Hot Yoga Day 1

This month's challenge: 20 in 30. I have to make it to 20 classes during the 30 days of April.

Why did I sign up for this? The short answer is that I want to lose weight. The long answer lies somewhere in years of therapy that only Freud could figure out. But whatever the reason my weight or my insanity, I am commited to see this through.

It all began about a month ago when I jokingly mentioned Hot Yoga to a friend over coffee. Neither one of us knew exactly what it was. I had stumbled across it reading about Jennifer Aniston. She said the results of doing this hot yoga were amazing. But I'm not quoting her. Who needs to? Pictures don't lie. Of course unless they have been air brushed. But there are far too many great pictures of Jennifer Aniston to believe that they are all retouched. Besides it would cost a fortune.

So with the inspiration and incredible belief that I could somehow get a body like Jennifer Aniston's by doing Hot Yoga- my friends and I give it a try.

Imagine if you will turning up the heat to 106 degrees. Then add a little moisture with a humidifier. The amount you sweat is, to put is bluntly, disgusting. Not that you notice when you are doing your tenth "Up Dog" or trying to figure out how anyone can wrap their right elbow underneath the left while simultaneously wrapping their left leg around their right. That is called "eagle arms and eagle legs". I call it insane. But our yogi encourages us and somehow I made it through.

As we peel ourselves off the floor, our dedicated yogi comes over to me with a concerned look on her face. "How did you do?" she asks.

"I made it," I reply.

She smiles.

Walking to my car I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. Wow! I look like a drown rat recently revived. Erma Bombeck's quote comes to my mind. "When you look like your passport photo, it's time to go home."

Unfortunately, she didn't say what to do when you look worse than you passport photo.