Jamie is a wife, dog mom, and has a thriving career and despite being a superwoman who seems to get everything done in a day, always felt sluggish, run ragged, etc.

After years of standing still, Jamie was ready for a change. When she came to YogaStrong she was 100% committed to investing the time and energy it would take to meet all of her goals.  

When Jamie first became a member of the YogaStrong family she started with our level one classes. She quickly gained self-confidence in our nonjudgmental environment and stepped it up by joining our level 2 and 3 classes. 

Jamie made her health and wellness a priority in her life coming to classes several times a week and sometimes even daily. She even began to become mindful of her diet. 

Jamie has become one of our many loved, charrished, and respected YogaStrong family members. We have loved having the honor of being a part of her amazing mind-body-spirit tansfermation. 

“When I attended my first class at YogaStrong I walked in a 43yr old, 301lb, diet soda and comfort food junkie that lived with constant pain in my shoulders, neck and head from all the aspartame, poor food choices and sitting in a desk all day.  I also suffer from chronic anxiety and have been medicated for it off and on since I was 17yrs old and am a recovering alcoholic with 4yrs of sobriety.  I have tried gyms, aerobic type fitness classes, walking with music, walking with friends, and nothing ever stuck because I honestly don’t enjoy exercise and so never stuck with it.  

After that first class on September 14, I left feeling good and excited about returning.  The staff and teacher were both friendly and made me feel totally welcomed like I had been coming to classes there forever.  Since then I have never stopped and actually am upset if for some reason I cannot make it to yoga!  I try to get in as many classes as possible, I have made great friends who I have a lot in common with, I have gotten stronger, my mind is clearer, and I have lost over 70lbs. I quit drinking sodas or carbonated beverages of any kind, and actually drink lots of water now!  I have completely changed my eating habits – incorporating fresh fruit and vegetables, lean proteins, and eat much more intuitively and with portion control.  I have more energy, my husband and team at work can see a big difference in my ability to control my anxiety (I have been able to lower my medicine dose), focus at home and work, and sleep better.  Taking the time to come to class everyday gives me the clarity I need after a stressful day at work, and the motivation I need to come home and not just flop on the couch.  

The studio is a great place, I like to come early and end up hanging out and chatting after class as well.  Their special events are so much fun, Christmas ugly sweater yoga, blacklight 80’s yoga, and Valentine couple’s yoga were a blast!!  They are more than a yoga studio, they are my yoga family and have encouraged me from day 1 at 301lbs to 8 months later at 228lbs.  Yoga is for everyBODY and I can prove it.  I have never felt ashamed because I couldn’t do something, the teachers tell the class how you can modify poses to meet your physical needs without making you feel singled out.  There is no competition, there are students of every age, size, physical fitness, and we all do the same classes together.  Everyone is there to grow their own practice and when I am able to do something I couldn’t do before, teachers and students alike cheer me on!  I’ve come a long way but I have so much farther to go and am excited about the next step in my journey, attending Yoga Teacher Training this summer so I can share my love of yoga and show others how they can benefit from yoga no matter their age, size, or fitness level.  My 8yr old niece recently joined me at YogaStrong after hearing me talk about it and doing some YouTube videos she found on her iPad.  Now she says she is going to find her inner peace!” -Jamie H.