Skip to main content
Monthly Archives

March 2018

Anne Adams Faced Breast Cancer With the Help of Hot Yoga

By Testimonial

Hot Yoga Benefits Sterling Hot Yoga Mobile Yoga for Cancer Patients Hot Yoga BenefitsNaturally flexible after a childhood and adolescence dedicated to ballet, Anne Adams was drawn to yoga.

More than 20-plus years of vinyasa, power yoga, gentle flows, and prenatal, laughter and breath yoga helped her maintain her flexibility—just as yoga had done for her mother. “My mother does yoga,” Anne said, “and is very flexible at 70.”

Flexibility is one of the top reasons many seek out yoga, along with balance, strength, weight loss and stress reduction.

But more than the flexibility, yoga helped provide Anne the strength and calm to navigate one of the toughest challenges of her life: cancer.

“Yoga helped me prepare for and recover from a bilateral mastectomy,” she said. “I was very diligent in my attendance prior to surgery and recovery to help with my anxiety and to boost the health of my body as much as possible, and it worked.”

She credits her consistent practice for helping her feel strong despite the surgery that left drains in her torso for six weeks.

“My strength from yoga (and Iron Hour and Pilates) helped me to be able to do very basic things that, had I not been so fit, would have made recovery tougher,” she said. “I was able to recover quickly and feel strong again very quickly.”

Physical strength wasn’t all Anne got from yoga. It gave her peace in times of stress, worry or pain.

“I used my yoga breathing to calm myself during doctor’s appointments,” Anne said, “and to quell the anxiety of having cancer with a young child or to deal with pain.”

Still, yoga provided more. Through yoga, Anne also found a compassionate yoga community that enveloped her in love and support before surgery, during recovery and after she returned to her practice.

“The yogis at the studio supported me throughout my breast cancer journey. When I worked so hard in classes working through my anxiety and cried at the end of class in full exhaustion, they let me do it, were comforting to me and let me get it out,” Anne said.

“They set intentions for their classes to send me good vibes while I was out recovering. They sent me pictures of classes in which I was a regular,” she continued. “They were encouraging when I returned and couldn’t quite do everything I was used to being able to do.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, according to the American Cancer Society, and there is a 1 in 8 chance that a woman will develop the disease. Not surprisingly, others in Anne’s support group knew what she was facing.

“Unfortunately, some of them had also had cancer, and they had important advice they shared,” she said. “They gave me a lot of fight, courage and strength, while also giving me genuine empathy because they actually understood.”

Anne has since resumed her practice with a passion, but it was getting back to her routine and getting back to her yoga community that fueled her.

“I had never had such a fire to get back to something,” she said. “I believed that the richly oxygenated blood would heal my surgical wounds faster and more thoroughly, and I wanted to prove to myself that I would fight for my health and that I could still be strong after a cancer diagnosis.”

Anne has been a part of the Sterling Hot Yoga Mobile community for more than three years, thanks to repeated invites from her friend Shellene McLean. A back injury forced an exercise hiatus, but when she resumed, she accepted her friend’s invitation and decided to try hot yoga “because it was a way to see her,” Anne said.

“I came back because y’all say to come back within 24 hours. I kept coming back because of the feeling afterwards,” she said. “It was very different from anything else I had done. It’s very hard, but it leaves me with a great feeling.”

That feeling differs from student to student, and sometimes it’s hard to describe. It can refer to the physical, mental, emotional or energetic self. But at the heart of it all is an acceptance of and peace with the present moment.

“Yoga teaches me humility, consistency and patience. And I’m constantly having to learn them again and again,” Anne said. “It teaches me that every class isn’t going to be the same, my balance isn’t going to be the same, nor is my flexibility. Consistency helps, but I have to continuously learn to be patient with the limits of my body.”

Like it did for Anne, yoga holds a wealth of benefits, but you’ll never know what those may be for you until you show up on your mat. “I would encourage others to try yoga to complement their other forms of exercise,” she said, “because in turn they will find so much more.”

Are you ready to find more of what you want in your life? Try our introductory special, $30 for 30 days of unlimited practice. We would love to see you on your mat!

Fascia Release Workshop Scheduled Saturday, March 10

By Events

Fascia Release Workshop Sterling Hot Yoga MobileStill experiencing limited flexibility despite a consistent yoga practice?

Are you looking for a way to improve postural balance and help prevent injury?

Or maybe you’re a beginner and feel like your entire body feels sore and stiff and you are simply looking for a new way to find relief?

Join Manja on Saturday, March 10 from Noon – 2 p.m. for a fascia release workshop.

Fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds the muscles and envelops every part of the body, and injury, trauma, inflammation or poor posture can cause it to tighten.

This workshop is designed to provide you trigger point self-massage and myofascial stretching techniques to help you relax muscles, reduce pain, improve range of motion and much more.

All levels are welcome to attend. No prior knowledge required. All props provided. Cost is $25 per person. Sign up at the studio or by clicking here.

 

Platinum Plus Is Back March 31!

Have you tried our intermediate class yet? It’s a take on the 26/2 sequence from the beginner’s class with intermediate Ghosh postures and others you’ll recognize from vinyasa and yin.

Don’t feel like you have to be advanced to take this class. Just as in all of our other classes, the most important thing is to show up and try!

We recommend that you have practiced the 26/2 sequence for a minimum of three months before taking this class. Your next chance to try  Platinum Plus will be Saturday, March 31 at Noon. This class is offered for a $10 drop-in rate.

 

Friday Happy Hour Yoga Continues!

HH Yoga With Friends Class Pic KeneeWe’ve got the healthiest and happiest happy hour in town, and we want to share it!

Join our Happy Hour Yoga with Friends class on Fridays at 5:15 p.m. This Sterling 60 class is FREE to first-timers and anyone who hasn’t practiced with us in six months or more.

Sterling members, bring friends! Even if you’re not a Sterling member right now (or don’t know one), the class is FREE so come on and make new friends!

 

Get on Track With the Sterling Spring Challenge!

By Announcement

30 Day Yoga Challenge Sterling Hot Yoga Mobile Benefits of YogaNow that you’ve had time to laissez les bons temps rouler for another Mardi Gras season, it’s time to recommit to your practice. What better way than with a challenge!

Our 30-day spring challenge started March 1, but there’s plenty of time to sign up! Between now and April 14, commit to taking 30 classes to earn your spot on the Sterling Challenge Wall and a Sterling Challenge T-shirt.

Complete the challenge and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win one of three FREE mat and towel combos, plus you’ll get all the benefits that come with a consistent practice!

Challenge cards are available now at the front desk, so sign up today! (If you’re working on your 18 in 18 Challenge, your classes count toward BOTH challenges.)

 

18 IN 18 CHALLENGE UPDATE: Two Months Down, 10 to Go!

We are so proud of all our “18 in 18” challengers who are practicing on a regular basis! There are others who didn’t make the list this month because we’re posting only the names each month of the students who reached the 18-class mark.

To complete the challenge, all you have to do is average 18 classes per month for 2018. So if you fell a little short, there is plenty of time to catch up!

The students below have completed at least 18 classes in February:

Darlene Arnold, 23 Paula Brown, 18
Reid Gilbert, 20 Stacy Galloway, 18
Sheri Granberry, 20 Alison Lancaster, 18
Casey Kuluz, 20 Christy Lock, 18
Sujin Kim, 20 Danny Miller, 18
Mendy Bornfleth, 19 Michelle Wilson, 18
Ellen Harvey, 19

If you’re a little behind and you need some incentive to catch up, sign up for the 30-Day Sterling Spring Challenge! Classes can count toward more than one challenge (such as during spring and fall 30-day challenges).

Those who complete the “18 in 18 Challenge” will be entered to win: an annual membership (1 available) and a fitness tracker (2 available). Everyone who successfully completes it will receive a long-sleeved Dri-Fit pullover with the Sterling logo and 18 In 18 challenge logo.

Make 2018 a year to remember! We’re excited to help encourage you toward completing this awesome goal!

 

Why Yoga and Massage Are Best Enjoyed Together!

By News

Massage and Yoga Benefits of MassageThe combination of yoga with massage is an exceptional blend of healthfulness of mind and body.

Many people who make use of this combination will often discuss between themselves the benefits of massage before or after yoga.

Before yoga, massage can help relax the body and mind, allowing you to let go of the day’s distractions, while providing a more focused yoga session.

Concentration just may become easier in those intense poses!

Massage after a yoga session is magical. This is one of the most relaxing and tranquil states of mind you can experience.

Your muscles are warm and flexible, allowing the therapist to work deeply, stretching warm muscles and providing passive stretching (highly underrated in my book!)–all with less discomfort.

Be sure to schedule plenty of leisure time afterwards; you’ll want to enjoy this peaceful feeling as long as possible. Consider a warm stone add-on to deepen the bliss.

Are you ready to experience the luxurious combination of yoga and massage? Be sure to practice regularly, and schedule an appointment with Arnie at Sterling Hot Yoga Mobile by contacting him at 251-533-6048 or arnie615@hotmail.com.