RGLP goes through the motions of Hot Yoga

When I heard that we were going to be going to a Hot Yoga session I was ecstatic. I considered myself reasonably flexible and I loved to stretch. I was also intrigued by the idea of the fact that the room would be hot because I needed to sweat out a few extra calories in preparation for Caribbean Carnival. I knew for sure that this session would be unlike any session that we had previously. While previous sessions were more about learning to be a global leader it seemed, at first, that this session was just about relaxation and fun.

As we arrived at and entered the hot yoga studio room I could feel myself taking in the new atmosphere and trying to prepare myself for this new experience that was about to occur. The instructor started the group off with some slow and relatively easy stretches. While we were stretching, I realized that I should have heeded the warning of the RGLP advisors and not eaten before this session. My turkey sandwich was not sitting too well at that moment. As the room became warmer and my stomach settled, my body began to relax more and the stretch sequences, while still a bit out of my comfort zone, became easier with repetition and focus.

After the hot yoga session I reflected on how that experience could have been connected with becoming a global leader. I think the most obvious was that global leaders have to be willing to go outside of their comfort zone. For many of us yoga was not something that was familiar and hot yoga, even less. Although we all knew what we were getting ourselves into beforehand, I don’t think that we were necessarily completely mentally prepared. The experience was one that challenged us not only physically, but mentally as well, and I believe that being able to not only tolerate but become fully engaged with your environment is a key element in becoming a global leader.

--Taylor Luckadue '15, RGLP Spring 2014 Participant