It was hot yoga- Barkan style- a 75 minute class focused on stretching, toning, and flow. I hadn't been to yoga in a while because of frequent nursing-shifts during the night. Yet I was excited to get back into it because of the joy and energy it seemed to bring. I thought I was ready to jump right back in but this first hot yoga class caught me off guard... and without a water bottle.
The first ten minutes weren't too bad until the heat really started to get to me. I had literally rolled out of bed and yoga- outfitted myself without hydrating well. I had grabbed a quick bite of granola and Matcha green but I had drank 000000 amounts of water. And that's a recipe for disaster friends for any workout- your body needs that fuel from a free flowing river- but especially when your working out in a heated sauna room. Unfortunately for me I had no sweet hydrating rescue to save the day.
I quietly slipped out of the room to search for any cup or bottle container. In desperation I found the sink was well equipped for facet drinking. As if I didn't already feel like a cow compared to the rest of the classes in the moves, here I was now drinking out of the facet in a prestigious studio. In my head my new motto was "drink water or die".
Back to the class, I tried to keep up with the flowing moves that my gorgeous instructor made seemingly easy. I did successfully for the next thirty minutes, until the room began to spin a little. Being a nurse, I am aware how easy it is to be hypotensive and pass out and I hypothesized I was probably quite dehydrated at this point and all these up and down body flows were not helping. I took a quick, graceful seat on my mat and tried to look balanced and focused. "Breathe Brooke breathe" I commanded myself projecting outward confidence even though my body was distressed.
Friends, this is where I need to remind you, as a personal trainer, nurse, and friend that EXERCISE IS FOR YOU. You work out for your body- to make it better, stronger, and healthier. So NEVER feel pressured to push yourself to a level your body doesn't need to go or submit to a pose or exercise that doesn't feel good. Nobody knows your body, limits, and fitness level, better than yourself. So you protect your health, you protect your joy-- don't ever let a trainer push you beyond your limits
So here I was sitting on the ground while everyone around me did the cobra and amazing yoga moves. But you know what, for not having any water bottle present, I was pretty happy. I was hydrating myself and going to hydrate more. I had stretched and pushed my body physically- but I had stopped before hurting myself. I was enjoying my yoga class, breathing and stretching deeper, and bettering myself.
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