My usual emails are to tell you how much I enjoy the classes.  This one is to tell you what a wonderful community of women attend your studio.  In the few years I have been coming I have bonded with and made friends with a number of great ladies.  We offer each other support and friendship.  Your classes are my "safe place".

I'm happy to be writing this because the testimonials on your site are part of the reason I signed up in the first place! Your program came into my life at exactly the right moment - I had recently hit a low point as far as fitness and was feeling like a lost cause - I came across your website right when you were starting a new session of classes and I haven't looked back. A month ago I couldn't imagine myself taking Zumba, let alone getting up on a Saturday for Yoga!

I feel great. For the first time, I'm on a health kick not to get in shape for an event but to be healthy in general and that is making all the difference. My scale at home recently stopped working and I'm thinking that is actually a good thing! I'm measuring my progress now in how I feel and how my clothes are fitting and am so happy with the results.

The environment you cultivated is so welcoming - I felt comfortable literally within moments of starting my first class so thanks not only to you but to everyone who attends.  I'll be there for the next book club!

Well, you did it again.  As you may recall, I was dragging horribly before Sunday's class.  You managed to loosen me up & relieve some of the pain.  The classes are a real positive addition to my life.

I have been dealing with moderately severe osteoarthritis for 7 years. My doctor has prescribed pretty heavy duty anti-inflammatory and pain meds. Your Essential Yoga class has done wonders for my flexibility and pain levels. After the morning class, I am able to go a full day (most times) without any medication. Makes me feel young again!

Love that class!

I am a 56 year old woman with heart issues and weight issues.  I have tried all types of exercise programs but none compare to Stephanie's  cardio trim and tone classes or the belly dancing class I am taking at heart and soul fitness.   the energy, knowledge of the body and how  it works, all makes a perfect combo for a high intensity workout that Stephanie prepares every monday and wednesday night.  you can exercise at your own level and she always says  come  on      do it like this, or not  so you don't feel like you can't keep up or you look ridiculous next to the exercise gurus of the class.  The women and girls are so much fun you laugh and sweat and feel like a family that cares for each other.  I highly recommend anyone to come out for the fun and sweat  of all the classes offered. you tone, trim down , laugh and just enjoy yourself as you get fit, trim but most importantly healthy.  come join us and you'll even start to sing while working out. 

As I travel through the journey which is my first pregnancy, taking prenatal yoga has helped me tremendously! It has helped my body and my spirit prepare and relax during the pregnancy. I don't know how I could have gone through this without Stephanie as a teacher and the other women for support. YOGA ROCKS!

I used the belly dancing class as a way to bring together some of my great lady friends for a ladies night out.   We are all busy people trying to balance the needs of our kids, jobs and spouses and very rarely take time for ourselves.  This class seemed like a fun, easy and healthy way for us to enjoy a few laughs, to relax and renew our spirit.    And it was exactly that.   Belly dancing is less about the stomach and more about the flow of the music, your overall body and frame of mind - to just let go.  We all loved the scarfs.

After our one hour class, we had a glass of wine and a quick bite to eat at the Chimney Rock Restaurant great ladies night out.

I wanted to share this story with you (Please tell Lori also).  My daughter is petrified to stand up in front of people and talk or perform.  Her first oral presentation in school this year was a disaster - she came home in tears because she was so nervous that she could not remember anything.  Today, she had another oral presentation.  She told me, first she did her yoga breathing and then she was calm enough to do her presentation and it went great!

Heart and Soul Fitness has changed my life! After having 2 kids, I was tired, overweight and constantly injuring myself doing day-to-day activities. Through Heart and Soul's fitness and yoga classes I've lost 16 pounds and dropped 3 sizes. I have tons of energy and much more mental focus. The variety of classes keeps me interested, each session offers something different.  I was able to learn salsa dancing and get exercise at the same time!

The group setting has helped me learn to “mentally shift” some of my thinking.   Like most of us, I thought there was some magic way to get healthy without diet and exercise.  At Heart and Soul, I got the straight scoop, you need to eat healthy and really exercise, which meant I needed to break a sweat!  It also helped with my eating habits; when I used to go out to eat, I thought of it as an opportunity to splurge. Now I have learned to think of dining out as an opportunity for someone to cook me something healthy, in a delicious way.

Stephanie,

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my experience with you. Here goes..

As the body ages, one is more susceptible to sports-related injuries. a few years ago I suffered a strained rotator cuff, which required many weeks of therapy. Fortunately it occurred in the fall and I had time to completely heal before the next golf season started.

I enjoy going to the gym every weekday, but I enjoy playing a round of golf even more. During the season I play 50-60 rounds, or an average of about 2 rounds per week. a couple of years ago I started to experience shoulder pain halfway through the season as the wear and tear of play agitated that old rotator cuff injury. Needless to say, I painfully completed the season and wound up rehabbing my shoulder again that fall.

Last spring, in preparation for another wonderful golf season, I decided to try two thing s... one - spring training instead of fall rehab and two - yoga to increase my flexibility. It turned out great! I made it through the entire season without pain and, therefore, was able to play better and more often. I even lowered my handicap to 6.3!

I have continued with yoga throughout the off-season as a way to maintain flexibility on top of my normal fitness program. I truly believe focusing on flexibility not only helps my swing, but keeps me pain free as well. I'm looking forward to another fun and exciting golf season.. and perhaps even better scores!

Golf Nut

On a recent trip to Tuscany, I was feeling under the weather. I needed to keep up with the active program and daily schedule of classes, field trips and walking up and down STEEP hills.

I found that a few good stretches before getting out of bed really helped. The yoga exercises I learned in your class of lifting legs, flexing and stretching made a difference each day. Thanks, Stephanie, for your very enjoyable, relaxing class. -- Joan

I could write pages about the benefits I've received from yoga! I've never been a person who has loved to exercise and I've always had to talk myself into it. Yoga is something that I really, really look forward to. I find myself doing it on my own as well as in class. The biggest change I've experienced is a significant decrease in lower back pain. I'm 30 years old and I've had three lumbar laminectomies, the first one was when I was 16. Ever since that time, I've lived with back pain. It's not always bad, but it's always there. Since I've started taking your class (I started last September), my back has felt so much better. My flexibility has greatly improved and I'm no longer stiff or sore in the morning.

Over one year ago I began to participate in yoga class seeking a new form of exercise to stretch and strengthen my body. I was thrilled to find that each class left me feeling not only stronger, but completely relaxed. I have had lower back discomfort on and off for many years and was unsure how my back would respond to the yoga postures and stretches. Now, many months later my back is healthier than ever. I look forward to the weekly sessions knowing that I am receiving a wonderful physical work out as well as a deep mind/body relaxation.

About a year ago I started taking Yoga for the first time in my life. After a long period of basically no exercise and a lot of weight gain, I decided to give yoga a try.

On many levels yoga has had a significant impact on my life. Spiritually, emotionally and I would say, most importantly physically. Yoga gave me the jump start I desperately needed to make healthy changes in my lifestyle.

Over the last year I have lost about 25 pounds, have begun exercising on a daily basis and now am more focused on my health and the health of my family. Other than the weight loss, the most significant physical benefit has been the dramatic improvement in my blood pressure. I recently went for my annual physical. My blood pressure last year was borderline, this year two different people (the nurse and the doctor) each took my blood pressure twice to make sure it was right. It was 100/70. Needless to say, this doctor visit energized me even more to continue with my holistic approach to health and wellness.

Quote of the Month:

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet. ~ James Oppenheim