I stepped in from the cold and into the warm lobby of the Bikram Yoga studio on a recent 45-degree morning.

I wasn't sure how I would fare in the 104-degree room with 40 percent humidity. Was it going to smell like a dirty locker room? Would it be so hot that I'd get queasy and puke? Would people flee from my sweaty, stinky self?

Of course none of these things proved true. Surprisingly, the place doesn't smell like anything (no oils, incense, air freshener or sweaty bodies) and plus, I drank tons of water a few hours beforehand and wore lots of deodorant to be sure of it!)

I'm not much of a health or yoga buff, but within minutes of the 9 a.m. class I could see why I should become one. The lean, fit bodies of women in their 30s, 40s and 50s, (and one token man) put me to shame. But I'm not here to body bash my 25 years worth of flab.

Students at a 6 p.m. Bikram Yoga class on Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Port Orange studio. I'm the first one on the left, and next to me, is our editor Chrissy Clary. (Photo by Sean McNeil)

This is about trying something new and while I've done some yoga in Gainesville, I had never been to a hot yoga studio.