Paschimottanasana-- what??

I have defied all things status quo and have signed up for a bikram yoga class.
Rebellious, I know.

Case in point:







I don't exercise. Except, now I do! Take THAT lazy body of mine.

I will admit, bikram yoga was probably not a great idea. I'm an amateur at walking. I have no experience with regular yoga. Hot yoga kicks my ass. But BIKRAM yoga? A whole nother level. Yikes.

 My best friend Kayla and I signed up for Bikram yoga our junior year of high school (four whole years ago). I found a coupon for $40 unlimited monthly access to the yoga studio. How could I say no? I couldn't. So, I convinced Kay to sign up with me. We made it through one session and never came back. A tip to those marketing exercise coupons: it works. Keep it up. People have way too much faith in their ability to persevere. People also give up really easily. I paid $40 for one 90-minute yoga session. Hot yoga studio: 1. Nhaca: 0.

But apparently I don't learn my lesson. Last week I was snooping around on Groupon (I have an unhealthy obsession with Groupon. But that's a post for another day) when I found an incredible Groupon: $35 for 10 yoga classes at the same yoga studio that Kay and I went to four years ago. $3.50 a class? How could I say no? I couldn't. I called up Kay, and the very next day we went to our second ever bikram yoga class.

Bikram Yoga Bellevue is literally around the corner from my house, which is convenient. It's a nice little place equipped with showers and yoga mats and deafening zen-like silence that I assume characterizes all yoga places. Kay and I exchanged "if you don't give up, I won't either" looks of encouragement before entering the yoga room.

Dim lights. 105 degrees. 40% humidity. Shirtless old men stretching.
GET ME OUT OF HERE.

But the first rule to bikram yoga is that you're not allowed to leave before the 90 minutes are up. Oh boy.

Posture after posture. Tangling my limbs like a pretzel. Sweat dripping everywhere. Nearly passing out from heat exhaustion. Dehydration. Dizziness. Nausea.

 But I did it! I survived! Somehow! And when I left the room, the cool air outside hit me like an avalanche, and I felt empowered. I smiled. I laughed with Kayla.

And of all things unreasonable and insane: I'm going back tomorrow.

Hot yoga: 1
Nhaca: 1