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I got to the gym later than usual today, which means that there was a vinyasa yoga class about to start when I was done with my cardio, weights, and stretching. I decided to give it a try, which started with sitting on the floor with three other people while we awaited the instructor (he blamed the E train when he got there).
I lasted about five minutes. There were several problems. The simplest was that I was underdressed: the minimal outfit I wear for lifting weights is too light for lying on the floor focusing on my breath. That's fixable, if I want to do it again: bring long pants and a t-shirt. Second was that there was a spin class in another room at the same time, and they play their music very loud. Loud enough that I could feel it through the slightly raised floor of the room we were in (which, again, might not have been a problem for a class that hadn't had us lying flat on our backs). Third, the instructor started by having us breathe in and out, slowly, then explained that meditation isn't mystical, it's a technique, and like any technique you can improve with practice. This is in fact true. A minute later, he was talking about focusing on the moment as a way of finding our "true selves" and "peace beyond understanding." If you're selling mysticism, okay, but don't claim it's something else. Then he had us pull our legs close to our chest and wrap our arms around our calves, and told us to keep breathing slowly and deeply. Sorry, I can't give you both of those at once. And I was still cold. I grabbed my things and got up. He asked if it was something he said, and I just said "too cold": it was simplest, and I didn't want to disrupt the class for the other students.
I think I'm looking for a different kind of yoga, as well as a different instructor and slightly warmer clothes, if I pursue it again soon (I think I've taken two yoga classes in the six years I've been a member of this gym, not counting today; I took yoga weekly for a couple of semesters in high school, but that was to deal with the phys ed requirement).
( weight lifting details )
I lasted about five minutes. There were several problems. The simplest was that I was underdressed: the minimal outfit I wear for lifting weights is too light for lying on the floor focusing on my breath. That's fixable, if I want to do it again: bring long pants and a t-shirt. Second was that there was a spin class in another room at the same time, and they play their music very loud. Loud enough that I could feel it through the slightly raised floor of the room we were in (which, again, might not have been a problem for a class that hadn't had us lying flat on our backs). Third, the instructor started by having us breathe in and out, slowly, then explained that meditation isn't mystical, it's a technique, and like any technique you can improve with practice. This is in fact true. A minute later, he was talking about focusing on the moment as a way of finding our "true selves" and "peace beyond understanding." If you're selling mysticism, okay, but don't claim it's something else. Then he had us pull our legs close to our chest and wrap our arms around our calves, and told us to keep breathing slowly and deeply. Sorry, I can't give you both of those at once. And I was still cold. I grabbed my things and got up. He asked if it was something he said, and I just said "too cold": it was simplest, and I didn't want to disrupt the class for the other students.
I think I'm looking for a different kind of yoga, as well as a different instructor and slightly warmer clothes, if I pursue it again soon (I think I've taken two yoga classes in the six years I've been a member of this gym, not counting today; I took yoga weekly for a couple of semesters in high school, but that was to deal with the phys ed requirement).
( weight lifting details )
