Listen to your inner yogi...

The other day I got together with some of my fellow lululemon athletica girls and we made our way to the Yoga Tree in the Castro. Now since I have only done a couple of yoga classes and most were taught in a PE class, I was slightly nervous when it came to going to an actual yoga stuio. And of course, in true lululemon style, we were at the front of the class where we could be seen by everyone. I started off introducing myself to Tim, our awesome yoga teacher, and warning him that if I toppled over just to ignore me and I'll get right back up again. He laughed of course thinking I was kidding and I awkwardly laughed back since I knew I was serious...

Once the class got started and we did the opening deep breaths I got over it. I tried every pose whether I got it the first time or had to work on it a little bit. Tim also offered a bunch of modified poses that could be done for us yoga newbies. At one point he invited people to do handstands at the special request of one of the other women and I have to admit I chose to skip that one for my health as well as the health of my two friends next to me. All in all by the end of it I was sweating ridiculously and felt as if I had stretched and worked my entire body in a calming and rejuvenating way. It wasn't just a physical rejuvenation but a mental one as well. I have been pushing myself so hard lately and to take the time to focus on my body and check in with it is what I have learned to love the most about the brief-spirts of yoga that I have done.

As far as how I felt about the class at Yoga Tree, I thought it was great. The woman at the front desk was hilarious when we found out that there is another Hadley there and that she has the same last name as me (such a small world!). I also thought that Tim was great in responding to my random facial expressions and subtly pushing me to try the next level. And the space was so interesting and unique and yet not too intimidating for the less intense yogis like myself. So go check out the Yoga Tree or a local yoga studio in your area!