I was introduced to yoga as an undergrad at UC Berkeley and found Yoga Soup when I was in graduate school. Practicing yoga regularly was my saving grace during graduate school.
Yoga helps me stay grounded and mindful.
I have tried various forms of yoga including Iyengar, Restorative, Kundalini, Ashtanga and Vinyasa. Each style has different benefits and can be enhanced by the yoga instructor and what they bring to the practice.
I have been a member of Divinitree and attend a yoga class once a week. I also do cross fit, swim, and walk as part of my weekly exercise routine. I like to diversify my routine to stay motivated and engaged.
Unlimited hot yoga for 2 weeks?!?
I have always wanted to try CorePower Yoga and challenge myself with a daily practice. What’s unique about CorePower Yoga is their heated rooms. You will practice yoga in a heated room of 92-97 degrees with added humidity.
Are you wondering if that’s outrageous?
I walked into my first heated C1.5 class and my immediate thought was “This is hot as hell! How am I going to get through this?”
I put my mat near the door so if I felt faint or unwell I could step out without interrupting my classmates.
Our teacher walked in, introduced herself and instructed us to get into child’s pose. After a 2 minute meditation we began practicing sun salutations to upbeat music.
CorePower Yoga is designed to practice yoga flow through challenging sequences and connecting breath to movement. Imagine this “inhale upward dog exhale downward dog inhale left leg up exhale…” You get the picture.
It’s getting hot in here so take off all your clothes…
Did I say it was hot?
It’s like practicing yoga in a sauna and you’re surrounded by a lot of other people who are sweating.
I realized that I can do the poses if I focus on my breath and movement and NOT the heat.
We all having a running commentary in our head.
If you stop thinking about how hot it is or how uncomfortable you are and just focus on one breath (more on breathing here) and one movement at a time, then you will get through the class.
You will sweat like crazy. You will sweat from parts of your body you did not know you could sweat from.
You will ask yourself: “Why did I sign up for this?”
You will wonder: “Is this going to be over soon?”
Guess what?
You can do it!
Here is what happened
After attending daily classes for two weeks, I realized that I had slept better each night. Each day I felt more relaxed and focused.
The heat helps loosen your muscles so you will not be very sore. You will stretch and cool down at the end of class so you can return the next day.
I loved taking a shower in their clean and well supplied locker room. The cold water was my reward after successfully completing each class.
Wrap-up
During my time at CorePower Yoga, I had the opportunity to advance in my practice. I never thought I could do arm balances or inversions. With preparation and guidance from an instructor, I was able to do a baby grasshopper pose and a partial head stand.
Trying a 2 week unlimited yoga challenge was very rewarding for me. I overcame mental blocks, gained clarity, strength and even learned to do an arm balance!
CorePower Yoga and a lot of other yoga studios offer a free or discounted week of unlimited yoga to all new participants. Find a yoga studio near you, unroll your mat and prepare yourself for an incredible journey.
I would love to hear about your experience doing yoga, or hot yoga if you have tried it. If you’ve been to CorePower Yoga or are regularly going there, share your experience in the comments below as well.
