Lessons from the Hot Room

Hot yoga has been a constant in my life. The hot room has become my safe haven. It’s my happy place. I’m free to be entirely myself and to appreciate my body for all that it CAN do. Living with chronic illness sucks. There’s no way around the ‘suckiness’ that is a chronic illness but one must continue to move forward. Hot yoga has been instrumental in that journey for me.

Silence – From the moment you walk into the hot room, there’s complete silence. This has taught me that it’s okay to just be there. There’s something super communal and special about being in a silent room with a large group of people. It’s this undying silent support.
Breath – We have to breathe – it’s how we survive. But, hot yoga allows you to fully focus on your breath. Your breath is the most important thing to stay in touch with during your practice. I’ve learned that my breath dictates how far I go during a yoga class. It’s the determining factor. I never sacrifice my breath for a pose. (Peace out, ego! There’s no room for you here)
Mindfulness – Be there. Be present. When you’re on your mat there’s nowhere else that you need to be. It’s taught me to be mindful of my thoughts, where they tend to wander and how to re-focus.
Self-love – My practice is slowly teaching me how to love myself. My body is pretty freaking amazing. It’s strong, flexible and agile. I always try to recognize and thank my body at the end of my practice for all that it has done for me. I’m learning to take that mentality out of the studio and into my everyday life.
Space – Hot yoga has taught me that it’s okay to take up space. You’re human. You deserve to be here. Take up space. Be big and bold. Let your body take up space in this world. Be unapologetic.
Grounded – I’ve learned to stay connected to the ground. When I’m stressed and frazzled yoga reminds me to plant my feet on the ground and simply ‘be’. My practice is changing how I face adversity. I can tackle anything because I’m grounded and at peace.
Chill – Hot yoga has also taught me to not take myself too seriously. Who cares if you fail? Oops, I just fell out of a pose. OH WELL. I’ll just try it again. It’s taught me to laugh at myself a little bit more and just have a fun time.