More savasana please!

An BIG thanks to my lovely friend Siphavy who recently introduced me to a site that offers daily deals to various locations and fun in Portland called livingsocial.com! Check it out, you will love it!

My first wicked deal purchased was 20 bikram yoga classes for $20 at a little yoga studio in Sellwood. For those who aren't into the yoga scene (myself included:) bikram yoga is also called "hot box" yoga as the room is 105 degrees during the 90 minute yoga session. Staying in the room for the entire 90 minutes is a feat itself let alone working through 26 strenuous yoga poses. But hey, I'm game for any challenge and it was a deal I could not pass up since normally 20 bikram yoga classes are about $200! This morning Alicia and I made our first attempt at this "hot box" yoga. Bear in mind that I haven't done yoga since I lived in Thailand and had dreams about it all last night! Yep, that's right. When I'm nervous about something dream about it.

Anywho, Alicia and I walk into the yoga place, note to self: SHOES OFF AT THE DOOR or you will get dirty looks from all. We get all signed in from the super friendly people at the counter (insert sarcasm here) and head to the ladies changing room. What came next was a smack in the face by the 105 degree heat as we entered the studio and wandered through people and mats looking for a place to park...apparently it was going to be a crowded session! Let me tell you about the instructor...she was pretty fierce and right from the start gave the vibe that she hated all us newbies. She also spent the entire session describing poses, not demonstrating them, as she walked around the room like a dictator. It.was.HOT. The longest I've ever concentrated on keeping my breathing steady so I wouldn't pass out and look like a fool! The poses were tricky too! I was literally dripping sweat from every pore in my body by only the 3rd or 4th pose, out of 26 remember!? Of all the poses, my favorite was the dead body pose or savasana if you speak yoga. You get to lay on your back, palms up and relax every part of your body:) When we switched from standing to floor poses and got to transition into the dead body pose in between poses needless to say I was enjoying life.

After 90 long minutes of contorting, stretching, and concentrated breathing, Alicia and I emerged feeling refreshed and ready to start the day! (Not to mention the look of diving into a pool with our clothes on!) I'm excited to see how the other 19 bikram sessions turn out!