Monday through Thursday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, I go to a yoga studio with a group of women where we all learn yoga philosophy and practice. I also do homework. I haven’t done homework since grad school. I also observe classes. I also read books about yoga and anatomy. I also study. I haven’t studied anything since undergrad, and even then, not really. Yoga is now my life, because when it’s not Monday through Thursday 9:30 to 5:30, I’m doing all these other things.

Also happening: my left knee got all wonky after the first week to the point where I got scared and went to an ortho. X-rays showed a tracking problem–one of my quads is stronger than my other quad and is pulling my knee cap off track. Off to physical therapy.

The PT told me that my hips were tight. I kinda knew that, but didn’t realize how tight. I’ve been doing exercises to open them.

Today, I can’t sit down. I also can’t stand with my feet together. My right hip is in so  much pain that I’m basically a petite version of Lurch, dragging my leg wherever I go. Clearly, I skipped yoga practice this morning. If I can’t sit in the car, I’ll have to skip today. Hopefully it will feel better tomorrow.

So you want intense? This is intense. Mind swirling but learning about meditation. Body breaking while learning about strength. This is my satya–that means truth. See? I learned something already.

The real satya is that I have found a group of amazing gals who get all the reasons I’ve loved yoga — and maybe disliked yoga sometimes, too — and I get them. Intense, but the good kind.