The Prodigal Yogi
August 30, 2012
BACKGROUND: In October 2011, I managed to score a $300 gift certificate to the YMCA at a Silent Auction for only $80. What a deal! My plan was to save it for summer mainly because they had a pool. In the meantime, I was still attending classes at Hot Yoga House. In February 2012, my work schedule went nuts as we were in the final countdown to an April conference. I was also still working another job and trying to get my doula certification completed before June. There was no time for anything extra-curricular, let alone yoga. But I missed it. I was majorly stressed and exhausted from NOT exercising. It was a vicious cycle. In May, with the conference successfully behind me, I redeemed my little YMCA gift certificate and it was enough to last 4 months, which brings us to present day. This is a story about how cheaper and closer are not always better.
Here are the top 12 (sorry, I couldn’t stop at 10) reasons why I’m going “home” to the Hot Yoga House.
- HEAT – I like it hot. Regular yoga is not. When you are used to the heat, a regular yoga class feels cold. I don’t like to be cold. I usually can’t enjoy my final savasana because I’m freezing.
- TARDINESS – At the Y, if you are late to class you get locked out of the room. There is nothing worse than making the effort to get to class only to find that you are a minute late and the door has already been locked. At The House, you are always welcome. The backdoor is always unlocked. Plus, if you call ahead to say you will be late, they’ll even leave a mat out for ya. That’s love!
- CLASS SIZE – The yoga room at the YMCA is twice the size of Hot Yoga House. However, they limit it to 30 students and, you guessed it, the door gets locked. So, even if you show up 5 minutes early, if the class already has 30 students then you are out of luck.
- PAIN – Don’t get me wrong, doing hot yoga leaves me with my fair share of soreness but it’s the good kind. Cold yoga just leaves me hurting in a bad way. Mainly it’s because my muscles never get warmed up properly before we head into poses and I spend the next day creaking around.
- LEVEL of DIFFICULTY – I realize that the YMCA class is trying to appeal to everyone but it’s too easy for me (well, until we get to core work. my stomach muscles hate me). I rarely feel challenged. Granted, most of the time at Hot Yoga House I feel too challenged but I’ve learned how to make modifications appropriate for my skill level. Plus, it’s a good reminder that there is always something else to teach my body even if it seems like its gonna take 10 years for me to get my head to my knee.
- TEACHERS – I never really jived with any of the instructors from the Y classes. Well, there was this one girl I really liked on Thursday mornings but I can’t make that class time. I found the other instructors hard to follow. I will admit that it was getting better as I continued to go and learned their style. For me, I like to close my eyes for the majority of class. I need a teacher who can use their words to show me what to do so that I’m not constantly looking around trying to figure out exactly which direction to contort my body. There’s also one who takes yoga a little too seriously. No laughing allowed. Yeah, that’s not gonna work for me. LOL!
- SUN SALUTATIONS – To me, sun salutations are the equivalent of california rolls. When I first tried sushi I was given a california roll. It was so blah. It wasn’t until I tried “real” sushi that I fell in love with it. This one class at the Y is full of sun salutations. I’m bored. I literally yawn throughout the whole class. HYH taught me that there is more to yoga than just sun salutations.
- VERBIAGE – The instructors at the Y are a little tooooo yoga for me sometimes. They use words like “3rd eye” and “hasta bandha” and “hiroshima”. Kidding on that last one. My biggest pet peeve is that they all refer to corpse pose as shavasana. I learned it as savasana – no “H.” Therefore, every time we move into what I like to call “my 5-minute nap” I get distracted and irritated. In my head all I can think of is “why do they keep adding an H?” So annoying.
- SOUL FOOD – The thing I like best about The Hot Yoga House is that the instructors have a way of using their words to encourage me regarding daily life and this is definitely missing at the YMCA. I go to yoga to do more than just work my body. I need that mind release and reboot. The HYH instructors are definitely pros at giving me the words or phrases or stories that I need at just the right time. I leave there feeling truly refreshed in all areas – mind, body, and spirit.
- PERKS – My main reason for joining the Y was the pool. I figured me and tLG could hang out this summer. Turns out we still like the lake better. My child saw the pool only twice this summer and both times were with her Grandma, not me. The other reason was childcare. However, I now have a solution to that problem. Hubby has gotten a recent promotion at work and can now have some say so over his schedule, which means I can start attending classes regularly because his schedule should be a little more consistent.
- PRICE – Remember my good deal from the silent auction? Well, right now Hot Yoga House is celebrating their 4th birthday and they have tons of deals. I’m thinking about the 20 class pass for $140 (makes it $7 per class). I usually like to go twice a week. Over a month, it’s basically the same price I would be paying at the YMCA anyway.
- FAMILY – This is a biggie. I miss the family feel of Hot Yoga House. The owner knows me by name and just like the theme song to “Cheers” says….
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they’re always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same.
You wanna be where everybody knows
your name.
Where everybody knows your name,
and they’re always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same.
You wanna be where everybody knows
your name.
So, look out guys. I’m coming home!
4 Comments
Anonymous
Okay let me say…that… I love you Staci! I can always always count on your blog to make me laugh or the comments I hear you say after class, I've missed them. I love that you feel welcome at the "house" as that is REALLY what we have tried to create. I do admire you for giving kudos to the Y and giving them what you liked and didnt because REALLY we need all types that's what I LOVE about Nashville and the yoga community there are so many types, instructors, classes etc that hopefully there is something for EVERYONE! Because REALLy that's what we want! Because I know that the House is an extension of myself and my teachers I want to THANK you for such kind words! I cannot wait to see you and THIS is what I needed today! AH you are perfect….but guess what my prodigal son just pulled up in the driveway what a day! (Misty)
Anonymous
I love this
Anonymous
All the reasons I come too. Especially cold yoga cannot stand it. Im aleays cold anyway:)!!!!! Leslie Kirby
Debi
Perfectly said Staci! Love the "house" 🙂 Debi