Skip to main content
Monthly Archives

September 2019

What You Learn By Practicing Vinyasa Flow

By News

Vinyasa Flow is derived from the more regimented style of Ashtanga, in which the sequence is the same every time. 

Vinyasa Flow varies from class to class and teacher to teacher. The result is that you build a more balanced body and prevent repetitive motion injuries.

Vinyasa Flow targets your upper body strength and deepens your connection to your breath (an inhale or exhale initiates each movement).

Vinyasa Flow often begins with child’s pose and ends in savasana, and in between you move through a full life cycle of postures in between. 

Vinyasa Flow requires stability to prevent injury. You don’t have to have the strength to begin with, but teachers will give you instruction on modifications and alignment to help you build the foundation of the postures.

Vinyasa Flow makes you more attentive. Because the class is different every time, you won’t always know what to expect, so you have to pay closer attention. (That will help you in any class!)

Try Vinyasa Flow on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. (both unheated) and Mondays at 6:45 p.m. (heated). You’ll love it!

 

End Your Week on a Happy Note with Happy Hour Yoga AND Free Sushi

By Events

On Fridays we celebrate with FREE yoga for first-timers and comebacks. And on some Fridays, we add FREE sushi to our celebration, compliments of Rock-N-Roll Sushi – Midtown!

Our Happy Hour Yoga With Friends class is the healthiest happy hour in town. Join us on Fridays at 5:30 p.m.!

Definitely make plans to be there on Friday, Sept. 27 at 5:30 p.m. and hang out with us after class to socialize over FREE sushi!

Yoga makes you happy and being with friends makes you happy, so why not combine the two for even more happiness?

Sterling members, bring your friends for FREE! They must be a first-timer or have not practiced in six months or more. Only one free visit is allowed. Promotion applies to 5:30 p.m. class only.

Don’t have a friend yet who’s a Sterling member? Come take a FREE class anyway and make some new ones!

We look forward to seeing you on Fridays to toast to your happiness!

 

Candlelight Yin + Yoga Nidra Will Return Sooner Than Planned!

By Events

Wow! We had such a great response to our Candlelight Yin + Yoga Nidra class last month that we’ve decided to host another one even sooner!

Candlelight Yin + Yoga Nidra will combine the slower-paced (and unheated!) practice of yin yoga with the calming meditation of a yoga nidra.

Don’t miss it on Sunday, September 29 from 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.! Reserve your spot here!

Yin yoga is practiced on the floor and features longer-held postures, which helps improve flexibility, patience and stillness.

Paired with yoga nidra, or “yogic sleep,” the two practices are relaxing and energizing.

In the powerful “dream state” of yoga nidra, the goal is not to sleep. Instead this powerful guided meditation helps address and alleviate many medical conditions, as well as reducing anxiety and depression, resetting negative thought patterns and beliefs, and more.

Non-Sterling members can experience this class at a special drop-in rate of $10. Reserve your spot here!

Be aware that this class fills up quickly, and while we do provide props, such as blocks and bolsters, at the studio, you are welcome to bring your own, as well as a blanket, small pillow or eye pillow to help make you comfortable during the yoga nidra.

 

Laura Noah Finds Healthy Changes and More at Sterling Hot Yoga

By Testimonial

Like most people who seek out yoga, Laura Noah was looking for transformation.

“I needed to make a change in my life,” she said. “Lose weight, gain strength and be healthier in both mind and body.”

Prior to joining Sterling Hot Yoga & Wellness—then Bikram Hot Yoga Mobile—Laura hadn’t done yoga at all, but that didn’t stop her from signing up. 

Now she’s been practicing yoga for seven years, five of which have been at Sterling. “I’ve been practicing almost exclusively Bikram-style hot yoga,” she said. “It has helped make me become a better musician. With a regular practice, I have increased energy, flexibility and strength. Mentally, I am stronger and more patient.”

Laura is a professional timpanist and percussion educator, and she has performed with the Mobile Symphony, Pensacola Symphony, Mobile Opera, Pensacola Opera, Alabama Shakespeare Festival and other groups in the Southeast.

The yoga and the benefits she experiences from a regular practice are what keeps her coming back. After her first class, she couldn’t wait to come back. She said she thought, “‘I did it! Let’s do it again!’”

When Laura first started practicing, Bikram Hot Yoga Mobile was the only studio in town that offered the original hot yoga sequence of 26 postures and two breathing exercises, which made it an easy choice.

 “It was the only studio in town that offered Bikram-style hot yoga (plus, they were running a sale),” she said.

Sterling is still the only studio that offers the original hot yoga sequence as it was intended to be taught with the proper environmental controls that regulate the room to 105 degrees and 40 percent humidity and with the appropriate ventilation.

Most students are surprised by something that this yoga teaches them. Laura came to yoga hoping to get stronger physically, but she was surprised by “how much the practice changes you both physically, mentally, and emotionally,” she said. “This yoga cultivates compassion and patience for both yourself and others.”

