...feelin' hot, hot, hot...

I was unprepared for the swells of sound that ripped through the room. My dream world shattered, I fumbled and groped around the nightstand for the object making such a racket. 4:50am.

I sighed. The sun, itself, wasn't even close to rising. But rise I did, donning my workout clothes, brushing my teeth, washing my face, gathering up my belongings and driving into the city, to Bikram Yoga Midwest. When I arrived, the yoga instructor greeted me, had me sign a waver, gave me a few instructions and then directed me to the back studio.

Bikram yoga, also known as hot yoga, is a 90 minute class that utilizes a series of 26 poses practiced in a room heated to 104 degrees with 40% humidity. Upon opening the door the force of the heat was so great I almost fell over. I tucked my chin to my chest and marched in, laying out my mat, my towel, my water, and my body in the same manner as the two class members who had arrived early, and breathed in the hot, hot air.

People began to filter in slowly, filling in spaces in the front, the back, the sides. I, of course, happily planted myself in the back. On the first pose, arms raised to the ceiling, I felt a small trickle of sweat run from my elbow to my armpit. I panicked slightly, as this was 5 minutes in and I still had 85 minutes to go. Without a clock to keep track of the time, I decided to put my energies toward ferociously focusing on holding each pose. By the time the class was over, every part of me was drenched...drenched!

...and I loved it! I drove home feeling wide awake and gleefully happy. I felt like I had conquered the world, and it wasn't even 8am. If you're looking for a challenging workout, or would just like to try something new, look into Bikram yoga. If you end up at Bikram Yoga Midwest, tell them I sent you.

I've already signed up for my next class. Do you dare join me?

For more information on Bikram Yoga Midwest, click here.