Yoga in Woodbury

I’ve been a runner for going on 20 years now and although running is my main sport, I’m always looking for cross-training opportunities to keep things interesting and help me maintain my overall fitness. As I get older I’m much more conscious of my body’s limitations and the need for flexibility to accommodate my “aging infrastructure”.

That said I have never been a big fan of stretching. There simply isn’t much scientific evidence to show that pre-run stretching provides any benefits, and there are some studies that show it to be downright harmful. Studies of post-run stretching are similarly unimpressive. So how can you increase your flexibility without running the risk of causing an injury? In a word, Yoga.

Yoga and I have had a contentious relationship from the get go. Like most runners, my hamstrings are tight as guitar strings. Like most men, I am unaccustomed to bending down for any purpose other than to retrieve a beer from the cooler. Nevertheless, every few years I take a yoga class in the hopes that something will loosen up or I’ll find my way to the perfect downward dog without making a total ass out of myself in the process.

The last time I tried a hit the mat was probably around 2003, when I was working Downtown. I made the mistake of trying a “Hot Yoga” class at some high power-studio in Tribeca.  The class I picked to attend consisted of me, a sweaty, pale out of shape lawyer and about fifteen of the most attractive looking twenty-something year old girls I had ever seen in my life. Manhattan being what it is, the class was held in a room that was roughly the size and temperature of a small sauna. For the entire class I was focused on exactly one thing-not sweating on anyone. I ran out of there after the class and never came back. That was pretty much it for me and Yoga until recently.

A few months ago, I found myself in the lobby of Absolute Yoga in Woodbury.  I was buying a gift certificate for my wife, but I also started thinking that it might be time to try another class. I had read a bit about Yoga recently and had even tried a couple of DVD’s at home, (with the blinds down), and I had liked the way that my body responded to the exercises. I bit the bullet and forced my wife to accompany me to a beginner’s class.

I am pleased to report that not only was the class perfectly paced and taught, but the atmosphere in the room was the very opposite of intimidating. For the first time I was able to focus on what I was doing rather than worrying about looking like an idiot. The class I attended was a Level I class, but Absolute also offers a very basic introductory series for those who are completely unfamiliar with yoga.  I have been back for a second class, and I’m hopeful I can get there at least once a week through the remainder of the summer.

Even though the Level I class is pretty basic, I still found it to be a challenging work-out. Muscles I hadn’t used in a very long time were complaining quite loudly about being woken up and forced to support my body weight. Still, afterwards I felt very balanced and quite energized. I recommend Yoga for anyone looking to mix up their work-outs. I also think Absolute Yoga is great place to take classes.