For now, I am dividing my life into two halves. Pre LC and
Post LC. LC being “Life Crisis.” This isn’t permanent; maybe further down the
line, God forbid, these shift.
But for now, pre-December is referred to as Pre-LC. After
March, being Post-LC. The life crisis spanning the epoch from December to
March. Yeah, it was a doosie. On several levels.
Post-LC, and I guess somewhat during, I found an outlet in
Hot Barre. It was a serendipitous find…maybe not serendipitous, maybe it was a
Groupon find. But whatever.
I needed something
that was new, that was mine. For those who don’t know what hot barre is, it’s a
beautiful little torture chamber. Usually held in a room that is somewhere
between 85-95 degrees and 70% humidity, it is a test of wills. The moves are a
combination of yoga, Pilates and ballet. Each movement is held in isometric
suspension. The idea is to exhaust the muscles to the point where you shake.
And shake. And shake.
My very first class was incredibly hard. Granted, I hadn't worked out much in 8 months (the boyfriend excuse), but I knew I wasn't the only one that was light-headed and gasping for air. Many people had to leave the class part way through or else they would have passed out. (I've almost passed out twice...sometimes the heat can be too much). My body was using muscles it had never used, and more importantly, I was strengthening the ones I do use on a daily basis.
I’ve been doing this class since January and actually have
noticed changes. My core is much stronger, I feel leaner and more flexible. And
I’ve dropped 15 lbs…although most of that is stress related. But hey, I haven’t
put it back on!! Stress is the best diet.
But the best thing about this class is the sweat. It drips
from my forehead, from my shins, from my elbows. My yoga mat is sweat soaked by
the end. It feels so good. I haven’t gotten sick this winter either, from the
flu or cold anyway.
I like to get to class early and sit in the silence. I am
usually the first one there, so I lay out my pink mat and sit either
cross-legged or with my back against the wall, legs out. And think. I have
never experienced a place where I feel so calm, so free. If I could sit there
in silence all day, I probably would find nirvana. But, it’s only an hour
class, so nirvana is still a ways off. I leave class on such a high, with such a clear mind, it's really an amazing thing.
Without hot barre, I am not sure where I would be right
now. It has given me such a peace, that without it, I am sure I would be even
more lost than I am. By focusing all my emotional pain into physical pain,
it’s given me a channel of release. It’s a therapeutic process that I don’t see
ending anytime soon. But if I can find emotional peace and get a banging body
at the same time, I think it’s a fair trade.
Classes are at Kris Hot Yoga in Waukee, Iowa. Check them out
at www.krishotyoga.com.
