Today was by far the hardest class of all.  I dont think anything will beat the mental challenge of class 1, but physically, today was the hardest.

Now let me rewind.  I was on my way to my regular 4:30pm time when there was an accident on the freeway which was re-routing traffic.  As you can imagine, this made me late to class.  Surprisingly only about 5min late, but still late and you can't go into class once it has already started.  Given the time, I knew I couldnt go home and come back for the 6:15pm class.  So, I had about an hour and a half to kill waiting for the next class. 

Normally, this sort of thing would make me very anxious and upset.  But, it's yoga afterall, so I knew I had to take this highly frustrating chain of events and be calm.  Even on the drive over I was telling myself (well first I was saying "please dont get a speeding ticket") but then I was reminding myself that feeling frustrated and anxious about the situation was not going to change whether I made it to class on time or not.  So, I just tried to get there in time.

Now, understand that I am on a schedule.  It is not just a matter of showing up at 4:30pm for class everyday.  I have to time my water consumption and my eating schedule.  These are things that I must think about and figure out from the beginning of my day.  So, when I missed the 4:30pm time, everything was thrown off.  I only had enough water for class, not for the hour and a half wait for class (this was an easy fix, I just bought more).  And I was starving.

This is going to be my first piece of Bikram yoga advice:  When they say not to eat 2-3 hrs before class, they mean it!  But, I was sooooooo hungry and I couldnt fathom not eating until after the 6:15pm class ended at 7:45pm and then the drive home etc.  I was sure I would starve to death.  So, I was just going to have a snack.  Class was still an hour away.  It's just a snack.  Now, just because it says "snack" in the title on the McDonald's menu, does not make it a snack!  In hindsight, a handful of nuts or a piece of fruit or something probably would have been ok.  A snack wrap with chicken and tortilla and spicy sauce.  Well, what can I say, it was stupid.

I still dont know exactly why physiologically they say not to eat before class.  But I know after tonight's class that I never want to make that mistake again.  I felt like my body was overheating.  I had chills and tingling throughout the whole class.  I felt dizzy and naseous.  I felt so, so hot.  The soles of my feet were on fire, like walking on hot coals (because, yes, I do that in my spare time, so I know just what that feels like).  Even the relaxation pose in between didnt help at all because I was just so hot.  I felt like I was going to combust.  Forget focus and being in the moment, I just wanted to live.

But I made it through.  I stayed in the room.  I didnt pass out.  And well, that is good enough!