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Monthly Archives

November 2015

How Hot Yoga Transformed Tom Palmer

By News
Tom Palmer Before and After Weight Loss Hot Yoga

Tom’s transformation since 2001 (with his son, Josh) has resulted in better overall health, discipline and more with a consistent hot yoga practice.

In 2001, Tom Palmer was in rough shape. He weighed 245 pounds and was on the verge of a physical breakdown.

His organs were starting to fail, and he was most certainly approaching a diabetic diagnosis.

Today, though, he stepped on the scale and was pleased to report that he has lost more than 100 pounds! Today he’s a fit and healthy 140 pounds!

Tom found yoga in 2007, which almost immediately helped him to shed significant weight.

But a continued practice helped him to gain discipline, dedication, focus, determination and, most importantly, self-respect.

Those characteristics allowed him to eat healthy and maintain a lifestyle that kept him healthy over the long run. Isn’t this what we all want?

Want to learn how Tom did it?

Come to Sterling! Sign up for our 30-day introductory special, and start your own journey to better health!

You probably didn’t even recognize our own Teacher Tom!

Thanksgiving, Black Friday Schedule Announced

By Announcement

Thanksgiving Schedule‘Tis the season to be thankful! And we are thankful for all our wonderful clients and friends who practice at Sterling Hot Yoga Mobile!

Please join us for a special Thanksgiving class on Thursday, November 26 at 8 a.m. This 90-minute class will be full of gratitude and sweatthe perfect way to start your holiday before digging in to the turkey!

Then, come back to the studio and bring your friends and family for FREE classes all day on Black Friday, November 27 to burn off the bird!

Black Friday Free Yoga ClassesHere is the Black Friday schedule:

8:15 am – Iron Hour

9:30 am – Sterling 60

11:00 am – Rest-AIR-ation*

4:30 pm – Gold 90

Choose your classes for the day, and join us! You’ll be so thankful that you did!

*Rest-AIR-ation is a 30-minute breathing meditation. You will experience restoration of the body, mind and spirit by reconnecting your breath to your body. You’ll also get some awesome abs and shoulders! The room is not heated, so you can pop in, pop off your shoes and experience Rest-AIR-ation!

Mobile’s Homegrown Hot Yoga Studio a Community Investment

By News
Bill Moran reflects on five years of running a hot yoga studio in Mobile, Alabama.

Bill Moran reflects on five years of changes while running a hot yoga studio in Mobile, Alabama.

Rewind the clock to April 2010. The U.S. was just coming out of a serious financial crisis, investment in new business was not advisable, and the discouraging news of the Air Force tanker contract being pulled away from Mobile was on everyone’s mind.

However, in those days of uncertainty Lucille Allen from Sacramento, California and Bill Moran from Houston, Texas purchased a residence and moved to Mobile, Alabama, and in June 2010, a blip in the business section of the Mobile Press-Register reported that a commercial lease had been signed on the old Naman’s grocery store at Old Shell and Florida, and furthermore it was going to be a “hot” yoga studio.

Mobile, and for that matter the entire state of Alabama, had never heard of such a thing.

It was recommended to us to use preferred vendors that were not local to Mobile, but our homework and commitment to using local vendors and products took us in the direction to keep our money “at home.”

After a few conversations of “you want to build WHAT?”, we engaged a local architect and construction contractor, obtained all the necessary permits and licenses, and so our investment in Mobile began.

In October of 2010, we opened as Bikram Hot Yoga Mobile at 2540 Old Shell Road. It was a humble beginning, limited class schedule, only Lucille and one other teacher and only a 90-minute class.

Business is an evolving landscape; products improve and change. I am old enough to remember rotary phones; and though now I have a smartphone, its roots are in that old rotary phone. My new phone is miles from that old device, and indeed the whole communication industry is something completely different. Owning a yoga studio is not much different. You have to change and evolve.

In January 2014, we changed our name to Sterling Hot Yoga Mobile and began offering a 60-minute class.  Then in January of 2015, we developed and began offering the Sterling Iron Hour.

Simultaneously in June 2014, Sterling Hot Yoga Teacher Training was founded, and we have graduated six of our teachers. As a side note, Sterling Teacher Training has trained nearly 100 teachers in the past two years from all over the world.

