by Jillian Roberts
I want to start this by being 100% honest: at the ripe age of 19 I cannot touch my toes. In fact, I would almost put myself in the race for the least-flexible human alive. In spite of these shortcomings, I have taken the plunge of going to an “early” morning (well… 7 a.m.) yoga class three times a week. Let me tell you it is a game changer.
I would describe myself as both a workout freak and extremely high strung, so two of the biggest challenges I faced at the beginning of the school year were how I would fit in a workout before a full day of classes and free myself from the pre-school jitters. I am an avid runner and someone who gravitates towards HIIT classes, so along with my lack of flexibility and hatred of sweating, I never would have thought that hot yoga would be for me.
When I moved to LA this fall I decided that my normal exercise routine was overwhelming my body. My muscles were begging for something besides weights and running, so I decided to try out the 7 a.m. sweat chisel class at Sweat Yoga in Playa Vista. Wow oh wow, did I feel like a new woman. This was not my first time at hot yoga, but something about the 7 a.m. yoga class was perfect for kicking my booty and kicking off my day. As cheesy as it sounds, my entire day felt as if I was just entirely lighter in all aspects: spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.
The class itself was full of yoga flows, cardio work, and weight-lifting stretches. I was sweating out both the emotional and physical toxins of what had happened before my time on the yoga mat. Becoming a puddle of sweat was a small price to pay for this class because I was too focused on surviving the heat and finding my movements within the music. The aggressive heat was well above 100 degrees and at times, my body felt like it was melting. However, the high temperature helped my old lady hips stretch for what felt like 20 years. It felt like the first time my muscles got the break they were so deeply craving. It was the first time in a while where I left a workout feeling fully serene and renewed.
Since that first class, I have been going to hot yoga three times a week. I have found myself much healthier and happier than ever before by starting my morning in a detoxifying and rejuvenating way. If you told me even two years ago that I would be committed to yoga one day, I would have called you crazy, but now I can safely say where I feel my best is on the yoga mat. Yoga has helped me connect with myself, start my days on a productive note, lower my anxiety, and sweat out both the toxic energy in my life and the toxins in my body. This is your sign to set that alarm clock, roll out your mat, and get your body moving in your nearest yoga studio. Namaste!