Mandi Cameron admits she was unhappy, but she was more determined to make positive changes in her life. When she saw that Sterling Hot Yoga & Wellness was offering an open house almost three years ago, she “jumped at the opportunity to try two free classes.”
“After the birth of my youngest daughter, I was extremely unhappy with not just my appearance, but my overall health,” she said.
It didn’t take long for her to decide she wanted to commit to Sterling. After the first class she took during that open house weekend, Mandi said, “I went straight to the front desk to sign up!”
That was almost three years ago, and her progress has been significant—in many ways.
“Most people probably don’t remember when I first became a member at Sterling,” she said. “I had not worked out consistently in years. I had just had my second child and my body was most certainly not in shape.
“I was so unhappy,” she admitted. “I hated taking pictures and I feared seeing anyone I knew out. I wanted change.”
Mandi found the change she wanted—and a lot more—by consistently practicing Inferno Hot Pilates and vinyasa flow.
“Honestly, a consistent practice at Sterling helped me to believe in myself. Every class, I try to take the opportunity to be a little better than the class before, stretch deeper, let go, push harder,” she said. “I never considered myself to be athletic, but Sterling has brought out the fitness fanatic in me!”
Sterling was an easy choice for Mandi. It’s only a couple of minutes away from her house, and the benefits she’s experienced—overall improved mood, greater flexibility that enhances her weightlifting, and ability to focus and stay in the present—are worth it!
When asked what keeps her coming back to practice, she sums it up in one word. “Um…sanity! Well, that was what kept me coming at first…that and sheer determination!,” she said. “The quick results you see sure help your drive to come as well. I absolutely love the feeling of sweating everything out— toxins, bad energy, a day that didn’t go right. I ALWAYS feel better after a class. I’ve never regretted taking a class for sure!”
If the process seems too easy, Mandi assured that it hasn’t been. “It was hard. There were a lot of early mornings in the cold, late nights rolling out my sore muscles, begrudgingly making healthier choices,” she said. “But I completely finally fell in love with working out and—MOST IMPORTANTLY—I fell in love with my own skin. Working out wasn’t a chore, but an opportunity to prove to myself what my body—what I—am capable of.”
For that, she credits Inferno Hot Pilates, one of Sterling’s most popular classes that is a bootcamp style, high intensity interval workout, for making her “absolutely fall in love with working out.”
“That hour I carved out for myself where I didn’t have to think about my to do list, what I needed to do for everyone else, just an hour to push myself to the limits while barely hanging on—it was everything I never knew I needed. And it didn’t stop there!,” she said. “Everything I had ever tried before at the gym that I hated? I started loving it. I can’t stop trying new lifts, new classes, learning new things.”
It should come as no surprise that Mandi is now an Inferno Hot Pilates teacher. She pours her heart and soul into every class, just like she does as a student, and everyone loves her and the challenging, but rewarding workouts she leads.
Because of her own journey, Mandi encourages others to try yoga at Sterling. “I think a lot of people are intimidated by the heat. I tell them to embrace it and use it to detoxify their spirit,” she said. “Also, everyone is so encouraging and that there are all levels in every class. You’re so focused on your personal practice that no one is looking around, so don’t feel embarrassed or like you’re being scrutinized…. We’re all just trying to make it through, I promise no one noticed you fall out of a pose!”
Sterling Hot Yoga & Wellness offers a new member special, $30 for 30 days of unlimited practice, to encourage everyone to experience all of our classes. But don’t expect the change you want to happen right away.
“Transformation is a slow journey. Real change is not a quick fix, but day after day of consistency, hard work and commitment. It’s also not linear. Everyone gets in a rut—we’re human!
“Honor yourself, make time for yourself every day, and if you’re unhappy like I was, make a decision right now to do something about it,” Mandi said, “or better yet, come try a class with me!”
For just $30, you can take a class with Mandi or any one of our other great instructors at Sterling. Click here to sign up and take the first step of your own transformation!
