From Beast Mode To Peace Mode

About a year ago. I tried traditional yoga twice for the first time ever seeking to enhance my flexibility and supplement my weight training and other exercise. On both occasions, I didn't know what I was doing or even what a Down Dog was and the classes were large without individual instruction. At the time, I had an incredible Chiropractor who was working with me on several injuries, and my body didn't react well to yoga.  He politely suggested that I may want to try alternative fitness options.  

However, my brother is a personal fitness trainer and very persuasive, and he thought hot yoga would be great for me because I would sweat and jump start weight loss. I was able to put him off for a couple of months before relenting and coming to Revolution Hot Yoga (RHY) with him one Sunday afternoon. I honestly came to class just to spend time with my brother and had  no intention of coming back. The class was actually led by two new instructors with Rebecca (Jordan-Turner) overseeing them. From the beginning, Rebecca and Carmen (Cavanagh) took an amazing amount of time to work with me and make sure I didn’t injure myself. After that class, I was hooked, and I try to come every Sunday and more if my schedule allows.

My family health history is riddled with heart disease and diabetes. I was on that path, extremely obese, and didn't watch what I ate even though I work with major sporting events in Greensboro. (Has everyone bought their Figure Skating tickets yet?)  I didn't look the part for the industry and was actually told that I didn't get a prominent job because of my appearance. 

One day two years ago when looking at a picture of myself, something just clicked, and I realized that I had to make changes in my lifestyle and diet. Because it was the easiest thing for me to do, I began swimming two miles a day. As the weight began to drop off, I added running on the treadmill and riding the stationary bike. I joined the the Clubs of Greensboro and started participating in their group training program. 

As I saw positive changes, I became more motivated but sustained a shoulder tear that slowed me down. With an aggressive physical therapy program and now hot yoga, the shoulder issue is a lot better. I sometimes train twice a day probably 5 days a week, and hot yoga has became my Sunday exercise. I find that a hot yoga class allows me to relax before starting a new work week and improves my sleep on Sunday nights. I haven’t really lost any weight since coming to RHY, but with a couple of weddings, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, I feel good that I've not gained weight. 

At yoga, I like that I have the opportunity to focus, sweat, and push my body to the limits. At the gym, I used to tell my trainer I was gonna be in "beast mode," but at RHY, there is no beast mode as a class challenges me, but also brings out the calm and best in me. I attribute that to the staff as much as the yoga itself.  Rebecca and Carmen have helped to make something unfamiliar something that I truly enjoy. 

There is no competition in yoga but the competitive side of me is always there. In class one day, I remember saying to myself, "Yes! I can do something that he can't.'  But I don't really think that's competitiveness as much as just me being happy and proud to see progress in my practice. 

I’m proud of my accomplishments in my yoga practice. Rebecca and the staff are incredible to work with and the facility is immaculate. Hot yoga has been an awesome experience for me. I would encourage everyone to try Revolution Hot Yoga at least once. You'll be back.

This is Demp Bradford's yoga story.

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The Path Of Practice - Part 2

Emily Rex is one of the most prominent members of the Revolution Hot Yoga (RHY) community.  She is the manager of our Work-Study program, a teacher for us in the summer, and our most consistent and regular member of class.  On November 3, she attended her 300th class at RHY, completing 300 classes in just 393 days.  Additionally, November marked the 15th anniversary of her yoga practice.  To celebrate both of these achievements, and to share some of her insights and experience with the community, Rebecca and Emily sat down and shared some questions and answers.

Part 2 of 2

Rebecca:

Describe your process of practice.  Most students in class can't see how methodical and precise you are -- they just see an incredible range of motion or a full expression of a posture.  But the teachers observe your process and we've watched your practice grow and develop over the years.  What is your mental focus, discipline, concentration, and how does that manifest in the asanas?

Emily:

Yoga is a path, so the practice is always changing and present in different ways. The most important thoughts I keep in mind are to (1) connect with my body and allow it to guide my practice, (2) accept my practice as it is at any particular moment, and (3) to balance effort with ease.

Connecting to my body and using it as a guide or teacher removes external influences from the practice. In the studio, this includes looking at one’s physical presence in the mirror. I certainly recognize the benefits of having a mirror in the studio: for beginners, looking in a mirror can help one understand the basic alignment of a posture. But as a practice continues, using the mirror too much can risk developing a superficial practice, and can even breed a sort of narcissism. Bringing the focus inward instead allows me to use the sensations in my body as my teacher. And focusing on particular parts of the body teaches me different things. For example, focusing on the pelvic floor or the feet helps me feel grounded, while focusing on the spine brings awareness to my alignment. Regardless of where the focus is, turning it inward has allowed me to guide my own practice.

