New to hot yoga

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi. I’m a newbie here, and pretty new to yoga as well. Please be gentle with me and forgive my incorrect use of terms!

I’ve been a runner and devoted gym person for about 8 years. Recently I’ve been experiencing a lot of pain/tightness/soreness in my hips/legs and one day I woke up and realized that I needed to get into a yoga class. There’s a reputable hot yoga studio near my home and I was hooked after the first class.

In tonight’s class, I got lightheaded and almost nauseous for the first time in class, about 3/4 of the way through. I had to miss a couple poses while I rested in child’s pose and didn’t feel all better until I got home, rehydrated, took some rolaids, and curled up on the couch.

What I’m struggling with is beating myself up for “missing” poses. The runner/gym person in me is having trouble letting go of that competitiveness.

I also think one of the reasons I didn’t feel well tonight was that I did some tough runs and gym workouts this weekend, and one earlier today. I’m afraid to ease up on my old routine for fear I’ll lose my fitness, which I know is ridiculous. I guess this is just part of my practice? Practicing letting go of the “shoulds?”

How do you find balance between all of the physical/athletic activities you love to do?

#2

Some I maintain, others I’ve let go.
I stopped playing basketball completely. While it fed my passion and worked my cardiovascular systems (in some ways) it was not very smart living for my joints and lower back. If I were an adolescent I might have forged on anyway but having reached a level of maturity (of some debate I am certain) I had to confront my reality.

It appears that you made a sound choice for your body and your feelings at the time the choice needed to be made. Rest is always a fine choice. To have remorse over such a thing is without benefit. However it is wonderful that you can observe your clinging to competitiveness. It is impossible to address an issue when we have not or do not acknowledge there’s an issue in the first place.

One element to examine more deeply as your practice evolves, as we all hope it does, is the nature of a practice that balances the practitioner. A person who is bound by sloth and torpor AND pursues an asana practice where they lie around only fosters imbalance in their living. That sort of person would need a different practice in order to pursue balance. And the same would hold true for a type-a person engaging a type-a practice. Of course this only applies for that student with an intention of balance. And it is just something to consider.

gordon

#3

Thank you for your response. You’ve given me some ideas to think about. Today is a new day, the next class is a new class, and I have the rest of my life to get where I’m going.

#4

I’m happy you’re deciding to pursue another class. Hot Yoga releases toxins and deep junk from the body, which could be a reason why you felt so awful afterwards.

I am an avid runner and gym attendee as well and I LOVE hot yoga! It does something that running, biking, or any other cardiovascular exercise cannot do.

I know what you mean about easing up on the routine… taking a break from running is difficult because everyday you aren’t active you feel like you’re a lazy bum. But yoga actually will HELP your running the day after. It’ll stretch your body, ease your mind and help you focus on the next day’s activity.

#5

Well I took another class tonight with a different teacher and felt great the whole time. This class was a little slower, with more focus on breath. I changed my attitude going in. I decided to let go of feeling like I needed “a good workout” and just concentrated on breath and feeling good and getting a good stretch. I totally embraced being a newbie. There were some poses where I felt lost, so I tried exploring them, but was not afraid to come down to rest if it was too much. I celebrated little victories, like when a downward dog just really clicked or when I surprised myself with how natural it felt when I let myself sink in to eagle.

Now THIS is how I want to approach practice!

Next time I take a class with the other teacher with the faster paced class, I will know to rest when I need to and really embrace my newbie-ness.

I also signed up for a couple workshops soon, one focusing on alignment and the other on fundamentals. I am so looking forward to them!

#6

Excellent update! Glad you are finding it a better experience than before :slight_smile: Good luck.