Thank god for yoga

Luddite Hipsters
Originally uploaded by Bob Maynard

Restored my balance through 1.5 hours of sweating, stretching and gasping for air. My arms were shaking and the mat was sticking to me by the end of it, but ah, the sweet sensation of muscle soreness after a solid workout. Today I can barely walk.
When you visit a new studio or have a new instructor yoga can take on a completely different experience. During the 5 minute relxation and breathing exercise at the end I almost laughed, as the instructor's soft voice and gentle words competed with police sirens, taxis honking and the general hullabaloo of New York's city streets. Usually the yoga class competes with the clang of weights being dropped in the gym, or music from a body pump class. But here, you're trying to destress in a noisy busy epicentre. Its testament to the 'power of the breath' that you can actually achieve a certain zen, despite it all.
I'm thrilled that the studio is 2 mins walk from work, so I've bought a 10 class thingo and I'm gonna go for it.
(Pic care of Bob from Florida, who is lucky enough still to be in posession of his iPhone.)