I believe yoga is definitely more than exercise. It has a huge mental and spiritual component to it. It is very different from running and Zumba because when you take part in those activities, you are not connecting with your breath. Those activities are more goal-oriented; for example, you set the goal to run two miles to burn some calories. Personally, I think yoga is not goal oriented. Though I do like to make progress in the poses, I do not set specific goals as I would when I run. I use the practice of yoga as a time to focus inward, come into a meditative state, and become mindful of my breathing and thinking.

This week on Thursday during Bikram yoga (though I was extremely tired because I had two other classes before it) I felt empowered to take part as soon as we started with the breathing exercise. Chris's guiding voice was demanding yet soothing at the same time. I enjoyed the series of the poses and I now understanding the reasoning behind the sequence. I have to admit, it was a bit more challenging than I thought it would be. However, I liked how we would focus on each pose by itself, whereas in most of the other practices I've taken part in, it has always been a flow. 

Week 2 practice

I went to Yoga Nine again for the Thursday evening class. I have already created a ritual of going two Thursdays in a row, and plan on continuing to do so. I consider this a ritual because it is a repeated action that is performed, and it is in a sacred environment with others who may share the same mindset and intentions. 

The sounds of everyone's breath becoming sinked up with the instructors command creates a sense of oneness or community. When I tap into that Ujjayi breath with everyone in the room, it feels powerful. Another aspect of the practice that makes me feel comfortable is the dim lighting and neutral temperature of the room. 

There are no specific rules that are stated when you practice; they are basically understood by everyone. Many people use this time to turn inside and decompress from the stresses of the day, so it is important to respect that by remaining quiet, calm and reserved. The behaviors of the people at Yoga Nine are very admirable. It shows that everyone tries their best in their practice and treats it with the utmost respect. I really appreciate that. 

On Thursday, September 15^th, I took an intermediate yoga class at Yoga Nine. I had never been in a long and narrow space while practicing, but I liked the difference, especially because the colors and decor were nice. The lights were dimmed in the room and the temperature was comfortable; I felt peaceful as soon as I walked in. The people who were attending the class all seemed to know each other or the instructor, which can sometimes be intimidating, but it wasn’t at all. Everyone was very friendly and seemed pretty experienced in yoga.

The class itself was amazing because I was able to really deepen my stretching and lengthen my body. I noticed I was able to even deepen my twist in my back further than I thought I could – of course with your push and help. It was the perfect balance of challenging and meditative, even a bit more challenging then I had expected. In the beginning of the class I felt that the room was a comfortable temperature so I thought I wouldn’t sweat that much, but boy was I wrong!