3 More Things I have Learned from Sweaty Naked People
In the past 15 years, I’ve touched more than 5000 sweaty, naked people. By choice.
I am a hot yoga teacher.
I mostly frown on public nakedness (I have had several requests to add “nude hot yoga” to our schedule. Not gonna happen.) Hot yoga is the exception.
In hot yoga, you're shedding your clothing... and your secrets. Because like it or not, your body never lies.
I touch sweat-drenched students with the intention to bring you deeper into a pose. And as I hold on, you teach me a lot about what you are willing to let go.
What are you releasing in hot yoga? I can tell you with a single touch...
There you are, mat to mat with people of all sizes, shapes and smells, testing the limits of your skimpiest clothing, your dripping sweat, your ability to focus despite distractions (this is not easy, especially in forward bends.)
As I hot yoga teacher, I hear what you say (“My Carpal Tunnel Syndrome won’t get any better,” “Weak shoulders run in my family,” “I've crippled my hips as a dancer,”) but words don’t tell your story. Not by a long shot.
Your body, on the other hand, tells all. No holds barred. Every cell in your body remembers. No exceptions.
Everything you have ever felt is etched into your body. You hide your pain in the furrow between your eyebrows. You carry your sadness on your shoulders. You store fear in our gut, and you literally wear your hearts on your "sleeves."
Me, too.
I learn all this and more by placing my hand on your lower back in Separate Leg Stretching, lifting your scapula in Pranayama, gently unfurling your twisted shoulder in Half Spinal Twist. Standing beside you I hear the sound of struggle or surrender.
When you follow the flow of the instructions and go with the gentle touches in hot yoga, you are ready to release the pent-up emotions that caused stiffness in your body in the first place. This is not always easy, but it's always a choice for healing.
Here are 3 Things I Learned By Touching Sweaty Naked People:
1. Every Cell Thinks: Those amazing, constanly renewing cells of your body recreate themselves over and over again - every seven years you have a new body. You can recreate sickness or health, wellness or illness, happy or stressed. You are powerful, capable, heal-able; and whatever you think, you become. You can think yourself whole starting in your next hot yoga class.
2. You are Always Right: No need to argue or prove it anymore; if you think you can, you're right. If you think you can't, you're right. Your body will express whatever you think and prove you right. Which is more powerful, mind or body? The winning combination is to use mind and body together; then you are unstoppable.
3. You have a SmartBody. Intelligence is not all in your mind. Every part of your body has its own intellect. What goes on in your muscles, your breathing, your pulse is actually highly intelligent, and your body always moves towards health. Your mind may play games with you, but can trust your body to always tell you the truth.
Your body will express your most dearly held beliefs. And your body cannot express two completely opposite situations at the same time. You cannot be stressed when you are in total relaxation. You cannot hold dis-ease when you feel good about yourself. The more feel-good practices you do, the better your body will reflect it.
Return to hot yoga often and watch your reflection in the mirror transform right before your eyes. Use your body to go beyond your perceived limitations.
That's what hot yoga is all about. So - what have you learned about yourself from your hot yoga practice?
disease, hot yoga, hot yoga practice, stress, sweat in Hot Yoga Benefits 
Reader Comments (6)
So what have I learned about myself from my Hot Yoga practice? I would say resilience. I, also, find that the more I practice hot yoga, the more connected to myself I become. It is a 90 minute open eye mediation pushing of myself out of my comfort zone. Once out of my comfort zone, I grow. Great points made.
I have learned that my body is smarter than my mind. When I stop thinking about my scoliosis, my running injuries, etc and just let my body take over in hot yoga, healing occurs and these stories no longer define me.
I have learned patience and that I do know what my body is capable of doing , even when I have been told othere wise.
I have learned that the only thing holding me back is me... and I have learned that I am capable of so much more than I allow myself to believe.
I also have learned that I'm afraid of seeing what I could do should I really "allow" myself to surpass myself--and so that's the limitation I'm using my practice to move beyond at the moment.
I've learned that there is no such thing as a bad practice. I can take away at least one positive thing after every hot yoga class. I've started to extend that to my daily life and also in helping boost others negative moods after "bad days". If we can think of one thing we are grateful for or positive about, then it is worth it and we are worth it.
Alex, I, for one, am learning a lot from your amazing positivity! Thanks for always having something brightening to say, even on cloudy days.