Yoga Testimonials

Testimonials

"Reconnecting with Keil has changed my life for the better. When things get chaotic and I feel like I'm swimming upstream in a murky river of stress and mental rubbish, talking to Keil for even five minutes can help shift my experience to being in the flow again. There's a magic to the simplicity his perspective offers. I am ever grateful to have Keil as my friend. "

-- Kristin

"When we get through with shavasana it's all I can do to not giggle because I feel so good!"

-- Geralyn, Foundation I student

Calling the Overweight, the Overworked, those who need to take time for SELF...

All my life I have been athletic. As my life evolved, so too did my activity of choice – softball, basketball, tennis, bowling, cycling,..and so on. In 2004 I started working on my PhD – the only exercise I experienced was an occasional walk, writing, typing, lifting the junk food to my mouth and getting my butt in and out of a chair – I gained over 70 pounds. 2009 – I finish the coursework and the dissertation and receive my PhD in Psychology. PhD simply described my dinner plate at that time in my life (Piled Higher & Deeper)!

After all of the stress I experienced over the past 5 years, I asked myself – “what do I want to do for me?”… The answer was yoga and meditation. For 3 months I tried to get up the courage to start yoga….but in crept this image of these tall, thin girls who could twist their bodies like pretzels. I shuttered as my attempt to bend in the middle was problematic – lots of “stuff” in the way. The names of the poses alone scared me – cobra and cow face…yet some intrigued me – like cobbler (apple or peach?) or Savasana (corpse pose) where you lay on your back, cover your eyes, and rest. One day I decided to call Namaste and register for the “introduction class” and find out what it was all about. The time came and I found myself parked outside thinking “you are going to embarrass yourself”…but I went in anyway.

The instructor and owner, Justine Biswell, introduced herself and one of the first things she said was “yoga is individual and you need to do this for you…it is not about how your neighbor looks doing it, it is not competitive (what?? isn’t everything), it is not about doing everything perfectly (again…what?)..it is called a “practice” for a reason. With practice YOU will improve YOU.” Those words gave me a sense of relief and security and with that I registered for the Foundation I class.

Okay, now what about the extra “stuff” in the middle that makes you look more like a donut than a pretzel??? Well, until you can reach the ground, balance yourself, hold yourself up…whatever you struggle doing, there are props that the instructors will help you with that in turn help your practice (blocks, blankets, bolsters, etc.). This is not only if you have a few(or 100) extra pounds, but also if you have pain that prevents you from doing the pose properly (neck pain, back injury, knee problems, etc).

I have been going to Namaste for 6 months now. I have found that if I focus on my breathing and on inner peace that the “exercise” comes naturally. Can I put my foot behind my head?…NO. Can I do all poses perfectly?…NO! Am I improving and growing stronger? YES!! Yoga has helped to lower my blood pressure, helped my aching back, strengthened my knees and core and helped me find peace of mind. I know I am not your traditional yogini, but I LOVE IT and so will you!! - Namaste