In tree pose, Andrea Metcalf directed us to “squeeze the glutes! Because, you know what they say… If we don’t squeeze the glutes then nobody else is going to want to squeeze them for us.” And she got some laughs from attendees. I guess that it’s not surprising that the author of Naked Fitness would instruct us towards a more grabbable ass…

At 6:30 am this morning I reported to the Willis Tower for a yoga class to be held on the 103rd floor, on the Skydeck.

Just being up there is amazing. I felt like a queen on a super-high throne or an angelic deity being able to view the city of Chicago like that.

Andrea Metcalf started the class with words something like this, “You are standing on the top of the world! It is a good reminder that yoga and fitness in general helps us to realize that the world is bigger than just ourselves.”

I hope this is true, however I think that we might need to examine how we practice yoga or work out. I don’t think that it’s a given that someone will become more compassionate just because they practice yoga or work out. But, she might not have meant it like that. I can’t know that without a follow-up question. Knowing that the world is “bigger than ourselves” could lead us down the path of simply trying to dominate others, being better than others, stronger than others, or making more money than others.

The large flat floor in the airy room of the Skydeck with beautiful natural light provides an awesome space for yoga! I think that it would be such a service to the people of Chicago to open this up as a teaching opportunity to Chicago area yoga teachers, and to invite everyone to come, and to make it a regular offering of the Skydeck.

But this yoga class wasn’t like a regular class at all. The Willis Tower had security personnel present as we traveled to and from the class. The teacher, Andrea Metcalf is starting a regular TV spot as host of “What’s On Chicago”, a new lifestyle show on NBC Nonstop this fall. Someone from a news network was filming the event and did interviews afterwards. There were a couple photographers. And there was swag: a yoga mat, t-shirt, G Series FIT 01, 02 and 03 product, generously donated by sponsors Anytime Fitness, FitStudio and Gatorade.

And, oh yeah, I almost forgot… I guess that I was invited as a part of the extravaganza, because I had been invited as the “Yogic Muse blogger.”

I know that I can do without the glitz and gifts when it comes to yoga (a little time almost anywhere can work for a yoga practice), but I really enjoyed going up to the Skydeck this morning.

It really seemed like I was in the sky. I felt a kinship with clouds.

At the end of class I heard Andrea Metcalf say that she likes to end her class by playing a song by Madonna, because she is inspiring. And not just for her music, but also because she is a great businesswoman.