same time, my whole body felt better. My back felt amazing!

The best part of yoga: I didn't sweat and I still felt like my body got a workout.
The worst part of yoga: Not talking for an hour. But I guess part of finding the inner you isn't talking to your yoga neighbor.

Needless the say, the final verdict: I already told Jessica I'd like to go back with her again this Saturday. Now I just have to get a pedicure...and psych myself up for another weekend of not sleeping in.