瑜珈 (yújiā = yoga)

Around the time that we arrived here, we noticed that there was a newly opened yoga studio just a few blocks from our home. We decided we would like to try it out sometime, perhaps after a little while of settling here in our new home.

Tonight, we decided to check it out. We joined a beginner's yoga class of about 6 students and 1 teacher. I was... the only male (which brings back memories of being in a gymnastics class as a kindergartener... I was the only boy in a class of 20+ girls. But that's a whole other story.).

It was interesting to participate in a yoga class instructed completely in Chinese. The same instructions are repeated over and over again, which actually makes it a great language learning exercise. For example, I can't even count how many times I heard 自然呼吸 (zìrán hūxī = breathe naturally).

In yoga classes in the States, I remember instructors frequently saying that the students are not to pay attention to nor comment on how anybody else is doing it... this isn't a competition, and comparison will only stress you out when you're supposed to be relaxed. I don't believe this is the case in yoga classes here... in this culture, many things - good and bad - are commented upon openly and out loud.

Early on, I was complimented for how flexible I was as a guy (something that probably goes back to that gymnastics class as a kindergartener). I think it's embarrassing for a 30-year old guy when a bunch of older women tell him that he's flexible. But oh well.

At the end of the class, when the teacher was asking all of the students what we thought, one woman said, "I feel like I couldn't do some of the stretches because they were too difficult." The teacher said, "It's ok. You don't have to stretch too far at all, as long as you're doing right." And then she stood next to Bethany and said (in a very nice way), "For example, this girl here... she doesn't push herself very hard at all to do these stretches. But that is ok." That gave me and Bethany a pretty good laugh.

All in all, the yoga class was pretty good. The teacher is very nice. We kind of wish there was a little less breathing and relaxing, and instead more poses. Whether or not we continue... that is still to be decided. But regardless... I am planning on playing volleyball on Monday night. :)