Misadventure #1

A waft of incense and a gentle Hindi melody enveloped us as we entered into the studio. A thin woman with huge black curls welcomed us and encouraged us to remove our socks and grab an open mat. I not-so-subtly look around for my friend, Laura, who supposedly attended this yoga class regularly, but she was nowhere to be found. My friends and I had unwittingly stumbled into an advanced yoga class. Immediately we were thrust into the class mid-swing. We gave one another wary looks and assumed the first pose. The hour blurred by in a haze of painful stretches and bizarre meditative messages from our instructor.

“Plant the seed with your heel and reach your core and your gaze to the sky.”

“The wings in your back are powered by your abdominals! Spread your wings!”

“Your tail should spread out behind you like a giant fan.”

“Flare your armpits!”


At the end of the hour, we laid down under braided blankets, meditating. The instructor played a low tone on what looked like a giant plastic bowl. I had never felt so relaxed. After an hour of cobras, warriors, and upward dogs, I was spent. The session ended with a word - “namaste” and some classic reggae.

Tired and sore, we limped down the street to Panera Bread for some well-earned smoothies. When we finally straggled in, we called Laura to see what became of our friend. As it turns out, State College has many yoga studios. She had attended a “normal class” across the street. Apparently yoga does not need to entail Hindi music and flaring armpits, but where’s the fun in that?

So, if you’re looking for a great workout, or if you just enjoy the scent of incense and feet, then stop on by Lila Yoga in downtown State College. I’ll see you next Tuesday.