While not really a yogi kind of guy - I like the idea of Yoga ... especially with my wife. I guess I may have done a dozen Yoga classes since my first 20 years ago in 1994 at Pam Stewarts Yoga studio in Charlottetown, PEI.
For a Friday night date a few weeks ago ... my wife and I decided to go to Yoga near our home in Marda Loop. It was awesome ... so we invited friends to do a double date of Yoga and dinner. These friends had some sort of pass to this studio ... so off we went for a 4:30pm class in Aspen.
I was showing home homes on the ridge in Colgrove Avenue, NE in Bridgeland at 3:40pm ... and was quite concerned if I would be able to navigate traffic and make it on time. It was actually pretty easy ... traffic was no problem. (... well ... I think I choose a pretty good route which is hugely important in this City!)
I met my wife in the parking lot at Safeway ... and luckily she knew exactly where to go. (Okay ... we were a wee bit late - as I arrived prior to her and returned a few phone calls). I actually learned that she can walk fast ... when she is late for Yoga. I never knew she could walk fast!)
This Aspen Landing is darn nice. When I moved to this city in 2003 ... Aspen Landing ... was Aspen Trees. It ASTOUNDS me ... the amazing developement that has occured here. Calgary is Spectacular in soo many ways.
I digress.
Yoga.
The entrance to the studio is wonderful. Big room and big entrance to change room.
Since I never got to go home prior to Yoga (I was planning to) ... my wife brought my Yoga gear. She handed me my black bathing suit that was still wet from my Morning Swim at Glenmore Pool. I was pissed. "I get to wear my wet bathing suit ... where is my shirt?"
She said, "That's a bathing suit? You don't need a shirt."
... this is when I thought ... be peaceful ... things are evolving exactly as they should.
However, I was angry inside. (I recently listened to an Audio CD from Stuart Wilde ... tittled "Infinite Self". Basicaly ... allow ease .... water of a duck's back kind of stuff.)
I put on my wet bathing suit ... and thought ... perhaps we are at hot yoga. All will be fine. I put the towel over my shoulders ... and was kind of embarrassed - feeling naked as I walked past reception into the big room. Luckily my wife was near the door ... so I placed my mat close to her. As per normal - there were many beautiful women in the room ... and a few guys ... without shirts.
I lied on my back ... sunk into the floor ... and relaxed. (This is my favourite part of Yoga!)
Regrettably the class started ... interupting the growling relaxing music. However, I guess it had to start.
The instructor was quite difficult to hear ... most of the time I didn't really have a clue what she wanted us to do. There was a REAL Yogi type two rows in front of me ... who I watched - which was fine with me.
Somehow the class didn't really flow. I found myself trying hard to do the poses ... and was looking for some feedback from the instructor. However, very little was given.
Actually ... crazy ... at one point we were doing this pose ... you'd know the name ... where you are on one leg, foot on knee, bent ... with arms around foot and shin. Shoulders are supposed to be held back. Well my shoulders suck at the best of times. The instructor comes to me ... and actually says ... somewhat under her breath as she touches my shoulders ... "Oh ... this is really bad ..."
Well ... I was a bit offended ... but mostly I think it is funny.
She really doesn't offer a correction ... or tell me how to make better. I know what I'm doing isn't feeling great - so is probably wrong. However, I don't really care. I'm here to kick start my weekend and let the stress of the day go away.
After 75 minutes ... we get to do my MOST favourite pose - Shavastna. This is when you lay on your back ... and just about go to sleep.
It was awesome.
A quick shower ... check some email & text messages, and off to Redwater for Supper.
Probably I will do a lot more Friday night Yoga dates. I love kick starting my weekend this way.