Yoga Montclair

I apologize that I took a break from blogging for awhile but I was recently inspired by an idea I had about writing reviews on gyms and studio's around Jersey. I think this is beneficial because sometimes when we sign up for a gym we don't know what else is out there and could be missing out on something great.

My first review is for Yoga Montclair on 107 Forest Street. I stumbled on this studio by accident while I was at Lululemon attending the free yoga class they have in the store every saturday. I have never belonged to a yoga studio and in the past I have taken hot and regular yoga but I never stuck with it. But while I was sitting on my mat waiting for the class to start, one of the workers gave me a pass for a free week to Yoga Montclair. I was excited because I feel like I get into workout ruts so easily because I do similar workouts each week. Another part of me wanted to get better at yoga because I really suck.

Monday I started my free week with Sharon as my instructor, she had infectious energy and a huge smile that never went away. In the beginning I had to hold in my laughter when everyone started chanting om because I thought it was so funny.....I know I'm weird. The class was a struggle, I found it difficult to hold the poses and I was sweating so much that my feet felt like I walked into a puddle. Maybe it was really hot in there or I may have a sweating problem but that doesn't matter. During the entire class I could not wait for savansana which is basically when you lay down and fall asleep. I was so happy that the class was over, it wasn't a bad class I just think that I had the attitude that I wasn't made to do this.

Tuesday I had Julie, I was so intrigued with the people who practiced yoga in the classes I went to because they were all so different. If I saw some of these people on the street I would have never thought they would do yoga, but I suppose that is the beauty of it. The class started with Julie reading a great passage about how you have to stay in the drivers seat in your life even when you have other responsibilities you have the choice in your life. I love a good inspirational story or quote. This got me to thinking I wish the teacher talked the entire time about life and it's meaning. Then I wondered if I would like meditation, but then I realized it was at 8 in the morning and I haven't woken up that early since last summer at my job at a day camp. I felt a little bit more flexible during class and I was happy we used a lot of core. Gotta get those abs.

Wednesday I got my hair done and I didn't feel like getting sweaty and ruining my locks so I scheduled my next class for thursday with Donna. I loved her story about how a judge on "Dancing With The Stars" told a contestant that everyone has a light and your light is one. She elaborated saying there are things and people in your life that make you feel filled with light and you have to take time to do that for yourself. I have this problem that whenever people are giving me advice I want to apply their knowledge to a specific situation but I also want to absorb the information. I did more absorbing than thinking but that was okay because when I went back saturday for my next class with Donna it was the same lesson. These two classes focused on pushing our chests out and shoulders back to shine the light through ourselves. Since I already had the muscle memory of some of the poses, I felt like I was getting the hang of yoga. I enjoyed saturday because I realized one of the things that brings brightness to my life is doing handstands, which we practiced in class. Whenever I'm in a handstand I feel proud and capable of how strong I am to accomplish this skill. This time I didn't savansana to come because the class seemed to have flown by.

On International Yoga Day, was my final class with Omni, if that doesn't sound like a yoga instructor's name I don't know what does. Her purpose for the class was that we are capable of achieving anything and there is always more. I never felt like a real yogi until a girl about my age came up to me asking what she needed and why did we have blankets. I was thinking to myself I am finally one of them. From the start I decided I really liked Omni and felt like she was a really cool person. She also pushed me harder than all of the other instructors, she forced us to extend and lengthen our bodies to the extreme because she said we are capable of doing this. We got to do handstands, I was like woo two days in a row. This technique was harder, instead of arms extended long, our forearms were the base of this handstand. Today's class was my favorite and although the other instructors were great I enjoyed this class the most. The message was what I needed to push me into the unknown that is my life and career.

I came into this deal thinking I just wanted to use a freebie to try something different, but now after this week I know I enjoyed the challenges yoga teaches us to overcome. Yoga is great to make you feel energized and to help you get in tune with your mind and body. Even though the studio is too hot for me I currently am looking for cheapish packages so I do yoga more often. Sometimes people discount things they"think" they won't be good at but if your keep an open mind you never know what can happen whether it is an exercise program or something else in your life you should always try.