Partner Yoga: Swapping Sweat With A Stranger
I don’t know about you, but I usually practice yoga alone. Not totally alone mind you…in a class with other people, but alone on my mat. This is just the way I have always done it.
I recently decided to stop in at a studio I don’t usually go to because I had appointments near there. Everything started out just fine…it was a challenging class and I was enjoying the series of asanas. The teacher then stopped and asked all of us to find a partner. Red flag. I had heard the term partner yoga before, but had never really embraced the idea of getting that close and personal with a total stranger. I thought it was something only married couples did together and quite honestly thought it was just a bit freakish.
So now to find a partner. To my left two women had already partnered up, so I look to my right and much to my dismay I discover the only male in the room sitting there smiling back at me. Now this wouldn’t have been such a bad thing if he had been a young hottie…the guy you see in the movies taking yoga classes, totally buff and half naked. No such luck. He was one big sweaty mess. Obviously the class had been a bit too difficult for him so far because you could wring his shirt out and it would form a puddle at your feet. So lucky me, I get to be this man’s partner.
In my wildest imagination, I could not have envisioned the positions this woman was about to put us into together. Here we were, two complete strangers intertwined in positions my husband would have been impressed with in the bedroom. To give you a visual, I started out in Downward Dog with this sweatball straddling my head. He then sat down on me and had to completely lie down on my back while I held him up. He was a bit of a pudger so this was no small feat. I could feel his sweat drenching into my shirt and was trying hard not to gag on the stench. Next, I had to get into childs pose and he sat his buttocks down on mine and proceeded once again to lie down on my now sweat drenched back. (That’s HIS sweat, not mine). We got to hold this position for a while as he relaxed and moaned a bit enjoying his stretch. We followed this up with him massaging my back to loosen things up before we switched positions. Then, it was my turn to be on top. Oh joy! I mean, you can’t make this stuff up. I was trying so hard to hold in the school girl giggles, but they finally got the best of me. I just started cracking up…body shaking, the works. I have a feeling he felt a little insulted by that, but I honestly couldn’t help it.
I couldn’t even look this man in the eye as I left the class that day. I felt like I had just had a one night stand with a total stranger…with a roomful of witnesses no less. Since I had previously made plans to meet a business associate for lunch and then get a haircut after the yoga class, I had to proceed through the remainder of my day with the scent of this man’s sweat lingering on my body. I can honestly say I’ve never been more grossed out in my life. The moral of the story…yoga is best done alone.
Wow. I don’t even know where to start …. hmmmm…. sweaty strange men….. Where was this class? Can anyone join? JK
I might be too girlie about this, but that’s one of the things I don’t like about gyms also – other peoples’ sweat.
Congrats Carol! Love the site. Pudger? I resent that remark!
Best of luck with the site.
I’m so impressed…. the partner Yoga is quite hilarious…. keep it up, Carol…. very informative and fun, too. xoxo mom.
Thanks Mom! Glad to have you as a fan
interesting story, I can appreciate your viewpoint, however, as a yoga instuctor, I would, when doing such, pair up the students myself, as you must be a similar body type, and weight, and flexibility for it to have a chance, also it should not be foisted on someone, midway through a sweaty class! Sounds like it’s not for you, but one bad experience shouldn’t stain the whole genre. In the right setting, with the right person, it can be very healing and supporting, if healing and support are what you need or want, and can lead to avenues that deepen your practice and allow you to go deeper into poses. Your misguided teacher asked a bit much from a sweaty stranger, in fact way too much, but pick anything you like, say wine,for example, and it can be warm swill out of a plastic cup, or sheer delight swirling around an elegant goblet.
Well said Peter. Maybe I should give partner yoga another shot.
Carol you just crack me up! The visuals were vivid! Next time I will go with you.
I bookmarked this site, Thank you for good job!
I’m glad you like it…thanks for reading!
I rarely comment on blogs but yours I had to stop and say Great Blog!!
Just wanted to give you a shout from the valley of the sun, great information. Much appreciated.
Awesome post! I couldn’t have used better words . This is a subject matter that is that I often think about and I thought you covered it flawlessly. I recently started writing a blog as well but I’m not especiallygood at it yet. Would fancy to look at more of your site and I’ll definitely revisit again!
thanks for that
Hi there,
Great site, Ive got another great blog id like to share with you been following the articles these guys are writing about protein supplements and the like. really good stuff might be of some use to yourself and your readers.
keep it up!