my first hot yoga class experience at Arrichion

so tonight I decided to take on the world of hot yoga....I've been wanting to for some time now but work schedule and then some weather issues were hampering my attempts but tonight FINALLY all the stars seems to align....oh and it helped that I actually remembered the day before as opposed to 3am ;)

below is the description of the class I took:

Krystallos

Arrichion Hot Yoga Core Strengthening Series

Class duration: 60 minutes

Room temperature: 97 F

Beginner to advanced students

The Ancient Greeks believed that Krystallos (crystal) was light frozen into an ice so hard that it could never be thawed. These gemstones have long been used for protection and healing. At Arrichion Hot Yoga, Krystallos will harden your core through a series of core strengthening postures. This series includes techniques that will help you build muscle through resistance to your body weight and of engagement of small muscle groups. This series is a great complement to Topaz for all students.

this is not the hottest class they provide but it's right up there (102 would be the tops)....I'll start by saying my drive over in typical raleigh traffic was highly annoying and, of course, I hit every fucking stoplight along the way....I kid you not! EVERY ONE! hahahaha....I'm thinking, I'm going to need this class to calm me down! I finally get there to meet up with my fellow Outbacker Varia....I get all registered and in we go...

immediately the obvious hits you: IT'S HOT! but it was a kind of hot that for a while you thought, wow, this feels good! kind of like when you lay in a tanning bed and get all relaxed even though you're sweating like a mutha...the class begins and it's a good mix of new and usuals....I really enjoyed the fact that no one watches each other, everyone keeps to their own moves and breathing, and if you need to stop, well, then you stop....and trust me when I say I was not alone when I had to take a few moments to gather myself....

this class was a core intensive class and I realized very quickly just how often I DON'T do crunches....I don't typically work abs exclusively b/c I'm always quick to use my core for all my moves plus I like to do hanging leg raises on my pullup bar in my apt....but even with that um, yeah, hi abs! how YOU doin'? they're pretty fatigued right now as I type this but it's a good thing, trust me :)

some of the core work involved leg and glute work....some of it reminiscent of my dancing days at App when we would do leg swings while laying on the floor to warm up our hips....I was very surprised at how well I did on the work where we were on our tummies and would arch up, lift one leg higher with the opposite arm outstretched, reverse, repeat, etc....my guess is that all those deadlifts did their job :) as I sit here right now I can feel my glutes and hammies like I had done a leg day....now I know why yogis have great butts!

I did make sure to keep well hydrated during the day and this was definitely a good idea...I think next time I go I'll opt for a light but longsleeve shirt....I am not a huge fan of sweat dripping off my arms while I workout and would much rather sweat up a shirt....oh and definitely a large towel! I just took a personal towel and um, yeah, a larger towel the size of your mat is a must so you're not slipping and sliding all over the mat....

as for the actual work, I was really worried about halfway through b/c my heart started beating like a hummingbird....thought I might be sick a few times....as I was on the mat controlling my breathing I went, oh, note to self: no caffeine within an hour of this class! also note to self: don't set up in the corner....I just got where there was room and it was nice little nook in the back with a tapestry hanging up above me that I focused on quite a few times but being in the corner meant all that heat would almost feel like it was trapped back there....

I think once I get adjusted to the heat I could actually do the class without stopping....it is without a doubt a very unique experience....I would recommend anyone try this....I cannot speak for other studios but when they list this class as suitable for all levels they do mean it...I never once felt I was in a class that was above my skill set (which I think speaks well of the instructor)....

so if you're in the Raleigh or Charlotte area (there's a studio there, too) I highly recommend you check it out!