Being in a room with a temperature set at 105 degrees does not seem like the most pleasant experience in the world, but hot yoga is all the rave and many are taking part in the craze. I got the chance to attend a hot yoga class of my own and needless to say, hot it was.

I have wanted to try hot yoga for awhile because I constantly hear from friends about how much fun and relaxing it is, and all of the benefits it brings. The main reason I held off from trying hot yoga was because I was just a tad nervous of being in a 100 degree room for an hour. Finally, I decided to schedule a class and see what all the talk was about. After finishing my first ever hot yoga class, I now know why it is such a popular activity.

The class started at 7 p.m. and even before it started I knew I was in for it. I got my yoga mat and water bottle, took a deep breath and entered the room. Once I walked in, I found a spot and sat down, and I could already feel the sweat coming. At 7 p.m. on the dot, the instructor came in and we started the class. This was a traditional, 60 minute hot yoga class where we would be doing the normal 26 yoga poses. Our first couple of exercises were breathing ones, so not too hard. Next we did the half moon pose, awkward pose and eagle pose. All were pretty easy, beginner moves, so I was not too uncomfortable… yet.

At this point, we were about 10 minutes into the class, and boy oh boy, I have never perspired that much in my entire life. The instructor said ‘try to be okay with being uncomfortable,’ and I was like “oh okay I will try to be fine with sweat pouring off my face.” My favorite pose throughout the whole class by far was the dead body pose. It looks kind of like it sounds, you just lay down on the mat and try to relax and remain still. Now that is what I am talking about. After sweating for 40 minutes, laying on the ground and not moving a muscle was glorious.

After 60 hot and sweaty minutes of yoga, I know why so many are joining gyms and fitness clubs that offer hot yoga classes. Although it was much hotter than I am used to for working out, I definitely felt relaxed and cleansed afterwards. Overall, I would recommend that everyone try a hot yoga class because the relaxation and refreshing feel will outweigh the heat in the room and the sweat dripping off your face.