Day 3 of My Nervous System Novelty Challenge: Hot Pilates

There's something about heat that calls to the body's ancient wisdom—a primordial memory of sun-warmed earth beneath bare feet and the cleansing alchemy of sweat.

In my 30s, I was a dedicated Bikram yoga practitioner. Three days a week for about five years, I surrendered to the discipline of those 26 poses in the sacred crucible of 105-degree heat. Then life shifted, as it inevitably does. I convinced myself I needed CrossFit instead, and attending hot yoga once a week began to feel like pure torture—a suffering I wasn't willing to endure.

Fast forward 15 years, and I've been feeling the heat calling me back. Since LAST January—yes, an entire year has cycled through the seasons while this desire simmered on my back burner—I've occasionally thought how wonderful it would be to return. Don't ask what prevented me all this time; perhaps it was the familiar inertia that keeps us tethered to comfortable routines.

This gentle yearning intensified as my body sent increasingly insistent messages. The powerlifting I've embraced lately, combined with the prolonged sitting my job demands, has created a perfect storm of tight muscles. My IT band and hip flexors have transformed into steel cables rather than the supple, responsive tissue they're meant to be.

But sometimes, God conspires to help us break through resistance. My daughter's visit from out of town provided the perfect catalyst—she's always game to try a new workout. Her adventurous spirit was enough of a push for me to finally take action, purchasing us both the introductory offer (which, of course, is strategically designed to encourage sampling multiple classes—we've already signed up for hot yoga next).

There's profound wisdom in co-regulation—that beautiful state where even if you're venturing into new territory, you aren't doing it alone. Your nervous system recognizes the safety of companionship, allowing the ventral vagal nerve to remain activated while dampening those fight-or-flight responses that so often keep us trapped in comfort zones. Together, we brave what alone might feel overwhelming.

I'll admit, it also helped that this wasn't entirely uncharted territory for me. Memory offered its gentle guidance: I knew to bring a full water bottle, a towel for my yoga mat, and another for the car seat afterward. I even packed sweats for post-class comfort since the day held only clouds and a cool 66 degrees—a stark contrast to the heated sanctuary we were about to enter.

Hot Room Yoga in the LBC welcomed us with an atmosphere as warm as their studio temperatures. The staff greeted us with genuine smiles and eyes that conveyed "you belong here"—those subtle cues that speak directly to our nervous systems. The instructor mindfully tended to us, ensuring we knew which equipment (bands) we needed, her attentiveness helping our nervous systems settle into safety even before the class began.

The experience unfolded beautifully, carefully choreographed to minimize stress triggers. We arrived with ample time to acclimate to the studio and find parking without rush. We came prepared with all necessary items. We had each other. We were guided by an instructor whose humor and encouragement carried us through intense leg and core work that might otherwise have felt overwhelming.

One blessing I hadn't anticipated: the room temperature was actually lower than traditional hot yoga, an accommodation for the increased cardio demands of Pilates—a perfect bridge back into heat work after so many years away.

As sweat purified not just my body but something deeper, I wondered: What desires have you been carrying for months or years without acting upon them? What seeds of possibility have you been keeping warm but underground? And what constellation of support—a companion, proper preparation, a welcoming environment—might finally allow those seeds to break through the surface and reach toward the light?

Is there anything you've been thinking about for a couple of years? What do you think needs to happen in order for you to just go for it?