This winter I found a new favorite way to stay warm (like really, really warm), workout, and relax–and all in 60 to 90 minutes . . .
Hot yoga!
I’ve been a closet yogi for a while, meaning only doing yoga from the comfort of my own home thanks to Sarah Beth Yoga and Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. Then, this summer I started doing yoga with a community of yogis via Downtown Iowa City’s free Sunday morning yoga series. When the series wrapped at the end of October 2018, I found myself looking for another way to practice yoga outside of the comfort of my own home.
I like practicing yoga in a community for a few reasons:
- It kept me honest. I had other people to be accountable to. Frankly, making the commitment to get dressed and get out of the house for yoga made it much more likely that I would do yoga.
- I learned new things that I couldn’t learn from YouTube yoga.
- It was fun!
Pay As You Go
In my quest to find another yoga class, I found community yoga classes in the Iowa City area. Personally, I like the community classes because they are pay-as-you-go, and if you are only going to practice once or twice a week, they are actually less expensive than paying for a punch card or monthly/yearly pass to the yoga studios in town.
Community classes range from $6-$10 per class and are open to anyone, just sign their waiver and fork over the dough. I’ve been in community classes where I have the most yoga experience (less than 6 months) and where I have the least amount of yoga experience — anything’s OK!
Casual Atmosphere
Community yoga classes usually don’t fit the yogi stereotype. Sure, I’ve seen people sporting their LuLu’s and strappy sports bras, but most people show up in a t-shirt and shorts or leggings; no one really cares.
Prep Before You Go
In Iowa City, most of the community classes are hot yoga or warm vinyasa. Either way the thermostat will be cranked up to anywhere from 93-106 degrees. This means you gotta prep to go. Drink plenty of water for the entire day before going to yoga, bring a water bottle with you, and keep hydrating after you get home. Bring a mat if you have one (if not, you can rent one at the studio), and a small towel.
Relax, Relax, Relax
This was the best surprise and best kept secret about yoga in a studio: most of the practices end with a 5 minute mediation, and some end with the instructor placing a cool towel on your head and giving you mini massage on your temples. Mom win!
Do you practice yoga? Where is your favorite place to go?
Related: More yoga in the Iowa City area
