There have been times in my life when I actually really liked exercise. Yes, truly. I’ve belonged to several gyms in my time, enjoyed a run of Albert Park Lake at 5.30am and even attended Body Attack and Spin classes – the horror of horrors in the exercise world. So, given I have just spent a lazy winter on the couch, enjoying Friday nights in with Thai food, the footy and my boyfriend, I jumped at the chance to give One Hot Yoga a go.
One Hot Yoga is just as it sounds: Yoga that is conducted in a hot space. The room is heated to 37 degrees but unlike Bikram Yoga (where static poses are done in a heated room), One Hot Yoga is all about vigorous exercise. This is not for the faint hearted.
I recruited a girlfriend to tag along and confided I was really looking forward to this. We wore the prerequisite loose clothing and downed plenty of water on the way to the studio, scoring a rock star carpark right outside the door (There really is nothing worse than going to an exercise class and having to walk!!).
The studio is beautiful, located just behind the Como Centre near Chapel St and Toorak Rd. Architect designed, the One Hot Yoga studio features a stunning waiting area, gorgeous bath and changeroom facilities, a massage room and upstairs, the yoga studio features floor to ceiling mirrors and polished concrete floors. The hydronic heating creates a gentle and natural heat – and is the best low energy option.
Our instructor Natalie is so divine and she gives us a tour of the facility, including telling us about the One Body Products that are stocked in the bathrooms (shampoo, conditioners etc).
We lay out our mats, commenting that it would be easy to fall asleep in the 37 degrees – how different we felt 45 minutes later!
The yoga poses are relatively easy, with Natalie showing us techniques to try if we felt we were up to it. Within 5 minutes, I was starting to look lobster like. After thirty minutes, I looked like I’d run a marathon. At the forty five minute mark my body gave up and I took to the floor.
Perhaps I hadn’t had enough to eat for breakfast, perhaps not enough water – or maybe I’m just REALLY unfit or not great with heat – but the thing was, I had really been enjoying the movement before my head decided otherwise.
Yoga poses I am YEARS off achieving. But it’s nice to dream.
Natalie advised it takes some people a little while to get used to the heat – she barely broke a sweat! – so I’ll be back to try again, with greater hydration and more food (just to rule them out).
You can try One Hot Yoga with a newcomers pass just $25 for two weeks unlimited classes! There is also a casual visit, weekly pass and a 10 visit pass – or try it out for FREE on Saturday mornings at 10.30am for a limited time.
http://www.onehotyoga.com.au/
36 River Street
South Yarra Victoria
