I’ll admit, I walked into my first-ever yoga class on Wednesday a little bit nervous.
Like most guys, I want to be good at everything – even the first time when I have no clue what I’m doing. For years, my wife has been trying to get me to attend a yoga class with her. I never really thought it was for me. But for a story, I’ll try just about anything. Just about.
Luckily she’s not at all mad that I chose for it to happen this way. Sure did dodge a bullet there.
I had a slight introduction to yoga nidra the week prior when I first met with Jim Readey, the owner of the Yoga Center. (If you don’t know Readey’s story, make sure to read it on page 6. It’s a fascinating journey, and not just because I wrote it.)
But that was different than what was in store for me on this night. That was a meditation style of yoga focused on relaxation and your current feelings. Wednesday’s class, Kripalu Yoga for All Levels, was more of what I expected from the stereotypes played out in movie scenes. Breathing techniques, stretching and poses is how I can explain it now, but as I was going through the class, there was no way for me to know what would happen next.
I felt comfortable in the environment. There were eight others in the third floor studio – seven women and Readey – and we even shared a few ice breaking laughs and a unique hand shaking exercise before things really got going. Hey at least it’s better than while I was struggling through the bow pose.
With a borrowed green yoga mat and a single round pillow, I settled into a spot.
First up were some simple breathing exercises, Nadi Shodona and Anulom Valom – both of which are alternate-nostril techniques. Through my conversations with Readey, I knew breathing was a big part of yoga. But I’ll have to admit I spent too much time thinking about which step I was supposed to be on. I never thought I’d have to think about breathing.
Once we got to stretching, there was a familiar set of instructions. This was ragdoll. Readey had me try it the week before, so I knew exactly what to do. Needless to say, I nailed it. (There I go making it a competition. Readey warned me that may happen.)
Soon there were names of poses and instructions being tossed around the studio. And since this wasn’t a beginner class, I found myself watching Readey’s every move for any tips. This wasn’t my classmates’ first trip to a yoga studio, so at times I felt a step behind, but all I could do was try and follow along.
The bulk of the class centered around the Moon salutation, which is a series of poses that include mountain, half-moon, Goddess, triangle, standing runner stretch, lunge, half squat and full squat. Then, to my body’s dismay, we reversed each of those poses.
Some were easier than others, some I felt were just trying to get my muscles to scream “uncle.”
It was the ending that I didn’t necessarily anticipate. Lying down on my borrowed green mat with a blanket and a half under my head we did the final pose of the night – savasana, which Readey informed me literally translates from Sanskrit to English as “corpse pose.”
Readey said it can be one of the hardest poses because the mind has such a hard time shutting off. But with only lights in the studio coming from the street, I closed my eyes as Readey softly spoke to the group.
I really can’t tell you how long I was laying there. But what I can tell you is how comfortable and relaxed I felt.
I will have to admit, taking my first yoga class was quite the experience. It opened my eyes to what my wife has been explaining for years. Now I understand why people take yoga to help with the stresses of daily life.
As for me, that may have been my first yoga class, but there’s little chance it’s my last.
