Yoga tonight

To recover from yesterday's long run, I made sure I got to yoga class tonight. And presto, my various aches and creaks are gone!

Of course, it hurt like hell while I was doing class. This is a bikram yoga class, meaning it involves torturing yourself in the company of far too many half-dressed people, in a charmless sauna-like space, under the direction of a drill masterlike teacher, who keeps up a steady stream of patter to encourage you as you contort yourself into unlikely positions. Her best line tonight: "It is fine if you feel dizzy and nauseous!"

But even though my face drips sweat all over my mat, and my arms and legs are so revoltingly slippery that I can't properly grasp my knees/elbows/whatever, and so slide unbecomingly out of every bizarre position I'm urged to hold--even though I constantly ask myself what the hell I am thinking of doing this to myself--I keep coming back, because it works! I feel better afterward. Much, much better.

The torture chamber--aka Yoga for you has method in its madness. Go to www.yogaforyou.net to read about the studio and about bikram yoga.

My poor Libby is sick tonight, with a high fever, sore throat, and aches and pains. The doctor said it is "just a virus." Hope it passes away soon. Good night!