A couple weeks ago, I was invited to attend an event at my gym, GoodLife Fitness, for the opening of their new Hot Yoga studio. I’ve done hot yoga before so I sort of knew what to expect going in. But I was still a bit apprehensive because the first few times I tried hot yoga weren’t exactly the best. However, this time, I actually enjoyed the session.
The first time I went to hot yoga, I was still really new to yoga. Combining my inexperience, the fact that it was power yoga and the overly oppressive heat made for a not so enjoyable experience. But, my yoga practice has grown a lot since then, and I was able to hold my own a lot better this time around. Plus, coming off an insanely long winter, there was no way I was going to complain about the heat.
After the hour long hot yoga class, we were given light refreshments and a chance to mingle with other students and yoga instructors. It was a fun event and I wish I was able to get pictures, but I didn’t have permission from everyone attending. Luckily, I can do you one better than pictures of infused water, Kind bars and sweaty yogis.
My friends at GoodLife Fitness were kind enough to provide me with a free one month membership, to any of their 300+ locations, to giveaway to one lucky reader. You can enter the giveaway at the very bottom of the post, but first I wanted to share a little bit about why I’m hoping to attend more hot yoga sessions in the future.
1. It’s different
I’ve made no secret of the fact that my workouts have been boring me for the last few months. I fell into a rut sometime around February and wasn’t able to crawl out for a long time. One of my best cures for workout ruts is switching it up, so having hot yoga sessions on my fitness class rotation will go a long way to staving off future boredom.
2. It’s outside my comfort zone
I’m still not terribly confident in my yoga skills. I’m constantly trying new things, and usually failing. Downward dog and child’s pose are my best friends and inversions are so beyond me it’s not funny. To say I find yoga challenging would be an understatement. And hot yoga is even more so. But, I know that my biggest accomplishments happen when I step outside of my comfort zone, so that’s what I’m hoping to do.
3. It’s relaxing
Lifting and cardio help me to destress, but I wouldn’t say they’re relaxing. When I come home from the gym after a workout, I’m exhausted and energized at the same time. I have tension is whatever body part I worked out that day. Then I wake up the next day feeling just a little bit sore. And it’s glorious. Yoga on the other hand, is challenging and requires extreme feats of strength, but it’s a lot more restful. And sometimes I just need to do something a bit more relaxing to help me figure out the mess in my brain; especially now when I have so much uncertainty in my life around graduation, potentially moving and finding a full time job.
The Giveaway:
What about you?
Do you remember your first yoga/hot yoga experience? Are you a fan of hot yoga? Why do/don’t you enjoy it?
Share in the comments below!
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This post was written as part of the GoodLife Fitness Blogger Ambassador Program; however all opinions expressed are my own.
Image: By Наталья Видович (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
I made the same decision not too long ago – I never thought I’d like hot yoga (love yoga, not so much the hot part!) but for so many reasons I’ve decided to make it a regular part of my routine. Love the point about lifting and cardio helping to destress, but not necessarily relax or calm the mind. So true!
Cat recently posted…How Hot Yoga Surprised Me
I’ve never done yoga is an actual heated room, but I have done it in rooms that were…super hot, hahahaha!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Top Product Picks From Gluten-Free Bloggers
LOL you should try it some time 🙂
I do love hot yoga and I get really into it for a while then kind of fall off the wagon. I like it a lot more in the winter time.
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Southwestern Pasta Salad w Cilantro Lime Vinegarette
I’m glad you found something great that works for you. I can handle regular yoga, but I don’t do well with “hot” anything. It always makes me dizzy, nauseous and lightheaded. So that’s out for me 🙁
Jenn recently posted…weekly report: 5/10 â 5/16
I love yoga but have yet to try HOT yoga. I am kind of intimidated by it.
Elle recently posted…Home From Spring Vacation
So was I the first time I tried it. But honestly, once you’re comfortable actually doing yoga, the heat isn’t as bad as you’d think. You should give it a try 🙂
I’ve been to hot yoga once, and really liked the experience. I don’t know why I haven’t been back!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon Training Log – Week 2
I don’t do hot yoga. I sweat so much when I run, and I do yoga to destress and stretch! I’ve heard great things about hot yoga, tho, and I’m glad you liked it!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Weekend randoms
huge, HUGE fan of hot yoga!! it’s the only way I tend to even practice yoga! I love Core Power Yoga and their hot yoga with weights class.
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Weekend Update: Learning the Fundamentals
i’m really terrible at yoga but have enjoyed the hot yoga class i took. good luck to folks entering your giveaway!
Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC recently posted…Run.Eat.Drink. The Fit Foodie 5K is here!
I love yoga! I haven’t tried out hot yoga yet though, it’s on my to do list 🙂
I’ve done plenty of yoga where they heat up the room but it’s not official Bikram. I need more yoga in my life!
Marcia recently posted…Race Report: 5k For the Dogs
Hot yoga is cool! Makes me all red though!
Love love hot yoga! The feeling before during and after is beyond compare. Enjoy Giselle!
jill conyers recently posted…I Am Enough
I tried hot yoga once. I enjoyed the flow and the sweating but it was 90 minutes! Too long for me.
Nicole @ Fitful Focus recently posted…Blend Retreat Recap – Day 2
I’ve only done Corepower’s heated yoga. It was a challenge for sure. If I were to keep doing it I’d want to invest in one of those microfiber towels that everyone seems to put over their mat. I was slipping all over the place! Extra core points for me.
Coach Henness recently posted…Book Talk: Daughters Of Distance
I love hot yoga, but attend very sporadically. I wish my GoodLife location had a hot yoga studio, that would be amazing!
Ange @ Cowgirl Runs recently posted…I Am Enough
I LOVE hot yoga but I HATE having to pack for it! Haha. Towel for the mat, towel for the shower, towel for my hair because it’s long as hell, then a change of clothes haha.
Carmy recently posted…Monday on the Run #23
I’m not a fan of hot yoga. I don’t love yoga in general, but I hate being hot even more. So choosing to do something I wasn’t loving in unbearable heat totally didn’t work for me LOL.
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…TOTR: What You Can When You Can #wycwyc
I’ve only done hot yoga once and would love to do it again! Sadly there are no hot yoga studios near me though but I should do more yoga in general!
Patty @ Reach Your Peak recently posted…Week 20/52 of Training – 2015
I’ve always wanted to try hot yoga and a studio just opened up near my house. I’ll definitely have to try it soon. I think it will be really interesting to see how it’s different from vinyasa yoga, the kind I usually do.
Emily recently posted…College Series: A Student’s Guide to Saving Money