How did I get into this position?

Tan has been trying to get me to try yoga for a while. She said it will make you feel good. So I finally caved in because I had nothing better to do, and it was free for first-timers.

We entered a hot room and sat on thin mats. The instructor, a middle-aged foreign woman, greeted us and pointed to the mats reserved for new people.

We began with breathing exercises. "Inhale deeply, slowly. Now exhale completely. Get all of the air out of your lungs."

As we did this we held our hands over our heads. We did this a few more times to finish the warm up.

We did a series of standing positions next. It didn't take long before I could really feel some soreness. WIthin 10 minutes I sweat so much that it looked like I had had gone swimming.
In one position, I had to lean forward with my arm extended towards the wall in front of me and above my head while balancing on one leg and lifting the other one so my ankle was visible above my head in the mirror in front of me. I fell once trying. But I finally got it and the instructor said, "That's beautiful Steve." Jaron made no attempt to hide his amusement from hearing this comment. He was cracking up. I got to laugh at him too though. In another position, the instructor told him to spread his legs farther, and he couldn't do it.

Then we began doing some positions on the floor. I thought it would get easier. Wrong! I couldn't believe that the floor positons could be so painful. My least favorite was one where you have to spread your arms and lift your legs and stomach like your a Boeing 747 taking off. I wasn't able to hold the positon. This position is not ideal for men. The instructor said it was good for digestion, but it didn't feel good at all at the time.

In another position the instructor used an expression that reminds me of all the stereotypical images I have of yoga instructors. "Now curl up like an angry cat." I'm definitely not meant to be a cat. I must have looked angry though. The instructor said, "Good job."

When I finished I was freezing because I was soaked and walking through air conditioned rooms. Tan, Stephanie and Shelley enjoyed it. Jaron and I were less enthusiastic. But I admit I felt much better the next day. My lower back felt good. I felt so good that I will probably do it again. But since it costs $10 per session, I won't be doing Yoga very often.

Yoga is worth trying because it honestly makes you feel great. See y'all later.