I can't do this! Can I?

I have been doing yoga off and on since my teens until 2 years ago when I was in a car accident. After a year plus of physical therapy and a long healing process I stepped back into the studio. But this time I turned up the heat, all the way to 107 degrees! It’s been about 6 months of practicing 60-90 minute Bikram classes and things have been hard but good.

I happily wedge myself into my yoga shorts and sports bra. Drink my 2 liters, 2 hours before class… sometimes. Get to class early to get a spot, avoiding the “broilers” and take the class pose by pose. But today, didn’t go quite as planned. As the instructor enter the room I readied myself to begin our regular flow and saw the class move into a total different direction.

Within seconds I realized I hadn’t gone to my regular class I had mis-read the schedule and walked myself into a class I had been avoiding. The “Power Class”, the name and description had been intimating me for longer than I care to admit. If you have ever tried hot yoga you know the first rule is stay hydrated and the second it DO NOT leave the room. So, needless to say I began to panic. “I can’t do this!

Bless my instructor, who also teaches Bikram, for always reading our minds and our bodies. “Stay focused on your breathing” and “your air is your fuel”. Translation, don’t panic, trust your body and stay present. I’m not going to lie it was killer, I had to lay in resting pose for most of the class but I stuck it out. I didn’t die!

Whether yoga, tennis or walking your dog is your thing. Exercise is always a great reminder of what we are really capable of. How strong and resilient we are. That no matter how hard it gets, if focus on the moment, breath and trust ourselves… we won’t die and we will make it through to the next challenge.