First-time students and others who dismiss hot yoga without trying are usually concerned about the heat, but it’s just part of the practice, according to Laura.

“When you try hot yoga, yes, it will be hot. Acknowledge it, and let it go,” she said. “Just do your best and every day your best will be better than the day before.”

Laura’s advice? “Embrace the challenge and the yoga will change your life for the better.” 

If you need to make positive changes in your life, you can get started with a great deal! With our new member special, practice unlimited yoga for your first 30 days for just $30. It’s the best deal in town!

4 Reasons to Practice Vinyasa Flow

By News

Vinyasa Flow offers plenty of amazing benefits–honestly, you’ll get a lot of them in original hot yoga too–but it’s a great complement to that practice, particularly in building upper body and core strength.

If you already know (and love!) Vinyasa Flow, these benefits will come as no surprise. But if you’re wondering whether you should see what it’s all about, the answer is YES!

Here’s four great reasons to try it!

Vinyasa Flow builds strength. More than just upper body strength (which is a plus), this class helps strengthen and balance the whole body. 

Vinyasa Flow improves flexibility. Flowing from one posture to the next warms up the body, allowing stiff muscles to loosen up–which also helps to reduce stress. Bonus! 

Vinyasa Flow helps you breathe better. In this class, movements are initiated by inhales and exhales, which helps build awareness of breath. That in turn increases lung capacity, removes toxins, calms your mind, improves organ function, regulates metabolism and so much more! 

Vinyasa Flow boosts cardiovascular health. Linking movement and breath also helps to give your heart a workout. Heat is generated by having to work the whole body, which get the heart rate up and burns calories. That’s good news!

Try it Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and Mondays (heated) at 6:45 p.m. this week!

 

Silent 90 Music Series Presents “Mysticism and Madonna” on Thursday, Sept. 12

By Events

Our Silent 90 Music Series is back this month! Join Teddy on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 6:45 p.m. as he leads you through your practice to the theme of “Mysticism & Madonna.”

Don’t expect to hear the hits you’ve heard on the radio. This class will celebrate Madonna’s more soulful, passionate music rather than her pop hits.  

Teddy will lead the class with no dialogue. He will demonstrate and announce each of the postures and when to change.

We recommend that students have completed at least 10 Original Hot Yoga classes before taking this class.

No current membership? No problem! This class is available at a special drop-in rate of only $10. Reserve your spot here today! 

 

Karma Class for Suicide Prevention Monday, Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m.

By Events

Many of us have been affected by suicide, whether it’s a friend, family member or acquaintance. With more than 25 million Americans suffering from depression every year, it’s no surprise how prevalent it is.

But with your support, we can make a difference. The best way to prevent suicide is through early detection, diagnosis and treatment of depression and other mental illnesses. 

Join us in raising money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Sterling is hosting a very special karma class on Monday, Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m.

The class is open to students with current Sterling memberships and to the public for a donation. Donations can be accepted via this link or at the studio the evening of the karma class.

We look forward to seeing you there to help us support this very worthy cause!

 

Build Upper Body Strength and More with Vinyasa Flow Classes at Sterling

By News

It’s been more than four years since we introduced the first Vinyasa Flow class at Sterling!

Right away our students fell in love with the practice, and we’ve expanded our class offerings to try to meet the demand.

Vinyasa Flow builds physical strength, flexibility and vitality with the challenge of flowing from one pose to the next.

This helps boost metabolism, sharpen mental focus and strengthen the core, which helps improve alignment and posture. 

At Sterling, we offer three Vinyasa Flow classes every week! The classes on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. are warm (not hot) and move at a slower pace.

Our Hot Vinyasa Flow class on Monday nights at 6:45 p.m. is inspired by the Baptiste sequence, heated to about 100 degrees and is more of a power flow.

Both types of classes are accessible to beginners. Various options and props are available to assist students in building strength and flexibility as they work to improve overall technique.

Be sure to try Vinyasa Flow! It’s an excellent practice on its own or to complement your original hot yoga classes! 

 

Schedule Some Massage and Reiki Self-Care With Our Healing Room Services

By News

Yoga helps reduce stress and anxiety, improve muscle tone, contribute to weight loss and so much more. 

The “extra” services we offer in our Healing Room support all of those great things that yoga already does for you.

If you haven’t scheduled an appointment with any of these members of our talented wellness team or if it’s been awhile, it’s time to make some time for your self-care!

Arnie Harrison – Massage Therapist

Arnie Harrison is a gifted massage therapist offering services including reflexology, crania-sacral therapy, deep tissue therapy and warm stone massage.

To set up an appointment, click link above to send Arnie an email or call him at 251-533-6048.

Manja Leyk-Podratz – Reiki Energy Healing

Manja offers customized sessions that help balance energy, regenerate cells for optimum health, support recovery from illness and trauma, and increase spiritual awareness.

For more information about Manja’s services, click link above to visit her website and contact her.