I took a yoga class during my senior year of college. Somehow, the dingy and cramped gymnasium-esque room, ratty exercise mats and lingering body order stench kind of zapped the whole “zen” experience. But I still felt great when it was over and wanted more, more, more. However, with limited funds in college, the idea of joining a local studio was out of the question.

That’s why I’m obsessed with Yoga Month and knew you lovely readers would appreciate it as well. You can get a free week of yoga at participating studios across the country anytime during the month of September! I know there’s only a week left (I just found out about it myself!), so go here right now and search your zip code to find a location close to your campus.

Never tried yoga? Well then, this is the perfect opportunity to try it out for a week and see what you think. I mean, it does have just a few benefits: less stress (it can even change your gene response to stress!), boosted mood (and perhaps a cure for depression and anxiety) and better posture (it may even reverse that slumped over look that happens after hours of computer usage). And hey, if the body bonuses don’t do it for you…what about totally adorbs yoga gear like Lululemon (which is cuter/nicer than 90 percent of normal clothes I typically wore to class)? I’ll take any excuse to shop some sales.

Yoga Month is totally free, so why not?

I’ve been attending a yoga class at the gym. I joined it so I could learn to get in touch with myself and relax and destress after a long day. I’m not really sure when I got out of touch with myself, but it sounds very zen and enlightened to say things like, “I just want to back in touch with myself.” And when people ask me if I like it, I just nod and tell them it’s nice to get back in touch with myself.

They look at me with jealousy because everyone would like to be in touch with themselves.

I’ve learned a lot since getting in touch with myself. Like I’ve learned that I lack flexibility. So instead of becoming destressed and relaxed I’ve become very stressed and unrelaxed. If I had never signed up for Yoga, I never would have learned that I’m incapable of doing a simple Downward Dog, nor would I know that my body refuses to do an appropriate Serpent.

I can’t even think about the failure that was Praying Possum.

My yoga teacher often comes up behind me, presses on various parts of my body, and says things like, “tell your calf muscle it’s safe and it’s ok to relax,” as if talking to my calf muscle will suddenly let me place it behind my ear. I mean, I definitely tried while the whole class looked on waiting to see how well I could communicate safety to my calf muscle. I haven’t been that embarrassed in front of a class since I confused organism with orgasm in 6th grade. Read More »

I used to think Yoga classes were a bunch of people stretching, meditating and laying around and, quite frankly, I wasn’t going to waste an hour of my precious time touching my toes in a circle with a bunch of tree hugging freaks.

But, after incessant begging by my sister-in-law, I threw on some Hard Tails and joined her for some Vinyasa Yoga fun.

Let’s just say I totally ate my words. Not only was the room filled with fit and beautiful people, but the class was f*cking hard and totally awesome. I was bending and stretching in ways I didn’t think possible. I sweat enough to saturate not one, but two towels.

And all the while the teacher was talking us through the pain; reminding us how strong, beautiful and completely amazing we all were.

And it was impossible not to believe.

Not only did the difficult class leave me feeling like I accomplished something great, but I left that class feeling fabulous. I felt cleansed, strong and sexy. As I drove home with my natural high I realized that yoga is more than just a good workout; it is also great for your mind…and your sex life.

First of all, at its core Yoga is simply a series of strengthening stretches. You spend a ton of time on the floor reaching for your toes and bending your body in unique ways. Read More »