You know, last two times I had a crazy idea about taking classes for some new physical activity, I ended up enjoying the thing and going to many more classes. In the case of running, it’s changed my life in ways that I never would have expected. Well, it seems like another one of those ideas is brewing. I’ve been asking around, and looking at various websites, and it seems like I really want to give hot yoga a shot. This is the kind of yoga that takes place in a really hot room to encourage warm muscles, and greater flexibility as a result. The obvious side effect is that it makes you generate a bucket of sweat. Judging from the hot run I had this past week, I might need a second bucket.

Why the heck am I considering this? It’s a good question. The thought of doing something like this seems out of the blue, no? Well, there’s a hot yoga studio a few doors down from the Running Room that I frequent. So it’s always sort of been on my radar for a while. I have a general innate level of flexibility that I figured I could easily parlay into yogic success. I just never thought of pursuing it thinking that yoga was sort of inaccessible for a slob like me. It always seemed to get filed away under “maybe one day” in my mind. I think the trigger for this sudden urge came from a conversation over dim sum with friends this past weekend. One of them suggested that I go for hot yoga as a good way to meet women. The joke was that everyone was very much scantily clad and sweating profusely making for good entertainment. It’s not like I want to go just because I’m horny, but the conversation seemed to strike a chord with me. Over the past month it seems like I’ve been actively trying to change my way of thinking and approaching things, going from more of a “why” position to “why not.” Know what I mean? As such, I think that I really was thinking, “Well, what’s stopping me? Why not? This activity should really help to get me a bit more toned, and a bit more upper body strength, which I sorely need.

As of this point, I’ve picked out a location. I’ve scanned the schedule. I think all I need to do is send an email to the studio for more details on how to drop in as a first-timer. I don’t know if this will turn into a regular thing, but it can’t hurt to give this a shot. Yes, I’m already active several days a week. This might affect how I feel on my runs. And, really, do I want to fill in my down days with something that’s bound to take a lot out of me? Well, if I’m being honest, I kind of like sweating. I don’t like it when I’m in my work clothes and I have to work on moisture control. However, when it comes to physical activity, sweating is fun. We’ll see where this leads. I’ll keep you all posted.