#2

Lynn recently suffered a very painful shoulder/neck injury while playing tennis and was being treated by a physical therapist for it.  In addition, she continued her Thursday morning classes at Springdale Yoga and began twice a week Svaroopa® Yoga Therapy.  She went a step further and signed up for the Master Yoga Foundations course which involved forty-five hours of yoga over five days. Just prior to attending the class, her physical therapist measured her ability to move my neck from side to side.  It was approximately 45 degrees in both directions.  Upon returning from the Foundations course, the therapist, once again, measured the neck rotation.  To her surprise, Lynn could move her neck more than seventy degrees both ways.  Lynn wrote:  I believe that the Svaroopa® yoga is the only reason for that improvement. 

September, 2008

 #3

Ted hurt his back while volunteering to clean up at a neighborhood park.  He pulls out down trees, hauling logs and branches, and more.  Now retired, he was a football and baseball player during high school and college and continued playing adult league baseball until a few years ago. He has suffered injuries before, but none like this one. He and his wife were planning an across country driving trip to visit on of their children and he was ready to postpone the trip.  While he loves to drive the pain was just too much.  Ted signed up for an Overlap Healing Series of Svaroopa® Yoga Therapy, which included learning the Magic 4 Home Practice.  He practiced daily.  He also learned about and decided to use the sit bone block while driving across the country.  Their trip was a “pain free” success and today Ted continues his daily Magic 4 Home Practice.

October, 2008

 #4

So far three regular students (who attended weekly classes for over a year) have reported getting taller.  Two students were measured at their yearly medical appointments and each reported being a half-inch taller (rather than shrinking in their 50’s as the doctor expected.)  One student measured herself at home and wrote:   "You are correct, I am taller! I was curious, so I had [my husband] measure my height when I got home today. 5 feet 5 inches! I think the tallest I ever recall was 5 feet 4  inches in HS so I have always said 5-4. An entire inch! Amazing!   Most women my age are getting shorter, not taller! Now that we have a benchmark, it will be interesting to see if it is any different in a few months, since I think there is still some untwisting left to do in my spine."

 November, 2009

 #5

After yoga class this student notices that she must adjust her car mirrors.  She is taller than when she drove to Springdale Yoga.  She also noticed that after class she can more easily lean her head back on the headrest—something she never could do before.

 #6

Gosh, I feel normal!  Symptoms of headaches and dizziness had led Connie to discover extremely high blood pressure, with a diastolic reading of over 90.  Medication reduced it to 130/80.  Her cardiologist suggested yoga as appropriate exercise, since Connie is also concerned about cholesterol and subject to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). 

 For the past six months Connie been attending weekly classes and practicing at home daily, both asana as well as Ujjayi Pranayama.  This has brought about "powerful, positive change."  Her blood pressure has lowered to 122/78, and is consistently staying down.  "Gosh, I feel normal!" says Connie.  It was hard for her to start a daily Ujjayi practice.  "I started in small increments.  I did four minutes for a few days and worked my way up slowly to twenty minutes.  Now I can say it's a regular and vital part of my day -something I look forward to."  Connie is beginning to feel motivated to practice the Ujjayi breath for twenty minutes twice daily, knowing that Ann tells her the practice will eliminate the symptoms of CFS.

 Demember, 2008

#7

Ujjaya Pranayama has helped to calm my mind and give me clarity. I feel the best when I am able to do 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening.

Working on the Magic Four in my house has increased my flexibility and elevated hit and back pain. I am more aware of the way that I stand and walk. After attending Margie’s classes for almost two years I am standing straighter, in my bones and walking straighter with less of a sway back. Starting my day off with yoga is the best thing that I can do for my sanity! I am not really a morning person, but my job requires me to be. When I am able to start my day with yoga I can go to work with a smile on my face and a calm mind and body (even if the day before was stressful). That has been really wonderful for my students.

September, 2009