I thought for a few minutes after cosmo-b's post about how many times I have gotten dressed and canned out of yoga. My husband always says, just go...don't think about it but sometimes I get all conflicted about whether or not to go...and then I realized..

It's hard to drag that mom-butt-gut out to a class when you know you might not get another chance for a week, maybe two. It does little for motivation.  It's expensive (add a class to the cost of a babysitter and you're looking at a $35 yoga class!). Plus, it's hard to stop yawning when you've been up with a baby half the night and you really just want sleep.

But I think it all comes down to a few other minor details, like:

1. You have to stare at yourself for 90 minutes (thoughts running through your mind the whole time...ooh, that's gonna take a while to whittle that down, or it must be the mirror, are my saddlebags that big!?).
2. There's a skinny you-know-what is in front of you wearing a tiny, backless top and adorable  hot shorts- you know the trendy cute yoga outfits I'm talking about here- meanwhile...
3. Your boobs are leaking because you're wearing a skin tight sportsbra.
4. Your yoga pants don't do you any justice ...meaning you can barely squeeze into the biggest pair of lycra stretchies you can find...that don't look totally scary-(I am sure you still look pretty good, cosmo-b:)).
5. You feel uncoordinated because the last class you were "lucky" enough to go to was two weeks ago and by this point, the class does not uphold the two main driving forces: maintenance (which is basically minor up-keep so you don't die the next time you go) or progress...neither of which are gonna happen in this particular class.
6. You worry too much about the sitter and the baby and om is like om...ummm...did I remember to do this...or ummm....I forgot to do that..wandering mind ADD kind of relaxation isn't the same, is it?
7. You kind of feel like you really could/should/would have used the 90 minutes to get a crap-load of stuff done like post office, bookstore, groceries, coffee with a friend. You could do pretty much anything you never bother doing because you have to haul a stroller everywhere (this gets more relevant the more kids you have). Seriously, crossing a parking lot and running into a store sans enfant  is just as mentally refreshing as a yoga class anyway.
8. You feel if you go to yoga people (including you & your hubby) will really expect to see that body "snap" back into shape- the let down of going to yoga for 4 months to still have a gut & love handles is really too much to handle (pun)...but what are the alternatives? Jogging is a depressing option (jiggle jiggle) and the gym* is embarrassing because nobody wants to see a flabby mom doing sit-ups or lunges in the corner.
9. By the time you get to final resting pose, your muscles are on fire (chataranga(sp?) anyone?).
10. You're honestly not-really-into looking like a million bucks even though you sort of are (are you? you don't really know anymore - it depends on the day). PLUS,  you won't be wearing anything that resembles a "nice outfit" for awhile. Any other reason for looking good? Bathing suit? Sunbathing with infants and toddlers...that's not gonna happen, you'll be running around with full thigh exposure (sexyness is gone there). You could just buy a sarong instead.
11. You really just kind of want to hang low with your baby...

And that's all that happens when you put on your yoga outfit and then say, "I'll just try to go tomorrow" (kind of like dieting)...

*my gym post is another story that I'll share at another time.

But still, you always feel better once you go! Why else would we go?