The feedback from studio owners as to the quality of the graduates and their podium readiness has earned Sterling TT the preferred teacher training program for many studios, and that number continues to grow. All Sterling teachers are Yoga Alliance certified and are required to obtain continuing education hours.

At Sterling Hot Yoga Mobile, we are proud of the fact that we are a homegrown studio; a fun fact is that Lucille and I are really the only transplants on staff.

What does it mean to be a homegrown studio? It means we are a committed part of the community. That commitment includes community outreach, supporting causes, assisting those in need with discounted or free yoga and, yes, even dog rescue and adoption.

It means that Mobilians, your friends and neighbors, are on the podium as first-rate qualified teachers. It means that we scour the industry for trends, new class offerings, take feedback from our clients to make SHYM a studio for Mobile.

It means that our revenue is spent in Mobile for teacher salaries, rent, utilities and even our personal living expenses, and we contribute to the tax revenues for the city and county of Mobile, as well as the great state of Alabama.

This is what Sterling is all about, and all we can say is thank you for supporting five great years of providing a top quality yoga program to the city of Mobile. With Airbus coming in, downtown revitalization and a renewed sense of community pride, we believe our best years are ahead.

Sterling Hot Yoga Mobile is truly a “homegrown” business.

Jenna Zoghby Joins the Sterling Team

By News

Jenna ZoghbyWe are pleased to welcome Jenna Zoghby to the Sterling team as the studio’s very own registered dietitian and nutrition consultant!

She will be offering some wonderful services soon, but in the meantime, get to know Jenna and take note of her healthy holiday eating tips.

Jenna, a Mobile, Alabama native, attended St. Paul’s Episcopal School and graduated as Student Government Association president.

At the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, she developed a strong interest in the healing abilities of a healthy lifestyle. In 2013, Jenna received a degree from the College of Human Environmental Sciences in Food and Nutrition.

After college, Jenna worked for the Mobile County Health Department, educating pregnant women and new mothers in healthy nutrition.

In 2014, Jenna was accepted into Priority Nutrition Care Distance Dietetic Association. She worked with local dietitians in Mobile, Alabama to complete an internship focused on the business of nutrition.

In 2015, Jenna passed the Registered Dietetic Exam and became a Registered Dietitian. She is currently registered and licensed in Alabama working at the Mobile County Health Department. She works with adults and children practicing medical nutrition therapy to improve lives with healthy lifestyle modifications. She specializes in weight-loss counseling.

“I became interested in nutrition when I realized that combining healthy physical activity and healthy eating can decrease the risk of many life-threatening diseases,” she said. “At age 13, I was told that my asthma would probably never go away, but after I changed my diet, I no longer needed any medication.”

“I was introduced to Sterling Hot Yoga over the summer. I had done yoga before, but not like this,” she said. “The healing effects and mental clarity that the classes provide are very powerful. I love it! This type of physical activity does more than contribute to weight loss; it helps me be a happier me! I’m thrilled to be part of the Sterling team!”

As the holidays approach, and your kitchens and work space fill with candies, baked goods, and all types of tempting treats, keep these healthy tips in mind:

  • Make a list, make a list, make a list. I cannot say it enough. During the holidays, manufacturers spend big money to sell you things you really don’t need. If you plan ahead for what you need and only buy those things, it can really help.
  • During the holidays, our normal schedule changes. We have more errands, family in town and plans to keep up with. Keep healthy snacks in your house, the car and your purse so that you’re not tempted to grab junk food all day.
  • If you have time off, add extra workout sessions (like Sterling Hot Yoga!) that you aren’t able to normally attend. Your body will thank you!
  • When you sit down at the table, remember to keep half your plate full of fruits and/or veggies. If your usual holiday meal doesn’t have at least one non-starchy vegetable that’s not loaded down with butter and sugar, you might be the person to start the tradition. Try a fresh green salad or roasted broccoli instead.
  • Treat yourself! Have whatever delicious dessert your Aunt Jane brought. The problem arises when you take a few pieces home. After the holiday meal, get rid of the leftover sweets in the house. Give them away or throw them awayjust get them out!

Thank you, Jenna! We look forward to your Sterling guidance!