Accepting my practice as it is at any particular moment has contributed to the longevity of my practice. It takes away the need for pursuing or working toward a particular goal. Instead, accepting my practice each day challenges me to acknowledge any physical, mental, or spiritual issue, including a tight hamstring, boredom, tiredness, or emotional pain. Although it’s easier in theory than in actual practice, I try my best to be completely open to these experiences and try to be nice to them. A regular sitting meditation practice has also helped with this.

Finding the right balance of effort and ease is another tricky one. We live in a culture of striving, and this is very true when it comes to exercise. Because yoga is a wonderful source of physical well being, it’s natural to want to “achieve” a particular expression of a posture. The trouble is that this type of striving is that it encourages bad habits, such as comparing oneself to others and risking injury by pushing the body to places that it’s not ready to go. I’ve learned that practice requires a balance of what Buddhists call “wise effort” but at the same time allowing the body to ease into where it is ready to go. For me, this balance manifests itself in a persistent focus on alignment with a willingness to “ease up” if my body tells me to.

Rebecca:

How is your practice evolving -- from the beginning through now?  Do you have any goals or next targets?

Emily:

Yoga has become part of my spiritual path. Yoga has helped me learn patience, humility, generosity, and love. Even though it’s been 15 years since I first stood on a yoga mat, I enjoy being a student of yoga and still feel like a beginner at heart. For me it hasn’t been about achievements or goals, but the opportunity to connect with my body, be present, and try to spread loving kindness through practice along the way.

Emily Rex in action.

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The Path Of Practice - Part 1

Emily Rex is one of the most prominent members of the Revolution Hot Yoga (RHY) community.  She is the manager of our Work-Study program, a teacher for us in the summer, and our most consistent and regular member of class.  On November 3, she attended her 300th class at RHY, completing 300 classes in just 393 days.  Additionally, November marked the 15th anniversary of her yoga practice.  To celebrate both of these achievements, and to share some of her insights and experience with the community, Rebecca and Emily sat down and shared some questions and answers.

Part 1 of 2

Rebecca:

How did you get started doing yoga? Did you start with the intention of creating such an extensive, lifelong practice?

Emily:

My mom introduced me to yoga in the fall of 1999 at what was then a tiny studio in metro Detroit, and we practiced there every Sunday morning. I enjoyed the mind-body connectedness I felt from practicing and was intrigued by the Buddhist spirituality and sitting meditations that my teacher incorporated into his classes. I knew that yoga would be a lifelong practice for me.

Although my practice is almost daily now, it wasn’t always this way. I began by practicing just once a week, and when I was in college, I only practiced during school breaks and over the summer. But I carried aspects of my practice with me through that time. As a music performance major, I learned how to use my breath effectively through the practice of yoga and meditation. I also practiced meditation and visualization exercises before concerts and auditions. I’ve had a more regular practice for the last few years, and I take class or practice on my own 5-7 times per week. Yoga hasn’t always had a structured presence in my life, but it’s always been there to some degree.

Rebecca:

What compels you to keep coming back?  Starting is easy -- anybody can do a first class or a first week or a first month or even a first year -- how do you maintain a consistent, almost daily practice for 15 years?

Emily:

I love the practice of yoga, and I do what I can. Right now, I feel incredibly fortunate to have the time to practice almost daily, but it hasn’t always been this way. I feel grateful for the ability to practice, my past and present teachers, and the community at RHY. Love and gratitude can go a long way.

Rebecca:

How do you manage the days when you don't want to practice?   What is your strategy for getting to yoga when you really don't want to, and once you're on your mat, does your practice reflect your mood?

Emily:

There are certainly days when I don’t want to practice. During the week, I practice in the evening, so reminding myself that I need a “release” after work is a good strategy. When I know I’m going to have a busy day, I put my yoga clothes and mat in the car so I don’t give myself the choice of going home and making an excuse. And sometimes I simply tell myself, “you’re going to class, and that’s that.” Sometimes my practice reflects that mood, but I’m almost always glad to have practiced.

Rebecca:

How do you motivate yourself?   Do you need a gold star or proof of your efforts?  Did you need different motivators 5, 10, 15 years ago?  How have your motivation needs and strategies changed over the years?

Emily:

I’ve had different motivations at different times. When I started yoga, I remember my mom dragging me out of bed to go to class with her. I’m glad she did. There have been times when my yoga practice has been mostly physical therapy, to heal an injury, for example. Other times, I’ve needed the practice for spiritual or emotional reasons. Overall, yoga has helped me become a better person for myself and for others, and reminding myself of that keeps me motivated. Yoga has taught me humility, so I wouldn’t say I need any gold stars. As a special education teacher, I’ll save all of those for my students!

