I just got back from the craziest yoga class ever. I totally vlogged it on my cell phone. But the file is so big it won’t send it. Instead, you’ll have to suffer through the written word.
I have all these Tropicana Juicy Rewards (remember my trip to the Center for Puppetry Arts? I’ve actually been once since that post, too.) Anywhoo–I was searching through the rewards trying to find something I could do for MYSELF! There was $50 off adidas, some random percentage off of Taylor Made golf clubs and even 20% off a door company. Basically, nothing I even remotely wanted to use. Then I found a YOGA STUDIO!
You may remember about 350 years ago I took prenatal yoga when I was pregnant with Asa. And I loved it. I’ve always loved yoga and pilates. I like the stretching, hold-the-pose exercising much more than the kick-boxing, step-aerobics type stuff. The coupon cost me 9 points (which is like 3 cartons of OJ) and I got 50% off a five session class. So, I spent $35 on five classes! That’s pretty good!
Ok. So, here’s the fun part. I get to the studio and make a VLOG of myself outside the studio. I totally felt stupid when all these cars were passing by. But I persevered for YOU. I walk into the studio and the instructor meets me. She says, “Have you ever practiced yoga before?” I said yes. “Where?” she asks. So, I tell her my whole yoga history (which includes prenatal yoga, my Minnesota yoga and some DVDs). Then she proceeds to give me a 20 minute speech about how this yoga is a little different—this is ENERGY yoga and was great for healing the body.
Anyway, I tried to pay attention and understand. I did. But it was overwhelming. She was from an Eastern European country and was telling me about a Korean form of yoga. It was hard to understand her!
The class consisted of a 60-something white woman in a karate outfit, a Korean mom of elementary school kids (who came in and out of the class all night) and me, the energy-yoga-newbie.
Throughout the class we PUNCHED and SLAPPED our hips, our stomachs, our hearts, our lungs, our shoulders and our thighs. We POUNDED our toes on the ground, JUMPED on our tailbones, did backbends and smashed our legs on the ground hundreds of times. Not to mention we had to find a partner and give them a massage (which consisted of slapping their back with a cupped hand as hard as we could). I cannot even describe it. It was not the meditative yoga you think you know.
When it was time to close the class, we sat on the ground to “share”. We drank tea together and told everyone in the class how our body and energy were feeling.
It wasn’t a weird spiritual thing…more like weird-keeping-in-tune-with-your-body. I cannot describe it. But I will say that my insides are SHAKING right now! It was hard core. AND during some of th moves, I looked down at my arms and legs and could SEE the blood pumping through them. That sounds so weird but it was like my blood was finally going through all my capillaries. Like they haven’t been used in months.
So, I feel very energized. But also kinda weird for spending an hour punching myself.
When the class was over the yogi said to me, “Tomorrow is the INTESTINAL class. We’ll do exercises for your intestines. Can you come?” Ahem. Probably not.
See. This is why you should snag your Tropicana Juicy Rewards. You never know what kind of amazing adventure you might have!
Disclosure: This is part of a paid campaign sponsored by Tropicana Orange Juice.
photo by hylah
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