Namaste...at home

Yoga. What do you think of? For me this word conjures up great images of people in sweatpants, sitting cross legged and smiling peacefully as it has unlocked all the secrets of happiness to them. Well, for those of you that either are or have been those people, please come to my yoga class and try to look that way.

Yoga studio or chamber of pain?

For my first few months in Indonesia, I lived with 2 girls who diligently went to a yoga class three times a week. I thought they were crazy.(Sorry girls, I was right.)  Unfortunately, one of those girls left when her contract ended and with some encouragement, I decided to get off my lazy tush and give yoga a try with the other girl. Now in this world, it is my firm belief that some people are meant to do yoga and others are not. I am someone who was not made for yoga. She is someone who was.

Fellow yoga victims and our stations

I am unable to tell you about my first yoga session as a result of selective memory and pride.  Lest we forget, I am quite obviously a foreigner wherever I go, and nowhere is this more clear than in a yoga studio full of flexible Asian women. The class starts off with some basic stretches to some soothing elevator music. Then before I know it, we've rotated between 10 difficult poses in 5 minutes, and the instructor, Emi, has become my mortal enemy. I am sweating. The amount of sweat that the human body is able to produce is mind boggling. Particularly my human body, during yoga, in a non-air conditioned room, with 12 other people. Emi once asked me if I enjoyed swimming during her class. Ha. Anyway, somewhere between planning a violent crime, and swearing off yoga forever, we have transitioned to the strictly cardio section. This I can handle. She turns on the club beats and a few quick minutes later, it's time for the cool down.  This is my favorite part of yoga for 2 reasons. Numero Uno: I can see The Light at the end of The Tunnel. Numero Dos: Toni Braxton's "Unbreak My Heart" is a cool down song that could make anyone smile mid-bridge pose.

I can't say that I haven't started to enjoy yoga in some sort of strange masochistic way. I am a bit more flexible but nowhere near my yoga mates. I will also admit to the fact that I may have skipped yoga for awhile because I am lazy and moderately sane. I have started doing yoga again, and on Tuesday, introduced the 2 new girls in the house to the class. Whether I will continue to do yoga after Indonesia is anybody's guess, but I can say with confidence, that anybody who tries a yoga class and comes out the other side, is better off for it.

Diane, myself, fellow yoga girls, and Emi