You’re guaranteed to find me doing one or more of the following activities on a daily basis: circuit training at the track, teaching fitness classes, or jogging through the neighborhoods of midtown at the crack of dawn. I am hooked on fitness because of its stress-releiving benefits. I am a busy person and I am constantly on the go, so working out helps me to refuel and stay focused throughout the day. I change up my workout routines from time to time, but I only stick to running, strength training, and body-weight exercises.
My friends rave about Yoga and have told me that it is essentially a two-in-one experience. Yoga is not only a work out but a form of relaxation. I am not used to feeling relaxed while working out. The calmness usually follows.
I was feeling adventerous and decided to attend “Hot Yoga” on Thursday evening at Midtown Yoga on S. Cooper Street. “Hot Yoga” is when you practice yoga in a room that is 90-95 degrees to increase flexibility and sweat out toxins. The room at Midtown wasn’t all that hot, but it is still good to bring water to sip on during the session to stay hydrated.
When we arrived, a friendly instructor and a class full of Memphians greeted us. There were a ton of college students because it is a “Pay What You Can” class, meaning it is up to you to decide how much money you want to set down. This is a great deal!
I forgot my mat in my dorm room but was able to use a mat at the studio free of charge. My friends and I positioned our mats down and waited anxiously for the class to begin. We started the class with some relaxation and reflection to drift our thoughts away from the chaos of our lives. After reflecting and breathing with a clear purpose in mind, we moved into yoga sequences. These sequences ranged in difficulty. Some were simple, while others required great concentration in order to balance.
The instructor made rounds and helped us during poses since the class was an all-levels class. She explained that some of the poses were intended to help gym-rats and runners with muscle fatigue. I definitely felt better the next day and my body was not as tense as it was prior to the yoga session. We ended with a restful relaxation exercise, where the instructor walked quietly around the room and pressed upon each person’s shoulders with a tingly cream. It left me feeling rejuvenated and stress-free after the session was over.
Attending Hot Yoga was a great way to end my week and relieve stress. I wouldn’t replace yoga with my daily workout routine but I am going to start attending a yoga class once a week as a stress reliever. I strongly encourage you to get off campus and experience all of the great fitness activities that Memphis has to offer.
Check out the Midtown Yoga schedule here: http://midtownyoga.com/schedule/
**The “Pay what you can classes” are the classes where you don’t have to pay full price- you can try out a new class with out having to splurge. Love it!
Stay tuned for more reviews of fitness classes and events in the Memphis Community. Comment below if there is a class or event you’d like me to attend and write a review on!