My First Yoga Class @ RCP (Part 2)

This blog is the 2nd part of my yoga blog, which describes my first yoga experience at Rivercity Pilates.    If you haven’t read it, here’s a link.

With about 30 minutes left in class, I started watching the clock and my focus wandered. Why? Because I was sweating so much I was afraid there would be a puddle around me soon! Now that would be embarrassing.  I was wondering if I was working hard, or too hard.    I wasn’t breathing hard.   I couldn’t feel my heart beating too fast, yet I was sweating like I was sitting in a sauna!   Then I looked at the bright side. If sweat is detoxing I am getting rid of everything! I will feel great tomorrow! Wait, Will I feel great? Or am I working muscles that are going to hurt tomorrow?

There was a series where we went from plank, to downward dog, and then you lift your leg behind you and bring it forward to a lunge position. Every time my leg went up there was a thud when it hit the barre. I am guessing that everyone in the room wondered who was kicking the wall. When your foot comes back down, it’s supposed to be underneath your shoulders in a lunge. When my foot came back down, it was in the middle of the mat. Shara said if you need to move your foot with your hand, go ahead. That’s what I did. As a newbie, I clearly haven’t mastered these yoga-mat sized steps and deep lunges or even where to position my mat when class starts! !

The next series added a pose that I couldn’t seem to do. Shara gave an option of putting your knee on the mat, and sure enough, I could do that! And when I took a quick glance around, I wasn’t the only one with my knee down! I was keeping up! What a terrific feeling.   As a newbie, I wasn’t the only person doing the modification.

The clock kept moving and finally Shara said, one more time before we cool down. Ok. Whoosh.   Reflief.  I thought I could make it through one more series. I totally loved the cool down time. Who doesn’t love laying on their back and breathing during a fitness class! Again, I didn’t really hear the music. I was incredibly focused on Sharas voice, leading us through the rest of the class. (and for someone who is a constant multi-tasker that is a huge achievement). It also gave my body some time to come back to normal. After class, I pretty much bolted. I wasn’t sure how I looked after all that sweating, and I was very scared that I wouldn’t be able to walk the next day from all that quad work. I was scheduled for sunrise Pilates equipment class the next day, and I was hoping I wouldn’t have to call in and say that yoga broke me!

I will tell you honestly that the night after my first yoga class, I got the best night of sleep i have gotten for years. I slept soundly and woke up refreshed! I was awake 5 minutes before my alarm went off and my legs felt fine. I had wondered during class if my back would hurt, because it seemed that I was moving a bit differently than I do in Pilates, but my back was fine. I wondered if soreness would come later in the day, but it didn’t. I took 2 Pilates classes and 1 yoga class in 25 hours, and I felt great along with a huge sense of accomplishment!

Now the big question. Will I take another yoga class? I honestly think that I will. I want to take another class from Shara now that I know what to expect. I also want to take classes from the other instructors and experience them.  I am hoping I’m past my — “I have to put my mat by the door so i can run if I need to” feelings!    Have you read Carey’s blog, “My Pilates practice taught me to love yoga“?   I don’t know if that’s true for me yet, but my first yoga class did convince me that maybe I should add one yoga class a week to my workout schedule!   If you see me in class, please know that I’m still feeling awkward and trying to get comfortable with yoga.   I won’t be watching to see if you are awkward, because I will be way to focused on my “intention” and trying to do every exercise.   Hope to see you in class!

Becky Monroe
Rivercity Pilates Student