Nama-freaking-ste!
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A couple of weeks ago – without warning and with no explanation – the yoga studio where I’d been practicing for nearly five years shut its doors. My yogi friends and I were stunned. We met for coffee in the aftermath, to discuss our plan for finding a new yoga “home.” We’re hot yoga devotees, enjoying the heat and humidity as part of the workout. We had all tried a few other studios and discussed the pros and cons of each one. But change can be challenging, even when it’s something as trivial as finding a new yoga studio. It’s disruptive and throws me out of my (very sweaty) comfort zone.
So I went. And I absolutely loved it! Turns out “Candlelight Yoga” is exactly what it sounds like: darkened room, illuminated by candles, with soft music and aromatherapy scents of lemon and mint wafting through the room. The class began at 8:30pm, so by the time I was done at 9:30 I had just enough to drive home, take a quick shower and go to sleep. In fact, it was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages. Huh. Who knew?!? My point is just this: when we open ourselves to new experiences – even when we’re forced to, like my friends and I were – there is growth. Though I know it to be true, sometimes I have to be bashed over the head with it: There is no growth inside our comfort zones. Just none. So this week I’m going to keep trying different classes at my new yoga home. If you’d like to try it, do a search for CorePower Yoga and see if there’s one in your area. It’s a national franchise, so chances are there’s one close to you. Every new student gets a free week of unlimited yoga, so really, what have you got to lose? Have a happy, healthy week! – Marilyn
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This week I walked into one of those studios that my yogis and I were discussing and signed up for their free week. Though the classroom is hot, their approach is different from what I’m accustomed to. The first class was a “Sculpt” class, which used weights and had lots of cardio elements. Hmmmm, not what I want out of a yoga class. The next one I tried was called “Hot Power Fusion” and was similar to my previous studio. Then I saw a sign for a “Candlelight Yoga” class the next evening. That sounded intriguing!