My first Hot Yoga class
If there's one thing I enjoy about working here, it's how much motivation I get from my colleagues at the office. I can already say that I've gotten healthier, more active and find myself trying things I never would of thought of, like hot yoga!
The Big Day
I have to start off saying that I had absolutely no idea how to prepare for the class! I have never done any kind of yoga in my life, so I don't own anything yoga related, like my own mat for instance. But I tried to logically think of what I'd need. I got ready for work that morning and made sure to pack a towel, water bottle, a nice breathable t-shirt and 3/4 leggings. I thought I'd be okay.
I biked straight after work to the Balanzs Studio in Rotterdam to attend my first hot yoga class. I really have to commend the studio and also the instructor Jasmijn. From the moment I entered the lounge, Jasmijn was there with a very relaxing vibe to her. After I filled out the paperwork (2 minute stuff), she actually took the time to read about my medical concerns and acknowledged that she'd keep them in mind during the class. For someone with some really crappy shoulders and knees, this was comforting.
The class
After getting changed, I headed up to the spacious studio where I was immediately hit by the type of warmth that reminded me of tropical temperatures. Coming from St. Maarten, the prospect of working out in 38 degrees wasn't that scary for me. As it turns out, I ended up really loving this part. There's something about actually sweating that makes working out just that much more rewarding for me.
The room was completely silent when I walked in and that quiet maintained itself through the whole class. Depending on people's preferences, there were all sorts of different outfits in the class. Some men were shirtless, and women in shorts and sports bras while others, like me, covered up some more. There was also a lot of heavy breathing going on during the class, which definitely took me a little while to get used to.
The focus was placed on hip and shoulder openers, and I tried my best to do everything in the flow sequence. Towards the end, I spent more time in child's pose since my shoulders were giving me some issues. But I especially liked that it felt okay to do so. Sometimes instructors in different fitness activities come over and accuse you of being lazy, but Jasmijn gave me (and the others taking breaks) the space to just be and continue at our own paces. I really appreciated that.
Would I go again?
I definitely enjoyed my first hot yoga class. For that hour and a half, I just felt so very relaxed and at peace. In the beginning, I was a bit of a skeptic when it came to the mindful things, but you can probably consider me a convert now. The part that really affected me actually, was that we spent the last 3 minutes requested to lay on our backs and just not move, no matter how much you'd like to. It made me feel present in my body and inner calm. Something I'm definitely missing in my life.
So there you have it. If you're interested in trying out a hot yoga class, it's something I definitely recommend. If you're in Rotterdam or Den Haag, Netherlands, then be sure to pass by at Balanzs and get a 7 day free trial. I promise, you won't regret it. Wherever else you are in the world, I hope you go for it too. Let me know how it goes!
