She's in Pittsburgh. She walks outside to grey skies and 80% chance of cold rain. I can understand a wee bit that you may need to pay for warmth to workout. But, I'm in New Orleans. I walk outside to bazillion percent humidity year-round and temps varying from 70-116. No joke. It makes more sense to pay for cool air here than more hot funky air.
I question why anyone would pay for privilege to have Big Easy humidity in
a class where you stand on one leg, hum to yourself, and hope your crouching
tiger doesn't look like a dog going to the potty. She knows this, and laughs. But go for it if that's what you really like,
if it gives you what you need to get rid of the work toxins or spouse stress.
Just know why you're doing it.
Because what it really
is "all about" isn't the hokey pokey.
You should march right on out of a yoga class or painting lesson or even
an art museum if the proverbial drummer isn't hitting your beat. It really
isn't cool to do something because everyone else is doing it. Given a lineup of Yogis, I prefer bear and
Berra before Bikram.
And that's ok. This
really isn't about yoga; it's about being perfectly content, not just
comfortable, in your own skin. Apparently, humidity doesn't bother me since I
live in Nola - but that doesn't mean I'm going to pay somebody to contort me
all ways from Monday if its not my style.
If you aren't at peace
with yourself, imagine the turmoil your wake creates as you blow through a
room. More to the point, if your boss or coworkers aren't confident in their
own abilities, you need to have the flexibility of a yogi to deal with the
turmoil created by insecure people - but it doesn't mean you need to follow the
crowd to hot yoga.
If the instructor of
your 'attempt at something new' doesn't have good manners, as in the attached
story, let him yell essentially at himself as you walk out. It's not poor
manners to subtly leave; it is rude to try to embarrass a student. Their issue,
not yours - they aren't leading you in a good workout so they need to coach
themselves not try to embarrass you. And certainly, there is no need for the
instructor to take inadequacy fears out on you as you leave because he or she
isn't "doing it" for you. Leave.
Do you. And be glad when
they figure out them because it makes your space so much more pleasant.
