4. Leave Your Shoes (and Your Clothes) at the Door
Bikram yoga, also known as hot yoga, has caught on like wildfire among students who love working up a serious sweat. But the truly free-and-easy like to shed their inhibitions—and their clothes—before stretching, bending, and lunging their way to enlightenment in one-hundred-plus-degree temperatures. The naked-yoga movement, spearheaded by a man named Aaron Star, who created a DVD series entitled Hot Nude Yoga, is steadily gaining popularity; studios exist in Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Montreal, and Salt Lake City. While some coed classes are available, the practice appeals largely to the gay male community. Despite the obvious intimacy these sessions involve, instructors insist nude yoga is about physical fitness, not physical lust, and about teaching people to become more comfortable with and attuned to their own bodies.
Take a Deep Breath
For purists, yoga is a deeply solitary exercise that they want to pursue on an empty stomach and unencumbered by distractions, such as a panting puppy or a sweaty, overzealous bachelor. But, as evidenced by the continued proliferation of these unique trends, there are plenty of other people who welcome the chance to integrate a little indulgence—be it romance, recreation, or a delicious meal—into a physically and spiritually demanding workout. Only you can know what type of yoga is right for you, but if you do decide to venture into one of these off-the-beaten-path sessions, try to be as mindful as you would in a regular old Vinyasa class. All those deep-breathing exercises have to be good for something, right?
