A Sweatzilla and Proud of It!

If you're sweaty and you know it,
Clap your hands

If you're sweaty and you know it,
Clap your hands

If you're sweaty and you know it,
Then your clothes will surely show it
If you're sweaty and you know it,
Clap your hands.

If you're sweaty and you know it,
Tap your foot,

If you're sweaty and you know it,
Tap your foot

If you're sweaty and you know it,

 If you slip your face will show it

If you're sweaty and you know it,

Tap your foot. 

If you're sweaty and you know it,

Shake your head 

If you're sweaty and you know it,

Shake your head 

If you're sweaty and you know it,

So shake your head and show it

If you're sweaty and you know it,

Shake your head. 

If you're sweaty and you know it,

Clap your hands 

If you're sweaty and you know it,

Clap your hands 

If you're sweaty and you know it,

Then EMBRACE the fact and show it

If you're sweaty and you know it,

 Clap your hands.

That is correct...sweatzilla right here!  I thought yoga and slow paced moves in the ac. Okay so I had a slight wake up call in my beginner vinyasa class with using ujjayi breathing to create heat and a room at about 80 degrees. I walked out of there a soaked puppy head to toe complete with arm pit stains, sweat filled ears (yes possible), sweaty cotton undies and my pants looked like I had an accident. Yes I was a hot mess and embarrassed. My mat looked like a filled chalk outline for a body. All the other girls maybe had some slicked back hair but their mat looked untouched.  I even had one of the distinct honors of sweating off my mat.  Panic ran through my mind of my loving teacher slipping on my sweat.  In child's pose I would do a quick swipe all around my mat as a safety pro caution. The worst part was adjustments because they had to grab my sweaty body or lay on it :(. Can you imagine being there in your warrior 1 only to have the teacher smack down by you when she goes to adjust your hips? What do you say to that? Excuse me, but yes that was my sweat pond you swam in.  I have a come a long way from being a baby sweatzilla.

I am now proudly an adult sweatzilla with some tools that help the cause. The basic rules of clothes is moisture wicking fabric. It helps you to dry off sooner and keeps you from feeling weighed down.  Yes, there are moisture wicking undies too but they can be rather pricey. I prefer to stick with  my Target 5 for 20 bucks non cotton thongs. Eww thong, no breathing, wedgies and I am sure the list continues but trust me on this one. If you are sweaty like me then cotton panties will get soaked, slide and bunch. You will learn the ninja move of the wedgie pick in child's pose. If you still doubt me then lift your head in child's pose midway through class and you will bare witness to this event.  I wore a t-shirt my first day because I felt too shy to be seen in a tank.  It was hot and would slide down around my mouth in downward dog.  No thanks, I will let the body be seen in a tank and love it puffy days and all.  Not only does this help to avoid the arm pit issue, but teachers can see your alignment better in clothes that snug the body.  I invested in a Prana headband that helped stop the down pour from reaching my eyes and derailing an arm balance or inversion. Of course none of this fine gear means much without a sweatzilla proof mat.  It will cost a pretty penny but well worth it. Figure most mats cost 20 bucks then add the 30 for the towel or rug you put on top of it, and you should of just bought the  The Mat  from Lululemon for 68 bucks.  I sweat and it absorbs it! My downward dog is strong and stable with no sliding in the warriors. If you want the feel of nothing between you and the mat then it is worth the price.  If it stills seems like too much for you then get the travel mat from Gaim with the RUBBER backing and use it with your mat. I know most people get the Gaim towel and are bummed when they realize the back doesn't have the grips so I included a link for it. Last but not least still bring a towel to wipe down the arms and face because the above only help the cause, but a true sweatzilla will still need the towel.

Now that you have the gear for class and are set please EMBRACE your sweat! Everyone has their different volumes of sweat, but yes it is there. I do adjustments on students, and it doesn't bother me if there are sweaty one bit.  Guys will take off their shirts displaying their sweaty body with pride. Again I will dive right in to adjust no matter how sweaty.  Girls sweat more then boys sometimes and that is just fine. Heck I kinda like seeing the sweat absorb in the mat because I know I am getting out all the toxins and emotional baggage.  So sweat, splash, drip, towel off and don't worry one bit about it. Long live the sweatzilla!