Yes, that's right boys and girls, today I experienced Yoga for the very first time. And I'm pleased to say it won't be my last!
Once again Equinox Gym in Kensington surpassed every expectation I had and made my first experience one to remember!
This is how it all began...
As you know I'm doing a 12 month "body transformation" and I'm 3 weeks in! My body is over the initial shock and the doms are no way near as rough as they were in the first week! And I'm really throwing myself into this whole fitness gig! Gym and Pilates so far.
Anyway, I received this email from my gym about a September Yoga Series, complementary to members. Being a Yorkshire man I always did love a freebie! It advertised a series of 5 Yoga sessions conducted by the top Yoga instructors London has to offer in 5 different disciplines! I know, who knew Yoga had so much more going on that sitting cross legged, chanting "Om" over and over again!
I walked into the Yoga studio at Equinox this morning at 10.30am to the most amazing site anyone with OCD could possibly dream about! Row upon row of perfectly placed Yoga mats, complete with blocks, straps and towels! It was a beautiful site to behold against the back drop of a glorious sunny day over looking the gorgeous sites of Kensington.
So I'm feeling positive and pretty confident I can handle what was to come! That was until I started chatting to one or two of the other attendees...
A young man asks me, "have you done one of Mark's classes before?" To which I respond, "No! This is my first ever experience of Yoga!" Well, a look of sheer horror came swooping across his face, "...but you've done acrobatics or gymnastics before, right?"
"errrrr, no!"
Panic starts to rise up in me as this guy looks like a rabbit caught in headlights! He had a genuine fear for me!
Baring in mind that the email stipulated that the classes were "open level"! So immediately I'm thinking, leave, just leave now and no one will ever know! Then I thought about it for a moment. With my new found positive, "can do" attitude I'm ready to tackle anything that comes my way. And if I can't do something, I can just hold off until the next move!
So, the studio is starting to fill up and there are people with their own Yoga mats, performing stretches and getting themselves in readiness for this guy to perform his magic!
The class begins, and it's going a little bit fast at first, but thankfully many of the moves are repeated and I start to get into the swing of things. I'm only 10 minutes in and I'm sweating from every orifice!
Then it arrived! The sudden realisation why the guy at the beginning asked about acrobatics! Hand stands, fore arm balances, full crow, half crow, the list is endless! Needless to say the hand stands weren't coming easily! Though I did manage two which I was rather proud of!
And it's moving and moving and moving! You don't stop!
The instructor, Mark, had brought along a few of his own students to help lead the class and these guys, let me tell you! Phenomenal! It was like watching Spelbound perform all over again! Out of this world; the strength and control these people had. And such focus!
And we're moving again, constantly changing positions, stretching every muscle in the body. Towards the end I did almost get my leg behind my head!
So, despite my initial concerns, I threw myself in at the deep end and experienced the most amazing spiritual and physical workout I have ever had! I was dripping with sweat, my muscles were aching and I left the studio on a massive high!
I can't wait to see what next Sunday has in store!
