We got to Miami on Tuesday the 25th. We knew we’d be away from the office, to work remotely, to see friends and family, and I expected to do a workout here and a yoga there. I like making plans because then I tend to keep them more, so this is exactly what I did.

I have a weird anxiety about doing things in unfamiliar places. Miami is a familiar place for the most part, and I’m comfortable turning on my “Miami-driver” persona, so that’s no biggie. But.. doing yoga at a Baptiste studio in Miami? I was a little nervous. I did some research, found a Baptiste affiliate by the name of Bala Vinyasa Yoga and then got the go-ahead from both Mary Lyn and Anna, who collectively knew the owner as well as the instructor whose class I had my heart set on attending. Luca Richards.

I love the Mind Body Connect app because I was able to find the studio, see the class times, the instructors’ bios, and pay for and schedule my own visit right from my phone. Ultimate convenience (they didn’t pay me to say any of this, they don’t even know that I’m writing about them) but.. the ease of scheduling is totally worth mentioning! I loved it. AND.. with the appointment made, I was much more likely to stick to my schedule and go. Thursday. I was going Thursday, I had to go Thursday, it’s when I said I’d go! I’m gonna go. I went. I even left early to make sure traffic wouldn’t be an issue, and of course, it was, but I got there with plenty of time. Found it right away, went in and said..

“Hi! I’m here representing Big Fish Yoga!!!” And Luca was like OH MY GOD! MARY LYN’S STUDIO!!!!! It was pretty great. 😀 I of course bought a t-shirt, said my hellos and waited for class.

Now.. class. The instructor was great. Luca was amazing. But… this was not Big Fish. It was full of people from Miami. Miami people. Miami snobs, assholes, bitterness, cynicism. They were just there to work out. To get their yoga on. To whatever it is people who live in Miami do at yoga. Okay there were a few really nice people, but everyone else? Eh. PASS.

I was the only one HAaaing.. I was the only one laughing, smiling, and seemingly enjoying Luca’s jokes and comments. It was sad. Here we were in this big beautiful yoga studio, and I was really truly the only one enjoying the class. Everyone else was just going through the motions.

At least that’s how it seemed. And if that was really the case, how sad? This reminded me why I never liked yoga before. Because THIS is what it was like, and in Boca Raton, of all places. The most un-accepting, unwelcoming place on earth.

Basically. I love Big Fish. I’m so glad I practice yoga in a happy place. Jax Beach is awesome. The end. 🙂