For nearly two years, I have suffered from back pain. We will call it that. If I try to explain what is really going on with my body, you would be like what the hell is wrong with this girl. I’m pretty positive it was from sitting at a desk for years, stress and not taking care of myself. You know, all the stuff they warn you about.
The pain is pretty constant and I have tried many treatments. I did the whole physical therapy thing, which didn’t seem to even touch it. I am pretty much best friends with my chiropractor, although I’m not sure I’m his favorite patient. I had acupuncture done. It actually did seem to make a difference, but for some reason, I never went back. I’ve been tested for arthritis and had an MRI. Luckily, I’m healthy, but that doesn’t solve my problem.
I started doing PiYo at the beginning of the year, which I highly recommend. For anyone that thinks yoga is boring but wants similar benefits, this might be for you. I bought a trigger point massage tool and a foam roller. These are both amazing. I have tried so many different vitamins and minerals. Anything someone suggests, I buy it.
The thing that seems to help me the most is stretching, so I started doing yoga. Today I got to experience hot yoga for the first time and I LOVED it. If you haven’t tried it, basically they jack the temperature of the room up to, I don’t know, maybe 80 degrees. It really loosens your muscles and helps you move easier. You know what else it does? It makes you sweat. A lot. I went with a friend, and she swears we were under a heat vent. Some of the girls looked like they worked up a nice warm glow. My entire body was soaked. Maybe it wasn’t sweat and actually wine.
The place went went is called Amazing Yoga. They are based in Pittsburgh and have locations in Shadyside, Lawrenceville, Wexford and the South Side. I was a little nervous being that it was not only my first hot yoga, but my first yoga class ever. The atmosphere and the instructor were very welcoming. She told us to leave our egos at the door. There were no grunting men or guys hitting on me. Gosh, I am so over the gym. And, BONUS, newbies get two weeks unlimited for $25, so I will definitely be going back. However this time, I am going to avoid the hour and a half class and maybe ease myself in a bit.