Hiking Yoga

So before I launch into cooking/crafting, I wanted to do a quick life-update.

This Sunday I went to "free yoga" at Lulu Lemon Athletica. This is a very risky activity for someone like myself. Now you might be thinking this is dangerous because I have weak knees or something, but no...it is far worse...I have a weak sense of willpower when it comes to overpriced workout clothes. You see, Lulu Lemon is incredibly expensive, but also incredibly cute and fun. I realize that the people behind Lulu are pretty smart. It is rarely a "free" yoga class for most of the attendees. After all, you're spending an hour in the store...surrounded by their products being taught yoga by instructors wearing the clothes and everyone is so friendly...and then they ask you if you have any questions and all of a sudden you find yourself in the dressing room with 3 pairs of stretch pants and a $50 sports bra. Oh yes, it is a great marketing tactic.

When under retail attack I normally resort to one of humanity's natural defensive instincts: Fight or Flight. In the case of weekly yoga, I choose Flight and book it out of the store as fast as you can say "Namaste". (Note: this strategy has worked flawlessly, I realize I have not EVER purchased something from Lulu Lemon.)

This brings me to the actual point of this post. This week, instead of our usual class in the store, we did something a little (read: a LOT) different. When I walked into the store with my mat this rainy Sunday morning I was greeted with, "Oh good, you wore your running shoes. This week we aren't doing regular yoga. We're doing HIKING YOGA!"

Gulp.

What is hiking yoga you ask? It is yoga-bootcamp. A 90 minute, intense power walk/run (in the rain!) through the hilliest part of San Francisco then pausing at the top of a mountain to do a bunch of yoga poses.

In conclusion, I survived. It was a very intense workout but it was really really fun. Everyone was really great and the instructor was fabulous and encouraging. I even met a really nice girl who is a fellow knitter and classic movie/musical lover! Yay for new friends. Also, I am proud to say that I kind of kicked butt on this hike. I definitely ran up one of the longest, steepest blocks in the city, leaving the group in the dust and was applauded by a complete stranger who happened to be standing on the corner.

I guess walking uphill everyday is paying off!