Amy Weaver was looking to improve strength, balance and flexibility, like most people seeking yoga. But as a kidney and pancreas transplant recipient who is also blind, perhaps no one was more surprised by her progress than Amy herself.
“Being blind with a kidney and pancreas transplant, and having some serious old fractures with misaligned healing, I was not sure that I could successfully do yoga,” she said, “but with the staff’s guidance and encouragement I have progressed further than I ever thought possible.”
Amy has been practicing at Sterling Hot Yoga & Wellness for three months, but “very sporadically” between 2002 and 2013, including a class called WarriorLess at The Lotus Seed.
A caring friend encouraged her to try yoga to improve her mobility and state of mind, but she returned to Sterling because she had visited before with previous ownership and an old friend who is a yoga instructor in Fairhope recommended it.
With consistent practice, Amy says she has experienced several changes: “less back pain, stronger on my feet, my balance is improving, I am more flexible and my mental status is better.”
That’s part of the reason she keeps showing up on your mat. “I keep coming back because I feel better mentally and physically, and the staff is so friendly and helpful,” she said. “One gets the feeling that they genuinely care about you. The staff and the other students feel like friends.”
Amy uses the assistance of a staff member, the ballet barre and sometimes the wall, but she is an inspiration to everyone at Sterling because of her determination and dedication.
“I was encouraged to keep trying, I liked the way that I felt and was excited about coming back,” she said of her first class. “I have learned that I can be more disciplined than I thought.”
She credits David, the owner, and the Sterling instructors with the progress she has made. “I could not have made it at any other studio,” she said.
Amy surprised herself, and she believes first-timers can experience the same thing.
“Give it a try and you will like it, you will enjoy it,” she said, “and you will surprise yourself at what you can accomplish.”
Take 30 days to check out the classes at Sterling Hot Yoga and Wellness for one low price! Get unlimited classes in your first month for just $39. Just see how much you can surprise yourself too!
