“I had a near death experience in yoga today.” 

This was the text I sent my daughter after my first experience in the Heated Flow Yoga class at my new gym. I had no idea what I was getting into when I ventured into a large, dimly lit yoga studio that was already uncomfortably warm and full of people of all ages. 

By full, I mean really well attended by lots of well toned people. 

This is a good sign, I mused, thinking that it must be a good class. So, I tuned into myself and began to stretch as more bodies poured into room bringing their energy (and heat) with them. This was certainly a different experience than being at Live in Joy Yoga in Audubon which is my favorite yoga studio.

The class began in a familiar fashion and I felt a sense of comfort as we began moving with some gentle poses. 

The differences in this type of class were noticeable but understandable.  I was in a gym after all, not a yoga studio. The music was modern, like you might hear on the radio, instead of the familiar yogic chants or ambient music. The language was commonplace rather than yogic, yet it still referred to the wisdom within and a higher influence. I closed my eyes and followed the flow.  It felt good.  “Do your own flow now at your own pace,” invited the instructor.

Wait, what?! The music turned way up. My body heated way up. And the roomful of yogis began engaging the poses like they all knew the drill (turns out they did). 

Now this was interesting and a bit distracting. Yet, when I tuned into my breath, the movements, and the pulsing music that sounded like something my kid listened to, I actually discovered a really cool flow. Kind of like a mix between a yoga class and a rave.  It was fun. I was good again. Just as I was getting into the experience, the music was turned down and my mind returned to assess the situation.

I was hot. Really hot. I realized I hadn’t sweated like this since I was in a sweat lodge ceremony many years ago. 

My tiny towel was defenseless against my wet limbs. My sense of well being diminished. Just in time for the next flow series. A new flow series. New loud music. Lots more sweat and a bit of slip and slide.

This was way more challenging and I felt like a novice. Everyone else looked like they were filming a power yoga video. 

Okay, then. This was good. Listening to the instructor as a strategy to distract myself from my overheating body, over beating heart, and straining limbs, I recognized a familiar universal message in her words. I felt my energy flow and my being relax. The body didn’t exactly follow, however it became easier. 

I began to feel like I was on a spiritual retreat as I followed her pointing toward my inner wisdom, a universal source of good, and the unity of the group. 

That was a much better focus than on my mind’s suggestion that I might actually expire and travel heavenward during the class.  As I began to breathe in the heat, I enjoyed the idea of all these people sharing in this message while detoxing and getting fit. I decided I like the gym a bit better because of this yoga program. 

I learned a lot in that yoga class/rave/sweat lodge/spiritual retreat experience.