week 1
After a female friend invited me to triyoga to try a class, I took up the one month mat men challenge. My previous experience with yoga was limited at best; mostly sporadic classes at whatever gym I am a member with, purely for stretching.
Walking into the Shoreditch studio, the first thing that strikes you is how different the environment is to a traditional gym. It is welcoming and professional, with an instant calming effect. Entering my first early morning class of open yoga it was myself, one other man and 6 women, but I did not feel out of place as a beginner nor a man.
Straightaway I was impressed by how expertly the teacher was taking us through the class. There was constant instruction and teaching throughout. The teacher picked up on my amateur level and gave me what felt like extra guidance, without drawing attention to the fact. The class involved some really good stretching, without being overly challenging.
Finishing my first yoga class I felt calm, centred and refreshed. The most interesting and unexpected occurrence though, was how energised I felt afterwards! With my regular gym around the corner, I made the spontaneous decision to go for a weights session immediately after yoga. I increased my weights, finished my routine quicker and felt great afterwards. I imagine that the boost was yoga giving me such a solid warm-up and stretch, or being in such a good mental state post the class. I finished my double exercise session feeling more energised and awake than I ever normally feel post weights.
Session 2 was hot yoga; something I had never tried. More fantastic instruction and guidance throughout meant I felt like I was really getting the benefits of challenging stretches, using muscles and positions I never normally do; it was a good hurt. The heat felt good and not overwhelming.
Session 3 of my first week I went to try the Camden studio for some Iyengar yoga. I had been informed that this type involves more stretched and unusual positions, which are held for longer to feel the benefit. This was stretching of the sort I had not done before, using chairs and other apparatus to really push muscles in a way I would never have done otherwise. The poses were designed so you could push yourself as deeply or as lightly as you wanted into them, so it was all about taking it at your own pace. This was exactly the sort of thing I was after in taking up this challenge. The stretches felt like I was really working at improving myself, my body and my health on a brand new and much need level. I felt some of them still the next day.
Interestingly, the Iyengar yoga was the most mixed gender class I had attended, with a ratio of ⅓ men in a class of 20. The class was about as mixed as you could get, with people of all ages, body shapes and experience.
Roll on week 2 when I’ll be switching to more dynamic yoga.
Check back here to see how Glynn gets on throughout weeks 2, 3 and 4…
