I tried three levels of yoga in one week even though I’d never done it before - here's what I learned. (Hot yoga, vinyasa yoga and yin yoga review)
I had been wanting to try yoga for a long time, and when I heard about an app called ClassPass (which is not sponsoring this, btw, I just love it!) that lets you try different fitness classes with no commitment and often at a reduced price, I knew it was time to give it a go. So back in January (before the world exploded) I chose my first class and nervously headed out with my eco-friendly cork yoga mat. I was nervous because I really didn’t know what to expect, but also because I am highly claustrophobic and the idea of having to be locked in a quiet room for a full hour without the option to leave without disrupting the whole class was exceptionally unsettling. But off I went to my first yoga class, got hooked, decided to try a couple more types, and I’m so glad I did, and now I want to share my experience with you all (with the huge caveat that I am 100% still a novice just sharing what I experienced and do not claim to know anything in-depth about the practice of yoga).
Now, the first yoga class I ever tried was a bit of a shock. Not so much because of the affore-mentioned claustrophobia but because…
The first yoga class I ever tried was hot yoga.
“Hot yoga is a term that describes a number of different styles of yoga with one common element – they are all practiced in heated rooms with the temperature usually between 85 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit (29-41 Celsius). Classes are also often held in a room with an elevated humidity level. The purpose of hot yoga is to encourage sweating, which is believed to detoxify the body, as well as improve flexibility, boost stamina, improve overall fitness, burn calories, relieve stress and increase circulation.”
Yes, you read that right. I accidentally signed up for hot yoga as my first yoga class of all time (comment below if you also never read the instructions, always to your own detriment lmao). And I did not think that was the class I was walking into when I booked it. Because I did not read the very obvious description. Not only that, but I’m pretty sure it was some type of Vinyassa flow sequence, which can be challenging at the best of times.
But since I have a bizarre need to challenge myself in life, and because I saw this as a chance to maybe start to get over my fear of the heat, I couldn’t back down. Even though I hate heat. Like, truly, deeply hate being too hot. Oh, and because I’m a dummy who didn’t adequately research what to wear to yoga, I wore long, thick pants and a big baggy t-shirt. At least I brought a lot of water.
Now, if this all sounds very terrifying and ridiculous, that’s because it was pretty darn scary and pretty darn ridiculous. My legs were a little shakey walking into that class and I was definitely wondering how long I would last, but I had to try! And you’ll never guess what happened… I actually loved it! I only lasted 45 minutes in the class before thinking I was dying of heatstroke and panicking and ducking out of the class, but this is still one of my favourite classes I’ve ever done because of how incredibly relaxed and mentally focused I felt after. I have no idea how or why this happened, but it did. My hope is that I can build up the courage to do hot yoga again (and maybe even conquer my irrational fear of getting too hot).
But this wild ride of a yoga class, which took place at Modo Yoga in Vancouver, was a great learning experience.
Here’s what I experienced and took away from my hot yoga class:
Bring a towel - you’re going to get super sweaty and your mat might get super slippery! Sweat was running off my nose and almost into my eyes, down my arms and legs and all over the place. If you forget a towel the studio may be able to provide one, but it’s probably cheaper to just bring your own.
Wear loose-fitting clothing, or clothing that lets you stay cool. Many people removed their tank tops to wear only their sports bras and shorts at some point during the class and a few men were shirtless in order to help regulate their body temperatures. I suppose this may seem weird or creepy to some people, but given the context I felt totally fine about it.
Bring a lot of water. I wish I had brought either an extra large water bottle, or two or three normal sized bottles to the class. I started to have to ration my water, and I think that detracted from my experience of the class.
We were not allowed to have cell phones out of our bags in the changeroom. I expect this is to make everyone feel secure and minimize any feelings of self-consciousness.
My class had periodic gusts of cooler air blown into the room (it was still warm, but cooler than the rest of the room), which I really appreciated. I don’t know if this is common practice, so you may want to ask the studio before attending a class if you’re concerned about the temperature.
I made a small dent in my fear of getting too hot. I didn’t pass out, I knew my limit, I made it work for me. So that was beneficial in the long run.
Overall, that first hot yoga class truly was a transformative experience and got me totally hooked on yoga in general. And if you like the heat (or at least don’t mind it) then this type of class may be perfect for you! I would suggest reading up on both the benefits and risks involved in hot yoga, though, to make sure you’re prepared before attending, because the experience can be a little intense.
The second class I tried was Vinyasa Yoga
“Vinyasa is a type of yoga that links movement and breath to attain balance in the mind and body. From the Sanskrit “to place in a special way,” vinyasa aligns a deliberate sequence of poses with the breath to achieve a continuous flow. Inhalation is usually connected to upward, open movements, while exhalation is often tied to downward movements or twists.”
The morning after my dramatic hot yoga class, I attended a vinyasa class at a different studio - OneYoga - here in Vancouver. Yes, the next morning. And I booked the class via ClassPass while I was still recovering from my hot yoga class. Why did I do this? I don’t know. Because I’m insane, I guess? Anyway I loved it and I do this type of yoga pretty regularly nowadays, and I’ve stuck with the first studio I tried.
