DEAR HARRIETTE: A female friend invited me to join her when she goes to her hot yoga classes. I think I am going to join her because she is cute and I have an interest in her. This will be my first time doing any kind of yoga. Do you have any suggestions on how I can survive my first hot yoga workout without embarrassing myself in the process? I am a big guy. I have lost quite a bit of weight in the past few months, but I have at least 100 pounds to go. I'm not sure I can twist into some of those positions. -- A Fool for Love, Bronx New York
DEAR A FOOL FOR LOVE: You won't be the first person to explore new experiences because of a love interest. Theoretically, there's nothing wrong with your choice to go to this class. On the other hand, because the class features a room with very high temperatures and an activity that is foreign to you, you need to be careful.
If at all possible, start by checking in with your doctor to make sure that it is safe for you to go to this class. Especially considering that you are overweight, you want to be comfortable knowing that you are healthy enough to stand the heat -- literally. Then find out if the class she is attending includes beginners. If so, you can speak to the teacher before class begins to explain that this will be your first lesson, so you may need to modify what you do.
Ultimately, if it seems like this class may be too much for you, why not offer to pick her up after class and go out for a (healthy) bite to eat?