Warrior 3
January 16, 2012
“Ergh! Again?!” I scolded myself for forgetting my towel on the way to hot yoga once again. So instead of renting a towel, I made a quick stop at K-mart to buy one. Arriving at Heat Yoga and Fitness, I settled in for my semi-weekly stretchy sweat-a-thon. Beginning with some basic stretches, my mind wandered towards work, to do lists, facebook… Intent on staying focused, I reminded myself to focus on my breath… 30 minutes into practice and all I can think of is, “Hold on just a little longer.” The sweat runs down my nose and drips onto my towel. My tank top is soaked, my towel damp, my water bottle half empty. It feels as though all the liquid I’ve drank has instantly become sweat, pouring out of every open pore as I realize for the first time that sideways plank on one’s elbow is a lot harder than it looks. Ahhhh… back to a nice resting down dog. My eyes wander past the new cherry wood floors, past the yoga mats and sweaty students to the back left hand corner, where a very attractive man in his 30’s has just taken off his shirt to reveal sculpted pectorals, shoulders and stomach glistening with sweat. Some more vinyasas and then on to warrior three. Trying to keep my balance, focus on my breath rather than the droplets of sweat that fall directly off my forehead and onto my mat, my eyes wander again… “He really is fine” I think to myself as I lose my balance and clumsily put my foot down. The abdominal workout that follows takes my full concentration as I struggle with one more crunch in 96 degree heat amplified by 18 sweaty bodies all breathing and straining together. Finally, shivasana… I lay back in relief. Hands to my side, legs spread mat distance apart. My thoughts drift, becoming nonsensical as my body relaxes. I’m awakened by the sound of my instructor asking us to roll over to our sides. Slowly, reluctantly,I drag my right leg over my left and roll over to lie comfortably on my left side. Dreams take over once again, until finally I am asked to rejoin the class in our closing “namaste.” I pull myself to a sitting position, hands in prayer position, and bow down, thankful for the life and energy flowing through my body. With every possible toxin inhabiting my body fully flushed out, I am ready for another day.
