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.