First Free Class: Yoga at Lululemon

So, went to a free yoga class today at the Lululemon store on Michigan Avenue.

I think yoga means stretching for a long time and looking really relaxed in public.

I kept waiting for the torture part to happen and it just didn’t happen.  I like stretching so I think I will keep going to this class.

Observations about yoga in general since I am a newcomer:

- Some people have learned to breath like Darth Vader. 

Seriously, I have never had a group of polite polished looking people breath so loudly around me.  But more specifically, the breathing really really sounded like Darth Vader. It also seemed that the yoga people breathed more like Darth Vader as the stretching and bending got more intense.  As if they were summoning the dark side to help them get their noses closer to their knees.

- One must have well groomed, soft-looking feet.

It’s winter.  I have not had bare feet in ages.  In the shower, I wash my feet, but nothing special.  Soap, water, rinse.  In the future, I think I will add lotion and pumice stone to that routine because my feet were looking a little… rough.  A large portion of the class was spent getting my face as close to my feet as possible, so I was able to observe my feet up close. 

- I feel really relaxed.

All the stretching prepared me perfectly for a nap or a bath or other relaxing activities.  Normally, I find working out stressful (generally because I lack athletic talent).  But I am flexible, so yoga was soothing. 

- Everyone owned some Lululemon clothing. 

The class is held in the store, so often while working on a pose, I found myself concentrating very hard on the garments hanging just a few feet from my head. The store was really pretty and there was plenty of room, but it’s a store so there is merchandise everywhere.  After glancing around at the other people in the class, I noticed that every single person in the class was wearing at least one article of Lululemon clothing.  I don’t blame them.  The clothes look great.  But man, they are on the pricey side. 

- Don’t come late. They lock the door.

Conclusion:

This class was great.  It’s free. It happens every week. I will be doing this again.
 http://www.lululemon.com/chicago/michiganavenue/events/