Getting Stronger With Yoga

My first introduction to yoga was in 1998 at a small studio in Greensboro. I'm not sure what kind of yoga it was, but we did lots of boat poses and other core strengthening postures. The classes were 75 minutes long with 15 minutes of guided meditation at end of every class. The practice focused on integrating the body and mind. The teacher was also a Reiki master and did my attunements for learning Reiki.

I found yoga relaxing, and liked how it helped me calm my mind and focus on my body.  I've visited many studios since and have discovered a common theme among yoga teachers: they're all very knowledgeable, caring people. I believe some of the best people in the world teach yoga!

My first teacher was very meditative and taught me the benefits of practicing meditation. My subsequent teacher was very detail oriented and would give us pictures of the poses listing the benefits of each one. Under her guidance, I did some of my most difficult postures in that class, like crow, side crow and hand and head stands. And as an extra treat, we always had tea after our practice. As teachers moved on and studios closed or changed hands, I attended various studios and determined that I prefer a smaller, more intimate yoga setting.

Before coming to Revolution Hot Yoga in September of this year, I had been out of yoga for about three years because of a shoulder injury, a tear in my cartilage, that took two years to heal. I'd injured my shoulder practicing yoga; so I made sure it was healed completely before resuming.

I wanted to try hot yoga because I thought that it would suit my body needs and that practicing in the warmth would prevent me from injuring my shoulder again. I like the heat and enjoy that added dimension to yoga. However, I do find it challenging, but not because its hot. It's challenging because I'm so wet from sweating that I find it difficult to get a firm grip!

Hot yoga feels good and re-energizes me. Because I go to yoga after work, it's my wind down time prior to going home. I also think it's good to sweat out the toxins in your body.

After my first hot yoga class I got in my car and noticed that all of the windows were fogged. I was sitting there trying to figure out why all of a sudden my car windows were fogged up, when I realized it was because of all the heat radiating from my body. :)

When I first began my hot yoga practice, I had quite a bit of tightness in my back. For that reason, I took the restorative classes for a few weeks before resuming the other. I think many people have similar reactions in their bodies when trying something new and abandon the activity, but it's important for people to get to know their bodies and its areas of weakness. For me, it's my lower back, and I'm aware that it might feel worse before it feels better.

In resuming my yoga practice, my main body goal was building strength in my core. I can already feel and see the difference. I feel stronger and have a better sense of balance in my body and brain.

This is Kathy Kueider's yoga story.

Go to  RHY website

Always Something New

I first tried yoga at my local gym as a teenager in Chicago.  The class was a hodgepodge of different styles, and I would really call it advanced stretching.  After trying out various yoga styles and studios with friends, I started attending a vinyasa class with a teacher I really liked. 

About two years ago, I tried Bikram hot yoga in Chicago, and in all honesty, I HATED it.  The studio was way too crowded.  I couldn't take the heat and was grossed out by a strange man dripping sweat on me.  The practice was too sequential and boring for me.  I felt like I was going to puke or pass out, got angry, left before the class was over, and went and had a cheeseburger.  One of the best cheeseburger of my life!  :)

Not willing to admit that I'd been defeated by a yoga class, I tried hot yoga again at a Core Power studio in Chicago where the conditions were much better.  While I still can't say that enjoyed the actual experience during class, I felt GREAT after.  When I moved from Chicago to Greensboro, I'd just come off my Core Power yoga high and wanted to find a similar hot yoga studio.  I knew that I didn't like the Bikram style, so when I saw Revolution Hot Yoga (RHY) pop up in my search results, I was super excited and tried it.  Now, I'm a regular.

My work is stressful with a lot of travel.  I've been to a zillion yoga studios in Chicago, New York, etc. in my travels, but I've never found better teachers than the fine folks at RHY.  I found Bikram yoga boring and repetitive because it was always the same thing no matter the teacher or audience.  I liked Core Power better, but felt like my body wasn't worked evenly and some part of me was always oddly sore or off kilter.  

The first class I took at RHY got me hooked.  The practice was varied and challenging enough to keep me interested, and the teachers were very helpful with tips that didn't leave me feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable, but grateful for the feedback.  

Being from Chicago and used to the cold, the heat was a real challenge for me (and still is sometimes, honestly), but my body has acclimated to it, and I actually prefer it now to cold yoga.  The teachers at RHY vary the classes to the specific needs of the individuals present that day, and while there's definitely some familiarity, I always feel like I did something new in each class.  

I also feel like I'm always growing because the teachers, like Rebecca (Jordan-Turner), somehow know exactly where to push me to do things I didn't even know I was capable of.  All of a sudden, I'm able to do a real-people push up or hold a standing bow that I never could before which leaves me feeling amazing.  I just love the constant challenge.  There is always something new to learn, more strength to build or a stretch to push further.  I find it so exciting when I do something I never thought possible.

Yoga not only helps keep me mentally balanced and grounded, but I physically start feeling worse if I'm not able to make it to a class.  I'll literally plan my work travel to leave or arrive so that I can make it to a yoga class. If my schedule would allow, I'd practice every day because I literally crave it daily now.  Yoga calms me down, loosens up my tight back and hips, and helps with my chronic headaches in conjunction with my awesome chiropractor.  

This is Marissa Lutz's yoga story.

Go to RHY website