We Live In A World That Has Mats

At the end of a challenging kettlebell circuit and after wondering why someone would invent a kettlebell, I collapsed on the floor. Andrea is taking a power nap, Marisa said. But the nap did not work...

After a week that starts with boxing, climbing (and/or swimming) and kettlebell, I'm ready to roll out my yoga mat on Thursday.

As I got ready to exit on the appropriate ramp, I saw congestion and, as I got on the highway, I saw red lights plus police flashers. I took a detour along with many others and glanced at the clock. I was pretty sure that I would not make it from the city to the county in time but I tried anyway.

After being caught at every possible light, I got back on the highway and knew that if there was a cop around, one of us speeders was going to be the recipient of a ticket. When I got to the exit for the yoga studio, there was a logjam there as well and, according to the clock, it was time for class to start. Since I don't like to enter classes late, I turned around, went to Target, all balled up at this point, and then headed home.

For weeks, it's been Kafkaesque at work. I wanted that yoga class. I needed that yoga class* -- but you can't always have what you want.

I grabbed my ear buds and iPod and walked about for a while then came home and put on a Tamal Dodge DVD. There are two yoga programs on this DVD -- one for energy and one for relaxation. Guess which one I chose...




*Goofy play on lines from A Few Good Men.

The Heat Sequence

Tamal Dodge says that The strap is a great tool. I couldn’t agree more. I love props whether it’s a stability ball, resistance band or a ball for Pilates and now that I’ve fallen in love with yoga, I have even more props to play with.

During the Hatha program, I enjoyed using the strap around my feet and I also enjoyed grabbing it close to my ankles for an amazing butterfly pose and even though I lost my balance and rocked backwards, I liked using it during boat pose. I also enjoyed the shoulder stretch since the strap was incorporated. Hatha felt particularly good following a day of rowing and rock climbing since my hips were intensely sore.

During the Flow program, Dodge brings the heat. He incorporates reverse warrior, baby cobra, plank, inverted bicycle and downward facing dog. I liked the chair, crescent and sun salutation sequences. This session definitely has a cardio aspect to it and I welcomed the cool portion of the program that came towards the end.

I thought that I would feel weird during yoga at home by my lonesome now that I've gotten accustomed to classes but I was wrong. It still felt good and savasana and the half-fetal positions were still quite tasty.


While the DVD says for beginners, I think most people would enjoy it. I've been going to yoga classes for about six months now and I'm starting to feel less like a beginner...


I also visited Dodge’s website and I feel like there’s a yoga retreat in my future. Hope it’s the near future.

Been to any yoga retreats? If so, which one did you enjoy the most?





*Disclosure: I received this video without charge.