Jinked

I have never taken a yoga class in my life, nor am I flexible. At all. Just because you’re thin, that doesn’t automatically grant you flexibility like a lot of people seem to believe.

My mother found it shocking when I couldn’t even touch my toes.

I’ve wanted to improve on this lack of flexibility, and going to the gym 3 times a week does not seem to be helping me in that area at all. Plus, yoga always looked fun. Even a little mysterious. So I thought, “Why not? Let’s  give it a try!”

I dropped in on a class at Asana Yoga, located right here in Valparaiso. It’s on Lincolnway, so I drove there straight from work. It was raining and the road was slick. I walked about a block from my parking spot only to find a locked door standing between me and my journey for flexibility.

I had wondered if I had the right place, if maybe the address was wrong, but there was a sign on the door and a flyer for a free meditation workshop taped in the window. I decided to call the number on the flyer to see if I was in the right place.

A second later, this guy came up behind me and tried the door. It turns out I was in the right place; he was there for yoga class as well. We introduced each other, standing in this little nook off the street and out of the rain, as we waited for the instructor to arrive.

Let me say that yoga was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be, and I was even in an intro class! I didn’t think it was going to be a cakewalk, but it was certainly a lot more involved than I originally envisioned. I made it though. The hour didn’t kill me!

It was a small class, about 10 of us, all of different levels. Mostly women, all shapes, ages and sizes, but there were two men attending as well, which I thought was awesome. I don’t know many men who take yoga, let alone express an interest in it. Brett, the guy who I had met outside in the rain, has been going for awhile now.

I hope my balance is more like his the more I go.

Overall, I was quite impressed. Despite the hard work and my lack of balance, it was really fun, challenging and very welcoming. No one made you feel awkward, even if you needed help. I needed a lot!

Any peeps in the Valpo area should definitely give it a try. I’m planning to go on Thursdays, 5:45 to 6:45, so if you want to join me, it’s $13 to drop in.

So forego that one meal out at the lackluster Fridays or Olive Garden and treat yourself to some good old fashion hard work and pain!