PRAISES FOR YOGA

"I experienced my first class with you last night. I enjoyed myself, felt good this morning and am so looking forward to next week. Thanks!" - Beginner Yoga student, Wendy Frazier

"I always feel at peace and have more energy, no matter how tired I am at the beginning of class." - student Maya Bohler

Susan Kraterfield shares what yoga practice does for her. As a pre-diabetic, she has taken her blood sugar levels, which are 157-- 2 hours after dinner, and then after 22 minutes of yoga (Namaste Yoga on Fit TV channel – 30 minute show; zapped  through commercials), her blood sugar level is 118.

" If you want to feel comfortable as a a person, learn what relaxation truly feels like, learn what feeling clean and energized truly feels like then you should look into Kripalu (yoga)."-- Danielle Jennings, Roanoke College yoga student

"In the 7 months since I was introduced to the practice of yoga at The Yoga Center, a number of improvements in my physical and mental well being have been realized. I took my first class at The Yoga Center with the intention of reducing chronic back pain. Yoga's active stretching poses compacted flab into stronger and more flexible muscles which could bear their own weight and reduce strain on joints. Relaxation exercises have helped to reduce the "nervous" eating to which a desk bound job made me prone. These two aspects of yoga practice alone have combined to produce a weight loss of 15 pounds and two clothing sizes! Progress through the classes has resulted in improvements in posture, balance, strength, coordination and concentration as well. Yoga has worked for me!" - Debbi Starr

"I enjoyed the candles (aroma), the support of being with other mommies-to-be...It's been a great experience and I've learned so much! Thank you!" - prenatal yoga student Paula Tompkins

"I like when we repeat poses from class to class - it's nice to see and feel improvement." - prenatal student Betsy Hayes

"I thoroughly enjoyed my first yoga experience. I feel it really made a difference with my stress level and relaxation." -prenatal yoga student

"Relaxation... was wonderful, helped my lower back" - Elizabeth Keyser

"I've been practicing yoga off and on for about 6 years, and on a weekly basis the past 2 years. Health benefits for me are wonderful, even doing yoga once a week. When I started practicing yoga again 2 years ago, it was because of a flyer I had seen at the physical therapist's office. I had been receiving physical therapy due to an injured sacral area in the back. Physical therapy helped a lot, but I kept having flare-ups. In the past 2 years of doing yoga, the number of flare-ups has decreased dramatically, to the point where it is rare to have flare-ups, and never to the point of incapacitation I had experienced previously.The psychological and spiritual benefits of yoga have become clearer to me in these past 2 years. It's a time I set aside just for me. It allows moments of living in the present, not worrying about the past or future. I'm learning through yoga practice to be more accepting of myself physically, which translates into being more accepting of myself in all ways.All physical things I've learned have their parallels in the psychological & spiritual sides of myself. For example, the warrior pose helps me feel courage and strength that is in me at times when I was out of touch with that strength. As I learn how to guide my physical body through yoga postures, I gain insight as to how to guide myself in ever more balanced ways in general." - Maureen Meagher

“ I have arthritis in my knees and elbows. After one session of Yin Yoga the pain was gone the next day--gone from my hips and lessened in the elbows and knees.”  - Nancy Francisco

"Yoga has been a benefit in my life for stress management." - Kerry McCarty

AND OUR TEACHERS

"Ann was great--very gentle, unlike teachers in fitness centers." -- Beginner Yoga student

Pat is a role model for "commitment to yoga principles beyond asana. He is very specific in instructions; techniques are appropriate and useful. " -- Gail Steele, YC student

Maggie "frequently encourages us to pay attention to our breath, (she) suggests specific focusing. Her themes include detailed directions. Her narrative is detailed and sensitive to body sensations with frequent reminders to scan our bodies and honor our own awareness of needs." Maggie models "skillfulness and personal competence. She's relaxed and comfortable so I am too, in her process." -- student Myra Bauer

Caryl is "especially good at dealing with a variety of individual challenges." She models" no judgment, only joy, a lack of attachment and openness." -- student Susan Kraterfield

Ann is "very down to earth and funny!" -YC student

"I always enjoys Ann's class. She is very laid back and kind." -- YC student Kathy Raymond

Caryl is "teaching me to listen to my body and do what I can do and not compare myself to others. Caryl demonstrates or talks us through a pose and also will assist so that the next time I do it, I can easily go into it. She comes to class with a  plan, she is prepared." --student Betty Remington

Instructor (Debbie) was "Excellent as usual - great soothing voice, tremendous knowledge and great presence/energy" -  Dawn Trible
 
Debbie Stevens is "very attuned to individual needs- even in a large class." -Prenatal Yoga student, Jill Hufnagel

"Debbie adjusted poses to suit individual needs, & was very mindful of class feedback." - Prenatal Yoga student Kristin Winslow

"Her (Debbie's) voice and personality were very calming and comforting." - Prenatal Yoga student Paula Tompkins

"Although I have an arthritic hip which limits some of my yoga postures, my weekly class with Debbie enables me to go beyond the pain. 'Breathing into' the sore places gives me relief and greater movement." - Myra Bauer

Lindy is "wonderful. Very clear in instruction and supportive". --Prenatal Yoga student

She "went over(breathing) techniques thoroughly and we practiced each several times." - Prenatal Yoga student

In demonstrating yoga postures, Lindy "would come around and reposition me when I would get it a little off." - Prenatal Yoga student

I always felt very, very relaxed, especially after work. Lindy was "very relaxed and offered good knowledge of what to expect during pregnancy and the birthing process." - Prenatal Yoga student

AND OUR SPACE

"Quiet and spacious" - Linda Sue Wade

"Comfortable environment!" - Lisa Harmon

"Good spot, not too far away, easy access, good parking, not too much noise" - S. McKee

"Atmosphere--music, windchimes, etc.- is conducive to practicing yoga." - Mary Ellen Calhoun

"Wonderful- love the light/space and music" - Susan McDonald

"Namaste to this place and the teachers. Everything about this space encourages the practice." - Jan Dowling