This past weekend, I finally found my ideal yoga class. Equal parts instructor, setting and community contributed to this revelation, and I couldn’t be more pleased. (As someone who definitely benefits from any and all exercise endorphin boosts, while also being severely uncompetitive, it’s often hard for me to take classes where I feel mentally unblocked. My mind gets too bogged down by unnecessary comparisons. Rather than living in the ‘now,’ I exist in a strange version of now or never. <– That sentence is so Carrie Bradshaw in its nonsensical existentialism.) My body isn’t entirely used to prolonged periods of consistent stretching, so as I write this, my shoulders and hamstrings are still in the midst of feelin’ the burn!

Based on qualities that matter to me, here’s how we’re assessing workout classes from this point forward: First, instructor. Second, setting. And third, community.

Instructor: Kate Novack is one of my favorite people on this planet. I’ve known her for years, and have always loved her positive attitude and perspective on life. She now works at Red Barn Yoga in Old Lyme, Connecticut, but is often available for private instruction. Because we had a pretty big group of people, we invited Kate over to our home for a more personal yoga tutorial. Kate gently pushed the group to work hard, but always gave alternative pose options. Haatha yoga is very calming, and emphasizes deep breathing over flexibility. 10/10

Setting: The porch of my house in Old Black Point. Tranquil, ideal with a beautiful view of the ocean. There was a lovely, light breeze, and just enough space for full body extensions. 10/10

Of course we used Samsung mats.

Community: My family, including my cousin and her boyfriend. With limited yoga experience, we all took a fairly relaxed approach to the class. In fact, all of us inhaled sausage, egg and cheeses before moving into our initial downward dogs. 10/10

Hard to get good photos through a screen door…

If you’re near Old Lyme, or are interested in booking Kate for private lessons, (maybe a Girls’ Getaway?), here is a link to her site: http://www.katenovack.com/