Monday, December 15, 2008

Yummy Yummy Yoga

Until yesterday, I hadn’t been to yoga class in about a year and a half. The last time I went was the first, and only, time I ever went to the studio solo. It was the day I had my incident with sweaty, naked guy.

Given that I still like Mr. Wonderful a lot when he is sweaty and naked (What? No, Mom I’ve never seen him naked. I’m talking hypothetically about after we get married.) I figured it would be safe to take a class with him. So we braved the chilly morning air and headed to Golden Bridge Yoga in Hollywood to get our chakrasses handed to us in the most difficult Basics class I’ve ever attended.

The moment we entered the studio, I was in love. It’s a huge building with exposed beam ceilings, brick walls and the smell of incense wafting everywhere. The front desk is connected to a store that has just about everything zen you can think of. Candles, yoga clothing, handmade jewelry, books on positive energy. I could’ve spent hours in there.

People were milling about everywhere and a lot of them were decked out in real deal yogi clothes—solid white pants and tunics, with head wraps and knit caps. I’d never seen anything like it. They assembled on the main floor like a devoted congregation preparing for Sunday mass. At the front of the room was an ornate stage with a gong and tapestries and pillows. This was the Guru’s teaching pulpit.

Mr. W and I made our way through them, upstairs to the Basics class, and were pleased to find only 3 other students in attendance. We spread our mats next to one another and very quickly lost ourselves in the beginning stretches. Eyes closed, listening to the chanting below me, focusing on my breath, I quickly remembered how replenishing yoga can be.

Being in class is different than doing yoga in my living room. The energy isn’t the same. Or rather, there’s more energy. On the wooden floor, with bells and gongs ringing in my ears, I could feel myself reconnecting to a forgotten peace. I stretched until my limbs shook, recalling my desire to be stronger in body and spirit. It was so nice to have that familiar feeling back.

Every muscle in my core and upper body is sore today. It’s fantastic. And I can’t wait to turn this practice into a habit again. Even if it means seeing the occasional sweaty, naked guy.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

good for you!! for some reason i just can't get into yoga...but it is great for your mind and body...hope you get to do more of it!! and i'm impressed that mr. wo went with you...wow!!!

Anonymous said...

Hmmmmm.....what size tie dye shirt do you want to Xmas?

Anonymous said...

I hope you either got up early to meet Mr. W or slept on the couch again!

Anonymous said...

I love yoga. I just don't get to do it very often. But when I go to the studio, I always feel at peace. Until they make me do painful bendy twisty things. Bitches.

Sizzle said...

I miss doing yoga. I hope to get back into it in January.

Anonymous said...

I am impressed that Mr. W does yoga. The thought of Rob (the hubbo) doing yoga makes me giggle, as it is such an impossibility.

megabrooke said...

i miss the yoga class i took last year. you're so right- very different than doing it in your livingroom.

i think id be too giggley taking a class with manfriend. not sure...

Anita said...

Ben's been trying to get me try a yoga class for years now. I feel like I don't have the patience for it because I already know I'm not flexible so why bother. Your post makes me want to try it out though. Maybe the zen will win over my impatience.

Melissa Maris said...

Laura - Yeah I always feel so much more balanced (mentally!) when I'm doing yoga regularly. Wine helps too.

Mom - Yoga doesn't always = hippie. Just for that, I'm not sleeping on the couch next weekend.

Dingo - Yeah the painful stuff takes away from the zen a bit. I just try to do labor breathing.

Sizzle - I know - I was missing it too. It was really great to go back.

Lara - I thought I'd giggle, but he did a good job! He has back problems, so he's been talking forever about trying yoga to alleviate some of that.

Brookem - You should take your manfriend! I bet it would be a very bonding experience. :)

Anita - I'm not flexible either!! I tried it in the first place just for the relaxation aspect. And then realized the more I did it, the more flexible I got. And it can be a hard workout. You should give it a try!

Anonymous said...

Did you try the Kundalini Yoga? Did you like it?