On Getting to "The Zone"

Heart pounding. Sweat dripping. Breath is heavy, or non-existent. Focus is stuck on that one little point of light in front of you. A moment of stillness...

An explosion! Movement at the speed of light. Force applied so hard you feel like your body might break, but it doesn't.

And then it's over. Awareness of things that surround you starts to seep in. The cleansing, oh-so-good breath returns, invigorating your body with fresh oxygen.

But for that moment, be it a second or an hour-long moment, you are on a different level. I'm talking about being in the zone. I find it when I run repeated sprints. I find it near the second round of a Crossfit WOD. I find it when my lifts near my body weight, or when I am setting a new PR. Lately, I've been so glad to realize I have found it in yoga.

I recently purchased a LivingSocial deal at a hot yoga studio. Anyone who has researched the price of a yoga membership will know that $35 for a month of unlimited classes is a really good deal. I was in the mood for something new, and had heard yoga provided good balance to a heavy lifting schedule. And I was trying hot yoga, so at the very least I was guaranteed an hour of sweating. I thought to myself, "Why not? It's just a month. I'll go a couple times a week between my lifting days."

Om

Now, I can't get enough. Since last week I have gone to a class every day I have been in San Diego. I have tried Hatha and Vinyasa and the intro class. I have gone at 7 PM, 8:30 PM and 6 AM. I have been so pleasantly surprised that no matter what type of class or time I go, I find myself getting to my "zone" almost immediately. From the first relaxing child's pose to the last down dog, I am focused on myself, my breath, my intention. I love the idea of sharing my practice with my classmates. I love the help the instructor gives, reminding me of the power of superfriends. I love that it is not only acceptable but also praise-worthy to be at any stage of practice that one is capable of. It truly is non-competitive. With the sweat dripping I feel detoxified, powerful, serene. I feel like I can tackle anything. I walk out of every class with a huge smile on my face. Time passes so quickly in the zone, an hour of effort feels like a few minutes.

I'm sure at some point I will return to the heavy lifting, but for now, I am so content to ride the wave of yoga happiness. I feel pride that my strength training allows me to try different poses and to properly hold the chaturanga dandasana. I highly recommend giving it a try. You might be surprised at what you discover about yourself. I hope to see you in the studio, until then, Namaste.