Twisted

Yesterday I had an opportunity to try Baptiste Yoga. I have been a practicing yogi for over 25 years now, but I usually follow a Hatha flow. I've tried Bikram, but didn't really enjoy it the next day.
Baptiste is from the "tradition" of power yoga. It's a very different type of yoga than what I practice usually, but I am a big believer in changing things up regularly. If you don't, you don't know what you are capable of!
I personally do not do yoga for fitness reasons. My philosophy is getting in touch with my body, and feeling it along with my mind & soul are one cohesive unit. Power yoga, or a vinyasa flow, is more along the lines of fitness yoga. I'm not saying one or the other is better than the other. They are different.
I had heard a lot about Baptiste style flow, and how challenging it can be. In my personal-and teaching-practice, I don't emphasize balancing poses a lot because they are more difficult if you are bigger. That being said, they are a singular orchid, to be appreciated apart from other flowers. The bulk of my flow emphasizes stretching and opening the rib cage in particular. It also emphasizes becoming connected to and loving your body. Baptiste is a lot more intense and challenging.
The most off putting for me was the lack of music. I am not comfortable with hearing my grunts and groans. I don't practice a lot of balance poses so I did make a lot of noise as I struggled to stay upright.
I did like the fact that i was challenged. Colleen, my teacher, really put me through my paces. I felt like jello when I left the studio! Muscles I forgot I had awakened and fired up. It was grueling, but not in a negative way.
Baptiste yoga definitely took me out of my comfort zone. In a good way. That's where I wound up twisted.