#19 Expectations

Since school has started back up I have been even busier than when it' summer with the kids. I have been unable to do four or five classes per week but do my best. 

When talking to people about hot yoga that have never done it before, they usually say I can't do yoga because I will look like a fool with all those people that take it all the time. I answer how do you think they started out? The instructors always say that you do what you can on your mat. Sure people look around every now and then and see what others are doing but for the most part you just worry about what you are doing. Your mat is your own environment and you just do what you can do. I am a prime example of that. I concentrate on improving what I can do week to week and don't worry about what others can do. There are many poses that I have been unable to do that others probably do on their first day. I work hard at doing new poses and a few with minor modifications but it makes me feel great and that is all that counts. 

My goal is to take another step up and take a class called power. This class works more of your upper body where Hatha works more of your lower body. They both work your core so it will be a great next step for me. I am nervous about taking this class as it will take many modifications for me but hey I stepped way out of my comfort zone the first day I walked into Spark Hot Yoga and took my first class, I know I can do this. 

Have an amazing day and keep smiling.

GO HAWKS!!!

Darin

#18 Improvements

It has been over a couple weeks since my last blog posting. The end of summer was upon us and I took my kids over camping for a week in Eastern Washington for one last summer hurrah. We always have so much fun boating, tubing, water balloon wars, putt putt golf, etc. I was super happy we did it again and can't wait to go again next year. The one thing that did suffer is me taking hot yoga classes. It is the first time since I started this adventure that I have gone more than two days without taking a class. Oh boy did I feel it when I took my first class when I came back. I had not taken a class in seven days and when I took my Hatha class with Brandy I sure could tell it had been awhile. I felt a bit stiff and was actually nervous about going. That feeling soon disappeared the second I set foot in the studio. I had a bigger smile on my face the moment class started as I felt like I was home. I know that I had never sweat that much in a class before. After class I could not wait to take my next class because of course I am addicted to hot yoga and I admit it. ha.

I took a Yin class next and it had been quite awhile since I had taken one. This class is so relaxing and just makes you feel amazing afterwards. There are many advance students that take Yin I am sure for the same reason. You really concentrate on your breathing and holding stretches. This class clears my head and resets me no matter what has been going on in my life. I highly recommend to anyone to take this class.

Today I took another Hatha class and i tried three new poses that I know for a fact three months ago when I started this amazing hot yoga adventure I could have never done. I accomplished all three of them and it felt amazing. Christiana is so supportive of everyone including myself and she loved that I did these. After class she said she wanted to scream out and announce to everyone what I had just accomplished. Her positive support has been so amazing and she makes me feel like I can do anything in this class. Because of this I keep trying new and harder poses. Now I can't wait to get back into class and see what new adventures I can accomplish. You might be able to tell just how excited I am.

If you have never tried hot yoga, please do so. YOGA ROCKS!!!  If I can do it, anyone can.

Have an amazingly positive happy day and keep smiling.

Namaste

Darin

PS. Here is a shout out to Carrie. Great to see you in class again. :)