KIKI & PEACHES TRY ... HOT YOGA
- Kiki Larue
- Jan 20
- 3 min read
Collins Dictionary defines middle age as, “...usually considered to occur approximately between the ages of 40 and 60”.
The definition continues, but none of it positive or uplifting in any way.
As two so-called ‘middle age’ Island gals, we were chatting over coffee one day, lamenting the fact that somehow, at a moment’s notice, we too fit this ‘definition’.
We pondered how times have changed as we grew into middle age.
Young girls these days are familiar with pedicures by the time they’re sixteen.
I had my first pedicure at forty-five.
On that particular coffee day, we decided it was time to make a change.
It was time to try new things; break the mold and fight ‘middle age’ to the very end.
The first step to this new challenge were new names; the aliases of Kiki and Peaches was born.
Second was to find a new adventure, and Hot Yoga was first on the list (a decision made easier by the free coupons I found in my mailbox that day).
We wasted no time, and the next day it was time for mold-breaker number one.
Walking into the yoga facilities, we were met by a lovely young woman who made us feel right at home. We were given a tour of the facilities, and once we changed into our version of ‘yoga clothes’, we were given a rundown of what to expect.
It was a little disconcerting to hear that potentially ‘feeling nauseous’ and ‘feeling like you’re going to pass out’, were the first two descriptions of what this new experience was going to be like.
But how bad could it be?
We watched as a flurry of women scrambled to the change room and then scurried upstairs so as not to miss the first stretch. We followed their guide to what was to be our chamber of torture for the next hour and thirty minutes.
Before opening the door, our guide advised us once again of how we ‘may feel’, but not to worry, as these feelings of potential unconsciousness and loss of any substance not quite digested was perfectly normal.
The door opened and we were instantly hit with a solid wall of heat.
The room was filled to capacity with women and men of various shapes and sizes quietly sitting on their mats; deep breathing, meditating, trying to stay conscious, we weren’t quite sure.
We took up two of the last spots conveniently located next to the fire exit, and waited for the experience to begin.
Our instructor entered and quietly took her place at the head of the room.
As class began, we had no choice but to try to mimic the different postures and positions, while our body heat rose higher.
I kept eyeing the fire escape door, but we were here to prove a point, even if they had to carry us out.
I will say that during the first thirty minutes we could care less about the yoga poses; the only goal was to stay upright.
The next thirty minutes we actually began to get into the swing of things.
The yoga poses are achievable, even for beginners, and you’re encouraged to go at your own pace. Although my glances around the room to find two hairy, glistening middle-aged men was a little unnerving, especially since they seemed to be more flexible.
The last thirty minutes had us eyeing the exit door again,
but we made it to the end, and when that final word ‘namaste’ was heard,
we crawled to the exit door and high-fived each other.
Summary:
Add an extra twenty degrees to what you recall being the hottest day of your life.
But Kiki and Peaches have vowed to give hot yoga another try soon. We actually found ourselves quite energized for the rest of the day, and even picked up new yoga mats and water bottles!
By Kiki Larue . First Published in Island Gals Magazine . 2011 . Volume 1 . Issue 1