Rebecca:

Do you get bored?   If yes, how do you handle the boredom?

Emily:

Of course, I get bored! I have spent plenty of classes fantasizing about what I’m going to eat for dinner when I get home or what I have to do at work the next day. I think the best way to handle boredom is to welcome it, bring the focus back inward, and keep practicing. It’s important not to judge yourself for being bored or “wasting” your practice. Sometimes I try to bring some humor to the situation: isn’t it funny that my body is on the mat, but my mind is not? That’s when I try to reel it back in and get centered again.

Emily Rex in action.

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The Pose You Like The Least Is The One You Need The Most

I practiced regular yoga consistently for two years but fell out of the habit about three years ago. The group of friends that I was practicing with stopped going and so did I. Earlier this year, a friend mentioned that she was going to a hot yoga class at Revolution Hot Yoga (RHY), and I decided to give it a try to see if it would re-energize me.

Never having done hot yoga before, in all honesty, the first class was really tough, and I left thinking, "Wow, I'll never do that again!" But something drew me back the next week and the next... The fourth class was the magic number, and I left that one feeling fabulous! I've been in love with hot yoga ever since. My goal is to practice twice a week.


For some reason, I find that hot yoga is different for me than regular yoga.  The practice makes me really concentrate on myself and the poses. I wasn't into watching myself in the mirror in the beginning, but now I get it. At some point, I began concentrating on the poses and lost sight of everyone else in the room.

Since starting a hot yoga practice, I can really tell a big difference in my core strength, and I never realized how beneficial that is. And an unexplainable but great benefit is that something about practicing yoga also makes me intuitively want to eat healthier.

I find the heat so cleansing. In the beginning, I would have to ask that the heater closest to me be turned down to level 3 but now, I do the whole class with heaters on 5, and love it! I find that I don't sweat as much as I did in the beginning. When I leave class,I feel refreshed, rejuvenated and exhausted all at the same time.

It's great to feel like I'm a real yogi. In the first few months, there were some poses that I thought that I would never be able to do. Remarkably now, those same poses are some of my favorites like standing bow pose. When I started, I had to place one hand on the wall and still could barely hold the pose. But now I've mastered it and love it. I'm still not fond of the warrior poses, for some reason, but I keep in mind what Jane and Rebecca always say, "The pose you like the least is the one you need the most."

The RHY instructors are phenomenal. Due to timing and coincidence, I usually take either Jane's (Cable) or Rebecca's (Jordan-Tuner) class which I find so encouraging and inspiring. I actually look forward to yoga class, and I have NEVER been able to say that about exercise of any kind before.   

This is Lisa Caldwell's yoga story.

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A Hallelujah For Hot Yoga!

I started doing Hatha and then Ashtanga yoga at least 20 years ago. (OMG, am I really that old?!) Through the practice of yoga, I've always found peace, as well as physical fitness.

In 1996, I had a mountain biking accident that left my T12 vertebra fractured and two of my lumbar discs bulging. The excruciating lower back pain I experienced after affected all of my daily activities and yoga. However by taking large amounts of ibuprofen for years, I managed to continue with life, yoga, and martial arts as normal. Eventually chiropractic care eased the pain somewhat for which I was very grateful. But I discovered that if I didn't get frequent enough adjustments, the pain was still omnipresent in my life.

Five years ago, I found hot yoga. AND WOW! With a regular hot yoga practice, my back pain completely resolved.  I haven't been to the chiropractor for 3 years since beginning hot yoga. 

Now folks, I’m known for my honesty and, shall I say, my bluntness. I came pretty close to detesting how hot...and gross...and suffocated I felt during the hot yoga classes at one studio where I had the fortune to meet Rebecca (Jordan-Turner).  However,  I continued to practice regularly because the relief from the back pain I got was worth 90 minutes of suffering in the heat.

It was a happy day for me when Rebecca left that studio and started teaching her own school of yoga, first at home then at Revolution Hot Yoga (RHY). I eagerly followed her and LOVE the classes at RHY. I enjoy the people, the variety of classes offered with their different sequences, and especially the adjustable heaters. 

Hallelujah! 

I take the regular hot yoga classes often to challenge myself, but the restorative classes are a little slice of heaven for me. I can destress and keep my back in good working order in the same restorative class. Win-Win! :)

I'm a true believer; I drank the Kool-Aid (a reference for those of you past the age of 40); and I'm here to testify. 

Can I get an “Amen”!

Rebecca and all the teachers at RHY have my thanks. 

Choir:  Can I get another “Amen”?!

This is Dr. Myra Dove's yoga story.

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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.

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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.

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