I find Vinyasa to be like my holy grail workout. Strengthening, challenging, relaxing, stretching. I can get lost in the practice and tune the world out for an hour, which is nice at times. I used to feel this way about swimming back when I was a teen and in the pool 4-5 times per week, and didn’t think I’d ever find a sport or excercise that gave me such joy, but here we are. I’ve done Vinyasa at a few studios now, and here’s what I’ve learned about the practice:
This practice is incredibly strengthening and grounding. Sometimes my legs feel a bit shakey or my arms feel a little jello-y, but that’s why I go. To get a workout!
Vinyasa is tough at first. Bring lots of water because you are going to get sweaty!
Don’t do anything that causes sharp or pinching pain. Your instructor should be accepting and encouraging of you modifying poses as needed. For example, because of a back injury I sustained several years ago, it is not safe for me to do any excercise that could risk pinching my lower back muscles, so I always modify poses that could do so, or go into child’s pose to rest and stretch.
Some instructors provide a spiritual teaching at the beginning of class, and others don’t. I have mixed feelings about this. Since I recently left Christianity I’m trying to stay away from spirituality and systems of thought in general, so these spiritual discussions can be a little triggering for me, but I can definitely understand why others enjoy them. If you have feelings about spiritual teachings, I suggest calling the yoga studio ahead of time to find out if the instructor leading the class tends to include spiritual teachings.
I often feel totally in-tune with my surroundings for the entire day after class - hyper-alert yet relaxed. It is such a great feeling!
The third yoga class I tried was Yin yoga
“Yin yoga targets your deep connective tissues, like your fascia, ligaments, joints, and bones. It’s slower and more meditative, giving you space to turn inward and tune into both your mind and the physical sensations of your body. Because you’re holding poses for a longer period of time than you would in other traditional types of yoga, yin yoga helps you stretch and lengthen those rarely-used tissues while also teaching you how to breathe through discomfort and sit with your thoughts.”
A few days after trying vinyasa, I tried a yin yoga class at Uphoria Yoga in Vancouver. I have continued attending regular classes at Uphoria Yoga ever since, participating in both their yin and vinyasa classes. I attend there for a few reasons and, even though they’re not sponsoring this, I have to take a moment to shout out this amazing studio. First of all, the owner is always working the front desk and always greets me with a smile, knows my name and has such a warm and inviting presence. Plus, it’s such a unique studio set-up: calming white throughout the studio plus beautiful hanging plant rounds (that sounds insane so please see the photo below) and soft round white lights make for an almost ethereal feeling in the studio. I love it there.
Image courtesy of Uphoria Yoga.
But overall, what I love so much about yin in general is how relaxing it is, and how you can just ease into your body and enjoy being who you are in the moment. I leave feeling grounded and relaxed (a common theme with my yoga practices!). Aside from that, here is what I learned about yin yoga:
You get a super deep stretch. I have now tried both (what I assume to be) normal yin and “active” yin. The first is very fluid, calm movements and deep yet relaxing stretches. The second, active yin, is what it sounds like - the stretches are a little more involved and may take a bit more concentration as they can be more difficult to hold. The upside, though, is that you get an even deeper stretch.
Shavasana, the part at the end of the class where you lie down flat on your back for a few minutes, is actually my favorite part. I know some people find this part of the class silly or weird - who wants to pay for someone to tell you to just lie on the floor? - but to me it is extremely helpful for my mental wellbeing. I have a really, really, really hard time sitting still in one spot, and an even harder time just doing nothing. My version of “doing nothing” is having a podcast in the background while I do an adult coloring book, have a snack cooking on the stove in another room that I have to periodically keep checking and mentally plan what I’m going to do for my blog the next day. So to have someone force me to literally just do nothing in a calming environment that encourages my mind to stop running a million miles an hour, when I’ve been working myself into a super relaxed state is so necessary.
Sometimes the instructor will offer a blanket to anyone in the class who wants it during shavasana. I usually take it. There’s something nice about having someone look after you for even a few seconds. I used to be a hair stylist and a lot of people would seek that feeling at the salon, so I think it’s pretty common. I guess I seek that feeling from my yoga practice.
My overall thoughts on yoga
I think it’s great. At this point I have spent many hours in the studio and practicing on my own with an app called Down Dog (not sponsored). I like this app because it lets you set a time and level and choose what type of practice you want to do and has a person on screen demonstrating how to do each pose. But that first week of trying three levels of yoga was truly a transformative experience. Here are my biggest takeaways about the practice of yoga in general:
I get the hype now. Before trying it I secretly though yoga was just some over-hyped excercise that somehow gained popularity with white North Americans and then became a weird status symbol for people who wanted to act like they were active but actually weren’t. Boy was I wrong!! I learned pretty quick that yoga can be an intense workout - this coming from someone who used to swim competitively and did jiu jitsu for a year just because I felt like it.
There is incredible support for individuality and healthy boundaries at each studio I’ve attended. Most instructors start the class by reminding everyone to take it at their own pace, that there is no competition in class and that the whole purpose of the class is to listen to what we each individually need and to strengthen and stretch our bodies according to what we are capable of today, not what we think we “should” be doing. Instructors who intend to offer pose corrections will generally ask for a show of hands to indicate who is comfortable being touched/wants the corrections, again enforcing the support for individuality and setting healthy boundaries for your practice.
It’s surprisingly spiritual and emotional. And since I have recently left my faith, I find it comforting to have some sort of introspective ritual to turn to when times get rough, but that generally isn’t connected to spirituality (and when it is I pretty much just ignore the spiritual parts). I often get a little misty-eyed in the class as I go through the movements and get in touch with my body.
