Went to one class, mortified but wanted to go back.

Hi, I’m “older and overweight” but I rock the class even if my poses aren’t picture perfect, so here’s my take on it for what it is worth.

What you experienced is completely NORMAL for your first class(es). I was exactly like how you described for seriously the two months of regular practice. I am also like that when I am getting over an illness or am stressed and can’t get a grip on my breathing.

I think that you were definitely dehydrated (dark pee is a key indicator) and weren’t able to breathe properly because you were well just a bit panicky. Here’s what I did when I started and felt exactly like you.

Night before: water water water, seriously like 3 large tumblers. You’ll pee throughout the night to start off with but you’ll adjust in time.

Just before class: 1 hour to 30 minutes before, another large tumbler of water. This will prep you for the class. I also eat a banana — I don’t have any issues with this but it has to be an hour before class or so in order to get the energy/minerals etc. from it.

During class: for the first while, take in a bottle of water with emergenC mixed in. Sip it when you need throughout class. Take a position in the class nearest the doors — air seepage in and around the doors means it is cooler there. Or, ask a fellow classmate or an instructor where the coolest part of the room is and set up there. Get there with at least 20 minutes to lie in the room to acclimatize. This makes it easier on you when you start up. If you feel dizzy or ill during class, for goodness sakes don’t be a hero! Lie down in savasana and get up when you are ready — it took me over 2 months to complete the entire series without lying down. Today I often do back to back doubles classes, so you can work through this. Remember that the first breathing exercise is superimportant because you have to breathe deeply throughout the class. If you are breathing shallowly, you’ll have the sense that you can’t get enough air into your lungs which will make you panic and hyperventilate. If you panic, lie down in savasana and just focus on your breathing…in two three OUT two three IN two three OUT two three…take your time and relax. No one is taking notice if you lie down. Trust me — we are all focused on our own practice. Listen to your body, be kind to yourself, and just breathe and lie down when you need to.

After class: lie in savasana if you need to outside the class. Again I did this for the first 2 months. I set up my towel on the floor outside the classroom after class and lay there til I recovered. Finish off your water with the emergenC in it. Then for the rest of the day, drink lots of water. Supplement your water with something like GASTROLYTE or use PEDIALYTE or a sports drink at least weekly. This will replace your electrolytes which is absolutely necessary if you are exercising in heat. Also, eat a banana after class – it really helps. And that evening, 3 tumblers of water, too.

You can work through this. Don’t panic, do what you can, listen to yourself and your body, don’t be a hero and lie down for crying out loud when you feel dizzy or ill, replace your electrolytes, eat healthfully. It WILL work out, promise…

Freia

ps 6am classes ROCK, yo…try to just for the first week go to 4 classes on consecutive days. This will help you acclimatize much more quickly than if you go to a class or two a week…just a thought…

Sounds perfectly normal to me!!! Hope that you will keep going. I’ve been going for a couple months now and have good days and bad days.