Yoga and Doggies in the Window

"Hey Lady!"

I turn around, half expecting to see some bag lady calling out to hassle me for money but then I remember where I am - the "bums" here want no more from you than to wish you a good day.
"Oh, sorry," the not-so-baggish woman yelled back when she saw my face, "Wrong lady."

I kept walking. I was on my lunch break from work and had just finished my sack lunch sitting in my usual spot, enjoying the spring air at the sadly empty, yet sunny downtown "plaza". I was interested in checking out a little fitness studio I had recently discovered across the street.

Reaching my destination, I tried to open the fitness club door, but it seemed to be stuck. I pulled harder, noticing it was jammed somehow at the top. With one final massive, fruitless yank, I decided it was locked, despite the "open" sign in front.

"You can only get in with a card," the same woman said behind me, who had just caught up, "though I don't know how they expect to get new members that way".

I agreed, mentioning I was curious to learn if they offered a Pilate's course or something similar. Now that I'm downtown everyday (and actually have a regular paycheck, which was my stipulation for joining a gym or class), I've thought the possibility of taking a fitness class of some sort again. I've been enjoying the weather by taking walks and just took a long bike ride with my mom this weekend, but I have wanted to try a course again since my adventures with my "Healthy Back" and "Breathing and Moving" classes at the conservatory in Berlin.

"I'm a yoga teacher here, downtown," said the woman, who also happened to be appropriately dressed in workout attire. "My studio is right down the street. You should join one of my yoga classes - it's a great workout and I think you'd love it!"

Interested, I listened to her talk more about her yoga studio and all the places she had gone to study yoga. Then she mentioned she also teaches a belly dancing course. Who would've known this kind of thing exists in NW Iowa!

Still chatting, we walked the 2 blocks to her studio where she opened a deceivingly plain door of one of the older buildings downtown, revealing a large, bright room of wooden floors, mirrors, and colorful middle eastern scarves decorating the walls and windows. I took the pamphlet she gave me and though I was eager to try out some of the classes, I wondered how I would be able to organize the different classes with my carpooling schedule (as well as the days I "get" to take the car - remember, I work 25 miles from home and don't have my own car).

While it probably won't work out with my schedule, I'd still be really interested in finally trying a yoga course. In my "Healthy Back" class we practiced several yogic positions but they were among many other aerobic/stretching moves. I've always heard yoga is good for musicians for the physical and mental concentration training, but I tried Pilate's instead, for the intense workout. Apparently yoga does the same sort of ab training, according to this teacher. As for belly dancing - I've actually been interested in trying that for awhile. I think it would be a really fun workout.

On the same street as the original, locked fitness studio, a different shop caught my attention from all the noise that was coming from inside. It was a pet store filled with tons of puppies, yipping loudly enough to be heard on the street outside, as well as jumping all over each other from inside their pens.

I knew I wanted to see the puppies, so today I decided to take a little excursion to the pet shop in the second half of my lunch hour. When I walked in, I was hit by a wall of horrible stench from too many animals being crowed into one window-less space, not to mention the smoking owner. Nonetheless I was warmly greeted by hoards of energetic little pups who literally jumped straight up in the air from behind their pens in order to be the first one to lick my outstretched hand. Slowly I made way around all the cages and pens, sad about the ridiculously small living quarters of the little dogs, but happy to spend a little time with each of them and let them lick my hand or scratch behind their neglected little ears.

If I could've, I would've taken at least three puppies home with me, especially the little ones cowering in the corner who were just crying out for a loving home. I've wanted a dog since I moved to Berlin almost 3 years ago, but for logistical reasons it has never worked out, not to mention the cost, which I couldn't even begin to consider on my non-existent budget. Now, back at home, my parents are all-too-happy to keep their new house pet free after years of 2 precious cats and various dogs.

So, much to my dismay, I'll just have to keep waiting for the day when I live in a pet-friendly place and finally get to take a furry little bundle home with me. I think it'll be awhile, because in this regard, I think American landlords are much stricter than Germans dealing with pets in apartments. There are so many apartment-dwelling dogs there. True, most Americans places use carpet, whereas Europeans don't, but still. Here you're lucky if you can have a bird or maybe a cat. So, until I can call a dog my own, I will probably just continue to visit the puppies in the pet store on my lunch break. It's just too bad after a trip there I smell like a puppy, myself, for the rest of the day!