Let’s just say I did not mean to take a Heated Flow and Sculpt class

I’d been in a great groove at the gym, booking classes daily, showing up, feeling strong. One day, my accountability friend at the gym who I usually work out with looked at me and said, “You’re coming tomorrow, right? It’s my birthday!” I said, “Of course,” opened the app, and signed up for our usual time without even looking too closely at the class.

The next morning, the app reminded me what I had actually signed up for and that’s when I saw it. Heated Flow and Sculpt. A heated room, yoga-Pilates-sculpt hybrid. Not exactly what I had in mind.

Listen… perimenopause and heat? Not my favorite combo. One of my sons recently told me he went to a hot yoga class with his girlfriend, and even though he’s in amazing shape, he said he had to take a break midway through. So I had some hesitation.

But I had already booked the class, and you get charged if you cancel late. Plus, I told my friend I’d be there, and I wanted to keep my word. So I texted her to ask if I needed to bring anything. “Yes, a mat,” she said. I dug out my yoga mat and headed to class, having no idea what else was coming.

Well… I needed more than just a mat. There were blocks. A squishy ring. And lavender-colored hand weights that looked... let’s just say... not like your standard gym equipment. But I stayed. I did it scared. And I sweated more than I have in a long time.

Surprisingly… it felt good. Like, really good. The instructor was one of my favorites, the challenge was real, and I pushed myself in new ways. The next day, my skin was glowing. I liked it so much that I signed up again the following Sunday… different teacher, same class. That one leaned a little more yoga-ish, and I loved it too.

The only real mistake? Wearing long pants the first time. Way too hot. The second time, I wore a skirt because I don’t even own gym shorts. But lesson learned.

I share this because trying something new, especially when it’s outside your comfort zone, builds more than just muscle. It builds confidence.

So if you’ve been in a bit of a rut, mix it up. Try a new class. Challenge yourself in a different way. You might surprise yourself… I definitely did.