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April 27, 2006

Fat Girls Can Yoga

I wasn't sure if fat girls could yoga, but I found my answer yesterday. Yes, indeed, fat girls can yoga. 'Cause I did, baby.

I signed up for a yoga/pilates class for beginners. But they didn't get the numbers they wanted for that class and it was cancelled. So, the lady calls me and says there was this other class, a yoga class, that I could sign up for. I explained I have no prior yoga experience. The class she was telling me about was for experienced yoga... people (yogists?). But she insisted I could do it. Told me they "work up a heat" during the class so it was not all relaxation.

So I said I would try. I was apprehensive about going to this class. I tried to talk myself out of it over and over, worried I would break an important part of my body trying not to make myself look foolish. But I went. Because I'm always trying to push my kids to do stuff they don't want to do and how can I exempt myself from that rule?

I got there early, copied a woman who was placing down mats in a the shape of a cross. Grabbed a belt thingy for stretching, a pillow, all the essentials. The woman I talked to on the phone was the one teaching the class that day and she introduced herself and remained cheery, confident I would not break a bone. "Just do what is comfortable to you," she said.

I scanned the room. Everyone there was a twig. A buck ten maybe. One was possible below a dollar, still a handful of change. Yeah. I felt like raising the roof chanting, fatty in the house, wha-what - fat girl in the howwwwwse to pump myself up.

So we did the child's pose, the downward dog and some other things - dragon maybe? I don't know. But strangely enough - I was able to keep up. I am a pretty limber (and strong) person so that was helpful. I did work up a sweat. A woman who was diagonal from me kept stealing glances while she was doing the downward dog pose. I drew all kinds of conclusions from her glances, but tried not to let it get the best of me, making it my challenge to focus and breathe. At the end was able to clear my mind, relax and accept the minty lavender stuff she rubbed on the back of my sweaty neck.

I left feeling like it wasn't so bad. But I really needed a workout. Some core work. I left not knowing if I would return again.

And I awoke the next morning in pain. I thought maybe I had pulled a muscle, but no - I had worked a muscle. My hamstrings were sore. My abs were sore!! Do you know how hard I try to get my ab muscles to work? It is really difficult for me to push them to work hard. Sit ups - nothing. But my tummy muscles are delightfully sore. My whole "core" is sore. Sore core, sore core!!! I can't tell you how exciting that is for me. Yoga kicked my butt. I think I found my exercise (well, I still want to try the pilates) for now. I'll still do the bike/treadmill/stepper thing, but this yoga two times a week might be just what my body needs.

Weigh in says I lost 3 pounds, too. That is nice to see.