522 Wilson St, Santa Rosa California 95401
I've been practicing yoga for one hour and thirty minutes which is to say this review is composed of first impressions written the day after, contemplatively, because there really isn't much to think about during or immediately after a session of hot yoga in the evening and that's one of the perks along side good sleep, surprisingly smooth skin, and a bubbling positive awareness of body. To the prospective first timer, this is your signal to sign up, TRUST.
That said, the moment you walk in you will be greeted WARMLY! Staff will familiarize you with the amenities. There's secure lockers in exchange for car keys, and cubbies in the restrooms to store shoes. I brought a mat, large towel to put over it, a smaller towel for my face, and a Nalgene I drank a little over half of during the session.
The studio room itself is hot, and showing up early to acclimate was a good call. Also eating something small and healthy before hand helps. Its a deeply relaxing room for how hot it is, and there are glow in the dark stars on the ceiling to stare at while the body tries to figure out what's going on. Erin, the wonderful instructor with a kind sense of humor and perfect name for the role will demonstrate how to breath, and things will start making more sense in a proprioceptive way as you do little body check-ins. Do I need more water? Where's that breeze coming from? Where's the heat coming from? How big is this dark and mirrored room and who drew these goofy caricatures that will make much more sense once I start moving? Am I okay? yes.
Erin parses out the journey and the balancing act begins.
Something funny happens where you are so uncomfortable that you become comfortable.
Erin says 7 chakras are activated with each pose among other words that sound like cool incantations. You are reminded to watch your breathing. So far so good.
This is not a competitive sport and seeing your friend folding like a lawn chair out the corner of your eye is humbling. Erin says it is about the comfort of your own pace in an elegant way you want to learn to speak. It becomes about the comfort of your own pace. We are undermining authority one stretch at a time.
Things pick up, and it becomes harder to pick yourself up but you can sense it will become doable with practice.
Child's pose.
The stars follow from the ceiling as you stand back up way too fast because the next movement looks fun. First run-in with the threshold of passing out! Panic is impossible with this level of comfort, kinesthesia kicks in and you catch the determined look of yourself in the mirror amazed at how steadily you can stand on one leg. Well done beautiful creature that you are!
Regret wearing a shirt. Body shyness goes out the window.
Breath, reach, relax. Stretches are about letting go, not holding on, a paradigm shift ensues. Stars, panic, patience, relax. The rest is a blur.
I had a good time. Learned a lot about my body and what parts of need extra love. I'm neither athletic, nor flexible, and that absolutely did not exclude me from participation in anyway.
last note; the day after is a treat. For those used to feeling beat to hell after an intense workout, I'm having the opposite experience. I feel calm, cleansed, and surprisingly limber. My body also feels warmer like circulatory blocks have been removed.
10/10 experience, would recommend, will return, and will eventually regain childlike flexibility and the calm cast of mind to breath through moments of anxiety when starting to see stars.