Tom Matlack started doing hot yoga in 2002. Here, he shares six helpful hints for newbies.
Nine years ago I was a burned-out, divorced venture capitalist with two kids and a pathetic love life. As a last-ditch effort at getting a life, I decided to try something that faintly reminded me of the workouts I did as a collegiate rower. It also reminded me of my mother, who has been a yogi for years (I could digress into deep Freudian theory here, but that would hardly be relaxing).
So I started doing hot yoga at a studio a couple blocks from my office. At first it felt uncomfortable and made me dizzy, and sometimes I did little else but go in and sweat while doing child’s pose. But from the very start I noticed unexpected changes.
I slept like a baby. Seriously, when I got home after doing hot yoga I had to get into bed early. The sleep was blissful. No nightmares, no clenched jaws, just pure sleep.
I felt more at ease with myself in my day-to-day interactions with people in my life. The people who always bothered me bothered me just a little less.
Kind of like a sweat lodge, the process of going into that hot oven and moving my body felt like cleansing in some deep way that left me lighter and freer than I had ever experienced before.
I realized that during the lunch hour class, my brain turned off. For once I wasn’t thinking about my deals, my kids, my ex-wife’s anger, or the women I wished I could date. I listened to my breath, in and out, and that was it.
I started practicing in February, 2002, and in June of that same year I met Elena. I am sure that there were many things that went into the significance of that event. I’m not prepared to give hot yoga all the credit. But it provided me with a foundation.
We were married that December and are coming up on nine years together.
Doing hot yoga can be very intimidating, depending on the exact form you are undertaking. So here are a few helpful hints to get you past the initial few classes so that you can reap the benefits. Who knows, maybe it will lead you to the woman or man of your dreams!
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I started doing hot yoga a couple months ago. I went because I felt stressed and thought it might help, but as with all things I wanted the most extreme version of it. It turned out to be an incredible stretch and I walk out of classes feeling high as a kite. But I have to say that walking in there alone as a young man into a relatively small class with about 10-12 women of differing ages, the feeling that I was not welcome was palpable. They did not want me there and I was invading “their” space. A… Read more »
Loved your observations….would have liked to read more….story of my own conflicted love/hate relationship/addiction with hot yoga…Hot Yoga High: Endorphin Buzz or Ancient Rite…
http://bodydivineyoga.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/burning-through-maya-my-hot-yoga-addiction/
Some people do love it. Although it is definitely not for me, I know people who absolutely enjoy it. I am glad you stuck through it and I think your tips are great. Water water water is the key to survive the class.
I tried Bikram yoga for the first time in January. I’ve been doing yoga for years and had always wanted to try it. But I HATED the class I took. I want to hear what you’re saying about trying it three times, but even aside from my limited discretionary-spending budget, I was so turned off by my first time that I really don’t see the appeal of trying it again. I don’t know if the studio and instructor (who I found VERY unpleasant – almost like a yoga drill instructor) are to blame, or if I would encounter the same… Read more »
KKZ, my first hot/Bikram yoga experience was much like yours…overly heated room, drill sergeant-like instructor, people being pushed to do the extreme version of every pose (seriously, inflexible older inactive people being told that they HAD to lock their knees in some positions when it was clear that it was beyond their present abilities), stressful environment, etc. and I almost said “nope, not for me.” However, my sister is a dedicated Bikram goer and urged me to try different studios until I found one where the vibe felt good, and thankfully, I took her advice. The place I go to… Read more »
I’ve done Yin yoga twice and I love it! Much more my style. I talked to the instructor about my Bikram experience and she told me how there’s a difference between “hot yoga” and “Bikram.” Bikram itself is a very military-style, intense and strict kind of yoga, hence my drill-sergeant instructor. But at the same studio that offers Yin, they also have regular Hot classes, which I tried for the first time this past July. I can’t say it was instant love, but I definitely didn’t hate it as much as I hated the Bikram experience. I’m not so in… Read more »
Bikram is awesome for someone like me who is completely ADD because I’m too busy sweating and listening to rock and roll to get bored. The meditation aspect of yoga escapes me. My Bikram instructor isn’t into an that “third eye” business, either, so it’s all good.
I started doing Bikram about a month ago, after having done other styles (ashtanga, vinyasa, etc.) for 6 or 7 years. I thought I was a pretty good yogi, but my first Bikram class exposed a lot of flaws in my practice. Because you stay in each pose for so long, you have to confront any deficiencies in your form, and the mirror in front of you gives you ample motivation to do the poses correctly. I’m only a month in, but I’m already impressed by the health benefits. Like Tom, I sleep more soundly. I’m calmer, even when dealing… Read more »
Started last year. Nearly died. Found my breath and now am trying to stretch out a body that won’t bend. Small victories only, for me. It’s a great way to relax and stay flexible – for someone who sits with a computer all day, this is key to growing old. I get terribly frustrated by my inability to limber up (hamstrings, lower back, hips) but I feel better, and know it’s a good thing for me.
My big issue was overcoming being in a room full of sweaty, half naked people who might accidentally touch me.
I feel like the Tin Man when I do yoga. Is there such a thing as WD40 for human joints? Heat definitely helps. But I still find Hot Yoga to be incredibly challenging.