Yesterday I took my first group, in-person yoga class in almost one full year.

And it felt awesome.

For the last six or so years, I’ve been a solo practitioner. I roll out my mat in my home to do a self-guided class or an online practice with my teacher. I like my alone time and being alone during my yoga practice feels so right.

When I was new to practicing yoga I lived for group classes. I loved moving in unison with the folks around me to a set soundtrack like we were in an infomercial for some cool, new fitness video. I loved the semi-awkward post-class smiles shared with other students I didn’t really know and also kind of knew because we were always in the same yoga classes.

There’s something about moving and breathing with other people that is so uplifting. Here we are. Doing this thing together. Our shapes might not look the same and our breathing cadence might differ, but we’re doing this together.

My reintroduction to the group, in-person practice was an ambitious one: Hot Yoga. I voluntarily went from my air conditioned home where I do a little bit of slow flow and mobility work for my hips and shoulders to 60 minutes of holding shapes I rarely do in a very hot, humid studio. I suppose I don’t fully understand the concept of easing back into things.

Although it has a gross and tarnished history (Google Bikram Choudhury if you’re unfamiliar), I’ve always been a fan of a Hot Yoga practice. I appreciate that the practice includes breathing exercises and the moments of stillness work well for my busy brain.

In yesterday’s practice, about 30 minutes in, my brain was filled with Wow. I’ve really missed this.

Of course 15 minutes later my brain was filled with I have made a terrible mistake! That heat and humidity is no joke, folks!

In my home practice I typically don’t have those moments of highs and lows. To be clear, I don’t think a yoga practice - however you approach it - needs to have extreme elements. I love my home practice because it’s dependable. I love my home practice because I meet my body and mind where they’re at in that moment. I choose to dabble into extremes with other movement modalities like long-distance running and weight lifting.

It felt so good to be a yoga student in a physical space with other students knowing that we were all doing our own practice while having our own experiences and we were doing it together.

So, Twin Cities folks, where and when are you practicing these days? Maybe I’ll roll out my mat next to yours. Perhaps in an upcoming Hot Yoga class?